The University of Virginia has appointed Mitch Levine as Creative Director of the University’s Bicentennial Launch Celebration, planned for Oct. 5-7, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Levine is a Los Angeles-based director of theatre, film, opera and dance and producer of many live public events, tributes and awards ceremonies. He produced and hosted the American Film Institute’s Great Filmmakers series, and has moderated many marquee conversations in Hollywood and for the Virginia Film Festival.

Vice Provost for the Arts Jody Kielbasa said of Levine, “We are honored to have such an accomplished individual here to orchestrate our historic celebration and I look forward to working with him on this landmark event. Mitch’s unique combination of talents as a producer, director, educator, diplomat and creative thinker will help us realize a terrific tribute to the University’s standing as one of the great institutions of higher learning. I know that it will be a remarkable show for both the 25,000 guests gathered on the Lawn and for the millions who will watch around the globe.”

Levine is charged with creating a vibrant celebration to honor the momentous occasion of the University’s bicentennial. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members and luminaries from around the world will converge on the historic Grounds for a weekend of celebration – including performances and installations that will highlight the history, present and future of the University and its significance in the context of both American and global culture. The anniversary will also mark the contributions of other national figures, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Paine and James Monroe. Notable figures from the performing, literary and visual arts will perform and collaborate with University scholars, students and artists, paying homage to traditional forms of artistic expression while embracing innovative and alternative artistic exploration.

Levine attended the Juilliard School in New York and has a Master of Fine Arts from the American Film Institute, where he was the first James Cameron Fellow in Directing. He is a directing member of the renowned Actors Studio and a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). He is currently directing the political comedy, GOD HELP US!, starring Ed Asner. He directed the films IN CONFIDENCE (Cannes 2015), HUNGRY IS THE TIGER and MORPHING GRAVITY and his Holocaust drama SHADOWS won awards around the globe. Mitch was Artistic Supervisor of the opera EINSTEIN ON THE BEACH, collaborated with Peter Gabriel and Moses Pendleton on the stage version of PASSION, directed the premiere of the Edgar Allan Poe drama, A DREAM WITHIN A DREAM, as well as Arthur Kopit’s WINGS and Jean Anouilh’s ANTIGONE for the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the revival of Lyle Kessler’s ORPHANS in New York. For many years, Mitch was Production Director of MOMIX Dance Theatre and a Special Representative to the United Nations.