Timothy Near,
Stage Director

Ms. Timothy Near, former Artistic Director of San José Repertory Theatre, returns to Opera San José to direct La bohème during the 2010 - 2011 season. Ms. Near received critical acclaim for her direction of OSJ's recent productions of Lucia di Lammermoor and The Crucible.  Her many directing credits include Wintertime, The Odd Couple, ART, By the Bog of Cats...., Amy's View, Legacy, Three Days of Rain, Thunder Knocking on the Door and The Little Foxes.  Under her directorship, the Rep produced eight world premieres, 28 West Coast premieres and created the New American Playwrights Festival.

Ms. Near has directed at numerous theaters around the U.S. including the Guthrie Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Ford's Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, New York Shakespeare Festival and A Contemporary Theatre of Seattle. 

Awards and accolades include the Dramalogue award for her direction of Ghosts on Fire at La Jolla Playhouse, Fire in the Rain...Singer in the Storm at the Mark Taper Forum and Thunder Knocking at the Door. Ms. Near is also a recipient of the Woman of Achievement in the Arts Award, given by the San José Mercury News and The Women's Fund.  Ms. Near is also an actress and the recipient of New York's Obie Award for her performance in Still Life.