John Dexter Biography (1925?-1990)

Born August 2, 1925 (some sources say 1935), in Derby, England; died of heartfailure, March 23, 1990, in London, England; son of Harry James (a plumber)and Rose Dexter.

Nationality
English
Gender
Male
Occupation
director, designer, actor
Death Details
March 23, 1990
London, England

Famous Works

  • Credits; Stage Work; Director
  • Yes--and After, English Stage Company, Royal Court Theatre, London, England, 1957.
  • Each in His Own Wilderness, English Stage Company, Royal Court Theatre, 1957.
  • Chicken Soup with Barley, English Stage Company, Royal Court Theatre, 1958 and 1960.
  • Roots, English Stage Company, Royal Court Theatre, 1959.
  • Last Day in Dreamland and A Gift of the Sea (double bill),English Stage Company, Royal Court Theatre, 1959.
  • This Year, Next Year, English Stage Company, Royal Court Theatre,1960.
  • I'm Talking about Jerusalem, English Stage Company, Royal Court Theatre, 1960.
  • Toys in the Attic, Royal Court Theatre, 1960.
  • The Kitchen, English Stage Company, Royal Court Theatre, 1961.
  • (Broadway debut) Chips with Everything, Plymouth Theatre, New YorkCity, 1963.
  • The Royal Hunt of the Sun, ANTA Theatre, New York City, 1965.
  • Do I Hear a Waltz, Forty-sixth Street Theatre, New York City, 1965.
  • "Black Comedy" and "White Lies," in Black Comedy (double bill), Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1967.
  • The Unknown Soldier and His Wife, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, New York City, 1967.
  • Hamlet, American Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, CT, 1969.
  • In Praise of Love, Morosco Theatre, New York City, 1973.
  • Equus, Plymouth Theatre, 1974, then Helen Hayes Theatre, 1976.
  • The Misanthrope, St. James Theatre, New York City, 1975.
  • Phaedra Britannica, National Theatre Company, London, 1975.
  • The Merchant, Plymouth Theatre, 1977.
  • Pygmalion, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, 1978.
  • One Night Stand, Nederlander Theatre, New York City, 1980.
  • Gallileo and As You Like It (double bill), National TheatreCompany, 1980.
  • Shoemaker's Holiday, National Theatre Company, 1981.
  • The Portage to San Cristobal of A. H., Mermaid Theatre, 1982.
  • The Glass Menagerie, Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York City, 1983.
  • The Nightingale, Covent Garden Opera Company, London, 1983.
  • Portraits, Savoy Theatre, London, 1987.
  • M. Butterfly, National Theatre, Washington, D.C., then Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 1988, later Shaftesbury Theatre, London, 1989.
  • The 3 Penny Opera, National Theater, then Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York City, 1989.
  • Also directed Gigi, 1985, and The Cocktail Party, 1986.
  • Credits; Stage Work; National Theatre Company, Old Vic Theatre, London
  • Chicken Soup with Barley, 1961.
  • This Time Next Year, 1961.
  • I'm Talking about Jerusalem, 1961.
  • The Kitchen, 1961.
  • South, 1961.
  • The Keep, 1961 and 1962.
  • (Codirector) Chips with Everything, 1962.
  • My Place, 1962.
  • England, Our England, 1962.
  • The Blood of the Bambergs, 1962.
  • The Sponge Room and Squat Betty (double bill), 1962.
  • Jackie the Jumper, 1962.
  • Half a Sixpence, 1962.
  • Saint Joan, then Chichester and Edinburgh Festivals, 1962.
  • Hobson's Choice, 1964.
  • Othello, 1964.
  • (Codirector) The Royal Hunt of the Sun, then Chichester Festival,1964.
  • (Codirector) Armstrong's Last Goodnight, then Chichester Festival,1966.
  • Black Comedy, then Chichester Festival, 1966.
  • A Bond Honoured, 1966.
  • The Storm, 1966.
  • Wise Child, 1967.
  • A Woman Killed with Kindness, 1971.
  • (Codirector) Tyger, 1971.
  • The Goodnatured Man, 1971.
  • The Old Ones, 1972.
  • The Misanthrope, 1973.
  • Equus, 1973.
  • In Praise of Love, 1973.
  • The Party, 1973.
  • Pygmalion, then Albery Theatre, 1974.
  • Credits; Major Tours; Director
  • Equus, U.S. cities, 1975.
  • Credits; Opera; Director
  • (Opera directing debut) Benvenuto Cellini, Covent Garden, London,1966.
  • From the House of the Dead, Hamburg Opera, Hamburg, Germany, 1967.
  • Billy Budd, Hamburg Opera, 1967.
  • Il Ballo in Maschera, Hamburg Opera, 1967.
  • Boris Godurov, Hamburg Opera, 1967.
  • I Vespri Siciliani, Hamburg Opera, 1967.
  • Aida, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1974.
  • La Gioconda, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1974.
  • I Vespri Siciliani, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1974, then Paris Opera, Paris, France, 1975.
  • The Devils, Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, 1975.
  • La Forza del Destino, Metropolitan Opera Company, then Paris Opera, 1975.
  • La Gioconda, Paris Opera, 1975.
  • Aida, Paris Opera, 1976.
  • Le Prophete, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1977.
  • Dialogues of the Carmelites, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1977.
  • Lulu, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1977.
  • Rigoletto, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1977.
  • Billy Budd, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1978.
  • The Bartered Bride, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1978.
  • Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1978.
  • Don Carlo, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1979.
  • Die Enfuhrung aus dem Serail, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1979.
  • The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1979.
  • Rossignol, Le Sacre du Printemps, and Oedipus Rex (triple bill), 1981.
  • Parade (triple bill), Metropolitan Opera Company, 1981.
  • Stravinsky (triple bill), Metropolitan Opera Company, 1981.
  • The Portage to San Cristobal, Metropolitan Opera Company, 1982.
  • The Devil and the Good Lord, Buxton Opera Festival, 1985.
  • La Buone Figlio, Buxton Opera Festival, 1985.
  • Il Filosofo di Campagna, Buxton Opera Festival, 1985.
  • Also director for American Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, CT, 1969. Director of Nabucco, produced in Zurich, Switzerland, 1986.
  • Credits; Opera Producer; Metropolitan Opera Company
  • Lulu, 1980.
  • Don Carlo, 1980.
  • Rigoletto, 1981.
  • La Forza del Destino, 1984.
  • Don Carlo, 1984.
  • Aida, 1985.
  • Dialogues of the Carmelites, 1987.
  • Credits; Film Appearances
  • Jacoby, Laura, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1944.
  • Tom Russell, Buffalo Bill Rides Again, Screen Guild, 1947.
  • Credits; Film Work; Director
  • Othello, Eagle/Warner Brothers, 1966.
  • The Virgin Soldiers, Columbia, 1968.
  • The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker (also known as Pigeons), Saturn Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer-Plaza, 1970.
  • I Want What I Want, Marayan/Cinerama, 1972.
  • Credits; Television Work; Specials
  • Also director of Mahagonny, 1979, Lulu, 1980, and Twelfth Night, Grenada TV.

Further Reference

Obituaries and Other Sources: Periodicals

  • New York Times, March 27, 1990.
  • Variety, March 28, 1990.

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