Saul Elkin
Encyclopedia
Saul Elkin is an actor and director in Buffalo, NY. He is the founder and artistic director of Shakespeare in Delaware Park
, and a former chair of the University at Buffalo's Theatre Department.
.
Elkin continued to work as both an actor and director for the Stage as well as Television as he grew up in New York. His acting and directing credits include over 250 Broadway performances (off and on), film, “The Edge of Night
” (a soap opera in which he played a doctor), and several regional and seasonal theater companies. He holds B.A. and M.F.A from Columbia, and a Ph.D from Carnegie-Mellon University.
He came to Buffalo, NY in 1969 and began teaching Theater at the University at Buffalo, where he soon became Chairman of the Theater Department in 1967- 1985. In 1979 he founded Shakespeare in Delaware Park
, finding the initial funding for electricity from the Mayor of the city, Mayor Stanley Makowski and further funding from the University at Buffalo’s Theater Department.
Elkin is married to Janine and has four children. His eldest son, Todd is an artist and arts integration curriculum development specialist with a masters degree in education from Harvard University and a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. His son Evan is a psychologist and the Director of the Department of Planning and Government Innovation at the Vera Institute of Justice. His daughter Rebecca studied acting and has been in productions of Shakespeare in Delaware Park at times alongside her father, such as the 2008 production of King Lear
, where they King Lear
and Cordelia
. Rebecca is now working as a drama therapist in New York. Elkin's daughter Emily is a classical and rock and roll cellist. Elkin continues to work as a professor at the University at Buffalo in Theater Department, as well as continuing to act and direct performances in both Shakespeare in Delaware Park, The Jewish Repertory Theater, and several theater companies throughout the Buffalo area.
Recently, in 2008 he has been working on the film production called Nicholas of Myra: The Story of Saint Nicholas
. The film is based on the life and history of Saint Nicholas.
Shakespeare in Delaware Park
Shakespeare in Delaware Park is a free outdoor Shakespeare festival that takes place during summer months in Delaware Park located in the city of Buffalo, New York. It is the second largest free outdoor Shakespeare festival in the United States, topped only by New York City's New York Shakespeare...
, and a former chair of the University at Buffalo's Theatre Department.
Biography
Coming from Jewish immigrant parents from Russia and Romania, Saul Elkin spoke both Yiddish and English growing up in New York City. He began his acting education in a small children’s theater school for Jewish children. His first show was at the age of seven, cast as the lead in a play by the founder of the Yiddish Art Theater, Maurice SchwartzMaurice Schwartz
Maurice Schwartz was a Russian-born film and theatre actor active in the United States. He was also a film director, film producer, theatrical producer, screenwriter and theatre director.-Theatre:...
.
Elkin continued to work as both an actor and director for the Stage as well as Television as he grew up in New York. His acting and directing credits include over 250 Broadway performances (off and on), film, “The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
” (a soap opera in which he played a doctor), and several regional and seasonal theater companies. He holds B.A. and M.F.A from Columbia, and a Ph.D from Carnegie-Mellon University.
He came to Buffalo, NY in 1969 and began teaching Theater at the University at Buffalo, where he soon became Chairman of the Theater Department in 1967- 1985. In 1979 he founded Shakespeare in Delaware Park
Shakespeare in Delaware Park
Shakespeare in Delaware Park is a free outdoor Shakespeare festival that takes place during summer months in Delaware Park located in the city of Buffalo, New York. It is the second largest free outdoor Shakespeare festival in the United States, topped only by New York City's New York Shakespeare...
, finding the initial funding for electricity from the Mayor of the city, Mayor Stanley Makowski and further funding from the University at Buffalo’s Theater Department.
Elkin is married to Janine and has four children. His eldest son, Todd is an artist and arts integration curriculum development specialist with a masters degree in education from Harvard University and a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. His son Evan is a psychologist and the Director of the Department of Planning and Government Innovation at the Vera Institute of Justice. His daughter Rebecca studied acting and has been in productions of Shakespeare in Delaware Park at times alongside her father, such as the 2008 production of King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
, where they King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
and Cordelia
Cordelia
Cordelia is a common first name in English. It is an elaboration of the word 'cor', which means 'heart' in Latin. In Celtic usages, the name is generally understood to mean 'daughter of the sea' or 'jewel of the sea' , due to its association with the mythological Welsh figure of...
. Rebecca is now working as a drama therapist in New York. Elkin's daughter Emily is a classical and rock and roll cellist. Elkin continues to work as a professor at the University at Buffalo in Theater Department, as well as continuing to act and direct performances in both Shakespeare in Delaware Park, The Jewish Repertory Theater, and several theater companies throughout the Buffalo area.
Recently, in 2008 he has been working on the film production called Nicholas of Myra: The Story of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
. The film is based on the life and history of Saint Nicholas.