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Biography: Theater 3 at The Mint,
November 24, 2009
December 1, 2009
By PAMELA MOLLER KAREMAN
[The current production of Biography by
the Schoolhouse Theater at the Mint features
performances by several members of the staff of Orso
Restaurant. Orso is a well-known eating
establishment in New York's Broadway theater
district. In an e-mail to David Behrman in response
to his inquiry about the connection between the
theater, which is based in Croton Falls, and the
restaurant, Pamela Moller Kareman, the director of
the production, wrote the following.]
My husband, Fred Kareman, was quite a renowned
acting teacher for many, many years. I also teach
acting, both at our studio and at conservatories in
the city. Fred worked exclusively out of our studio,
Studio 808 in Carnegie Hall and trained many famous
and not so famous actors through the years. As I was
(and still am , of course) the artistic director of
The Schoolhouse Theater, Fred and I had a great
partnership helping many actors to get work and I
very often cast shows from the classes. Fred died in
2007, but my partnership with many of these
wonderfully talented people has continued. We have
produced three shows together and done them at The
Schoolhouse and in NYC ("Nora", by Ingmar Bergman,
in 2006, originating here Off Broadway and moving up
to The Schoolhouse, Arthur Miller's, "The Crucible"
, which was done at The Schoolhouse and moved in Off
Broadway in the winter of 08, and now of course,
your father's wonderful, "Biography"). Last spring
we decided to formalize the group, and I joined
forces with these former students to form Theater
808 , a not for profit producing entity. Another
company, Mare Nostrum Elements, run by Kevin Albert,
also former student of Fred's, partnered with us
(theater 808) and The Schoolhouse to produce both
"The Crucible and "Biography". Kevin, a terrific
actor, has a day job as general manager of the famed
Orso. Two other participants in our venture are
waiters there. Our pr agent, Richard Kornberg, loved
the connection and as you know people have run with
the story! I am hoping that people will come to the
theater to see this marvelous play and these zany,
will-o-wisp artists in one aspect of their careers
and lives. Incidentally, a playwright friend thinks
the whole idea of it would make a delightful play
itself! There you have the connection. As Marian
would say, "new vistas, very exciting!"
Biography: Theater 3 at The Mint,
November 24, 2009 |
