about David J Diamond

David J Diamond has enjoyed a richly fulfilling career of over 25 years coaching theatre artists. He brings to his coaching a wealth of professional experience, education, inspiration, and love of the theatre arts drawn from a lifetime working with theatre professionals of every creative expression and level of success, helping them to navigate their complex lives and aspirations. Beginning his theatre career as a director and lighting and sound technician at New York nightclubs, followed by administrative positions with USITT (United States Institute of Theatre Technology) and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, among others.

He was Executive Director of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation from 1991-2000, where he:

• Forged alliances and more than doubled services offered to artists by the organization

• Created and co-edited Stage Directors Handbook

• Interviewed prominent directors and choreographers for seminars and publication, including Mark Lamos, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Joe Dowling, Walter Bobbie, Susan Stroman, Kathleen Marshall, and others

• Initiated and developed Sir John Gielgud Fellowship Program after assessing a need for  classically trained directors 

• Expanded the Professional Guest Director grant program and Loewe Fellowships to aid students in New York City public schools

• Re-conceived the Journal for Stage Directors and Choreographers; and  

• Doubled annual budget and staff size through effective fund-raising and personnel  management 

David served as Managing Director of The Barrow Group Theatre Company, from 1985-1990, where he managed all aspects of the theatre, a recipient of the Drama Desk award for “Best Off-Off Broadway Theatre Company”. At The Barrow Group, he successfully coordinated a fund-raising plan; drafted applications for government, corporate and foundation funding; nurtured artists who have gone on to direct on Broadway and Off Broadway, and act in major films, soap operas, and Broadway and regional theater productions; and conducted workshops and performance projects for at-risk students. 

David was a co-founder and is current curator/producer of the La MaMa Umbria International Symposium for Directors, a summer intensive series of workshops with renowned directors from around the world, now in its 24th year. He also co-founded the La MaMa Umbria International Playwright Retreat; co-produces the La MaMa Spoleto Open Festival, Spoleto, Italy; and developed the Next Generation New Performance Incubator. He assisted in the development and implementation of the Ellen Stewart Award, presented to international  theatre companies who have exhibited dedication and innovative methods for community-based art creation.

He established his coaching career in 2001, an effort to help artists and others develop skills and strategies to develop their careers and live a fulfilling life. In addition to working with theatre artists, Diamond presents career development workshops to corporate managers and other administrators and professionals. 

David’s work with the United States Army Entertainment Division included acting as Mentor Director/Adjudicator, mentoring directors of one-act plays at US Army and Air Force bases in Europe. For this program, he adjudicated a One-Act Play Festival and the Toppers Full-Length Play Competitions in Europe, and conducted workshops in Improvisation and Careers in Theatre on the bases.

David is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University, where he presents a Visiting Artist Class for MFA Theatre students and conducts career development workshops for MFA Directing students. At Pace University, he taught Senior Experience class for directors, actors, and designers.

In addition, David has presented workshops entitled Directing Your Theatre Career and Directing Your Directing Career, to freelance theatre-makers and many colleges and universities: 

• Brown University

• California Institute for the Arts

• Carnegie Mellon University

• City University o f New York

• Columbia University

• DePaulUniversity

• Fordham University

• Kalamazoo College

• Memphis University

• Naropa University

• National Theatre Institute at the O’Neill

• Ohio State University 

• Sarah Lawrence College

• University of California - San Diego

• University of Colorado - Boulder

• University of Houston

• University of London - Queen Mary College

• University of Kentucky

• University of Memphis

• University of Oklahoma

• University of Texas - Austin

• University of Toledo

• Yale School of Drama

among others.

David is a Fulbright Specialist in Theatre, having spent time with Dah Theatre in Belgrade, Serbia working with them on Strategic Planning for the Company’s future.  He received the competitive CEC/ArtsLink/Back Apartment Residency for Curators, in St. Petersburg, Russia. Other International collaborations include: Sundance Institute East Africa Directing Workshops, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Visiting Artist on Cultural Exchange Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, speaker; 2008 International Theatre Institute World Congress Madrid, Spain; Yerevan, Armenia; and was a Visiting Artist/Teacher at Queens College, University of London. 

Publications include Essay on Contemporary Russian Theatre, HowlRound; Chapter, Dah Teatar: A Sourcebook; Blog Post: THE ARTS & THE MILITARY BLOG SALON, Animating Democracy | Americans  for the Arts, 2013; Voices From the Trenches: Know Your Own Strengths, American Theatre Magazine, 2013; International Acquaintance: ‘More Action, Less Talk’ is Urged at Global Theatre Congress in Madrid, American Theatre Magazine, 2009; Moderator, Balancing Acts: Anne Bogart and Kristin Linklater Debate the Current Trends in American Actor-Training; cover story, American Theatre Magazine, January, 2001; also  included in the anthology, The American Theatre Reader, TCG Books, 2009; Co-Editor, Stage Directors Handbook, published by Theatre Communications Group, 1998; Essay, Designing the Career That’s Right for You, Stage Directors Handbook, 2nd Edition,  2005; Commentary, The Journal for Stage Directors and Choreographers, biannually, 1991-2000; and various articles and/or reviews in Theatre Communications, Sightlines and The Drama Review. 

He also donated his time to NYC’s Theatre of the Oppressed as a consultant/coach, where he helped the organization hone its focus and strategies for growth, a 3-month project of individual and group coaching focusing on the future of the organization. 

As Artists’ Mobility Funding Guide Assistant to the Editor, he represented Theatre Without Borders in collaboration with On The Move and the Martin E. Segal Center, City University of New York. 

With the Acting Together Project, he contributed his expertise as a Co-Producer of Tehatre & Peacebuilding in Conflict Zones Conference at La MaMa ETC, a conference with artists from 35 countries.. 

As a Theatre Without Borders steering committee member and conference coordinator, he coordinated ACTING, presented at La MaMa ETC. He serves as Advisor the DNA/Theatreworks, a community-based arts organization.

He has served on The Barrow Group Theatre Company Board of Trustees and was a past President. 

His awards, special recognitions, and honors include:  

• Fulbright Specialist, with a Residency, Dah Teatar, Belgrade, Serbia, where he conducted a strategic planning process with BOLD Theatre in Kenya. 

• Community Leader Award (twice) 11/6/14 and 6/14/07,Theatre of the Oppressed, New York City 

• David Diamond Appreciation Day 9/13/12, declared by Manhattan Borough President, honoring twenty years as a vital member of Community Board 5 in Manhattan and his history of dedicated service to the arts community. 

• The Barrow Group Award 5/10/10, Presented by the Board of Trustees of the Barrow Group for dedication and contribution to the arts. 

David was a U.S. Delegate to the 2014 34th International Theatre Institute World Congress in Yerevan, Armenia, and the 32nd International Theatre Institute World Congress 2008 Madrid, Spain.

He is also a Broadway Initiative Task Force Member, on the committee of theatre professionals charged with making suggestions for use of funds derived from theatre air rights transfers; and member, Audience Development Committee 

He was appointed to serve on  Manhattan Community Board 5, where he was elected Chair. He served as a consultant/participant of programs at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council; Westchester Arts Council, Grants Committee; Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Grants Committee; Arts Service Organizations Ad-Hoc Group, Organizing Committee: Unemployment Insurance, Workers Compensation, and Disability Benefits Task Force; National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group of Selection Panel/Workshop Leader, Career Development Program for Directors; Drama League Symposium 2009 Panelist; and the ArtsConnection Advisory Committee. 

David received his M.A. Performance Studies from NYU; his B.A. in Psychology with a theatre directing minor from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He also pursued studies in psychology and theatre at University College, London.

His coaching credentials include Certified Advanced Transformative Coach, Michael Neill’s SuperCoach Academy 2014; Humphrey School of Student Affairs, Arts Leadership Institute, 1989; Certificate Coach University 2002, Graduate Certification,  Lore International Institute Effective Coaching Program, 2005 Certification.

During the COVID pandemic shut-down, he created an online offering called Conversations for Theatre Artists, where he conducted interviews with visionary theatre artists as a free service to help the international theatre community remain engaged and vital.