Director Honoree - Benita de Wit
Benita de Wit (they/them) is an Australian director based in New York whose career spans Sydney, London, and New York City. Their versatile directorial expertise has put them in collaboration with an impressive range of talent—from emerging artists to Broadway legends and international celebrities. Currently serving as Associate Director for Jamie Lloyd's ‘Sunset Blvd’ on Broadway starring Nicole Scherzinger, de Wit recently collaborated with Ralph Fiennes as Assistant Director for ‘Straight Line Crazy’ at The Shed. They have worked as the Resident Director for ‘SIX’ on Broadway in its opening season and as the Associate Director for ‘Bat Out of Hell’ in the US and UK.
Benita is an SDC Member, a New Georges affiliated artist and a Barbara Whitman Award Finalist. Previous directing credits include ‘Small Mouth Sounds’ (Circle in the Square), ‘Lunch Bunch’ (Theatre Row) and the Australian premieres of Anchuli Felicia King’s ‘Slaughterhouse’ (Belvoir St Theatre) and Kate Mulley and Andy Peterson’s ‘Razorhurst’ (Hayes Theatre Co). In Australia they championed new work and helped build opportunities for Australian artists in their arts administration work at Griffin Theatre Company, New Musicals Australia and The Sydney Fringe.
In the US they have worked on projects at Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Playwright’s Realm, Gingold Theatrical Group, Classic Stage Company, National Sawdust, New York Public Library, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Exquisite Corpse Company and Playwrights Horizons Theater School. They have an MFA in Directing from Columbia University and are on Faculty at Circle in the Square Theatre School.