Richard Hamburger is an American theater director. He has directed an extensive range of plays in theaters nationwide, and from 1987 to 1992 was Artistic Director of the Portland Stage Company before being named the first Artistic Director of the Dallas Theater Center in 1992. He left the DTC in 2007, and continues to direct plays in theaters nationwide.
In 1992, Hamburger was named the fifth Artistic Director of the Dallas Theater Center. His philosophy at the DTC was that the company should feature "fabulous young writers exploring theatrical forms." Having grown up in New York City, and spending much of his professional life there or in Portland, he never learned to drive a car. He walked, bicycled, or took a taxi cab. "I learned to drive in Dallas," he said, and purchased his first automobile. While at the DTC, Hamburger directed or produced several notable plays, including Topdog/Underdog and Anna in the Tropics, both in 2004. His 1999 production of South Pacific won national praise for its design and production, and was called "a virtual reinvention of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical" by D Magazine. D Magazine also highly praised his 2001 production of Twelfth Night and 2006 direction of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Preferring to hire New York City actors rather than local talent, he dissolved the acting company that had been assembled by Adrian Hall, DCT artistic director from 1983 to 1989, and mostly retained by Hall's successor, Ken Bryant. His time at the helm of the DTC was not without problems. Staff claimed he was difficult to work for, he staged a large number of mediocre shows with production designs imported from other playhouses, and he hired a director of marketing whose stormy tenure was short. Hamburger abruptly left the DTC in August 2006 after 15 years with the company. Hamburger denied that he was forced out, but also admitted that he had clashed with unnamed individuals over several issues.
Post-DTC work
DTC named Hamburger Artistic Director Emeritus upon his departure, and he moved to New York City. He has continued to direct plays nationwide in a variety of theaters and venues. Among his more notable productions was the 2006-2007 Salzburg Marionette Theatre production of The Sound of Music, which toured Europe; his 2008 direction of Michael Feingold's Japanoir at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City ; and the 2012 production of Curse of the Starving Class for the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In September 2014, Hamburger was named by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation to the 2014-2015 Committee for the Joe A. Callaway Award, the only peer-given award for excellence in direction and choreography in the theater.
Personal life
Hamburger is married to Melissa Cooper, a former performance artist, actress, and playwright who co-founded the Echo Theatre. The couple live in New York City with their son.
