Richard Kuranda

Richard got his start at the age of 12 in Northeastern Pa. acting for Pulitzer Prize winner Jason Miller in a production of That Championship Season. He attended WVU for undergraduate work and then went on to NYC's burgeoning independent film scene in 1990's where he worked with Bill Plypmton, Sydney Lumet and Eduardo Machado. He then attended the New School for Social Research/Actors Studio Drama School where he earned two Masters degrees under Arthur Penn and Romulus Linney. After school, he served as the Head of Operations at NY's Signature Theater Company under James Houghton for 2 years here he managed two Theaters on 42nd St. before accepting a senior administrator post at The New School/ASDS with James Lipton. During a 5-year period he worked towards the expansion of the Repertory season, television show as well as the expansion of the campus to include the Westbeth Theater Complex. Kuranda co-founded Epic Repertory Theater in NYC and in a three-year span produced nearly 24 Off Broadway plays including premieres by David Auburn, JT Rogers, Romulus Linney and Lee Blessing. He went on to become the Associate Artistic Director, Interim Artistic Director and then Producing Director for the Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theatre Center. While at the O'Neill, Kuranda was credited by the New York Times as restoring confidence to its national programs with the addition of Michael Bush, Wendy C. Goldberg and Oz Scott. Projects developed under his tenure at the O'Neill included In The Heights and {title of show} amongst others which have debuted at nearly every major regional theater in the US. He is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio (early work at the Actors Studio included a 6 month development of Oedipus Rex with Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Estelle Parsons). His film work is a permanent part of the MOMA Collection; he's a former advocate for the United Nations, Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona 2004. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and The Stage Directors and Choreographers. Kuranda serves as a Mentor for the Kennedy Center, Arts In Crisis program.