Joseph Mantello (born December 27, 1962) is an American actor and director known for his work on stage and screen. He first gained prominence for his Broadway acting debut in the original production of Tony Kushner's two-part epic play Angels in America (1993–1994), for which he received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. He has since acted in acclaimed Broadway revivals of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart (2011) and Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie (2017).
Mantello has transitioned into a career as a Broadway director, winning the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for Take Me Out (2003) and Death of a Salesman (2026) and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Assassins (2004). He has directed notable productions such as Wicked (2003), Glengarry Glen Ross (2005), The Humans (2016), Three Tall Women (2018), and The Boys in the Band (2018).
Early life and education Mantello was born in Rockford, Illinois, the son of Judy and Richard Mantello, an accountant. His father is of Italian ancestry and his mother is of half Italian descent. He was raised Catholic.
Mantello studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts; he started the Edge Theater in New York City with actress Mary-Louise Parker and writer Peter Hedges. He is a founding member of the Naked Angels theater company and an associate artist at the Roundabout Theatre Company.
Career Mantello came to New York from Illinois, after graduating from UNCSA’s School of Drama in 1984. In the midst of the AIDS crisis, having overcome a youthful feeling, he admitted to a reporter in 2013, that "for some reason I was deeply ashamed of the theater early on. I think it had to do with this growing sense I was gay, although I couldn’t have put a word to it back then. Where I grew up, boys played sports. When [teacher] Mrs. Windsor wrote in my yearbook, 'Have you ever considered a career in the theater?' it was literally like she wrote the word 'faggot'."
Mantello began his theatrical career as an actor in Keith Curran's Walking the Dead and Paula Vogel's The Baltimore Waltz. On the transition from acting to directing, Mantello said, "I think I've become a better actor since I started directing, although some people might disagree. Since I've been removed from the process I see things that actors fall into. Now there's a part of me that's removed from the process and can stand back."Burdette, Nicole. "Joe Mantello" , BOMB Magazine, Summer 1992
Mantello directs a variety of theatre works, as The New York Times noted: "Very few American directors – Jack O'Brien and Mike Nichols come to mind – successfully jump genres and styles the way Mr. Mantello does, moving from a two-hander like Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune to the huge canvas of a mainstream musical comedy like Wicked, from downtown stand-up (The Santaland Diaries) to contemporary opera (Dead Man Walking) to political performance art (The Vagina Monologues)."Green, Jesse."Surviving 'Assassins'".The New York Times, April 11, 2004
A Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Lips Together, Teeth Apart directed by Mantello was scheduled to open at the American Airlines Theatre in April 2010, when one of the stars, Megan Mullally, suddenly quit. The production was postponed indefinitely due to her departure.Jones, Kenneth."Broadway Won't See Lips Together, Teeth Apart This Season" playbill.com, March 25, 2010
Mantello directed the Jon Robin Baitz play Other Desert Cities at the Booth Theatre in 2011. He returned to acting for the first time in over a decade with the role of Ned Weeks in the Broadway limited engagement revival of The Normal Heart in April 2011,Gans, Andrew."Larry Kramer's 'The Normal Heart', Starring Joe Mantello, Opens on Broadway April 27" playbill.com, April 27, 2011 for which he was nominated for the Tony Award as Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play.Jones, Kenneth and Gans, Andrew."2011 Tony Nominations Announced; 'Book of Mormon' Earns 14 Nominations" playbill.com, May 3, 2011 Mantello had previously been nominated for the Tony Award for his role as Louis in Angels in America.
He directed the Off-Broadway world premiere of the musical Dogfight in the summer of 2012 at the Second Stage Theater.Healy, Patrick. "New Musical Set in 1960s Coming to Second Stage Theater". "The New York Times", January 31, 2012 In January 2013, he directed the Broadway premiere of Sharr White's The Other Place at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. In 2014 he directed Sting's new musical The Last Ship. He directed the Harvey Fierstein play Casa Valentina, which premiered on Broadway in April 2014.Purcell, Carey. "MTC To Present Broadway World Premiere of Harvey Fierstein's 'Casa Valentina'" playbill.com, September 9, 2013
Mantello acted in the revival of The Glass Menagerie which opened on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre in February 2017. Directed by Sam Gold, the play starred Sally Field as Amanda Wingfield, with Mantello playing Tom.Gans, Andrew. "Dates Set for 'Glass Menagerie' Broadway Revival With Sally Field and Joe Mantello" Playbill, June 6, 2016McPhee, Ryan. "Read What Critics Had to Say About the Broadway Revival of 'The Glass Menagerie' " Playbill, March 9, 2017
In 2018, Joe Mantello was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. In 2022, Mantello was featured in the book 50 Key Figures in Queer US Theatre.
Personal life From 1990 to 2002, Mantello was in a relationship with playwright Jon Robin Baitz.Dowd, Maureen. "Director Joe Mantello, Broadway’s Invisible Wizard" The New York Times, May 30, 2018Stone, Judith. "Playmates" New York Magazine, retrieved August 9, 2018 As of 2018, he lives with Paul Marlow, who owns a custom clothing company in Manhattan.Dowd, Maureen. "Director Joe Mantello, Broadway’s Invisible Wizard" The New York Times, May 30, 2018
Works Theater Acting credits Year Title Credit(s) Playwright Venue1991Walking the DeadStanKeith CurranCircle Repertory Company, Off-Broadway1992The Baltimore WaltzThird ManPaula VogelCircle Repertory Company, Off-Broadway1993Angels in America: Millennium ApproachesLouis IronsonTony KushnerWalter Kerr Theatre, Broadway1994Angels in America: PerestroikaLouis Ironson Sarah Ironson Council of Principalities2010 The Normal Heart Ned WeeksLarry Kramer John Golden Theatre, Broadway2017The Glass MenagerieTom Wingfield Tennessee WilliamsBelasco Theatre, Broadway
Directing credits Year Title Playwright / composer Venue1990Imagining BradPeter HedgesPlayers Theatre, Off-Broadway1991Babylon GardensTimothy MasonCircle Repertory Company, Off-Broadway1992Three HotelsJon Robin BaitzCircle Repertory Company, Off-Broadway1994Love! Valour! Compassion!Terrence McNallyNew York City Center Stage I, Off-BroadwayWhat's Wrong with This PictureDonald MarguliesBrooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway1995Love! Valour! Compassion!Terrence McNallyWalter Kerr Theatre, Broadway1996Blue WindowCraig LucasNew York City Center Stage I, Off-BroadwayThe Santaland DiariesDavid Sedaris Joe MantelloLinda Gross Theater, Off-Broadway1997God's HeartCraig LucasMitzi E. Newhouse Theater, Off-BroadwayProposalsNeil SimonBroadhurst Theatre, Broadway1998Mizlansky/Zilinsky or "Schmucks"Jon Robin BaitzNew York City Center Stage I, Off-BroadwayCorpus ChristiTerrence McNallyNew York City Center Stage I, Off-Broadway1999The Mineola TwinsPaula VogelLaura Pels Theater, Off-BroadwayThe Vagina MonologuesEve EnslerWestside Theatre, Off-BroadwayAnother American: Asking and TellingMarc WolfTheatre at St. Clement's, Off-Broadway2001 Design for LivingNoël CowardAmerican Airlines Theatre, Broadway2002 An Evening with Mario CantoneMario CantoneTake Me OutRichard GreenbergThe Public Theater, Off-BroadwayFrankie and Johnny in the Clair de LuneTerrence McNallyBelasco Theatre, BroadwayA Man of No ImportanceLynn AhrensStephen FlahertyTerrence McNallyMitzi E. Newhouse Theater, Off-Broadway2003 Take Me OutRichard GreenbergWalter Kerr Theatre, BroadwayWickedStephen Schwartz Winnie HolzmanGershwin Theatre, Broadway2004 AssassinsStephen Sondheim John WeidmanStudio 54, BroadwayLaugh WhoreMario CantoneCort Theatre, Broadway2005 Glengarry Glen RossDavid MametRoyale Theatre, BroadwayThe Odd CoupleNeil SimonBrooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway2006 Three Days of RainRichard GreenbergBernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway2007 BlackbirdDavid HarrowerNew York City Center Stage I, Off-Broadway The RitzTerrence McNallyStudio 54, Broadway The ReceptionistAdam BockNew York City Center Stage I, Off-Broadway2008 NovemberDavid MametEthel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway Pal JoeyRichard RodgersLorenz HartJohn O'HaraStudio 54, Broadway20099 to 5Dolly PartonPatricia ResnickMarquis Theatre, Broadway2010The PrideAlexi Kaye CampbellLucille Lortel Theatre, Off-Broadway2011Other Desert CitiesJon Robin BaitzMitzi E. Newhouse Theater, Off-BroadwayThe Other PlaceSharr WhiteLucille Lortel Theatre, Off-Broadway8Dustin Lance BlackEugene O'Neill Theatre, BroadwayOther Desert CitiesJon Robin BaitzBooth Theatre, Broadway2012DogfightBenj PasekJustin PaulPeter DuchanSecond Stage Theater, Off-Broadway2013 The Other PlaceSharr WhiteSamuel J. Friedman Theatre, BroadwayI'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue MengersJohn LoganBooth Theatre, Broadway2014Casa ValentinaHarvey FiersteinSamuel J. Friedman Theatre, BroadwayThe Last ShipStingJohn LoganNeil Simon Theatre, Broadway2015Airline HighwayLisa D'AmourSamuel J. Friedman Theatre, BroadwayAn Act of GodDavid JaverbaumStudio 54, BroadwayThe HumansStephen KaramLaura Pels Theater, Off-Broadway2016Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, BroadwayBlackbirdDavid HarrowerBelasco Theatre, BroadwayAn Act of GodDavid JaverbaumBooth Theatre, Broadway2018 Three Tall WomenEdward AlbeeJohn Golden Theatre, BroadwayThe Boys in the BandMart CrowleyBooth Theatre, Broadway2019Hillary and ClintonLucas HnathJohn Golden Theatre, Broadway2020Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Edward AlbeeBooth Theatre, Broadway2023Grey HouseLevi HollowayLyceum Theatre, BroadwayHere We AreStephen Sondheim David IvesThe Shed, Off-Broadway2024Little Bear Ridge RoadSamuel D. HunterSteppenwolf Theatre, Chicago2025Here We AreStephen Sondheim David IvesRoyal National Theatre, LondonLittle Bear Ridge RoadSamuel D. HunterBooth Theatre, Broadway2026Death of a SalesmanArthur MillerWinter Garden Theatre, Broadway
Film Year Title Role(s) Notes 1989 Cookie Dominick 1997 Love! Valour! Compassion! Director 2020 The Boys in the Band Director and producer
Television Year Title Role(s) Notes1990 Three Hotels Director; Television movieThe Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Mickey Episode: "Here's Why You Can Never Have Too Much Petty Cash"1991–98 Law & Order Public Defender / Philip Marco 2 episodes1993 Sisters Adam Olderberg Episode: "Moving Pictures"1995 Central Park West Ian Walker 3 episodes2014 The Normal Heart Mickey Marcus HBO television film2020 Hollywood Dick Samuels 7 episodes2022The Watcher John Graff 5 episodesAmerican Horror Story: NYC Gino Barelli 10 episodes2024Feud: Capote vs. The SwansJack Dunphy7 episodes
Awards and nominations
See also LGBT culture in New York City List of LGBT people from New York City
Notes
See also LGBT culture in New York City List of LGBT people from New York City
References
External links
Joe Mantello at the American Theatre Wing 1992 BOMB Magazine interview with Joe Mantello by Nicole Burdette