Theatre Artist
Ellis recently directed the world premiere of AI thriller Disruption Off-West End at The Park Theatre, which received ★★★★★ and ★★★★ reviews from dozens of major outlets including The Evening Standard, Metro, The Daily Express, The Daily Mail. It was also a Harper Bazaar Culture List pick for summer 2023.
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He made his London debut with the world premiere of Rain and Zoe Save the World Off-West End at the Jermyn St. Theatre. Broadway World West End called it, "visually beautiful, and its politics are sharp". It was labeled, "an inspired piece of physical theater" by The Stage.
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Theatre projects in development:
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XY, writer Oliver Houser's coming of age story about an intersex man navigating intimacy while coming to terms with his female presenting younger self. (2022 Relentless Award Finalist)
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And You Shall Be a Blessing, a bio musical about trailblazing singer-songwriter Debbie Friedman, dubbed "the Joan Baez of Jewish liturgical folk rock" by the NY Times, with playwright Deborah Yarchun.
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A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama, a political thriller about the real estate deal that led to the building of the Panama Canal and created the country of Panama in the process, reuniting Ellis with Disruption playwright Andrew Stein​.
Filmmaker
Ellis' short film The Empty Room, his first as writer/ director, is nearing the end of post-production and will begin a festival run in Late 2025. Starring Brittany Ishibashi, The Empty Room is the story of a woman rebuilding her life one distraction at a time.
Ellis has made several other short films including Block* and Question and has directed several web series episodes.
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Feature films in development:
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The SCIF about U.S. military drone pilots
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Hot Springs a modern day reworking of Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People.
What Else?
Ellis has collaborated on pieces at the Public Theatre, Classic Stage Company, New World Stages, Urban Stages, and Theatre Row.
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From 2016-2018 he directed The Century Club's annual A Christmas Carol benefit. Casts included Alec Baldwin, Sam Waterston, Marsha Mason, and Tony Winner Chuck Cooper.
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Ellis directed over 20 productions as artistic director of Home Grown Theatre Co. in Kansas City across six seasons.
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Affiliations & Awards
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Member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab
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Five-time Broadway World Kansas City Awards Best Director Nominee
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Sands College of Performing Arts at Pace University Alumni
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SDC Member
Represented by The Michael Moore Agency