We are pleased to announce the publication of Terry’s new book: Producing on a Short Shoelace, the culmination of 40 years of experience producing off-off Broadway theater. Actors and supporters of The T. Schreiber Studio and Theatre have had an indelible influence on the work and philosophy outlined in this publication.

We are so thrilled to share this book with you, just as you have shared your talent and dedication with us. Published by New York Theatre Experience, Inc., a Kindle edition of Producing on a Short Shoelace is now available through Amazon.com.  It may also be read on your PC, iPhone, iTouch, BlackBerry, Android and many other mobile devices.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ACBAXI 

Amazon Summary
Terry Schreiber is a noted theater producer, director, acting teacher, and
founder of the prestigious T. Schreiber Studio in New York City. Terry here
traces his forty-year career in the vanguard of New York’s off-off-Broadway
scene, crisply summarizing the tricks, survival techniques and tensions
entailed in striving to stay alive while producing scores of quality
productions on little capital, much love, imaginative entrepreneuring, the
aid of many others, and a bit of good luck here and there. Filled with
anecdotes and pragmatic advice, the richly textured book moves beyond a
chronological account of Terry’s career and the history of his Studio to
present Terry’s thoughts on past events and how they shaped his philosophy
as both a teacher and a long-standing leader of the theater community. This
is a must-read for up-and-coming indie theater artists. It contains
invaluable how-to-and how-not-to-guidance on making theater on a “short
shoelace.”

By Doug Strassler

Michael Black takes on the role of Jeff in the challenging Kenneth Lonergan show Lobby Hero. Below he talks about his love for the show and some of the other writers that inspire him.

What do you like most about T. Schreiber?

You get more hands-on time with the teachers than you do at other acting schools.  As an acting student, you’re frequently being asked to step outside your comfort zone, but in ways that are necessary. I think any actor has limits to their thinking as to what they can or can’t do and what I have found at T. Schreiber is those concepts are always being challenged. I frequently walked away from classes going “Well, maybe I could play ____ after all” or being surprised by what was drawn out of me.

But the thing that makes T. Schreiber a must, particularly for people new to New York, is the sense of community. You genuinely get to know people in your classes—much more so than any other acting classes in New York I have attended–and that is completely invaluable.  New York City probably has the most supportive community of actors in the world, but I have felt T. Schreiber is the best place to get that started. I know of at least two off-off Broadway theater companies that have been generated by like-minded students who first got things started here.

What do you love most about Lobby Hero?

For my money, it’s one of the very best plays of the last twenty some-odd years. I remember first reading it and just glowing by the end of it, going “I HAVE to do this!”. It’s a very simple play but it’s such a confluence of love story, character study, play of ideas and something resembling a thriller that is totally unique…the way Lonergan blends all this so seamlessly is just incredible to me. Anyone interested in great writing should check it out one way or the other.

What is most challenging about your character, Jeff, and/or the play?

Nobody writes better dialogue than Kenneth Lonergan.  Nobody. He writes almost exactly the way Americans talk—jagged, repetitive, incomplete sentences that convey more in their skips and jumps than what is clearly communicated. It’s brilliant. And it is SUCH a challenge to memorize, my God! I think we all struggled with it.

When did you decide to become an actor, and why?

When I was very, very young my family took me to see Up With People. And I remember asking my mom, “How do I get to do that? Do they get paid?? Can you make a living doing that?” Mom was decidedly worried about my line of questioning but my mind was completely made up: I was going to be a performer in Up With People and that was how I was going to live my life. Period. Somewhere down the line, an interest in the likes of Streep and Brando distracted me from my lofty goal. I have yet to play any football stadium, which is just heartbreaking as you can imagine. So, yeah, if you come see Lobby Hero and hate my performance…blame Up With People.

What is your favorite role of those you have ever played?

Jeff is up there…oh, boy is Jeff up there. Years ago, I played Moritz in Spring Awakening—the play, not the musical—which is still a big one for me; it just such a beautiful play, I’d love to direct it one day. I also had a lot of fun doing this workshop of a really wonderful, crazy play by Craig Lucas called The Singing Forest. I really love working on new pieces.

What role/play would you love to do most?

The ones that pay me? Other than that, anything by Caryl Churchill, Kenneth Lonergan, Craig Lucas, Tony Kushner…I’d be happy to play window dressing for free in any of their plays. Oh, and Albee’s Tiny Alice!

Doug Strassler is a freelance writer covering film, theater, television, and pop culture. He is the managing editor at OffOffOnline and editor of the newsletter for the New York Innovative Theatre Awards. His work can also be seen on such sites as New York Press, Theatermania, Show Business magazine, Backstage, Our Town Downtown, West Side Spirit, Tail Slate, and The Critical Condition. Additionally, Doug is a past member of the Drama Desk nominating committee.

We got a little behind in our Lobby Hero of the week…so…

Our fourth Lobby Hero of the week is Noelle and Stephen Wilson! Our fifth Lobby Hero of the week is Matt Brogan!

Noelle and Stephen are the kind of people who also have a helping hand to give. They are the first people to arrive and the last people to leave and they always have a smile on their face. TSS producing director Barb Kielhofer said of the couple, “they are the kind of people who make my job easy just by being who they are. They are a massive asset to the studio and two of the best people I know.” Stephen and Noelle are also brilliant performers as well as being all around amazing humans. To find out more about them check out Noelle’s website and Stephen’s website.

Matt Brogan is the set designer for Lobby Hero. He also has previously designed sets for Balm in Gilead, Joking Apart and Fifth of July here at TSS. Matt was nominated for a 2011 NYIT Award for his Balm set and was named a person of the year in 2010 by NYTheatre.com. In addition to being a supremely talented designer Matt is also supremely dedicated. He has been putting in numerous hours to make sure everything looks perfect and that is why his sets are always a cut above. TSS producing director Barb Kielhofer said of Matt, “Brogan is my saving grace. His sets always look impeccable and interesting. And he is a joy to work with on top of that!” For more info on Matt check out his website.

T. Schreiber Studio and Theatre is thrilled to announce our win for the 2011 New York Innovative Theatre Award:  Outstanding Production of a Play for Balm in Gilead. The award was presented by John Patrick Shanley to our Producing Director Barbara Kielhofer at the NYIT Awards on September 19th, 2011. Thank you to our audiences, students, and supporters for making the 2010-2011 season an amazing experience. Looking forward to the 2011-2012 season (starting with Kenneth Lonergan’s Lobby Hero, previews starting October 13th). Hope to see you there!

Our Third Lobby Hero of the week is Jim Heaphy!

Jim is the very definition of a Lobby Hero! Jim gives and give and just when you think he can’t give any more, he does! Jim has kindly agreed to do pro bono consulting for us to make sure all our NYPD info is accurate AND he’s agreed to do a few after-show talkbacks with the audience for us. We are very grateful to have Jim as a member of our team!

Jim was in the police academy from July 1983 to December 1983 at the age of 20 years old. After the academy, Jim went to training unit for 6 months before he was assigned to the Midtown North Precinct located on 54th street. Jim stayed at Midtown North from 1984 until 2003, when he left the Police Department to pursue his dream of being an actor. While with the NYPD Jim was a uniformed officer who worked midnights, he was in a plainclothes burglary unit, then a pickpocket unit before moving upstairs to the Detective Squad. Jim was promoted to Detective third grade in 1993 and again in 2000 he promoted to Detective second grade before retiring in the spring of 2003. Jim is currently a New York based professional actor and a member of AEA, SAG and AFTRA. In addition to his work in the theatre, Jim has been fortunate enough to do principal work in both film and television. In 2011 he began studying at T. Schreiber Studios by taking the “Six Week Winter Conservatory.” For a list of his Credits and Contact Info go to http://www.imdb.me/jamesheaphy

Balm in Gilead was first runner up in Back Stage’s 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards “Favorite Stage Performance.”

And what’s even more amazing….

The winner we lost to was Mark Rylance in Jerusalem! (click here to read more about the award)

T. Schreiber’s Producing Director, Barb Kielhofer, said of the honor, “If you have to lose an award to anyone, you hope it’s Mark Rylance. We are unbelievably blessed to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Rylance. And in my humble option I completely agree that Balm deserves to be in that category. We strive to create theatre the rivals even the best Broadway play and I feel that Balm succeeded in that endeavor.”

If you loved Balm or you missed the chance to see it make sure to check out Balm director Peter Jensen’s next show Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan. For reservations call 212.352.3101 or visit our website.

Our Second Lobby Hero of the week is Joanna Gurin!

Joanna Gurin first came to Schreiber in 2010 and quickly became an integral part of the TSS team. Joanna is our Enrollment Administrator. Joanna  graduated from Bard College with a dual degree in Playwriting and Human Rights. She received the Robert Rockman Prize for Excellence in Theatre and Literature for her play Ballad of a Comeback Kid. Her follow-up play, I’ll Be Your Mirror, was produced as part of the Annual Playwrights Festival at the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Prior to her work at T. Schreiber, Joanna led created and implemented life skills programs in Johannesburg, South Africa, assisted homeless adults with GED equivalency tests in San Francisco, and ran art therapy sessions for special needs students of all ages. She has also worked closely with “The 52nd Street Project” in New York City, an organization dedicated to helping students in Hell’s Kitchen become playwrights and theater ingénues.

Joanna is sort of the Jeff of our office in the sense that she is the first person our students and visitor see and she is always there to lend a helping hand (or ear) whenever needed! She is indeed an hero to all of us in the office.

When I asked Joanna to give me a quote about working at TSS she said, “I was lucky to start working at T. Schreiber at during Balm in Gilead, and was so blown away by the level of talent and dedication. It’s great to spend my days at a place where I believe in the work and the community behind it.”

Click HERE to get your ticket to see the show.
Lobby Hero performances begin October 13th!

This six-session workshop provides each student, whether new to the business or a seasoned actor, with a set of skills that takes the guesswork out of the commercial audition process.
For more information, fees, or to set up an interview call 212-741-0209

Our first Lobby Hero of the week is Anthony Long!

Anthony first came to Schreiber at the Assistant Technical Director on You Never Can Tell. For Lobby Hero Anthony has taken the lead as Technical Director.  Anthony has also studied at TS having taken the Beginning Intensive I this summer. Due to the MTA transit shutdown Anthony stayed at TS all weekend, all day and night, to continue construction of the set rather than lose a weekend’s worth of work. Anthony braved hurricane Irene here at TS never ceasing even through the storm. It is that level of dedication and commitment to his craft that make Anthony our very first Lobby Hero of the week!

Anthony studied at the prestigious North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA. After Anthony earned a degree in carpentry, he moved his business to Brooklyn, NY in the summer of 2009 (luckily for us here at TS). His wide range of skills as a woodworker allow him to work with many different people on many exciting and challenging projects, from high-end custom furniture to historic restoration. For custom commissions, Anthony can be reached at: long.janthony@gmail.com.

When I asked Anthony what is was like to be here all weekend long Anthony smiled and said, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

Here is a look at the Lobby Hero set taken during the build:

Want to see the finished product? Click HERE to get your ticket to see the show.
Lobby Hero performances begin October 13th!

The Big Country

July 21-30, 2011
Thursday-Saturday @ 8pm
Saturday @ 2pm

Admission: $5 cash, paid at door.
To reserve a seat email Barb at Theatre@tschreiber.org

Winner of the 2011 New Works Project. The Big Country combines the Great American Play with the Great American PowerPoint Presentation to finally explain those bizarre alien creatures known colloquially as Human Beings.

Get all the latest Interstellar transmissions

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