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PHIL SOLTANOFF (Artistic Director) Born in Salisbury, MD, he received a B.A. from Kenyon College and graduated from the Hartman Theatre Conservatory in Stamford CT. He is an Associate Artist of the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Artistic Director of the WTF Act 1 Company as well as the Artistic Director of Mad Dog. He is also and artist-in- residence at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY and Teaching Artist with a Lincoln Center Institute. He has conducted actortraining workshops throughout the U.S. including The American Conservatory Theatre, The Denver Center Theatre and The University of Texas, Austin. He has directed many productions at Williamstown including The Tooth of Crime, Cowboys#2 (awarded Best of the New Generation, 1986), American Buffalo, Road, several cite-specific collaborations with playwright Charles L. Mee, Jr. including his adaptations of Orestes, The Bacchae and The Trojan Women: a love story and to whom it may concern. At Skidmore he co-directed Mee's The Investigation of the Murder in El Salvador, with Performing Arts Journal editor Cautam Dasguapta and collaborated with Mr. Dasguapta and CAle CAtes Artistic Director Michael Counts on a revival of Heathcote William's AC/DC. Additional directing credits include A Midsummer Nights Dream, Spring Awakening, Machinal and Jean-Claude Van Italie's Interview. He has performed in numerous American theaters including the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Cincinnati Playhouse, Capitol Rep, The Ensemble Studio Theater and Playwrights Horizons. His career has branched into the world of music as well. He was a membeer of the BMI Musical Theater Lab and composition credits include scores for The Good Person of Setzuan (Lexington Conservatory Theatre) and a punk-rock adaptation of the Revengers Tragedy (Playwrights Horizons). He toured for sever al years with the Chicago blues-based band Smokestack Lightning, appearing on stage with the legendary Elvin Bishop and the Holmes Brothers.