Tina Landau

‘The Big Mix’: Little Island’s 3-Week Party – The New York Times

Tony nominee and Drama Desk winner Tina Landau is an acclaimed writer and director whose Broadway credits include Spongebob Squarepants, Tracy Letts’ Superior Donuts, and the revival of Bells Are Ringing, as well as numerous Off-Broadway productions. Tina is also a member of Chicago’s famed Steppenwolf Theatre. 

“Little Island’s exploding with ideas, creativity, gatherings, performances. The best part is that the space is open and free for all. It’s as if the park has an invisible sign above it, reading “ALL are welcome here!”—and so folks of all kinds and backgrounds come together to participate in this beautiful rotating kaleidoscope of art and activity.” 

Tina Landau brought a new kind of entertainment to Little Island’s second season with The Big Mix: a performance that was part party, part performance art, part variety show, and a whole new way to look at three of our most uniquely American holidays —Juneteenth, Pride and Independence Day. All three weeks featured a guest host, a rotating roster of guest stars, and a triple-threat ensemble. The star-studded lineup included Joshua Henry, Peppermint, Faith Prince, Qween Jean, Idina Menzel, Tonya Pinkins, Ty Defoe, Judy Kuhn, Mykal Kilgore, Brandon Contreras, Jose Llana, Vy Higginsen’s Sing Harlem Choir, Beth Malone, the House of LaBeija and many more. 

During the inaugural 2021 season at Little Island, Tina Landau led the Pride celebrations in the park by hosting the Bring Your Own Beautiful variety evening in The Amph, an evening of 7 Female Songwriters, a one-night-only showcase of female songwriters who “You Might Not Know But Should.” 

Tina Landau is a writer and director whose credits include the Broadway productions of Spongebob Squarepants (also conceiver; Drama Desk & Outer Critics Circle winner Best Direction and Best Musical, 12 Tony Award noms), Tracy Letts’ Superior Donuts, and the revival of Bells Are Ringing (Tony noms), and Off-Broadway productions of Bill Irwin and David Shiner’s Old Hats, Chuck Mee’s Big Love and Iphigenia 2.0 (all Signature), Tarell McCraney’s Head of Passes, In the Red and Brown Water (both at The Public) and Wig Out! (Vineyard), Paula Vogel’s A Civil War Christmas (NYTW), and her original musical Floyd Collins (with Adam Guettel, Playwrights Horizons). 

Tina’s an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, where her over 20 productions include Ms. Blakk For President (also writer, with Tarell McCraney), The Brother/Sister Plays, The Time Of Your Life and Space (also writer). 

Tina’s work has been recognized by the Tonys, Drama Desks, Drama League, Outer Critics, Lucille Lortel, Obies, and many more, and she’s a recipient of a United States Artist Fellowship, Princess Grace Statuette, NEA/TCG Directing Fellowship, and Rockefeller and Pew grants. She’s the author, with Anne Bogart, of The Viewpoints Book.