Jonathan Moscone
Jonathan Moscone | |
---|---|
Born | |
Education | Williams College (BA) Yale University (MFA) |
Occupation(s) | Theatre director, producer and arts leader |
Spouse |
Darryl Carbonaro (m. 2013) |
Parent |
|
Jonathan Moscone (born October 5, 1964) is an American
Early life
Moscone was born in San Francisco, the youngest child of George Moscone and Gina Bondanza; his father was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors at the time of his birth, and later became a state senator and Mayor of San Francisco. His siblings are Jenifer (born in 1957), Rebecca (born in 1960), and Christopher (born in 1962).[1] When he was 14 years old, his father was murdered by former Supervisor Dan White.[2] Jonathan's mother fell into a deep, multi-year depression and Jonathan did not speak about his father's death publicly for 20 years.[2]
Moscone attended junior and senior high school at
After college, Moscone worked for producer
Career
Upon graduation from Yale, Moscone moved to Dallas where he worked at the Dallas Theater Center, serving as DTC's associate director from 1993 to 1999. While at DTC, Moscone began his freelance directing career.[5] In 1995, he directed his first professional production at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco.[5] Moscone cites as influences Joseph Papp, JoAnne Akalaitis (particularly her 1989 production of Cymbeline), Irene Lewis, Arden Fingerhut, and Tony Taccone, former Artistic Director of Berkeley Repertory Theater.
I believe we have to let other voices into what we think of as the classics. Everyone has the right to touch and feel and own the classics. They belong to all of us.[6]
In 2000, Moscone became the artistic director of the California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes), which operates in Berkeley, California, and performs at the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater in Orinda, California.[2][6] In addition to providing artistic leadership at the California Shakespeare Theater, Moscone continues to work as a freelance director throughout the United States, and is an adjunct faculty member at American Conservatory Theater's Masters of Fine Arts Program.[7] He served for 6 years on the board of directors of the Theatre Communications Group, the national service organization for the American theater.[8] Currently, he sits on the boards of the Chinese Culture Center in San Francisco, and of Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard Project.
In 2009, Moscone received the inaugural Zelda Fichandler Award, given by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation for "transforming the American theatre through his unique and creative work".[9]
Moscone directed a wide range of plays at CalShakes and other theaters around the country. Among the more notable of his efforts was his co-direction (with Sean Daniels) in 2005 of
Moscone made his debut as a playwright in 2012 with the world premiere of
In 2016, Moscone was a co-proponent for a ballot measure in the City of San Francisco aimed at restoring the connection between the SF Hotel Tax Fund and support for the arts. The measure (Prop S) failed to win the necessary 2/3rds vote, earning nearly 64% of the vote. 2 years later, the arts and culture communities went back to the ballot, this time in collaboration with City Hall, and that proposition (Prop E) won an overwhelming 75% of the vote.
In March 2022, Moscone was appointed director of the California Arts Council.[15] In October 2023, Moscone announced that he will be stepping down from this position, effective December 15.[16] Currently he is focusing on his board service and supporting local arts organizations as consultant, advisor and coach.
Personal life
Moscone came out as gay at a 1998 memorial service for his father and Harvey Milk.[2] He married clean energy executive Darryl Carbonaro in November 2013. They currently reside in San Francisco.[17]
Awards
- Zelda Fichandler Award (2009)[9]
- Best Director, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award (2001,2011)[13]
- Best Director, Leon Rabin Award, Dallas, TX (2007).
References
- ^ Sward, Susan (November 23, 1998). "Moscone Kids, 20 Years Later". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e LaGanga, Maria L. (July 30, 2011). "A Slain Mayor Is Back in the Spotlight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved Oct 7, 2023.
- ^ Cullinan, Deborah (October 12, 2011). "Interview with Jonathan Moscone". Howl Around. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ Vara, Vauhini (January 5, 2012). "Play Spotlights Killing of Moscone". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 11, 2014; "Class Notes" (PDF). Williams People: 81. December 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Schiffman, Jean (February 21, 2001). "Shaking Up Cal Shakes: New Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone Brings a Populist Bent and a Musical Approach to the Renowned Bay Area Festival". backstage. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ a b D'Souza, Karen (July 13, 2012). "Jonathan Moscone: A Man With a Famous Name Who Carved His Own Path". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ Coakley, Jacob (December 6, 2009). "CalShakes A.D. Moscone Wins Inaugural Zelda Fichandler Award". Stage Directions. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ "Theatre Communications Group Announces New Appointments to Board of Directors". Broadway World. October 2, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ a b Jones, Kenneth (December 4, 2009). "Director Moscone Is Winner of First Fichandler Award". Playbill. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ a b Jones, Chad (May 11, 2014). "Timeline Traces Key Periods in Cal Shakes History, Growth". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ "Nina Raine's 'Tribes' Comes to Berkeley Rep This April" (PDF). Berkeley Repertory Theatre. March 10, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ Hurwitt, Robert (January 29, 2011). "'Clybourne Park' Review: To the Hood and Back". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ a b Rickwald, Bethany (April 10, 2012). "Rita Moreno, Jonathan Moscone, Jeff Whitty Among SFBATCC Award Winners". Theater Mania. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ Heymont, George (January 30, 2012). "The Ghost Walks at Midnight". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ Janiak, Lily (March 31, 2022). "S.F.'s Jonathan Moscone to lead California Arts Council as state's top arts official". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ Flores, Jessica; Munce, Megan Fan (November 5, 2023). "Jonathan Moscone stepping down as California's top arts official". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ "Jonathan Moscone and Darryl Carbonaro". The New York Times. November 10, 2013. Retrieved July 10, 2014.