Eric Simonson Wins Academy Award for Best Documentary Short!

Along with Corinne Marrinan, Eric Simonson has won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short for "A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin." Production notes describe the film as "This exploration of the lasting impact of radio broadcasting legend Norman Corwin's work focuses on his landmark 1945 piece, "On a Note of Triumph," which aired on the evening of VE Day."

Eric Simonson most recent stage experience took place directing A STRING OF PEARLS at Primary Stages. Simonson is also company member of Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago where he directed MOTHER COURAGE, SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5 (adaptation also), NOMATHEMBA (co-author with Ntozake Shange and Joseph Shabalala) and THE SONG OF JACOB ZULU (Broadway, Tony Nom., Perth Arts Festival). Other Stage: THE HANDMAID'S TALE for Minnesota Opera; Ahab's Tale for Milwaukee Rep (writer also, top ten productions of 2002, Time Magazine). WORK SONG (co-writer with Jeffrey Hatcher) at Milwaukee Rep, Missouri Rep, Arizona Theatre, and upcoming City Theatre of Pittsburgh. Other credits: HAMLET, THE LAST HURRAH (adaptation also) and BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY (adaptation also) at The Huntington Theatre; OTHELLO at Court Theatre; LA BOHEME, BOKCHOY VARIATIONS and upcoming GRAPES OF WRATH at Minnesota Opera; as well as work at Kennedy Center, Seattle Rep, Court Theatre, San Jose Rep and LA Theatre Works. Film: documentary ON TIPTOE (Academy Award Nom., Emmy nom., Ida Distinguished Achievement Award); HAMLET (co-directed with Campbell Scott) for Hallmark Entertainment; TOPA TOPA BLUFFS. As an actor, Mr. Simonson appeared in Steppenwolf's THE GRAPES OF WRATH, and on TV on 'Seinfeld', 'The Untouchables' and 'The Ben Stiller Show'. Recipient of the Princess Grace Award and the NCCJ Media Arts Award, Mr. Simonson is currently writing a TV pilot for HBO called "Five Points."