| A b o u t C a r l |
Carl Granieri is an actor, director, and theater educator. He is currently based in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he works as an Associate Professor of Theatre and the Head of Directing and Devised Work at the University of Louisiana. His professional work in the northeast I-95 corridor includes credits at nationally renowned and award-winning theaters like the Philadelphia Theater Co. and the Arden Theatre Co., work for the Philadelphia Bar Association, and performances for diverse audiences, from the intimacy of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City, to the sprawling crowds of the Delaware Shakespeare Festival. His television and stage work has taken him to thirty US states and as far as Italy and the Czech Republic.
Carl's career began on stage at Philadelphia's tent-pole theaters, including Theatre Exile, Simpatico, Act II Playhouse, Philadelphia Theatre Co., the PAC, Mauckingbird Theatre Co., and Delaware Shakes, and Delaware Theatre Co., among others. His performance in Beautiful Confusion's Necropolis was named ten-best of the International Prague Fringe. He directed world premieres for Girasole Productions and ELI Productions, two of which toured internationally in 2009 and 2010. He has helmed collegiate productions, garnering much critical praise, and his awards include multiple recognitions from the Kennedy Center's ACTF for “Excellence in Directing.”
From 2010 - 2012 he served as the Consultant for New Play Development at Arden Theatre Co., and worked as a production dramaturg and assistant director for Temple Rep and the Philadelphia Theatre Co. He is an artistic liaison to The Marty Wilson Art and Music Foundation and was a member of the launch team for Directors Gathering (DG), a think-tank and advocacy non-profit serving theatre directors. He also does production work behind the camera with ABC and ESPN.
A vocal advocate for new and devised work, Carl has collaborated with playwrights and actors on over 15 world premiere pieces. For several years he produced and curated SoLeaux Fest, a "short festival of new work" in association with Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette. He has consulted and guest taught at University of the Arts, Rowan University, and Temple University. Carl holds an MFA in Acting from Temple University and an MA in Dramaturgy from Villanova University, where he was honored as an acting scholar and Brian Morgan Award winner.
Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and educated in Philadelphia, Carl spent the early part of his professional life as a communications consultant and public speaking coach for corporate leaders, candidates for public office, and elected officials. Private clientele included US congressmen, gubernatorial candidates, officials at various levels of government in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as All Points International Industries and the Pennsylvania General Assembly. After time spent as a legislative aide at both the state and federal levels, he returned to theatre full time, determined to make something beautiful in the world.
Carl is also husband to an amazing human being and gifted renaissance artist, Meredith Wilson, and father to their three children.
He is EMC and an associate member of SDC.