Craig Ricci Shaynak
Encyclopedia
Craig Ricci Shaynak sometimes credited as Craig Shaynak, is a character actor based in Los Angeles, CA. He has been active in Chicago and Los Angeles theatre and more recently, national television and film.
Shaynak was born in Northport, New York
. He graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Medieval Drama in 1991 and is one of a few American students of Medieval Pageant Plays. Under the tutelage of David Bevington
, renowned Shakespeare scholar, he produced Everyman
, the 16th Century morality play, as well as The Second Shepherds' Play
in the original Middle English
. In fact, Mr. Shaynak's first professional theatre production after university was to be the dramaturg for a production of The Mystery Cycle, an American adaptation of a British modernization of the Wakefield Cycle, but instead became his first professional acting experience. The adaptation was done by Nicholas Rudall
, at the time, Artistic Director of the Court Theatre
, and Bernard Sahlins
, one of the founders of The Second City
and SCTV
.
Shaynak's latest film, The Informant, directed by Steven Soderbergh
and starring Matt Damon
, opened in September 2009. Previous roles include an on camera appearance with Christian Bale
in Harsh Times
, and voicework in Happy Feet
, Night at the Museum
, and One Night With the King
.
Craig recently returned from France where he performed his original piece Cowboys & Indians in French at the Festival d'Avignon
. He also performed the piece in English at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe where he also debuted his new children's show, Mr. Fizzywigg's Story Factory. Previous live theatre productions include Stealing Buffalo at the Gardner Stages in Hollywood, CA, Cowboys & Indians; Dot Not Feather at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Fat, Bald & Loud at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Craig also works often with Vern Urich in plays written by author David Mamet
(American Buffalo
, Glengarry Glen Ross
, Speed-The-Plow
).
Craig has started a production company called Kingswell Productions named for the street on which he lives, coincidentally, the same street upon which Walt Disney had his first studio.
Shaynak was born in Northport, New York
Northport, New York
Northport is a village in Suffolk County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the village population was 7,606. Students attend the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District....
. He graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Medieval Drama in 1991 and is one of a few American students of Medieval Pageant Plays. Under the tutelage of David Bevington
David Bevington
David Martin Bevington is an American literary scholar. He is Professor Emeritus in the Humanities and in English Language & Literature, Comparative Literature, and the College at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1967, as well as chair of Theatre and Performance Studies...
, renowned Shakespeare scholar, he produced Everyman
Everyman
In literature and drama, the term everyman has come to mean an ordinary individual, with whom the audience or reader is supposed to be able to identify easily, and who is often placed in extraordinary circumstances...
, the 16th Century morality play, as well as The Second Shepherds' Play
The Second Shepherds' Play
The Second Shepherds' Play is a famous medieval mystery play which is contained in the manuscript HM1, the unique manuscript of the Wakefield Cycle. It gained its name because in the manuscript it immediately follows another nativity play involving the shepherds...
in the original Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
. In fact, Mr. Shaynak's first professional theatre production after university was to be the dramaturg for a production of The Mystery Cycle, an American adaptation of a British modernization of the Wakefield Cycle, but instead became his first professional acting experience. The adaptation was done by Nicholas Rudall
Nicholas Rudall
D. Nicholas Rudall is Professor of Classical Languages and Literatures, a member of on General Studies in the Humanities and Ancient Mediterranean World, and the College at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1966. He specializes in Greek drama, and has translated numerous works...
, at the time, Artistic Director of the Court Theatre
Court Theatre (Chicago)
The Court Theatre is a professional theatre located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The Court Theatre is affiliated with the University of Chicago, receiving in-kind support from the University and operating within the larger University umbrella...
, and Bernard Sahlins
Bernard Sahlins
Bernard "Bernie" Sahlins is an American writer, director and comedian best known as a founder of The Second City improvisational comedy troupe with Paul Sills and Howard Alk in 1959. Sahlins also opened the Second City Theatre in Toronto in 1973....
, one of the founders of The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
and SCTV
Second City Television
Second City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.- Premise :...
.
Shaynak's latest film, The Informant, directed by Steven Soderbergh
Steven Soderbergh
Steven Andrew Soderbergh is an American film producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, and an Academy Award-winning film director. He is best known for directing commercial Hollywood films like Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and the remake of Ocean's Eleven, but he has also directed smaller less...
and starring Matt Damon
Matt Damon
Matthew Paige "Matt" Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the film Good Will Hunting , from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend Ben Affleck...
, opened in September 2009. Previous roles include an on camera appearance with Christian Bale
Christian Bale
Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
in Harsh Times
Harsh Times
Harsh Times is a 2006 American crime film set in South Los Angeles. The film stars Christian Bale and Freddy Rodriguez, and was written and directed by David Ayer, who wrote the script for the Academy Award-winning film Training Day. The film was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and...
, and voicework in Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Happy Feet is a 2006 American-Australian computer-animated family film with music, directed and co-written by George Miller. It was produced at Sydney-based visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic for Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures and Kingdom Feature Productions and was released...
, Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum is a 2006 fantasy adventure-comedy film based on the 1993 children's book The Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc. It follows a divorced father trying to settle down, impress his son, and find his destiny...
, and One Night With the King
One Night with the King
One Night with the King is a historical epic film that was released in 2006 in the United States. Based on the novel Hadassah: One Night with the King by Tommy Tenney and Mark Andrew Olsen, One Night with the King is a dramatization of the Old Testament Bible story of Esther, who risked her life by...
.
Craig recently returned from France where he performed his original piece Cowboys & Indians in French at the Festival d'Avignon
Festival d'Avignon
The Festival d'Avignon, or Avignon Festival, is an annual arts festival held in the French city of Avignon. Founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, it is the oldest extant festival in France and one of the world's greatest...
. He also performed the piece in English at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe where he also debuted his new children's show, Mr. Fizzywigg's Story Factory. Previous live theatre productions include Stealing Buffalo at the Gardner Stages in Hollywood, CA, Cowboys & Indians; Dot Not Feather at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Fat, Bald & Loud at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Craig also works often with Vern Urich in plays written by author David Mamet
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
(American Buffalo
American Buffalo (play)
American Buffalo is a 1975 play by American playwright David Mamet which had its premiere in a showcase production at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago. After two more showcase productions, it opened on Broadway on February 16, 1977...
, Glengarry Glen Ross
Glengarry Glen Ross
Glengarry Glen Ross is a 1984 play written by David Mamet. The play shows parts of two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts—from lies and flattery to bribery, threats, intimidation and burglary—to sell...
, Speed-The-Plow
Speed-the-Plow
Speed-the-Plow is a play by David Mamet which is a satirical dissection of the American movie business, a theme Mamet would revisit in his later films Wag the Dog and State and Main ....
).
Craig has started a production company called Kingswell Productions named for the street on which he lives, coincidentally, the same street upon which Walt Disney had his first studio.