Michael Howard (actor)
Encyclopedia
Michael Howard is an American
actor
, director, and master teacher, and founder of Michael Howard Studios
in New York City.
In 1939, as a 16 year old high school student, he enrolled in the New Theater School, an offshoot of the renowned Group Theater. That year he made his professional debut, appearing in the company’s production of “Zero Hour”.
Upon graduation from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1941, he moved to Greenwich Village and joined a group of young actors and musicians. He was offered and accepted a scholarship to attend The Neighborhood Playhouse
where he studied with such influential teachers as Sanford Meisner
, Martha Graham
, Louis Horst
, and David Pressman
, Howard enlisted in the Army and joined the US parachute troops. He attended jump school and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division
. He was overseas for twenty months and served in three combat zones including Belgium
during The Battle of the Bulge
. Towards the end of the conflict, he was transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division and sent to Berlin as part of the occupation force. While there, he was invited to join The Armed Forces Network. He worked with AFN-Berlin until his return home in 1945.
in the world premiere of Clifford Odets
’ “The Country Girl”, off Broadway in Ionesco’s “Victims of Duty”, with Joseph Chaiken, and in hundreds of roles in summer and winter stock, repertory companies, regional theaters, television and film. His film credits include John Patrick Shanley
’s “Five Corners” in which he appeared opposite John Turturro
.
As a director, he was a pioneer of the Off-Broadway
movement, beginning his career in 1954 with New Stages and the Greenwich Muse Theatre. His credits include the American premiere of Leonid Andreyev
’s “The Waltz of the Dogs”, the world premier of “Time of Storm” by Sheldon Stark, and Lofton Mitchell’s “Land Beyond the River”, which in 1956 was the first modern play by an African-American writer about the civil rights movement. On Broadway, he directed “The Troublemakers” by George Belak and the Theater Guild’s production of Eleanor Perry
’s “The Third Best Sport” which starred Celeste Holm
. Mr. Howard was the founding Artistic Director of an Atlanta-based company which planned to produce theater, opera and ballet where he directed the landmark production of John Dryden
and Henry Purcell
’s opera “Masque King Arthur”. He also directed fifteen productions as the first Artistic Director of the Alliance Theater company.
His first teaching experience was during the early years of the famed High School of the Performing Arts where he joined Sidney Lumet
as an acting instructor in 1951. He would go on to teach at Yale University
, Boston University
, North Carolina School of the Arts
, Princeton University
, Columbia University
/Barnard College
, the Juilliard School
and at his own Michael Howard Studios
.
which began in 1953 when a group of actors asked him to lead their sessions. The studio is a professional training center which encourages actors to explore various methods and tools in order to develop their own individual technique. Mr. Howard continues to teach at the studio which is now in its fifth decade of actor training. In honor of the Studio’s contribution to New York’s rich theatrical history, Mayor Michael Bloomberg
proclaimed May 4, 2009 to be Michael Howard Studios Day.
, Uta Hagen
, Celeste Holm
, Olympia Dukakis
, Kelsey Grammer
, Terry Schreiber
, William Ball, Michael Kahn
, Richard Warner, Joe Van Fleet, Jason Robards Jr, Tom Poston
, and Scott Evans
.
"What is important is not the answers but the questions"
"It is not about natural. It is about truth."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, director, and master teacher, and founder of Michael Howard Studios
Michael Howard Studios
The Michael Howard Studios is an acting studio for the performing arts located in Manhattan, New York; the studio was founded in 1953 by actor/director Michael Howard.-History:...
in New York City.
Early life
Mr. Howard was born Robert Horowitz April 23, 1923 on the east side of Manhattan at the Salvation Army Hospital on 16th Street to Gertrude Lang and George Horowitz. His father changed the family name to Howard in 1925. He was raised by his mother at various locations on Manhattan's Upper West Side.In 1939, as a 16 year old high school student, he enrolled in the New Theater School, an offshoot of the renowned Group Theater. That year he made his professional debut, appearing in the company’s production of “Zero Hour”.
Upon graduation from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1941, he moved to Greenwich Village and joined a group of young actors and musicians. He was offered and accepted a scholarship to attend The Neighborhood Playhouse
Neighborhood Playhouse
The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre is an actor training school at 340 East 54th Street in New York City, generally associated with the Meisner technique of Sanford Meisner.-History:...
where he studied with such influential teachers as Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner , also known as Sandy, was an American actor and acting teacher who developed a form of Method acting that is now known as the Meisner technique....
, Martha Graham
Martha Graham
Martha Graham was an American modern dancer and choreographer whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence Picasso had on modern visual arts, Stravinsky had on music, or Frank Lloyd Wright had on architecture.She danced and choreographed for over seventy years...
, Louis Horst
Louis Horst
Louis Horst was a choreographer, composer, and pianist...
, and David Pressman
David Pressman
David Pressman is an American human rights lawyer and former aide to United States Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright. He advises a number of highly-visible individuals on foreign policy and related advocacy strategies...
Military service
Soon after finishing his training at the Neighborhood PlayhouseNeighborhood Playhouse
The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre is an actor training school at 340 East 54th Street in New York City, generally associated with the Meisner technique of Sanford Meisner.-History:...
, Howard enlisted in the Army and joined the US parachute troops. He attended jump school and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
. He was overseas for twenty months and served in three combat zones including Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
during The Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. Towards the end of the conflict, he was transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division and sent to Berlin as part of the occupation force. While there, he was invited to join The Armed Forces Network. He worked with AFN-Berlin until his return home in 1945.
Theatrical career
Mr. Howard joined Actors Equity in 1947. There was already a Robert Howard in the union so it was at this point that he changed his name to Michael Howard. He went on to appear on BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in the world premiere of Clifford Odets
Clifford Odets
Clifford Odets was an American playwright, screenwriter, socialist, and social protester.-Early life:Odets was born in Philadelphia to Romanian- and Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Louis Odets and Esther Geisinger, and raised in Philadelphia and the Bronx, New York. He dropped out of high...
’ “The Country Girl”, off Broadway in Ionesco’s “Victims of Duty”, with Joseph Chaiken, and in hundreds of roles in summer and winter stock, repertory companies, regional theaters, television and film. His film credits include John Patrick Shanley
John Patrick Shanley
John Patrick Shanley is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. He also contributed articles on the performing arts to The New York Times among other publications.-Life and career:...
’s “Five Corners” in which he appeared opposite John Turturro
John Turturro
John Michael Turturro is an American actor, writer and director known for his roles in the films Do the Right Thing , Miller's Crossing , Barton Fink , Quiz Show , The Big Lebowski , O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the Transformers film series...
.
As a director, he was a pioneer of the Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
movement, beginning his career in 1954 with New Stages and the Greenwich Muse Theatre. His credits include the American premiere of Leonid Andreyev
Leonid Andreyev
Leonid Nikolaievich Andreyev was a Russian playwright, novelist and short-story writer. He is one of the most talented and prolific representatives of the Silver Age period in Russian history...
’s “The Waltz of the Dogs”, the world premier of “Time of Storm” by Sheldon Stark, and Lofton Mitchell’s “Land Beyond the River”, which in 1956 was the first modern play by an African-American writer about the civil rights movement. On Broadway, he directed “The Troublemakers” by George Belak and the Theater Guild’s production of Eleanor Perry
Eleanor Perry
Eleanor Perry was an American writer known primarily for her screenplays.Born Eleanor Irene Rosenfeld in Cleveland, Ohio, she attended Western Reserve University, where she wrote for the college's literary magazine. Together with her first husband, attorney Leo G...
’s “The Third Best Sport” which starred Celeste Holm
Celeste Holm
Celeste Holm is an American stage, film, and television actress, known for her Academy Award-winning performance in Gentleman's Agreement , as well as for her Oscar-nominated performances in Come to the Stable and All About Eve...
. Mr. Howard was the founding Artistic Director of an Atlanta-based company which planned to produce theater, opera and ballet where he directed the landmark production of John Dryden
John Dryden
John Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.Walter Scott called him "Glorious John." He was made Poet...
and Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
’s opera “Masque King Arthur”. He also directed fifteen productions as the first Artistic Director of the Alliance Theater company.
His first teaching experience was during the early years of the famed High School of the Performing Arts where he joined Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet was an American director, producer and screenwriter with over 50 films to his credit. He was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Director for 12 Angry Men , Dog Day Afternoon , Network and The Verdict...
as an acting instructor in 1951. He would go on to teach at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, North Carolina School of the Arts
North Carolina School of the Arts
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts , formerly the North Carolina School of the Arts, is a public coeducational arts conservatory in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that grants high school, undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is one of the seventeen constituent campuses of the...
, Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
/Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
, the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
and at his own Michael Howard Studios
Michael Howard Studios
The Michael Howard Studios is an acting studio for the performing arts located in Manhattan, New York; the studio was founded in 1953 by actor/director Michael Howard.-History:...
.
Michael Howard Studios
Mr. Howard’s primary teaching concentration has been the Michael Howard StudiosMichael Howard Studios
The Michael Howard Studios is an acting studio for the performing arts located in Manhattan, New York; the studio was founded in 1953 by actor/director Michael Howard.-History:...
which began in 1953 when a group of actors asked him to lead their sessions. The studio is a professional training center which encourages actors to explore various methods and tools in order to develop their own individual technique. Mr. Howard continues to teach at the studio which is now in its fifth decade of actor training. In honor of the Studio’s contribution to New York’s rich theatrical history, Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
proclaimed May 4, 2009 to be Michael Howard Studios Day.
Personal life
Mr. Howard met his wife Betty Bartelt one week after being discharged from the Army in December 1945. They were married in September 1946 and have two children, Christopher and Matthew and two grandchildren, Lucas and Clea.Notable Connections
Among America’s most important theatrical figures with whom Michael has worked as an actor, director and teacher are: Charlton HestonCharlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
, Uta Hagen
Uta Hagen
Uta Thyra Hagen was a German-born American actress and drama teacher. She originated the role of Martha in the 1963 Broadway premiere of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee...
, Celeste Holm
Celeste Holm
Celeste Holm is an American stage, film, and television actress, known for her Academy Award-winning performance in Gentleman's Agreement , as well as for her Oscar-nominated performances in Come to the Stable and All About Eve...
, Olympia Dukakis
Olympia Dukakis
Olympia Dukakis is an American actress. In 1987, she won an Academy Award, BAFTA, and a Golden Globe for her performance in Moonstruck...
, Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
, Terry Schreiber
Terry Schreiber
Terry Schreiber is an American theater director, acting teacher, and founder of the T. Schreiber Studio, in New York.Schreiber was born in Winona, Minnesota He has directed theatre, principally in New York, since 1976, at such venues as the Longacre Theatre, the Circle Repertory Theatre, the...
, William Ball, Michael Kahn
Michael Kahn (theatre director)
Michael Kahn is the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., USA. He held the position of Richard Rodgers Director of the Drama Division of the Juilliard School from 1992 to 2006....
, Richard Warner, Joe Van Fleet, Jason Robards Jr, Tom Poston
Tom Poston
Thomas Gordon "Tom" Poston was an American television and film actor. He starred on television in a career that began in 1950...
, and Scott Evans
Scott Evans
Scott Evans may refer to:*Scott Evans , American actor*Scott Evans , Irish badminton player*Scott Evans , American football player*Scott Evans , lacrosse player...
.
Quotes
"The absolute essence of what we do as actors is to reveal ourselves. That particular part of ourselves that best illuminates the text.""What is important is not the answers but the questions"
"It is not about natural. It is about truth."