Mary Hall Surface

Mary Hall Surface (born June 15, 1958) is an American playwright and director of theater, working primarily in the Washington, D.C. area. Surface's work has focused primarily on youth and family content.[1] Surface has received accolades from critics for the inventive use of costumes and music mixed with classic storytelling, often with origins in folk tales.[2] She has earned one Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Direction of a Resident Musical - out of eight nominations. In addition, soundtrack of her musical The Odyssey of Telémaca co-written with composer David Maddox won the 2004 Parents' Choice Gold Award.[3]

Mary Hall Surface
Born (1958-06-15) June 15, 1958
Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation(s)Theater Director, Playwright, Festival Artistic Director
Years active1982–present
Spouse
Kevin Reese
​
(m. 1987)​
ChildrenMalinda Kathleen Reese

Career

In December 2008, Surface directed the world premiere of Alice, her own adaptation of the Lewis Carroll books, at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland.[4]

Personal life

In 1987, she married her husband, Kevin Reese.[5] They have one daughter, American YouTuber, singer-songwriter, and stage actress, Malinda Kathleen Reese.[6]

Helen Hayes Awards
1993 Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Tintypes, Round House Theatre Nomination[7]
2000 Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Grimm Tales, Theater of the First Amendment Nomination[8]
2001 Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Sing Down the Moon, Appalachian Wonder Tales, Theater of the First Amendment Nomination[9]
2002 Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Perseus Bayou, Theater of the First Amendment Award Recipient[10]
2002 The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play
Perseus Bayou, Theater of the First Amendment Nomination[11]
2003 The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Musical
Mississippi Pinocchio, Theater of the First Amendment Nomination[12]
2007 The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
Lift:Icarus and Me, Theater of the First Amendment Nomination[13]
2009 Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Goodnight Moon, Tribute Productions and Adventure Theatre Nomination[14]

Recordings
  • "The Nightingale" (1999) – playwright with composer David Maddox.
  • "Sing Down The Moon: Appalachian Wonder Tales" (2002) – playwright with composer David Maddox.
  • "Perseus Bayou: The Search for the Cajun Medusa" (2002) – playwright with composer David Maddox.
  • "The Odyssey of Telémaca" (2004) – playwright with composer David Maddox.

Books
  • "Prodigy: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" (1988) – author. Published by Anchorage Press.
  • "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (1994) – author. Published by Anchorage Press.
  • "Most Valuable Player and Four Other All-Star Plays for Middle and High School Audiences (Young Actors Series)" (1999) – author. Published by Smith & Kraus.
  • "Short Scenes and Monologues for Middle School Actors" (2000) – author. Published by Smith & Kraus.
  • "More Short Scenes and Monologues for Middle School Students: Inspired by Literature, Social Studies, and Real Life (Young Actor Series)" (2007) – author. Published by Smith & Kraus.
  • "Spirit Shall Fly" (2007) – author. Published by Anchorage Press.
  • "The Tales of the Custard Dragon" (2009) – co-author with Danny Whitman. Published by Samuel French.

Stage
  • Sing Down The Moon: Appalachian Wonder Tales (2000) – Director and playwright, composed by David Maddox at Theater of the First Amendment (VA).

References
  1. Via, Dan (March 23, 2001). "Keeping It in the Family". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. WW24. ISSN 0190-8286.
  2. Mattingly, Diane (January 9, 2003). "In Six Tales, One Show of Music, Folk History". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. T08. ISSN 0190-8286.
  3. Spitz, Ellen Handler (2007). The Brightening Glance: Imagination and Childhood. Anchor. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-385-72005-2.
  4. Jones, Kenneth (December 2, 2008). ""Premiere of Mary Hall Surface's "Wonderland"-Inspired Alice Opens in MD Dec. 2"". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  5. "We made a good choice 33 years ago today. Happy anniversary, Kevin Reese. Let's keep extending the run. xoxoxo". Facebook.com.
  6. "I wrote a song with my parents in quarantine". YouTube.
  7. Sommers, Pamela (March 17, 1993). "Hamlet, Musicals Lead Helen Hayes Nominees". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. B01. ISSN 0190-8286.
  8. Pressley, Nelson (March 22, 2000). "'Indian Ink,' 'Sweeney Todd' Top Hayes Nominations". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. C1. ISSN 0190-8286.
  9. "Local Playwrights, Stirring the Plot; Writers Mull Success, D.C. & Baffling Muses". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. March 25, 2001. p. G01. ISSN 0190-8286.
  10. Pressley, Nelson (May 7, 2002). "Hayes Awards For Director, Play Hit 'Home'; Washington Theater Honors Its Own With Ceremony". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. C01. ISSN 0190-8286.
  11. Horwitz, Jane (March 12, 2002). "Kennedy Center's 16 Lead Hayes Awards; Arena Follows With 15 Nominations". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. C01. ISSN 0190-8286.
  12. "Helen Hayes Awards Nominees". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. March 11, 2003. p. C05. ISSN 0190-8286.
  13. Horwitz, Jane (February 28, 2007). "In Sync With a Hollywood Legend; Lypsinka's Co-Star Finds That His Role in 'Passion' Calls for More Than Mere Lip Service". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. C5. ISSN 0190-8286.
  14. Marston, Sarah (February 26, 2009). "Arts In Brief". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. T23. ISSN 0190-8286.
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