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ERNIE MARTIN The Ernie Martin Studio Theatre
Ernie
Martin
was born Ernesto Martinez on After serving the in the United States Army (stationed in Germany and France), Ernie Martin went through the two-year Professional Theatre Program at The American Theatre Wing on the G.I. bill. Ernie Martin
changed his name in the 1950s after various TV appearances to avoid the stereotyping
of his last name that was prevalent in Ernie Martin
is one of the most revered acting teachers to emerge from The Lee Strasberg
Institute and
(Nastassja Kinski, on right) Former alumni who have been taught, coached and/or directed by Mr. Martin – Ann Wedgeworth, Sean Penn, Lorraine Bracco, Harvey Keitel, Ron Silver, Lauren Hutton, and Jeff Goldblum, among others. During
the following years, Mr. Martin divided his time between
At the Actors Studio in New York, Mr. Martin directed two revivals by Tennessee Williams: "At Liberty" and "Orpheus Descending" starring Ann Wedgeworth. Mr. Martin lectured at Fordham University in NYC: "The Creative Behavioral Approach of the Actor in Rehearsal and Performance and its Relationship to Behavioral Psychology" and at Lincoln Center: "The Master Teacher and the Actor's Career." In California at the Pasadena University of Design he lectured on the "Linear Creativity of the Architect and its Parallel Design in the Arts". While serving as the Artistic Director of the Actors Studio, Mr. Martin has been Guest Master Teacher for the Theatre Department at the highly acclaimed Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and taught a Master Class at the Burt Reynolds Theatre in Jupiter, Florida. Ernie Martin was featured teaching a class in the film, "Hello, Actors Studio," (a history of the Studio) a French-Canadian Production directed by Annie Tresgot. One of
He also taught acting at the Professional Actors Association of Spain. Mr. Martin directed two One Act plays by Eugene O'Neill, "Hughie" and "Before Breakfast" for the premiere opening of the Mercat de Les Flors (The Lincoln Center of Barcelona, a 750 seat theatre).
Diary of a Madman
He was
also Drama Coach and Line Director on the movie "The Black Pearl" which was
filmed in Mr. Martin produced and directed numerous original plays as studio workshop and full off-off Broadway performances through the Actors Creative Theatre (the producing arm of the Ernie Martin Studio Theatre).
Ernie Martin arranged Seminars for his students including Speakers such as Farley Granger, Lynn Redgrave, Pete Masterson, Austin Pendleton, Carlin Glynn, Ron Liebman, Harvey Keitel, Joan Copeland, Shelley Winters and Robert Duvall. Mr. Martin is featured in Eva Mekler's book "The New Generation of Acting Teachers" and “Professional Actor Training in NYC” by Jim Monos. In 2005,
Ernie Martin directed the twenty year anniversary production of Gógol's "Diary
of a Madman" once again starring Fermi Reixach in Ernie Martin was elected to the position of Artistic Director of the Actors Studio West. During his tenure Charles Durning, Hal Holbrook, Joe Bologna and Rene Taylor became members. Ernie Martin is a Lifetime Member of the Actors Studio, as an actor, teacher, and director. He is also a member, Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. Ernie Martin is currently teaching in New York City and can be reached at (646) 388-0594. In addition he will also coach professionsl actors who are auditioning for or rehearsing specific roles.
Productions at the Ernie Martin Studio Theatre:
Also Directed by Ernie Martin Summer and Smoke By Tennesee Williams Performed at the Where's My Little Gloria? Performed at the Hudson Guild Theatre, NYC - 1972 Awake and Sing by Clifford Odets - 1975 Performed at the Joseph Jefferson Theatre
Company in “Finally, ‘Awake and Sing’ marks the best work to date by the Joseph Jefferson Theatre Company…The Text and tone are Mr. Odets’s… With the banal exchanges, bickering and endless talk of money, these people matter because they are real. Were they more so with the Group Theatre ripping a page from life back in 1935? Possibly, but why are we so moved now?... [for] the next revival in the Joseph Jefferson’s American Play series, to top ‘Awake and Sing’ will take some doing.” - Howard Thompson. THE NEW YORK TIMES “Let
me waste no time in saying it. The Joseph Jefferson Theatre Company production
of “AWAKE AND SING” under Ernie Martin’s direction is one honey of a show,
it blasts away at you, it is beautifully performed in blatant and soft colors,
it wrenches you and tickles you. It acts as if this depression-ridden
In the Boom Boom Room by
David Rabe - 1977 “…Explodes like a series of grenades…obviously indebted to director Ernie Martin is slashing, sniping, gut-level realistic approach.” – Roy Loynd, HERALD EXAMINER “Ernest Martin
directs with relentless thrust, yet with sensitivity.” –Polly Warfield,
“…what we see at the skillful hands of director Ernest Martin is rough, raw and painful… In The Boom Boom Room is not for all markets and certainly not for the squeamish. But for those who like their theatre straight up and 100 proof, this in one not to be missed” – Sylvia Drake, L.A. Times “BOOM BOOM CAST BETTER THAN SCRIPT…These performances are pearls of acting-directing, to the point, and quite capable of creating drama when precious little exists in Rabe’s script. Naturally, direction is all important and Ernest Martin’s staging couldn’t be better. He attacks the scenes with utter conviction, always making interesting choices of character and tone.” - Valley News “When producer Joseph Papp opened in N.Y.’s Beaumont Theatre with “The Boom Boom Room” in 1973, most critics fumed and swooned, almost driving Papp from the temple. So heavy was the rap on Papp that David Rabe’s play has been hardly seen since, and never on the coast until now. Well, either the play’s been changed or the New Yorkers exhibited the same insight then that they previously showed with ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.’ ‘Boom Boom Room’ is an excellent, involving visit among low-life… Ernie Martin directed carefully, building a sequence of memorable scenes. Stagecraft credits are all good, adding up to an ambiance that will seem real to anybody who’s ever spent any time around these go-go joints…Maybe New York no longer finds creeps and psychos interesting. But thrown together in the right combination, they can generate a lot of theatre. This is one for anybody who likes legit.” _Variety Mama's Little Angels by Louis LaRusso
III (no reviews due to a Newspaper Strike)
Fleas by
D.W. Brown - 1998
A Reed in the Wind by
Joseph P. McDonald - January 15 -February 8, 2004
Before The Next Blue Norther By Sage Allen – Sept.
– Oct., 2004 Performed at the Abingdon Theatre as an Actors Creative
Theatre Production. (producing arm of E. M.S.T.)
“…deftly staged
by Ernie Martin, and his wife, renowned actress Ann Wedgeworth, introduces
their daughter Dianna Martin to New York audiences…” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
