“Wicked” director wins award for recent play

Joe Mantello is well-known for winning three Tony Awards for his directions of big hit musicals “Wicked,” “Take Me Out” and “Assassins,” and some may still be talking about his work on the much talked-about “Vagina Monologues,” but not many realize that the 41-year-old talent is still pushing forward with his career in his newest endeavor, “Blackbird.”

The British hit, created by David Harrower, won best new play in February at London’s 2007 Laurence Olivier Awards honoring achievement in theatre, opera and dance. Starring Jeff Daniels (“Dumb and Dumber”) and Alison Pill (“The Lieutenant of Irishmore”), this drama tells the story of an illegal love affair that began between a man and girl, which results in dire consequences for both involved, according to a review written for CurtainUp.com.

Although the play was only in theaters through June, this production is another fine showing of Mantello’s talent, which he clearly proved in “Wicked,” the story of how the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the East met, became friends and split before Dorothy set foot in Oz. Unlike “Blackbird,” “Wicked” is still in theaters across the nation and is running through September 2008. Gaining positive feedback from play critics at the New York Times, Chicago Sun Times and the Toronto Star. For Wicked tickets at a theater near you, visit http://www.stubhub.com/wicked-tickets.

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