Theodore Taplitz
Theodore Taplitz
Theo Taplitz is a director and writer working across film and theatre. His creative research focuses on rehearsal-led, access-first methods and the production practices that support them. Originally from Los Angeles, he graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University with a B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing, where he was a John Jay Scholar and received the Robert W. Goldsby Prize for Theatre and the Ellis Avery Prize for Creative Writing. At Columbia, he directed mainstage productions including “Equus” and “Henry IV,” co-led the Writers House, and edited a cross-disciplinary anthology of student work.
His recent hybrid film/theatre piece “Tenderness”—developed through a YoungArts grant and starring Emmy-nominated actor Susan Ruttan—premiered at the Ojai Film Festival. His short film “Gable” premiered at the Sitges International Film Festival. He also directed a staged reading of Caryl Churchill’s “Bluebeard’s Friends” at REDCAT in Walt Disney Concert Hall. Alongside his own projects, he assisted director Ira Sachs on “The Man I Love” and supported video documentation for Lincoln Center’s public and access-focused programming.
As a Marshall Scholar, Theo will pursue an MA in Scriptwriting at the University of East Anglia, followed by an MA in Filmmaking (Directing Fiction) at Goldsmiths, University of London. During his two years in the UK, he plans to develop a feature screenplay, a proof-of-concept short, and an open-access toolkit for inclusive creative practice.