Stephen
Mitchell
Eckert

Theatre Director

About

The director, seen here imitating a dinosaur and trying to flex their forearms

Stephen M. Eckert is a New York City-based director specializing in dynamic and thought-provoking theater. With a passion for new plays, musicals, operas, and fresh takes on classic texts, Stephen crafts bold, visually striking, and engaging productions. Their work reflects a contemporary lens, embracing storytelling that challenges conventions and connects with audiences.

As the founder and Artistic Director of the award-winning Promethean Theatre Company in New Orleans (2012–2017), Stephen directed over a dozen productions, earning critical acclaim, including two Big Easy Entertainment Award nominations for Best Director of a Drama (The Flick and Equus). Under their leadership, Promethean's productions garnered 13 nominations and 5 wins across multiple categories.

Stephen’s portfolio includes directing several celebrated premieres, such as The Trouble with Dead Boyfriends (Off-Broadway, Players Theatre) and A Small Breach in Protocol at Big Rick’s Rockin’ Skydive Academy (Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival). Their work has been featured internationally at London’s TÊTE À TÊTE opera festival (ID, Please) and in award-winning productions like We Will Not Describe the Conversation at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Résumé/CV Contact

Upcoming

The Myth of Sisyphus,
or Why Don’t We uN-aLIVE Ourselves?
or tHE lEGEND OF zELDA: mAJORA’S mASK 100% gLITCHLESS

Based on Albert Camus

In Process

A durational meat space and streaming performance colliding existentialist philosophy and video game speed-running.

Untitled Edward Hopper Opera

Conceived with Josh Brown (music), and Ryan Hudak (libretto)

In Process

A non-narrative opera exploring the work of American realist painter Edward Hopper.

Not Clickbait: An Instagram Live Play

Conceived with Izzi D'Esposito

In Process

An original performance piece exploring questions of trauma, performance, and social media through text, media, and live performance; referencing tools and aesthetic trappings of Youtube makeup vlogging and alien abduction confessions.

Workshopped at the CMU Studio 201 in Summer of 2017 with media designer, Adam J. Thompson and performer, Kennedy McMann.

Workshop Gallery

Revised and premiered during the coronavirus pandemic for Instagram Live.