“Stuart has an intuitive feel for storytelling. He has directed several of my world premieres and in every instance has managed to bring an ineffable “something” that has enhanced the script without getting in the way of the story. ”
Christopher Demos-Brown
Playwright
“Stuart is a great leader in the rehearsal room. His great strength lies in communication with the actors, which is a rare quality amongst directors.”
Hannah Benitez
Actress & Playwright
“When I enter Stuart’s rehearsal room, I know I am entering a playground. A space where I can create, evolve and fail big while being fully supported by my director.”
Elena Maria Garcia
Actress & Playwright
“Stuart Meltzer has been one of the crucial and irreplaceable powers in the evolution of the South Florida theater community, and therefore the cultural community as a whole. His talent as director is marked by imaginative style and incisive exploration through a wide array of art from droll comedy to rending drama to mind-expanding intellectual pieces. But as importantly, his courageous taste in selecting work – much of which is unknown to his audience – has expanded the now standard scope of what was once solely mainstream and predictable in the region.”
Bill Hirschman
Founder and chief critic,
Florida Theater On Stage
“Whether helming comedy, musical or play, Meltzer’s precise and detail-oriented direction elevates scripts, performances and technical artistry at stages throughout Florida. With a demonstrated passion for both the imposing oeuvre of Stephen Sondheim and the uncharted territories of a world premiere, Meltzer is as confident shepherding a new work to fruition as he is reinventing a warhorse. ”
John Thomason
A&E Editor of Boca Raton Magazine
“I’ve never worked with anyone who’s as good at extracting every actor’s best performance as Stuart Meltzer.”
Christopher Demos-Brown
Playwright
"Meltzer’s skill at casting superior actors and pushing them to even higher performances excels."
Bill Hirschman
Theatre Critic/Theatre writer Florida Theatre On Stage
"Whether he's staging a drama, comedy or musical, whether the piece is a classic, contemporary or a world premiere, director Stuart Meltzer finds the hidden treasures and illuminates the unexpected connections within every kind of theater."
Christine Dolen
Miami Herald Critic/Theatre writer Florida Theatre On Stage
"Whether he's staging a drama, comedy or musical, whether the piece is a classic, contemporary or a world premiere, director Stuart Meltzer finds the hidden treasures and illuminates the unexpected connections within every kind of theater."
Christine Dolen
Miami Herald theater critic 1979-2015, ArtburstMiami theater critic 2016-2024
BETRAYAL
By Harold Pinter
STUART MELTZER
SDC • Director • Artistic Director
OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD
By Alexis Scheer
Christopher Demos-Brown
Playwright
"Stuart has an intuitive feel for storytelling. He has directed several of my world premieres and in every instance has managed to bring an ineffable 'something' that has enhanced the script without getting in the way of the story."
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SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
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THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME
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FUN HOME
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¡FUÁCATA! OR A LATINA'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE UNIVERSE
AMERICAN SON
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AFTER
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THE WOLVES
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SWEENEY TODD
AMERICAN RHAPSODY
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WRONGFUL DEATH AND OTHER CIRCUS ACTS
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THE CARETAKER
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MLIMA'S TALE
GRINGOLANDIA
THE ACTORS
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FRANKENSTEIN
NEXT TO NORMAL
CLYDE'S
WICKED CHILD
CABARET
Productions
Productions
CLARK GABLE SLEPT HERE
By Michael McKeever
"Stuart Meltzer has been one of the crucial and irreplaceable powers in the evolution of the South Florida theater community, and therefore the cultural community as a whole. His talent as director is marked by imaginative style and incisive exploration through a wide array of art from droll comedy to rending drama to mind-expanding intellectual pieces. But as importantly, his courageous taste in selecting work – much of which is unknown to his audience – has expanded the now standard scope of what was once solely mainstream and predictable in the region."
Bill Hirschman
Founder and chief critic, Florida Theater On Stage
Resume
Zoetic Stage
Founding Artistic Director & Director
The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh, 2024
Cuban Chicken Soup: When There’s No More Café (World Premiere) by Elena Maria Garcia & Stuart Meltzer, 2024
Cabaret, 2024
Wicked Child (World Premiere) by David Rosenberg, 2024
Clyde’s (Regional Premiere), 2023
Next to Normal, 2023
The 39 Steps, 2023
American Rhapsody (World Premiere) by Michael McKeever, 2023
Mlima’s Tale (Regional Premiere), 2022
Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (Regional Premiere), 2022
Side by Side by Sondheim, 2022
GringoLandia by Hannah Benitez (World Premiere), 2022
Frankenstein by Nick Dear (Regional Premiere), 2021
American Son, (First Regional Production), 2020
The Wolves, (Regional Premiere)
Sweeney Todd, 2019
The Curious Case of the Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, 2019
Dracula by Michael McKeever (World Premiere), 2018
Fun Home (Regional Premiere), 2018
Dancing Lessons (Regional Premiere), 2018
Wrongful Death and Other Circus Acts by Christopher Demos-Brown (World Premiere)
Topdog/Underdog, 2017
The Caretaker, 2017
¡Fuácata! Or a Latina’s Guide to Surviving the Universe by Elena Maria Garcia & Stuart Meltzer (World Premiere), 2017
Sunday in the Park with George, 2017
After by Michael McKeever (World Premiere), 2016
Passion (Regional Premiere), 2016
Rapture, Blister, Burn (Regional Premiere), 2016
Stripped by Christopher Demos-Brown (World Premiere) 2015
Betrayal, 2015
The Great God Pan (Regional Premiere) 2014
Clark Gable Slept Here by Michael McKeever (World Premiere), 2014
Assassins, 2014
Fear Up Harsh by Christopher Demos-Brown (World Premiere) *Steinberg Award Citation
All New People (First Regional Production), 2013
I Am My Own Wife, 2012
Moscow by Michael McKeever (World Premiere), 2012
The Santaland Diaries, 2011
Captiva! By Christopher Demos-Brown (World Premiere) 2011
South Beach Babylon by Michael McKeever (World Premiere) 2010
City Theatre
Artistic Director (2008 & 2009)
Summer Shorts, Undershorts, Shorts 4 Kids: America’s largest ten-minute play festival.
Some playwrights/composers produced under my tenure include: Christopher Demos-Brown, Alex Dremann, Gary Garrison, David Ives, Julie Jensen, Rolin Jones, Michael John LaChiusa, Deborah Zoe Laufer, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Lew, Lisa Loeb, David Mamet, Ellen Margolis, Michael McKeever, Carlos Murillo, Rich Orloff, Craig Popisil, Marcos Ramirez, Andrew Rosendorf, Paul Rudnick, Kimberlyn Saberth, Edwin Sanchez, Lloyd Suh, Adam Symkowicz, Bill Wrubel
Regional Theatre
A Streetcar Named Desire, New City Players, 2024 Clark Gable Slept Here, Plays of Wilton, 2023
Red Speedo, Plays of Wilton 2022
The Actors, Plays of Wilton, 2022
¡Fuacata!: A Latina’s Guide to Surviving the Universe, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 2021
Grindr Mom by Ronnie Larsen (World Premiere) Plays of Wilton, 2019
¡Fuacata!: A Latina’s Guide to Surviving the Universe, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 2018
La Fiebré, Centro Cultural Pucp, 2014
I Am My Own Wife, Red Barn Theatre 2014
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, Waterfront Playhouse, 2013 Three Americans, Ensemble Stage 2012
Melt (The Miamians) Olympia Theatre, 2009 & 2010
More White Meat, The Next Arena, 2008
Everything Will be Different, Mad Cat Theatre, 2007
Painted Alice, Mad Cat Theatre, 2006
Barefoot Boy with Shoes on, The Public Theatre of Ft. Lauderdale
Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Public Theatre of Ft. Lauderdale
New York
The Actors, Theatre Row
Melt (The Miamians) Reading Primary Stages
One for the Road, Actors’ Studio
Lysistrata, Wreckio Ensemble
Gint, Wreckio Ensemble
RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN
By Gina Gionfriddo
"Stuart is a great leader in the rehearsal room. His great strength lies in communication with the actors, which is a rare quality amongst directors"
Hannah Benitez
Playwright
"Whether helming comedy, musical or play, Meltzer’s precise and detail-oriented direction elevates scripts, performances and technical artistry at stages throughout Florida. With a demonstrated passion for both the imposing oeuvre of Stephen Sondheim and the uncharted territories of a world premiere, Meltzer is as confident shepherding a new work to fruition as he is reinventing a warhorse. "
John Thomason
A&E Editor of Boca Raton Magazine
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
By Tennessee Williams
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STRIPPED
By Christopher Demos Brown
"When I enter Stuart’s rehearsal room, I know I am entering a playground. A space where I can create, evolve and fail big while being fully supported by my director."
Elena Maria Garcia
Actress & Playwright
Who
I serve as the Founding Artistic Director for Zoetic Stage in Miami. Zoetic Stage is an arts partner with the Adrienne Arsht Center of the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and has been producing programming while bringing audiences together with compelling stories and inventive storytelling since 2010.
Prior to my tenure at Zoetic Stage, I served as the Artistic Director for City Theatre in Miami. Additionally, I was part of the full-time faculty at New World School of the Arts.
What
I am a director whose work has been seen in Florida, New York, regionally and internationally. I pride myself on inventive storytelling that highlights humor, humanity and compassion. While helping to create professional, safe and exploratory work environments, keeping the focus on the script, I celebrate weaving moments together theatrically for detailed and daring experiences.
I have received over twenty Carbonell Award nominations and have received seven statuettes for my work, honored with numerous Silver Palm Awards and have been named Best Director in Miami from Miami New Times.
I’m also a husband to playwright Michael McKeever and co-daddy to our Boston Terrier named China.
The Barbara Hogenson Agency
165 West End Avenue, Suite 19C
New York, NY 10023
212-874-8084
bhogenson@aol.com
Representation
Personal Contact
For Professional Inquiries
• Director - Next to Normal, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Clark Gable Slept Here, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Passion, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Wrongful Death and Other Circus Acts, Zoetic Stage
• Director - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Sweeney Todd, Zoetic Stage
• New Work - The Goldberg Variations (Playwright), Island City Stage
Carbonell Award Winner
• Stuart Meltzer - Named Best Director by Miami New Times.
• Zoetic Stage - Named Best Theatre in Miami by Miami New Times.
Miami New Times
• Recipient of 9 Silver Palm Awards for “Outstanding Achievement in Directing.”
Silver Palm Awards
• New Work (co written with Elena Maria Garcia) - Cuban Chicken Soup When There's No More Café.
• New Work - ¡Fuácata! Or a Latina's Guide to Surviving the Universe (Playwright), Zoetic Stage
• Director - Wicked Child, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Captiva, Zoetic Stage
• Director - I Am My Own Wife, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Assassins, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Betrayal, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Stripped, Zoetic Stage
• Director - After, Zoetic Stage
• Director - The Caretaker, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Sunday in the Park with George, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Fun Home, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Grindr Mom, Plays of Wilton
• Director - GringoLandia, Zoetic Stage
• Director - The Actors, Plays of Wilton
• Director - Red Speedo, Plays of Wilton
Carbonell Nominated
Citations & Awards
• Director - Next to Normal, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Clark Gable Slept Here, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Passion, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Wrongful Death and Other Circus Acts, Zoetic Stage
• Director - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Sweeney Todd, Zoetic Stage
• New Work - The Goldberg Variations (Playwright), Island City Stage
Carbonell Award Winner
• Stuart Meltzer - Named Best Director by Miami New Times.
• Zoetic Stage - Named Best Theatre in Miami by Miami New Times.
Miami New Times
• Recipient of 9 Silver Palm Awards for “Outstanding Achievement in Directing.”
Silver Palm Awards
Citations & Awards
Carbonell Nominated
• New Work (co written with Elena Maria Garcia) - Cuban Chicken Soup When There's No More Café.
• New Work - ¡Fuácata! Or a Latina's Guide to Surviving the Universe (Playwright), Zoetic Stage
• Director - Wicked Child, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Captiva, Zoetic Stage
• Director - I Am My Own Wife, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Assassins, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Betrayal, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Stripped, Zoetic Stage
• Director - After, Zoetic Stage
• Director - The Caretaker, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Sunday in the Park with George, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Fun Home, Zoetic Stage
• Director - Grindr Mom, Plays of Wilton
• Director - GringoLandia, Zoetic Stage
• Director - The Actors, Plays of Wilton
• Director - Red Speedo, Plays of Wilton
WHO
I serve as the Founding Artistic Director for Zoetic Stage in Miami. Zoetic Stage is an arts partner with the Adrienne Arsht Center of the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and has been producing programming while bringing audiences together with compelling stories and inventive storytelling since 2010.
Prior to my tenure at Zoetic Stage, I served as the Artistic Director for City Theatre in Miami. Additionally, I was part of the full-time faculty at New World School of the Arts.
WHAT
I am a director whose work has been seen in Florida, New York, regionally and internationally. I pride myself on inventive storytelling that highlights humor, humanity and compassion. While helping to create professional, safe and exploratory work environments, keeping the focus on the script, I celebrate weaving moments together theatrically for detailed and daring experiences.
I have received over twenty Carbonell Award nominations and have received seven statuettes for my work, honored with numerous Silver Palm Awards and have been named Best Director in Miami from Miami New Times.
I’m also a husband to playwright Michael McKeever and co-daddy to our Boston Terrier named China.
I co-founded Zoetic Stage in 2010 with my husband playwright Michael McKeever, playwright Christopher Demos-Brown, his wife Stephanie Demos and Kerry C. Shiller. The mission of Zoetic Stage is to create fresh, bold interpretations of contemporary plays and musicals, and is dedicated to enhancing South Florida's national artistic profile by producing regional premieres and developing new works to become part of the American stage repertoire.
Since its inception, Zoetic Stage has produced over 50 productions, developed and produced 15 world premieres, reached audiences in the hundreds of thousands, been honored with over 150 Carbonell Award nominations, been included in several features in American Theatre Magazine and continues to grow and thrive on an ever-challenging landscape.
Zoetic Stage is a member of Actors' Equity Association, National New Play Network and Theatre Communications Group & Florida Professional Theatres Association.
Zoetic Stage has working mentorship relationships with Barry University, Florida International University, University of Miami & New World School of the Arts through our Young Artists program. In 2023, Zoetic Stage initiated an early career Directing Fellowship.
Zoetic Stage is an Arts Partner with the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and anchors the Theatre Up Close series in the Carnival Studio Theatre.
Click here to visit the Zoetic Stage Website.
Click here for ticketing information.
I co-founded Zoetic Stage in 2010 with my husband playwright Michael McKeever, playwright Christopher Demos-Brown, his wife Stephanie Demos and Kerry C. Shiller. The mission of Zoetic Stage is to create fresh, bold interpretations of contemporary plays and musicals, and is dedicated to enhancing South Florida's national artistic profile by producing regional premieres and developing new works to become part of the American stage repertoire.
Since its inception, Zoetic Stage has produced over 50 productions, developed and produced 15 world premieres, reached audiences in the hundreds of thousands, been honored with over 150 Carbonell Award nominations, been included in several features in American Theatre Magazine and continues to grow and thrive on an ever-challenging landscape.
Zoetic Stage is a member of Actors' Equity Association, National New Play Network and Theatre Communications Group & Florida Professional Theatres Association.
Zoetic Stage has working mentorship relationships with Barry University, Florida International University, University of Miami & New World School of the Arts through our Young Artists program. In 2023, Zoetic Stage initiated an early career Directing Fellowship.
Zoetic Stage is an Arts Partner with the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and anchors the Theatre Up Close series in the Carnival Studio Theatre.
Click here to visit the Zoetic Stage Website.
Click here for ticketing information.
