CHARLES NEWELL was the Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director of Court Theatre for 30 years and is currently Court’s Senior Artistic Consultant. In 2024, Charlie received the Joseph Jefferson Special Award, honoring his enduring impact on Chicago theatre. In 2022, he and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre accepted the Regional Theatre Tony Award on behalf of Court Theatre. Additional credits include the Zelda Fichandler Award, Alan Schneider Award, multiple Jeff Awards, plus 18 nominations. Having directed 60+ productions at Court, recent productions include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead; The Gospel at Colonus, co-directed with Mark J.P. Hood; and The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice, co-directed with Gabrielle Randle-Bent. He has also directed at Goodman, Lyric Opera, Guthrie, Arena, and more. Charlie is a co-founder of the Civic Actor Studio and regularly teaches leadership at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Photo by Joe Mazza
Bio as of 3/2025