Martha Clarke

Martha Clarke (born June 3, 1944) is an American director and choreographer noted for her multidisciplinary approach to theatre, dance, and opera productions. Her work frequently emphasizes striking visual tableaux, often directly inspired by visual art, especially painting. Though dance is the primary basis of Ms. Clarke's training, she has maintained a career which spans and melds dance, theater, the visual arts, and opera. Probably her best-kn... more

Martha Clarke (born June 3, 1944) is an American director and choreographer noted for her multidisciplinary approach to theatre, dance, and opera productions. Her work frequently emphasizes striking visual tableaux, often directly inspired by visual art, especially painting. Though dance is the primary basis of Ms. Clarke's training, she has maintained a career which spans and melds dance, theater, the visual arts, and opera. Probably her best-known original work is "The Garden of Earthly Delights" (1984), an exploration in theatre, dance, music and flying of the famous painting of the same name by Hieronymus Bosch. In June 2007, a new version of the show opened the 30th anniversary of the American Dance Festival. On November 19, 2008, the re-imagined Garden of Earthly Delights opened Off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theater in New York City; two extensions later - it ran until April 5, 2009. A world tour will follow. In 1990, she received a MacArthur Award, popularly known as the ... less