Nicholas Hytner
About
Biography
Biography
An esteemed stage director, Hytner first gained prominence in his native England staging operas at the Kent Opera and the English National Opera. From 1985 to 1989, he was associate director at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, where he oversaw such productions as "As You Like It" (1985) and "Edward II" (1986). In 1989, the Cambridge-educated Hytner became an associate director of the Royal National Theatre where he staged "Ghetto" (1989) and Alan Bennett's adaptation of "The Wind in the Willows" (1990). Also in 1989, he made his musical directing debut with the London production of "Miss Saigon," starring Lea Salonga and Jonathan Pryce, and its American debut the following year. Hytner received a 1994 Tony for staging an acclaimed revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel."
Hytner's 1991 production of Alan Bennett's "The Madness of George III" won critical praise at the National Theatre and toured the US. He made his feature film debut adapting the production as "The Madness of King George" (1994), which preserved Nigel Hawthorne's brilliant portrayal of the monarch who has begun to exhibit bizarre behavior. Hytner's second feature was also a literary adaptation: the feature version of Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" (scheduled for release in 1996). An allegorical drama about the 17th Century Salem witch trials, "The Crucible" boasted a top-notch cast, including Daniel Day-Lewis, Joan Allen, Winona Ryder and Paul Scofield.
The director continued to film adaptations with his third effort, "The Object of My Affection" (1998). Based on Stephen McCauley's novel, it centered on the relationship between an unwed pregnant woman (Jennifer Aniston) and her best friend, a gay man (Paul Rudd).
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Special)
Life Events
1983
Made stage directing debut with opera "King Priam" at the Kent Opera
1984
Directed first non-musical production, "Alice" at the Leeds Playhouse
1989
Named as an associate director of Royal National Theatre, London
1989
Directed first West End musical, "Miss Saigon"
1991
Broadway directing debut, "Miss Saigon"
1991
Directed Alan Bennett's play "The Madness of George III"
1994
Feature film directing debut, "The Madness of King George"
1996
Directed second feature, "The Crucible"
1998
Helmed the screen adaptation of "The Object of My Affection", starring Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston
2000
Steered the dance drama feature "Center Stage", starring Peter Gallagher and Donna Murphy
2000
Staged the workshop of the musical "Sweet Smell of Success"; directed full scale production on Broadway in spring 2002
2001
Earned critical plaudits for direction of Mark Ravenhill's play "Mother Clap's Molly House"
2001
Appointed as successor to Trevor Nunn as head of London's Royal National Theatre, effective April 2003
2003
Appointed director of the Royal National Theatre in London
2006
Directed the Broadway production of Alan Bennett's acclaimed "The History Boys"
2006
Directed the feature adaptation of the award-winning play "The History Boys," with Alan Bennett adapting and starring the original cast
Family
