David Petrarca (born November 10, 1965) is an American director and producer of theatre, television and film.
He was a director at the
Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of the Chicago theatre scene, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization. Part of its present theater complex occupies the ...
in
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
from 1988 until 2005. His work as a director includes
HBO
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...
's ''
Boardwalk Empire
''Boardwalk Empire'' is an American period crime drama television series created by Terence Winter for the premium cable channel HBO. The series is set chiefly in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. The series sta ...
'', ''
Game of Thrones
''Game of Thrones'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy Drama (film and television), drama television series created by David Benioff and for HBO. It is an adaptation of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'', a series of high fantasy novels by ...
'', ''
Big Love
''Big Love'' is an American drama (film and television), drama television series created by Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer that aired on HBO from 2006 to 2011. It stars Bill Paxton as the patriarch of a Mormon fundamentalism, fundamentalist Mor ...
'', ''
Hung'', and ''
True Blood
''True Blood'' is an American fantasy Horror fiction, horror Drama (film and television), drama television series produced and created by Alan Ball (screenwriter), Alan Ball. It is based on ''The Southern Vampire Mysteries'', a series of novels ...
''. ''
Before'' for Apple TV, as well as ''
Marco Polo
Marco Polo (; ; ; 8 January 1324) was a Republic of Venice, Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' (also known a ...
'', ''
Jessica Jones
Jessica Campbell Jones-Cage, professionally known as Jessica Jones, is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos and first appea ...
'' and numerous other projects for Netflix. Other recent projects include ''
The Alienist
''The Alienist'' is a crime novel by Caleb Carr first published in 1994 and is the first book in the Kreizler series. It takes place in New York City in 1896, and includes appearances by many famous figures of New York society in that era, in ...
'' and ''
Warrior
A warrior is a guardian specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal society, tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracy, social class, class, or caste.
History
...
''. He worked as an executive producer on ''
Death and Other Details'', ''
Those Who Kill'',
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting
* Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...
series ''
Eli Stone
''Eli Stone'' is an American Legal drama, legal Musical film, musical comedy drama television series that was created by Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, who also served as executive producers alongside Ken Olin who directed the pilot, with M ...
'' and ''
Drop Dead Diva
''Drop Dead Diva'' is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that aired on Lifetime from July 12, 2009, to June 22, 2014. The series was created by Josh Berman and produced by Sony Pictures Television. It stars Brooke Elliot ...
''.
He was the recipient of a TCG/NEA Director Fellowship and has served as associate artistic director for the
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is a regional theatre in the United States. It was founded in 1959 by college student Gerald Covell and was one of the first regional theatres in the United States. Located in Eden Park, the first play tha ...
and the Chelsea Theatre Centre in New York City, and on the
NEA Theatre Panel.
He has taught at the
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is a public art school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It grants a high school diploma, in addition to both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded in 1963 as the North Carolina Sc ...
, the O'Neill Center and
Northwestern University
Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...
and has developed new work for New York Stage and Film and the
Bread Loaf Writers' Conference
The Middlebury Bread Loaf Writers' Conference is an author's conference held every summer at the Bread Loaf Inn, near Bread Loaf Mountain, east of Middlebury, Vermont. Founded in 1926, it has been called by ''The New Yorker'' "the oldest and most ...
.
In 1996, Petrarca was chosen by the
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...
as a "Chicagoan of the Year".
In
2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
, he completed filming ''
Save the Last Dance 2'' for
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...
. As of mid-2017, he was working on the screenplay of
Wendy MacLeod
Wendy MacLeod (born August 6, 1959) is an American playwright.
Life and career
MacLeod received a BA from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where she now teaches and is a playwright-in-residence. She earned a MFA from the Yale School of Drama. ...
's ''Schoolgirl Figure'', a film adaptation of
David Lindsay-Abaire
David Lindsay-Abaire (né Abaire; born November 30, 1969) is an American playwright, lyricist and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2007 for his play '' Rabbit Hole'', which also earned several Tony Award nominations. Lin ...
's ''
Fuddy Meers'', as well as a film about the legendary mime,
Marcel Marceau
Marcel Marceau (; born Marcel Mangel; 22 March 1923 – 22 September 2007) was a French mime artist and actor most famous for his stage persona, "Bip the Clown". He referred to mime as the "art of silence", performing professionally worldwide ...
.
Selected works
As film director
* ''
Save the Last Dance 2'' (2006)
As television executive producer
*''
Death and Other Details'' (2024-)
*''
Those Who Kill'' (2014)
*''
Drop Dead Diva
''Drop Dead Diva'' is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that aired on Lifetime from July 12, 2009, to June 22, 2014. The series was created by Josh Berman and produced by Sony Pictures Television. It stars Brooke Elliot ...
'' (2009)
*''
Eli Stone
''Eli Stone'' is an American Legal drama, legal Musical film, musical comedy drama television series that was created by Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, who also served as executive producers alongside Ken Olin who directed the pilot, with M ...
'' (2008–2009)
*''
Everwood
''Everwood'' is an American drama television series created by Greg Berlanti. Berlanti, Mickey Liddell, Rina Mimoun, Andrew A. Ackerman and Michael Green served as executive producers. The series aired on the WB from September 16, 2002, to Jun ...
'' (2004–2005)
As television director
*''
68 Whiskey
''68 Whiskey'' is an American military comedy-drama television series created by Roberto Benabib. Based on the Israeli television series ''Charlie Golf One'' (known as ''Taagad'' in ), it premiered on January 15, 2020 on the Paramount Network. ...
'' (episode #6: "
Fight or Flight")
*''
The Alienist
''The Alienist'' is a crime novel by Caleb Carr first published in 1994 and is the first book in the Kreizler series. It takes place in New York City in 1896, and includes appearances by many famous figures of New York society in that era, in ...
'' (episode #8: "
Psychopathia Sexualis")
*''
Before'' 2 episodes
*''
Big Love
''Big Love'' is an American drama (film and television), drama television series created by Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer that aired on HBO from 2006 to 2011. It stars Bill Paxton as the patriarch of a Mormon fundamentalism, fundamentalist Mor ...
'' (8 episodes)
*''
Boardwalk Empire
''Boardwalk Empire'' is an American period crime drama television series created by Terence Winter for the premium cable channel HBO. The series is set chiefly in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. The series sta ...
'' (episode #14 "
Ourselves Alone")
*''
Brothers & Sisters'' (episode #11: "
Family Day
Family Day is a public holiday in the countries of Angola, Israel, Namibia, South Africa, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Vietnam; in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan; in the American states of A ...
")
*''
Cupid
In classical mythology, Cupid ( , meaning "passionate desire") is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the god of war Mars. He is also known as Amor (Latin: ...
'' (episode #10: "
Hung Jury
A hung jury, also called a deadlocked jury, is a judicial jury that cannot agree upon a verdict after extended deliberation and is unable to reach the required unanimity or supermajority. A hung jury may result in the case being tried again.
Thi ...
")
*''
Dawson's Creek
''Dawson's Creek'' is an American teen drama television series about the lives of a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, beginning in high school and continuing into college. It aired from January 20, 19 ...
'' (7 episodes)
*''
Dirty Sexy Money
''Dirty Sexy Money'' is an American prime time drama television series created by Craig Wright that ran for two seasons on ABC from September 26, 2007, to August 8, 2009. The series was produced by Berlanti Television and ABC Studios. Wrig ...
'' (episode #6: "
The Game")
*''
Drop Dead Diva
''Drop Dead Diva'' is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that aired on Lifetime from July 12, 2009, to June 22, 2014. The series was created by Josh Berman and produced by Sony Pictures Television. It stars Brooke Elliot ...
'' (3 episodes)
*''
Early Edition
''Early Edition'' is an American fantasy comedy-drama television series that aired on CBS from September 28, 1996, to May 27, 2000. Set in Chicago, Illinois, it follows the adventures of a man who mysteriously receives each ''Chicago Sun-Times' ...
'' (episode #61: "
Number One with a Bullet")
*''
Eli Stone
''Eli Stone'' is an American Legal drama, legal Musical film, musical comedy drama television series that was created by Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, who also served as executive producers alongside Ken Olin who directed the pilot, with M ...
'' (7 episodes)
*''
Everwood
''Everwood'' is an American drama television series created by Greg Berlanti. Berlanti, Mickey Liddell, Rina Mimoun, Andrew A. Ackerman and Michael Green served as executive producers. The series aired on the WB from September 16, 2002, to Jun ...
'' (12 episodes)
*''
Felicity'' (episode #70: "
The Last Thanksgiving")
*''
Full Circle'' (2 episodes)
*''
Game of Thrones
''Game of Thrones'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy Drama (film and television), drama television series created by David Benioff and for HBO. It is an adaptation of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'', a series of high fantasy novels by ...
'' (2 episodes)
*''
Gilmore Girls
''Gilmore Girls'' is an American comedy drama television series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. The show debuted October 5, 2000, on The WB and became a flagship series for the network. The show ran fo ...
'' (episode #11: "
Paris Is Burning")
*''
Glory Days'' (episode #7: "
There Goes the Neighborhood")
*''
Gracepoint
''Gracepoint'' is an American crime drama television series created by Chris Chibnall. It is a remake of Chibnall's series, ''Broadchurch'', and stars that series' lead, David Tennant, along with Anna Gunn, as two detectives investigating the mu ...
'' (2 episodes)
*''
Happy!'' (episode #6: "
The Scrapyard of Childish Things")
*''
Hemlock Grove'' (episode #21: "
Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since Classical antiquity, antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn (anatomy), horn projecting from its forehead.
In European literature and art, the unico ...
")
*''
Hung'' (2 episodes)
*''
Jack & Bobby
''Jack & Bobby'' is an American drama television series created by Greg Berlanti, Vanessa Taylor, Steven A. Cohen, and Brad Meltzer. It aired on The WB from September 12, 2004, to May 11, 2005. The series’ title is a reference to real-life po ...
'' (4 episodes)
*''
Jack & Jill'' (4 episodes)
*''
Jack Ryan'' (2 episodes)
*''
Jessica Jones
Jessica Campbell Jones-Cage, professionally known as Jessica Jones, is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos and first appea ...
'' (2 episodes)
*''
Joan of Arcadia
''Joan of Arcadia'' is an American fantasy family drama television series telling the story of teenager Joan Girardi ( Amber Tamblyn), who sees and speaks with God and performs tasks she is given. The series originally aired on Fridays on CBS f ...
'' (episode #6: "
Bringeth It On")
*''
Knightfall Knightfall may refer to:
Television
* ''Knightfall'' (TV series), an American historical fiction drama television series
* " Knight Fall", an episode of the sixth season of ''House''
* "Knightfall" (''Once Upon a Time''), an episode of the sevent ...
'' (2 episodes)
*''
Life on Mars
The possibility of life on Mars is a subject of interest in astrobiology due to the planet's proximity and similarities to Earth. To date, no conclusive evidence of past or present life has been found on Mars. Cumulative evidence suggests that ...
'' (1 episode)
*''
Magic City'' (2 episodes)
*''
The Man In The High Castle'' (1 episode)
*''
Marco Polo (2014 TV series)
''Marco Polo'' is an American drama television series inspired by Marco Polo's early years in the court of Kublai Khan, the Khagan of the Mongol Empire and the founder of the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). The show premiered on Netflix on December ...
'' (4 episodes)
*''
Nashville
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
'' (1 episode)
*''
No Ordinary Family
''No Ordinary Family'' is an American television series that aired on ABC in the United States and CTV in Canada. The one hour science fiction comedy drama was produced by ABC Studios for the 2010–2011 television season. The series ran from ...
'' (1 episode)
*''
Nothing Sacred'' (1 episode)
*''
On The Verge'' (3 episodes)
*''
Pan Am
Pan American World Airways, originally founded as Pan American Airways and more commonly known as Pan Am, was an airline that was the principal and largest international air carrier and unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United States for ...
'' (1 episode)
*''
Pasadena
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial d ...
'' (1 episode)
*''
Political Animals'' (2 episodes)
*''
The Politician
''The Politician'' is a Caroline era stage play, a tragedy written by James Shirley, and first published in 1655.
Publication
''The Politician,'' along with another Shirley play, '' The Gentleman of Venice,'' was published by the bookseller Hu ...
'' (1 episode)
*''
Popular'' (1 episode)
*''
Powers'' (2 episodes)
*''
Six Degrees'' (2 episodes)
*''
State of Mind'' (1 episode)
*''
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
''Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip'' is an American comedy-drama television series created for NBC and primarily written by Aaron Sorkin. The series was about the production of a live comedy series similar to ''Saturday Night Live''. Produced by ...
'' (1 episode)
*''
Summerland'' (1 episode)
*''
The Expanse (TV series)
''The Expanse'' is an American science fiction television series developed by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby for the Syfy network; it is based on the series of novels of the same name by James S. A. Corey. Set in a future where humanity has colo ...
'' (2 episodes)
*''
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
''Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan'' (also known simply as ''Jack Ryan'') is an American Political drama, political action thriller television series based on characters from the fictional Ryanverse created by author Tom Clancy. Featuring modern-day inte ...
'' ( 2 episodes)
*''
To Have & to Hold'' (1 episode)
*''
Those Who Kill'' (3 episodes)
*''
True Blood
''True Blood'' is an American fantasy Horror fiction, horror Drama (film and television), drama television series produced and created by Alan Ball (screenwriter), Alan Ball. It is based on ''The Southern Vampire Mysteries'', a series of novels ...
'' (3 episodes)
*''
Tyrant
A tyrant (), in the modern English usage of the word, is an absolute ruler who is unrestrained by law, or one who has usurped a legitimate ruler's sovereignty. Often portrayed as cruel, tyrants may defend their positions by resorting to ...
'' (2 episodes)
*''
Warrior
A warrior is a guardian specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal society, tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracy, social class, class, or caste.
History
...
'' (4 episodes)
*''
Wayward Pines
''Wayward Pines'' is an American mystery science fiction television series based on the ''Wayward Pines'' novels by Blake Crouch. Developed for television by Chad Hodge, the pilot was directed by M. Night Shyamalan, with both as executive pr ...
'' (1 episode)
As theatre director
* ''
Away
Away may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Away'' (2016 film), a British film directed by David Blair
* ''Away'' (2019 film), a Latvian animated silent film by Gints Zilbalodis
* Away (2025 film), a drama film by Gerard Oms
* ''Away'' (TV series ...
''
* ''
The Beard of Avon''
* ''Current Events'' by David Marshall Grant
†
* ''Dark Rapture''
* ''Deep in a Dream of You''
†
* ''
Design for Living
''Design for Living'' is a comedy play written by Noël Coward in 1932. It concerns a trio of artistic characters, Gilda, Otto and Leo, and their complicated three-way relationship. Originally written to star Lynn Fontanne, Alfred Lunt and C ...
''
* ''Dinah Was''
†
* ''
Down the Shore'' by Tom Donaghy
†
* ''
Fuddy Meers'' by
David Lindsay-Abaire
David Lindsay-Abaire (né Abaire; born November 30, 1969) is an American playwright, lyricist and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2007 for his play '' Rabbit Hole'', which also earned several Tony Award nominations. Lin ...
†
* ''
The House of Martin Guerre''
†
* ''
Juvenilia
Juvenilia are literary, musical or artistic works produced by authors during their youth. Written juvenilia, if published at all, usually appear as retrospective publications, some time after the author has become well known for later works. Bac ...
'' by
Wendy MacLeod
Wendy MacLeod (born August 6, 1959) is an American playwright.
Life and career
MacLeod received a BA from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where she now teaches and is a playwright-in-residence. She earned a MFA from the Yale School of Drama. ...
†
* ''
Kimberly Akimbo'' by David Lindsay-Abaire
†
* ''Light Up The Sky''
* ''Lloyd's Prayer'' by
Kevin Kling
* ''
Lovers and Friends
''Lovers and Friends'' is an American soap opera that aired on NBC from January 3 to May 6, 1977. When the show didn't catch on immediately, NBC put the show on hiatus for seven months, and then brought it back on December 6, 1977, as a retooled ...
'' by
Michael John LaChiusa
Michael John LaChiusa (born July 24, 1962) is an American musical theatre and opera composer, lyricist, and librettist. He is best known for musically esoteric shows such as '' Hello Again'', '' Marie Christine'', '' The Wild Party'', and '' See W ...
†
* ''
Marvin's Room'' (Directed the premiere in New York City as well as the West End of London)
* ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream
''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a Comedy (drama), comedy play written by William Shakespeare in about 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One s ...
''
* ''Mill Fire'' by Sally Nemeth
†
* ''Northeast Local'' by Tom Donaghy
†
* ''Nothing Sacred'' by
George F. Walker
* ''Peacekeeper'' by
Keith Reddin
Keith Reddin (born July 7, 1956) is an American actor and playwright. He received his B.S. in 1978 from Northwestern University and then went on to attend Yale School of Drama until he received his M.A. in 1981.
Reddin grew up in Englewood, Ne ...
* ''Red'' by
Chay Yew
Chay Yew () is a playwright and stage director who was born in Singapore. He was artistic director of the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago from 2011 to 2020.
Career
Chay Yew's breakthrough work came from his early plays ''Porcelain'' and ' ...
†
* ''
Richard II
Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward, Prince of Wales (later known as the Black Prince), and Joan, Countess of Kent. R ...
''
* ''Sin'' by
Wendy MacLeod
Wendy MacLeod (born August 6, 1959) is an American playwright.
Life and career
MacLeod received a BA from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where she now teaches and is a playwright-in-residence. She earned a MFA from the Yale School of Drama. ...
†
* ''
The Skin of Our Teeth''
* ''Somebody Else's House'' by David Cale
†
* ''Three Postcards'' by
Craig Carnelia and
Craig Lucas
Craig Lucas (born April 30, 1951) is an American playwright, screenwriter, theatre director, musical actor, and film director.
Biography
Born on April 30, 1951, he was found abandoned in a car in Atlanta, Georgia. Lucas was adopted when he was e ...
* ''
The Tooth of Crime
''The Tooth of Crime'' is a musical play written by Sam Shepard which made its premiere in London's Open Space Theatre on July 17, 1972. It tells the story of aging rock singer Hoss, doing battle with rival Crow.
Plot
The play is set in a vagu ...
'' by
Sam Shepard
Samuel Shepard Rogers III (November 5, 1943 – July 27, 2017) was an American playwright, actor, director, screenwriter, and author whose career spanned half a century. He wrote 58 plays as well as several books of short stories, essays, ...
* ''
The Visit''
* ''The Water Children'' by Wendy MacLeod
†
* ''
Twelfth Night
''Twelfth Night, or What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola an ...
''
* ''
A Year with Frog and Toad
''A Year With Frog and Toad'' is a musical written by brothers Robert (music) and Willie Reale (book and lyrics), based on the ''Frog and Toad'' children's stories written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel. The musical follows the woodland advent ...
'' on Broadway (
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
Nomination for Best Musical)
† indicates a premiere.
References
External links
*
*
David Petrarcaat the
Internet Theatre Database
The Internet Theatre Database (ITDb) is an online database with information about plays, playwrights, actors, legitimate theatre, musical theatre, Broadway shows, and similar theatrical information.
The website is run by several volunteer thea ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Petrarca, David
1965 births
American television directors
American television producers
American theatre directors
Living people
Northwestern University faculty
People from Warwick, Rhode Island
Film directors from Rhode Island