Faculty Legacy

Robbie McCauley, OBIE Award playwright of Sally’s Rape, an internationally recognized performance artist and director appears in her play, Sugar, recently presented at Live Arts in New York; and performed in a work in progress performance piece, “Associative Behavior in the Fifth Species” at the Williamsburg Art Historical Center, and at Dixon Place. Her innovative theatre pieces include My Father and the Wars, Persimmon Peel with the late beloved Laurie Carlos and Teenytown written and performed by Thought Music, a performance trio with Carlos and Jessica Hagedorn. Directing credits include an innovative interpretation of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie at Roxbury Repertory Theater and Adrienne Kennedy’s Sleep Deprivation Chamber at Penumbra Theatre Co. in Minnesota. Acting credits include For Colored Girls Who’ve Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf on Broadway, and Fences at the Tyrone Guthrie in Minnesota. Her influential work involving theatre made to converse about race in the early 90’s included The Buffalo Project at Hallwalls and the Primary Sources series in Western Mississippi, Boston, and Los Angeles produced by The Arts Company. Widely anthologized, including Omi Osun Joni L. Jones’ newest book, Experiments in a Jazz Aesthetic, Robbie McCauley is a Professor Emerita of Emerson College in Boston.

TEACHING STATEMENT:
“Audibility is not a liability. It is an enhancement. Clarity is strength not weakness. Please work with a partner, if possible. But better to do a ‘solo’ than no work at all. If asked to ‘bring a scene back’ next week, please do so. You have the right to say ‘I’d rather not.’ I retain the right to make it mandatory. Avoid being late. Excused lateness is a privilege. Don’t make it a habit. Rise to a challenge. Don’t intentionally miscast yourself. Be courageous. Behavioral values are more potent than literary decisions. Criticism may be brutal but never cruel.”

BIO:
Broadway: A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, FORTUNE’S FOOL, AN INSPECTOR CALLS, ARMS AND THE MAN, KINGDOMS, JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN. Off Broadway: RICHARD II (Bayfield Award), THREE SISTERS, THE FOREST, UNCLE VANYA, IVANOV (CSC); ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (TFANA), MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION, THE COUNTRY GIRL, CYRANO (Roundabout), PRINCIPIA SCRIPTORIAE, GOLDEN AGE (MTC), HEARTBREAK HOUSE, VIEUX CARRE (Pearl), HAMLET, OTHELLO, CYMBELINE, HENRY V, AS YOU LIKE IT, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Public). THE OXFORD ROOF CLIMBERS REBELLION (Urban Stages). FREUD’S LAST SESSION (New World Stages). A PICTURE OF AUTUMN, THE MADRAS HOUSE, THE VOYSEY INHERITANCE, UNCLE BOB – (Premiere), THE LONELY WAY, DONOGOO (Mint). NORA (Cherry Lane). Regionals: GOLDEN AGE (Premiere) – Philadelphia and Kennedy Center. Other regions include Baltimore, Arizona, Seattle, Long Wharf, Pittsburgh, Manitoba, Peterborough NH, Williamstown. Films include: TWENTY BUCKS; WHAT’S UP DOC?; THOSE LIPS, THOSE EYES; THEY ALL LAUGHED; SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY. TV includes: OZ (HBO), DAMAGES, LAW AND ORDER SVU. Fox Fellow, 2000. Brown University (Phi Beta Kappa), Yale School of Drama.

Studied with Herbert Berghof and Uta Hagen. Member of HB Studio since 1952, faculty member since 1957. Stage debut in THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN, starring Uta Hagen. Off-Broadway: THIS SIDE OF PARADISE, ANDORRA, GOAL GATE, HYACINTH HALVEY, the Bishop in THE PRICE OF GENIUS, Almandy in THE PLAY’S THE THING, Edward in THE COCKTAIL PARTY, Goff in David Wiltse’s SUGGS for HTC, Lucky in the Arthur Storch production of WAITING FOR GODOT, and ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. Film: opposite Rod Steiger in THE PAWNBROKER. TV: THE NAKED CITY. Directing: UNDERCOVER MAN (HB Playwrights Foundation and Off-Broadway), CONDITIONED REFLEX (ANTA), Shaw’s YOU NEVER CAN TELL (E.L.T.), Pinter’s NIGHT and ONE FOR THE ROAD (Chelsea Arts Center), BETRAYAL and MISS JULIE (HB), O’Casey’s A BEDTIME STORY, and a stage adaptation of Dorothy Parker’s HERE WE ARE (Lincoln Center). HB Playwrights Foundation Acting: ANIMAL LOVERS and DOÑA ROSITA. Directed and designed: THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE (No Smoking), the Harrison translation of Molière’s THE MISANTHROPE (Swiss House, 1995), and the American Premiere of Jean Anouilh’s MEDEA (Hudson Guild Theatre, 1957). Writing: with Jim Boerlin, THE KNIVES ARE SILENT, an adaptation of VENICE PRESERVED, and MAY DAY (screenplay) based on the story of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Faculty member of The Hagen Institute at HB Studio with both The Hagen Summer Intensive and The Hagen Core Training programs. Recently directed Ferenc Molnár’s THE PLAY’S THE THING at HBPF.

Rita Gardner has had a long career on and off Broadway. She is best known for originating the role of The Girl in the longest running musical of all time, THE FANTASTICKS. Her Broadway credits include A FAMILY AFFAIR, BEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS, 1776, LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS, and Rosie in the musical THE WEDDING SINGER. Off-Broadway: JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and WINGS. She has recently starred as Vera in 4000 MILES at the Studio of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Other theatrical credits include A.R. Gurney’s THE SNOWBALL, THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, GINGERBREAD LADY and SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM. She has performed in productions at Goodspeed Opera House, Ford Theatre in Washington, DC, and New York City’s Connelly Theatre, among other celebrated venues. Ms. Gardner also performed in the National tour of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. Film: MR. GIBB, SUPER HEROES and P.S. I LOVE YOU (with Hillary Swank). TV: roles on GUIDING LIGHT and each version of LAW & ORDER, as well as various other television appearances. Ms. Gardner’s most recent theatrical activities include the reading of the new Broadway musical version of QUEEN OF THE STARDUST BALLROOM, starring Tyne Daly, Lucie Arnaz and Keith Carradine, slated for next Spring, and also the title role in the reading of a new play with music—ZAZOU—tentatively scheduled for the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Film work includes short films, done as part of RIPFEST, which has just recently concluded. And, along with this busy schedule, she continues with her first love—her one-woman show—TRY TO REMEMBER: A LOOK BACK AT OFF-BROADWAY.

Broadway: THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, DIVIDING THE ESTATE, MULE BONE, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, DESIGN FOR LIVING, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, THE ICEMAN COMETH, THE RIVER NIGER, AIN’T SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH and ALL GOD’S CHILLUN GOT WINGS. Off-Broadway: THE PICTURE BOX, THE LITTLE FLOWER OF EAST ORANGE, TWO TRAINS RUNNING, DRIVING MISS DAISY. Film: RED HOOK SUMMER, GODS BEHAVING BADLY, WHERE IS JOEL BAUM?, 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK, PLEASE GIVE, KINSEY, MUSIC OF THE HEART, ’ROUND MIDNIGHT, CAR WASH, MALCOLM X, CROOKLYN, and THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS. TV: DELOCATED, A GIFTED MAN, PAN AM, NYC 22, RESCUE ME, LAW & ORDER, NURSE JACKIE. Founding member of the Negro Ensemble Company. Awards: Obie Award (Sustained Excellence of Performance), Lucille Lortel Award (Outstanding Featured Actor, TWO TRAINS RUNNING), and 5 AUDELCO Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre (Acting & Directing).

TEACHING STATEMENT:

“Every student is different.  My job is to be a diagnostician, identifying the particular issues holding an actor back from reaching his or her potential, then nudging them towards finding, and owning, the keys to their own freedom.”

BIO:

MFA in Acting, University of Minnesota, also studied at HB Studio and with Andre Gregory. Broadway: THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES (2013); GORE VIDAL’S THE BEST MAN (2012); LOST IN YONKERS; TWELVE ANGRY MEN; GORE VIDAL’S THE BEST MAN (original production); A THOUSAND CLOWNS; THE GRADUATE; MY THING OF LOVE; and THE MERCHANT. Off-Broadway: THE GOOD MOTHER; LONELY, I’M NOT; WE LIVE HERE; PICKED; AFTER THE REVOLUTION; THE SINGING FOREST; MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA; BUFFALO GAL; THE MUSIC TEACHER; THE LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME; THE WAVERLY GALLERY; THE SEAGULL; KEY EXCHANGE; TABLE SETTINGS; SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE; LITTLE FOOTSTEPS; IT’S ONLY A PLAY; MISLANSKY ZILINSKY; and GUS AND AL, for which he received an Obie Award. Film: THE GREEN; SHATTERED GLASS; DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN; CROCODILE DUNDEE; THE PRESIDIO; BLIND DATE; JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS; WORTH WINNING; MIAMI RHAPSODY. TV: Most recently appeared in Netflix’s YOU, HBO’s SUCCESSION, and Amazon’s MOZART IN THE JUNGLE. Other TV credits: INDICTMENT: THE McMARTIN TRIAL; STEVE MARTIN’S THE JUDGE; THE DEFENDERS; as well as guest-starring roles in THE GOOD WIFE; LAW & ORDER; FRINGE; THE SOPRANOS; WEST WING; CSI MIAMI; JUDGING AMY; NYPD BLUE; ST. ELSEWHERE; MIAMI VICE; FRASIER; WINGS; ROSEANNE; THE PRACTICE; and many others. Teaching: Fordham University, Manhattan School of Music, The USDAN Summer Conservatory Program, The Lincoln Center Institute for Education, and the Manhattan Theatre Club Educational Program, Brooklyn College. Mark is the Director of the Uta Hagen Institute’s Hagen Core Training at HB Studio.

Remembering
GEORGE BARTENIEFF
(1933–2022)

Graduate of both RADA and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. Broadway: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (with Al Pacino), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE WHOLE WORLD OVER, MONTSERRAT, MISALLIANCE, UNLIKELY HEROES, ROOM SERVICE, MOON BESIEGED, BOX MAO BOX. Off-Broadway: KRAPP’S LAST TAPE, THE ZOO STORY, THE AMERICAN DREAM, THE SANDBOX, PROMETHEUS BOUND, I WILL BEAR WITNESS (Obie), STUFF HAPPENS (Drama Desk), HOME MOVIES, THE BRIG, ROMEO AND JULIET, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, THE MEMORANDUM, INCREASED DIFFICULTY OF CONCENTRATION, CYMBELINE, AMERICAN NOTES, DEAD END KIDS, THE EXPRESSWAY, US (Obie). Regional: TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE (Philly Award Best Actor 2005–06 season), THE TEMPEST, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION, VALLEY SONG, AS YOU LIKE IT, THE LADY’S NOT FOR BURNING, ORDINARY NATION. Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Theater for the New City for 24 years; then, Theater Three Collaborative in 1994. Recipient of two additional Obies for producing. TV and Film includes: CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, LAW & ORDER, 30 ROCK, RESCUE ME, ANIMA, SEE NO EVIL, JULIE & JULIA and THE DICTATOR (with Sacha Baron Cohen). Guest teacher at Sarah Lawrence, Wesleyan University, Towson State, Centre State, CUNY, Maryland State Colleges.