Alex Lippard is a director, playwright, musical theater bookwriter, and lyricist.

He lives in New York City where he is Artistic Director of Friendly Fire (www.friendlyfirenyc.org)

In October 2011, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation awarded Lippard the prestigious Mike Ockrent Fellowship, named for the late great Broadway director. The cash award “provides young directors with the opportunity for professional and artistic development by allowing them to assist a mentor director working on a Broadway production.” Alex will assist Jeff Calhoun on Bonnie and Clyde starring Jeremy Jordan.

In November 2011, Alex directed Turnaround by Patricia K. Meyer as part of the Hothouse Series at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Alex’s December 2008 Friendly Fire production of O’Neill’s A Touch of the Poet, starring two-time Emmy winner Daniel J. Travanti (“Hill St. Blues”) and Ellen Crawford (“E.R.”) was named one of the top three revivals in the country Wall Street Journal. Terry Teachout wrote of this production: “[Lippard’s] staging is a bargain-basement affair acted on the plainest of sets by a cast consisting mostly of near-unknowns–but it packs the punch of a bullet in the belly.”

His 2004 production of Hecuba starring legendary voice and speech guru Kristin Linklater was described by the Village Voice as “disturbingly resonant.”

Recent credits include the Off-Broadway premieres of The Last Word… starring Daniel J. Travanti and Sake with the Haiku Geisha at Perry St. Theater. The New York Times called Alex’s production of Sake “elegant and precise.” Off-off-Broadway: Cupid and Psyche (Altered Stages), The Misunderstanding (Flea) and Frankie (Irish Arts Center).

Alex won an Overall Excellence in Directing Award for his direction of Moonchild starring two-time Emmy winner Heather Tom at the 2004 NY International Fringe Festival.

For Friendly Fire, of which he is Artistic Director, he directed Hecuba, ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore starring John Douglas Thompson, and A Touch of the Poet.

Other directing: All We Can Handle at Public Theater/New Work Now, Machinal and Julius Caesar at Shakespeare NJ, Hedda Gabler at the Century Center, The Sun Also Rises (adaptor/director) at Directors Company, and an Off-Broadway workshop of Dog Music starring Devon May and Kaye Walbye at AMAS Musical Theater. L.A. Theater: Reckoning at Santa Monica Playhouse, The Increased Difficulty of Concentration at The Lounge, Turnaround (upcoming) at Pasadena Playhouse. Alex directed Raul Esparza in All We Can Handle at Joe’s Pub and The Belt (cabaret at the Zipper Theater).

Lippard has taught at NYU/Strasberg Studio, NYU/Atlantic, Shakespeare NJ’s training program, and studied directing and acting at Columbia (M.F.A. in Directing), Juilliard, Moscow Art Theater, and with legendary L.A. acting teacher Milton Katselas.

Alex has directed and/or coached Michelle Williams, Tovah Feldshuh, Rhys Coiro, Laila Robins, Laura Heisler, Tony Roberts, Penny Fuller, Andrew McCarthy, Angela Lin, Cherise Boothe, John Douglas Thompson, Raul Esparza, David Harbour, Brian Murray, Heather Tom, Kristin Linklater, Jordan Charney, Daniel J. Travanti, Ellen Crawford, Ching Valdes Aran, Kristin Linklater, Cathy Curtin, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Jessica Wiexler, Rutina Wesley, Michael Urie, Jordan Baker, Kevin Kilner, and many other wonderful actors in readings, workshops, plays and/or scene study.

Alex is currently writing a play about NYC child protective services, for actress Saidah Arrika Ekulona, on a grant from The Drama League. He is also co-writing the book and lyrics for a musical about New York real estate with his talented and fearless collaborators Ron Passaro and David Lee.