A NOTE FROM BILL
Thank you for your interest in my work. I believe theatre can change the world for the better. I've watched it happen.
I think of myself as a bridge director: everything I make is built to reach across the footlights to the audience — whether we're provoking, challenging, delighting, entertaining, or all of those at once.
My purpose is to open hearts and minds, because with open hearts and minds, people don't just imagine better worlds. They go build them.
Everything I do comes down to listening deeply: to what the writer put on the page, and to the artists in the room. Then I help them free it, so the audience doesn't just hear the story — they feel it in their bodies.
I hope you’re moved by what you find here or in one of my shows. Reach out to collaborate!
-Bill
Official BioArtist Name is an American actor in film, television, and theatre. Keep this as a short intro to be read before you take the stage - like a podcast host introducing you to their audience. Take a look at LinManuel.com/about for inspiration. It’s best to write your full biography and then chop it down to one paragraph that is a nice summary.
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Artist was born in City, State.
Bill founded the Wethersfield Teen Theater Company at age 16 — a company started by young artists, now 37 years old and still going!
Fennelly grew up artistically between Hartford Stage Company and Goodspeed Opera House — first as an audience member, then as a professional actor and assistant director with both companies.
A longtime association with Mark Lamos as his assistant and associate director led to his first Broadway musical — Associate Director of The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm at age 25.
He worked with Alan Ayckbourn and Andrew Lloyd Webber on the US Premiere of By Jeeves.
Bill was the youngest staff director at New York City Opera at age 26. He worked at Lincoln Center for three seasons.
Bill's enduring artistic partnership with Chris Coleman began at Actor's Express and continued at Portland Center Stage.
Fennelly was accepted to both Yale School of Drama and UC San Diego's MFA Directing program. He chose UCSD to study with Les Waters.
Bill studied with the extraordinary faculty at UCSD — Jim Winker, Des McAnuff, Tina Landau, Anne Bogart, Ivo van Hove, and Kyle Donnelly.
He received the KPBS Patté Award for directing his second-year MFA production of Brecht's Edward II — accepting it alongside Jack O'Brien and Delicia Turner Sonnenberg for their excellent directing projects.
Noticed by Des McAnuff, he was asked to assist on the creation of a new play Eden Lane, and then stood by his side as the original Assistant Director on Jersey Boys.
In 2005, Bill was chosen as the Phil Killian Directing Fellow at Oregon Shakespeare Festival by Frank Galati, Mark Lamos, and Libby Apple.
Fennelly was then hired as Resident Director of Disney's The Lion King national tour.
Bill helped keep the doors open at Actor's Express as Producing Artistic Director, as well as serving The Acting Company as Associate Artistic Director.
He was hired as Assistant Artistic Director with Cirque du Soleil and worked for many years on the development of Banana Shpeel.
Fennelly aided the creation of the new musical Fly By Night — one of the most beautiful new musicals of the last fifteen years.
He was Director of the Original Off-Broadway production of the new musical Frankenstein. He remains proud of it—despite its short run!
Bill has an ongoing association with Tim Bond—first at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, then Syracuse Stage, and now back to OSF.
He currently serves as an Associate Professor at Drexel University — creating the Page to Stage New Play Program, as well as privately mentoring several emerging directors.
His greatest personal pride is his marriage to Jason Rosencranz, with a close second being Molly's dog daddy.