Kevin Dowling

Kevin Dowling is an American director, writer and producer of features, television and theatre. His film debut, "The Sum of Us," starring Russell Crowe and Jack Thompson, won 17 awards including "Best Feature" at the Montreal and Sydney Film Festivals, four Australian Critics Awards including Best Picture, and six A.F.I. nominations. His second feature, "Mojave Moon," a dark romantic comedy, starred Angelina Jolie, Alfred Molina and Anne Archer. His third film, the psychological thriller, "Last Rites," starred Randy Quaid and Embeth Davidtz. On stage, Mr. Dowling directed the award winning New York premiere of "The Sum of Us," starring Tony Goldwyn. That production opened to critical acclaim at the Cherry Lane Theatre and was awarded both an Obie and the Outer Critics Circle Award. He also directed the New York premiere of Jay Tarses' play "Man in his Underwear" at Playwrights Horizons; the critically acclaimed New York revival of David Mamet's comedy "A Life in the Theater" starring F. Murray Abraham; and Ralph Waite in Eugene O'Neill's "Anna Christie." At the Williamstown Theatre Festival, he directed Inge's "Picnic" starring Blythe Danner, Tony Goldwyn, and Gwyneth Paltrow; O'Neill's "Moon for the Misbegotten," starring Christine Lahti, Jamey Sheridan, and Pat Hingle; and an earlier production of "The Sum of Us." He produced the musical "Buddy," at the Shubert Theatre and was the maintaining director of "The Nerd" on Broadway, where he directed, among others, Peter MacNicol, Robert Joy, and Peter Riegert. Prior to "The Nerd," author Larry Shue and Mr. Dowling were collaborating with composer Alan Menken on a Broadway musical based on Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners." Mr. Dowling was a Founding Member and, for eight years, the Artistic Director of The Actor's Ensemble. During this time, he directed more than 20 plays, including the first full scale New York production of Lanford Wilson's "This Is The Rill Speaking," the New York premiere of Dan Lauria's "Game Plan," his own "A Child's Piece," and revivals of plays by Harold Pinter and Sam Shepard. He later produced Mr. Shepard's comedy hit "True West," which ran for two years at the Cherry Lane Theatre and featured during its run such actors as: John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, James Belushi, Gary Cole, Randy Quaid, & Dennis Quaid. He also served as Artistic Director of the Cherry Lane Theatre from 1982 to 1995.