Lear deBessonet
First Standings Revealed for the 2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards (May 22, 2026)
Photos: Inside the 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards (May 22, 2026)
Photos: On the Red Carpet for Lincoln Center Theater's Gala Presentation of MAN OF LA MANCHA (May 19, 2026)
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.
Productions
Writing
Awards and Nominations
winner
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
winner
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
winner
Lear deBessonet
winner
Lear DeBessonet, Into the Woods
Lear deBessonet, Into the Woods
Lear deBessonet, Good Person of Szechwan
Lear deBessonet, Good Person of Szechwan
winner
Lear deBessonet, The Good Person Of Szechuan
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Lear deBessonet has written 1 shows including transFigures (Conceiver).
Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Ragtime, OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL (Drama League Awards) for Ragtime, Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Ragtime, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Ragtime, 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.
Lear deBessonet has won the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (Drama League Awards) and Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama League Awards) for Into the Woods. Additionally, she received the Direction award (Obie Awards) for The Good Person of Szechuan.
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