Newman was scheduled to make his professional stage directing debut with the Westport Country Playhouse's 2008 production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, but he stepped down on May 23, 2008, citing his health concerns.
Newman je trebao ostvariti svoj kazališni redateljski debi 2008. s produkcijom O miševima i ljudima Johna Steinbecka u Westport Country Playhouse, ali je odustao 23. svibnja 2008., navevši zdravstvene tegobe.