Julie Taymor
Director, Designer
American
Introduction
Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Julie Taymor is the daughter of Elizabth Bernstein, a political science professor and Melvin Lester Taymor, a gynecologist. She took an early interest in theatre, starring in a number of productions at the Boston Children’s Theatre beginning at the age of ten. At 15, Taymor was sent to Sri Lanka and India as part of the Experiment in International Living. She was immersed in these cultures and their theatre styles, which proved to have a great influence on her theatre work. Taymor currently resides in New York City with her life partner and artistic collaborator Elliot Goldenthal.
Key Dates & Events
- 1970 - Taymor travels to the US to study folklore and mythology at Oberlin College.
- 1988 - Taymor brings puppetry to Off-Broadway with the musical Juan Darien, A Carnival Mass.
- 1992 - Taymor directs a production of Stravinsky’s opera Oedipus rex in Japan.
- 1992 - Taymor directs her first film, Fool’s Fire.
- 1998 - Taymor wins Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design for The Lion King.
- 2016 - Taymor creates the Taymor World Theatre Fellowship.
Context & Analysis
Education & Influences
Julie Taymor graduated high school at age 16 and went to Paris to study at L’École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. Immersed in mask work and mime, Taymor began to explore aspects of theatre that would become very prevalent in her career. Taymor returned to the US to study folklore and mythology at Oberlin College in 1970 and interned at
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Emma Houlahan
Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.