Thomas Murray

Executive Director
tmurray@waltzingmechanics.org

Joined the Mechanics: 2011 (co-founder)
Hometown: Oak Lawn, Illinois
Homebase: Chicago, Illinois
Artistic portfolio: https://www.documurray.com/

Thomas Murray is a documentary theatre maker, director, and teacher. His creative works with Waltzing Mechanics include The Right of Way, No AIDS, No Maids: Stories I Can’t F*ckin’ Hear No More, Over My Dead Body, EL Stories, Body/Courage, The Conviction of Lady Lorraine, and Line One. His script for The Right of Way was published in ArtsPraxis by New York University.

As a director in Chicago, Thomas helmed both devised and scripted work for Broken Nose Theatre, The Ruckus, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Ka-Tet Theatre Company, City Lit Theatre, Prologue Theatre, Hobo Junction, Strangeloop Theatre, and The Arc Theatre. New York credits include work with Ping Chong + Company and Honest Accomplice Theatre. He has also helmed work regionally in Atlanta, Boston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C.

As a teacher, Thomas has guest lectured at NYU, DePaul University, Illinois State University, Beloit College, Elmhurst College, CUNY-Baruch, College of DuPage, and his alma maters, Virginia Tech and Ball State University. He teaches acting and playwriting to incarcerated youth at the Illinois Youth Center-Warrenville through his program manager role at Storycatchers Theatre.

Thomas is a core member of The Midwives and a member of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab. He has been honored with fellowships by Ping Chong + Company and the National Academy of Sciences, an artistic apprenticeship with Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award from Ball State University. He holds an M.F.A. in directing and public dialogue from Virginia Tech.