Dean Linnard

I just finished playing Lemml in Paula Vogel’s exquisite play “Indecent” at San Francisco Playhouse in California. The show was the best reviewed production in San Francisco Playhouse’s 20 year history.

Here’s what the critics had to say about my performance:

 

“The linchpin of Vogel’s historical melodrama is Lemml, played by the unforgettable Dean Linnard … Linnard physically embodies the Jewish story—personally and politically—in a stunning performance.” Barry David Horwitz, Theatrius

 

“I loved the cast. Scratch that. I adored the cast. Every damn one of them. Dean Linnard is something close to perfection: spectacularly wide-eyed as the youthful Lemml, thrilled to be a part of theatre even in the smallest way, yet gritty and filled with righteous anger when he feels betrayed.” Patrick Thomas, Talkin’ Broadway 

 

“Lemml the stage manager is really the heart and soul of the play … Dean Linnard exudes intensity as Lemml, unfailingly kind, seemingly selfless and quietly zealous about this one particular play … Even in his most jubilant moments, there’s a haunted quality about Linnard’s Lemml, a melancholy lurking beneath the surface that foreshadows sorrows to come.” Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News 

 

“Dean Linnard as a stage manager in both the play and the meta-play could tell the show’s whole story with just his expressive eyes. They are the smoldering coals of a furnace, then hollowed-out skull pits, then gleaming electric bulbs. When as an immigrant at last rejecting America’s false promises, he spits out each word of the sentence “I am done being in a country that laughs at the way I speak” as if each English word uttered is also a weapon against himself.” Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle

 

Dave Malloy’s brilliant chamber choir musical “Octet” played Berkeley Rep and I had the great fortune to understudy two roles … and go on for several performances! It was a joy and an honor to sing with the exquisite cast.

I also got to sing the national anthem with the “Octet” cast before a San Francisco Giants game! Check out the full video of us singing here.

“Octet” was a wondrous experience and I’m so grateful for everyone involved.

I was just nominated for a San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for my performance in Cal Shakes’ 2021 production of “The Winter’s Tale”. Our production was nominated for Best Costume Design, Best Set Design, Best Entire Production, and I was nominated for Best Featured Performance – Comedy along with the brilliant Phil Wong. An honor to be nominated alongside by brilliant comedic partner!

The Lucille Lortel, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, AUDELCO, and Obie Awards have come calling! The world premiere of Dave Harris’ play “Tambo & Bones”, in which I had the immense good fortune to appear earlier this year at Playwrights Horizons, has been recognized by all of the major Off-Broadway awards entities. The production was recently nominated for three Lortel awards, two Drama Leagues awards, three AUDELCO awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and an Obie!

At the Lortels, “Tambo & Bones” was nominated for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play (W. Tré Davis), Outstanding Costume Design (Dominique Fawn Hill), and Outstanding Sound Design (Mikhail Fiksel).

At the Drama League Awards, “Tambo & Bones” was nominated for Outstanding Direction of a Play (Taylor Reynolds) and the Distinguished Performance Award (Tyler Fauntleroy).

At the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Dave Harris was nominated for the John Gassner Award for New American Playwrights for “Tambo & Bones”.

At the AUDELCO Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre, “Tambo & Bones” was nominated for Best Sound Design (Mikhail Fiksel), Best Costume Design (Dominique Fawn Hill), and Outstanding Ensemble (W. Tré Davis, Tyler Fountleroy, Brendan Dalton, and yours truly).

And at the Obie Awards, our brilliant director Taylor Reynolds won for her direction of “Man Cave” and our very own “Tambo & Bones”.

A hearty congratulations to all of these exquisite artists!

Next up I’m joining the original production of Dave Malloy’s musical “Octet” as it transfers to Berkeley Rep! I will be a swing, covering the roles of Henry and Ed (go Basses!). The production reunites the original creative team that premiered the show at Signature Theatre before the pandemic; written by three-time Tony Award-nominee Dave Malloy (Broadway’s “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”), directed by Lucille Lortel Award-winner Annie Tippe (“Ghost Quartet”), with music direction by Obie-winner Or Matias, the exquisite A Cappella musical promises to be a transfixing experience. I am honored to be a part of it … and to help bring it to Berkeley, my home town! “Octet” runs at Berkeley Rep from April 20th to May 29th. Press release here. Tickets and info here.  

I recently had the great fortune to act in “Tambo & Bones” at Playwrights Horizons Off-Broadway. The world premiere of Dave Harris’ explosive play stirred up a lot of conversation. Here are links to several incredible essays about our production:

“Thoughts on Tambo & Bones” by Pulitzer nominee Craig Lucas

“This Play Ain’t Playin With Y’all” by poet Omar Holmon

“When the Sleepers Awaken” by playwright Anne Washburn

“White Discomfort is the BARE, Bare Minimum: A Reflection on Dave Harris’s TAMBO & BONES“ by writer and cultural worker Afrikah Smith

“Playwright’s Perspective” by “Tambo & Bones” playwright Dave Harris

I’m currently acting in the world premiere of Dave Harris’ play “Tambo & Bones” at Playwrights Horizons Off-Broadway, directed by Taylor Reynolds. It is a fabulous honor to be sharing the stage with W. Tré Davis, Tyler Fauntleroy, and Brendan Dalton. The brilliance of this play and the extraordinary caliber of the artists working in that storied building absolutely floors me. This is a creative highlight of my life. We run through February 27th at the Playwrights Horizons MainStage on 42nd Street. Tickets and more information can be found here. 

Throughout 2021 I managed a digital theater collective called the Anti-Isolation Arts Factory. I founded the platform in January 2021 to give creative opportunities to out of work artists and connect audiences with performers during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

During the Summer of 2021 I returned to California Shakespeare Theater to play Camillo and the Clown in “The Winter’s Tale” directed by Cal Shakes’ Artistic Director Eric Ting. The sold out, extended run was an absolute joy! A streaming version of the production was subsequently released over the Holidays. Click here for some video from the show. 

I also traveled to Bennington, Vermont to act in the two-hander “Visiting Mr. Green” at Oldcastle Theatre Company, directed by Artistic Director Nathan Stith. It was an honor to work for both of these fine theater companies.

“Tambo & Bones” at Playwrights Horizons, “Octet” at Berkeley Rep … it’s been an extraordinary year! In the Winter, I had the immense good fortune to perform in the world premiere of Dave Harris’ play “Tambo & Bones” at Playwrights Horizons Off-Broadway. Then I headed West for the out-of-town tryout of Dave Malloy’s musical “Octet” at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. I ended the year playing Lemml in Paula Vogel’s masterpiece “Indecent” at San Francisco Playhouse. I am so grateful to these incredible companies for being my artistic homes in 2022. On to the New Year!