NJ Agwuna | |
|---|---|
| Website | https://www.njagwuna.com/ |
NJ Agwuna is an American theatre director and intimacy coach,[1][2] whose works engage with the themes of trauma and mental health.[3] Her work on the 2019 production of Till - a musical play based on the life of Emmett Till - was described by The New York Times as "beautifully cast and sensitively directed".[4] The same year she was the director of the 2019 production of Only Human, which starred Gary Busey as God.[5][6][7]
In 2021 she directed Mozart's The Magic Flute as part of the Glimmerglass Festival.[8] This was funded by a grant from Opera America to advance gender parity within opera.[9]
In 2023 she directed the opera The Coronation of Poppaea by Monteverdi.[1] Her direction was praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for its setting of the opera "in a world of tabloid headlines", a focus on the overlap between the public and private in Ancient Rome and its reflections on politics and desire.[1]
In 2022 she was the winner of the Barbara Whitman Award for direction.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Cosman, Joshua (25 July 2023). "Review: West Edge Opera dives into the duplicitous world of ancient Rome". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 26 January 2026.
- ^ Miller, Deb (2025-09-10). "Incisive study of a fashion world icon in 'House of McQueen' at Off-Broadway's The Mansion at Hudson Yards". DC Theater Arts. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Directing Alumna NJ Agwuna '18 Recipient Of The Drama League 2019 Directors Project Fellowship | School of the Arts". arts.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ^ "'Till' Brings a Tragedy to Life". Archived from the original on 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (2019-06-17). "Gary Busey to Play the Role of God in Off-Broadway Musical". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (2019-10-21). "'Only Human': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Theater This Season: A Show (or 10) for Every Mood". Archived from the original on 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ Tommasini, Anthony (2021-08-15). "Glimmerglass Creates Magic in Its Own Backyard". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Opera Grants Awarded | Women Stage Director & Conductors | 2021 | OPERA America". Opera America. Archived from the original on 2026-02-07. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "NJ Agwuna Receives SDCF Barbara Whitman Award". AMERICAN THEATRE. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2026-01-25.