Bio for
John Rea
John Rea is the Artistic Director and founder of MacGuffin Theatre & Film Company in Philadelphia, PA and a Composer/Writer/Director. He graduated from Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Theory and a Teaching Certificate (K-12). He also received an MA in Theatre from Villanova University. He was the director of Discovery Division for youth at the Walnut Street Theatre from 1995-99. He was the Literary Manager/Dramaturg for Philadelphia Theatre Company from 1997-99. For the past 27 years he has overseen all MacGuffin productions and teaches a variety of classes there. He has directed several film projects for MacGuffin including: More Than Anything (2018), Clueless, After Midnight Scream for Monty Python’s Ghostbusting Brother, Getting Out, Chasing the MacGuffin (documentary), Happy Birthday and A Real Kiss.
He has composed music to many shows including Arcadia and The Women of Argos. As a playwright/composer/lyricist he has written The Skeleton Woman, Mak and the Shepherds, Cinderella Story, More Than Anything, The Three Trees, As I Do (Playwriting Award, Cleveland Public Theatre), The Lost, The Cruel Sister, A Place Called Up, The Tale of Orpheus, Mischief Manor, Dodger, The Tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, The Fiery Furnace, Eden, The Witches, Wendy’s Story, Jonah and the Big Fish and Vito, The Snakes of Fangore (Jackie White Memorial Prize, 3rd place), The 13 Clocks, The Bees, The Dog Pound, and Sorceress. He has taught music and drama in the Philadelphia School District and the Delaware County School District. Next up: directing Mean Girls this summer and revising a new musical called, More Than Anything