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Lear deBessonet

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BIO

Lear deBessonet is the Founder of Public Works and Resident Director at the Public Theater. For Public Works, she has directed pageant-style musical adaptations of The Tempest, The Winter's Tale, and The Odyssey at the Delacorte, each featuring two-hundred New Yorkers from all five boroughs.


Photos

Productions

Five Models in Ruins, 1981
 
[Off-Broadway, 2025]
Artistic Director
RagtimeRagtime
 
[Off-Broadway, 2024]
Director
Once Upon A MattressOnce Upon A Mattress
 
[Broadway, 2024]
Director
Once Upon a MattressOnce Upon a Mattress
 
[Off-Broadway, 2024]
Director
Lionel Bart's Oliver!Lionel Bart's Oliver!
 
[Off-Broadway, 2023]
Director
Into the WoodsInto the Woods
 
[US Tour, 2023]
Director
Into the WoodsInto the Woods
 
[Broadway, 2022]
Director
Thoroughly Modern MillieThoroughly Modern Millie
 
[Off-Broadway, 2020] Cancelled
Director
HerculesHercules
 
[Off-Broadway, 2019]
Director
Miss You Like HellMiss You Like Hell
 
[Off-Broadway, 2018]
Director
A Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's Dream
 
[Off-Broadway, 2017]
Director
VenusVenus
 
[Off-Broadway, 2017]
Director
The OdysseyThe Odyssey
 
[Off-Broadway, 2015]
Director
The Winter's TaleThe Winter's Tale
 
[Off-Broadway, 2014]
Conceiver and Director
Pump Boys and DinettesPump Boys and Dinettes
 
[Off-Broadway, 2014]
Director
On the LeveeOn the Levee
 
[Off-Broadway, 2010]
Director
transFigures
 
[Off-Broadway, 2007]
Director

Writing

transFigures
Conceiver

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama League Awards - 2023 - Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Lear deBessonet


winner
Drama League Awards - 2023 - Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Lear DeBessonet, Into the Woods

Tony Awards - 2023 - Best Direction of a Musical

Lear deBessonet, Into the Woods

The Lortels - 2014 - Outstanding Director

Lear deBessonet, Good Person of Szechwan

Drama Desk Awards - 2013 - Outstanding Director of a Play

Lear deBessonet, Good Person of Szechwan


winner
Obie Awards - 2013 - Direction

Lear deBessonet, The Good Person Of Szechuan

Videos

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News


Photos: On the Red Carpet for MCC's Miscast25, Honoring Sheryl Lee Ralph and Travis R Photo
Photos: On the Red Carpet for MCC's Miscast25, Honoring Sheryl Lee Ralph and Travis Raeburn
by Jennifer Broski - Apr 8, 2025

MCC Theater presented Miscast- one of the most anticipated and exciting theater events in New York each year, where the biggest stars of stage and screen take to the stage at Hammerstein Ballroom, to perform songs from roles in which they would not traditionally be cast. Check out photos from the red carpet here!
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Cast to Perform, Sign Albums at The Museum of Broadway Photo
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Cast to Perform, Sign Albums at The Museum of Broadway
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 7, 2025

Sutton Foster, Michael Urie, Daniel Breaker, Will Chase, Ana Gasteyer, and Nikki Renée Daniels will appear at The Museum of Broadway on April 22nd to perform a few selections from the Once Upon a Mattress cast recording and to sign CDs.
Photos: GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK Opening Night Brings Out Jennifer Lopez, Rachel Zeg Photo
Photos: GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK Opening Night Brings Out Jennifer Lopez, Rachel Zegler and More
by Bruce Glikas - Apr 5, 2025

George Clooney has officially made his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck, now playing at the Winter Garden Theatre. The show officially opened last night, April 3, and to celebrate the big night. Check out photos of opening night!
Photos: Darren Criss, Katie Holmes and More at GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Opening Night Photo
Photos: Darren Criss, Katie Holmes and More at GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Opening Night
by Bruce Glikas - Apr 2, 2025

Stars came out for the big opening night celebration of Glengarry Glen Ross, including Darren Criss, Katie Holmes, Ansel Elgort, and many more.Check out photos here!
Lincoln Center Theater Reveals Complete Executive Team Photo
Lincoln Center Theater Reveals Complete Executive Team
by Stephi Wild - Mar 19, 2025

Lincoln Center Theater's Board of Directors, incoming LCT Artistic Director Lear deBessonet and Executive Producer Bartlett Sher announced the completion of appointments for the new executive leadership team. Learn more here!
Clint Ramos Joins Lincoln Center as Artist-in-Residence Photo
Clint Ramos Joins Lincoln Center as Artist-in-Residence
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 24, 2025

Creative director, designer, and producer Clint Ramos has joined Lincoln Center as Artist-in-Residence. Learn more about the Tony Award winning Ramos here!
Lincoln Center Theater Names Nicole Kastrinos As Producer Photo
Lincoln Center Theater Names Nicole Kastrinos As Producer
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 5, 2025

Nicole Kastrinos will join Lincoln Center Theater in the new role of Producer, beginning Monday, March 17, 2025. Learn more about Kastrinos and about the position.
New York Theatre Workshop Announces Additional Performers And Presenters For Their 20 Photo
New York Theatre Workshop Announces Additional Performers And Presenters For Their 2025 Annual Gala
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 30, 2025

New York Theatre Workshop has announced additional performers and presenters for the NYTW 2025 Gala, honoring Emmy Award winner Rachel Brosnahan, Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango, and Tony Award-winning theater and film producer Greg Nobile.
New York City Center Names Jenny Gersten VP & Artistic Director Photo
New York City Center Names Jenny Gersten VP & Artistic Director
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 30, 2025

Jenny Gersten has been promoted from VP & Producer to the new position of VP & Artistic Director, Musical Theater at New York City Center. Learn more about Gersten and about the position.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld January 13, 2025 Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld January 13, 2025
by - Jan 13, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is January 13, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Revival Will Release Cast Recording in March Photo
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Revival Will Release Cast Recording in March
by Stephi Wild - Jan 10, 2025

The Broadway cast of New York City Center Encores! revival of Once Upon a Mattress, directed by Lear deBessonet, will go into the studio to record the Cast Album of their production at the end of January.
Rachel Brosnahan, Joaquina Kalukango & Greg Nobile to be Honored at NYTW's 2025 Gala Photo
Rachel Brosnahan, Joaquina Kalukango & Greg Nobile to be Honored at NYTW's 2025 Gala
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 18, 2024

New York Theatre Workshop's 2025 Gala will honor Emmy Award winner Rachel Brosnahan, Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango, and Tony Award-winning theater and film producer Greg Nobile. Learn more and see how to attend.
Review: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at Ahmanson Theatre Photo
Review: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at Ahmanson Theatre
by Jonas Schwartz-Owen - Dec 18, 2024

Lear deBessonet’s rollicking production of Once Upon A Mattress brings festive glee to the Southland.
Photos: Kelli O’Hara, Paulo Szot & More at SOUTH PACIFIC LCT Reunion Photo
Photos: Kelli O’Hara, Paulo Szot & More at SOUTH PACIFIC LCT Reunion
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 10, 2024

On Monday, December 9, almost the entire original company of Lincoln Center Theater’s 2008 Tony Award-winning production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC reunited on the Beaumont stage for the first time 16 years later. See photos
Spotlight: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at The Ahmanson Theatre Photo
Spotlight: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at The Ahmanson Theatre
by BWW Special Offer - Nov 27, 2024

Musical theatre legend Sutton Foster (The Drowsy Chaperone, The Music Man) returns to the Ahmanson Theatre as Princess Winnifred in this beloved musical fairytale. Full of gloriously catchy melodies like “Shy” and “In a Little While,” this uproarious update of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea promises both classic charms and new delights.
Video: Cast of RAGTIME at New York City Center Sings 'Till We Reach That Day' Photo
Video: Cast of RAGTIME at New York City Center Sings 'Till We Reach That Day'
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 6, 2024

Watch the cast of New York City Center's Ragtime perform 'Till We Reach That Day.' Learn more about the production starring Joshua Henry and more, and see how to purchase tickets.
Video: Nichelle Lewis Sings 'Your Daddy's Son' in RAGTIME Photo
Video: Nichelle Lewis Sings 'Your Daddy's Son' in RAGTIME
by Nicole Rosky - Nov 4, 2024

Nichelle Lewis is taking on the iconic role of Sarah in the New York City Center gala production of Ragtime. Watch as she performs 'Your Daddy's Son' in this video.
Broadway Buying Guide: November 4, 2024- SWEPT AWAY Arrives on Broadway Photo
Broadway Buying Guide: November 4, 2024- SWEPT AWAY Arrives on Broadway
by Team BWW - Nov 4, 2024

Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, November 4, 2024.
Photos: RAGTIME at City Center Opening Night Gala Photo
Photos: RAGTIME at City Center Opening Night Gala
by Bruce Glikas - Nov 1, 2024

Go inside the opening night performance and gala dinner for Ragtime at City Center in the photos here!
Review Roundup: RAGTIME at New York City Center Photo
Review Roundup: RAGTIME at New York City Center
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 31, 2024

Ragtime is back onstage in NYC! Winner of four Tony Awards in 1998, Ragtime follows three fictional families in pursuit of the American Dream at the turn of the 20th century. See what the critics are saying...
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Lear deBessonet written?

Lear deBessonet has written 1 shows including transFigures (Conceiver).

What awards has Lear deBessonet been nominated for?

Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (Drama League Awards) for , Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama League Awards) for Into the Woods, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Into the Woods, Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for Good Person of Szechwan, Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Good Person of Szechwan and Direction (Obie Awards) for The Good Person Of Szechuan.

What awards has Lear deBessonet won?

Lear deBessonet has won the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing at the Drama League Awards. She received the Outstanding Direction of a Musical award at the Drama League Awards for Into the Woods, as well as the Direction award at the Obie Awards for The Good Person of Szechwan.

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