Ethan Silverman
Encyclopedia
Ethan Silverman is a writer, theatre director, filmmaker, and producer who was born on November 25, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York. He was raised in Chicago IL and Albany, New York before attending Oberlin College
and The Drama Studio
, London.
He has directed at many theatres around the country most notably his adaptation of Pete Townshend’s
The Boy Who Heard Music
at the New York Stage & Film/Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar College
in 2007. He also collaborated with Mr. Townshend on a workshop production of Psychoderelict
starring Peter Gallagher
. He directed Ron Silver
in Robert Greenfield’s
Bill Graham Presents at various theatres around the country including the Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Cannon in Beverly Hills and the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen where it won Best Play. Other theatres include the Long Wharf, the Kennedy Center, the Mark Taper Forum
, Naked Angels
, La MaMa Etc.
, and MCC Theater
.
As a filmmaker he wrote and directed the short Central Park with dancers Robert LaFosse and John Kelly (1996 Sundance Film Festival
and 1997 PBS) and the Documentary about Russian adoption, The Waiting Children (1997 Sundance Film Festival).
As a screenwriter he has collaborated with producer Gary Foster and Barry Levinson on his original screenplay My Italian Story and with Boy George
on a fantasy bio pic based on Boy George’s life. He edited and wrote the introduction for photographer Rivka Katvan’s Backstage: Broadway Behind The Curtain (Harry N. Abrams).
In 2008 he was a writer in residence at Yaddo
in Saratoga Springs, NY and a writer/director in residence at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in Manhattan on Jack From Above the one man show he is currently collaborating on with director Jack Hofsiss
. Ethan began his professional career as Jack Hofsiss’s assistant on the Broadway production of The Elephant Man
and the television play The Oldest Living Graduate with Henry Fonda
.
He is currently an Adjunct Professor in the MFA Design & Technology Program at Parsons The New School for Design
where he teaches Thesis Writing and Research and Narrative Strategies.
He is married to literary agent and producer Erica Spellman-Silverman.
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
and The Drama Studio
Drama Studio London
Drama Studio London is a drama school based in Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom. It is accredited by the National Council for Drama Training, London and is a Member of the Conference of Drama Schools...
, London.
He has directed at many theatres around the country most notably his adaptation of Pete Townshend’s
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
The Boy Who Heard Music
The Boy Who Heard Music
The Boy Who Heard Music is a rock opus that began life as an Internet novella written by musician and songwriter Pete Townshend. Townshend wrote in the foreword to the novella that he typically sketches out his opera in this way to lay out the plots and storylines, but in this case he published the...
at the New York Stage & Film/Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 2007. He also collaborated with Mr. Townshend on a workshop production of Psychoderelict
Psychoderelict
Psychoderelict is a concept album written, produced and engineered by Pete Townshend. Some characters and issues presented in this work were continued in Townshend's later opus The Boy Who Heard Music, first presented on The Who's album Endless Wire and then adapted as a rock musical.This is...
starring Peter Gallagher
Peter Gallagher
Peter Killian Gallagher is an American actor, musician and writer. Since 1980, Gallagher has played many roles in numerous Hollywood films. He starred as Sandy Cohen in the television drama series The O.C. from 2003 to 2007...
. He directed Ron Silver
Ron Silver
Ronald Arthur "Ron" Silver was an American actor, director, producer, radio host and political activist.-Early life:...
in Robert Greenfield’s
Robert Greenfield
-Career:Greenfield began his career as a sports writer. He has published book reviews in New West magazine and The New York Times Book Review.From 1970 to 1972 Greenfield was employed as an associate editor with Rolling Stone magazine's London bureau...
Bill Graham Presents at various theatres around the country including the Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Cannon in Beverly Hills and the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen where it won Best Play. Other theatres include the Long Wharf, the Kennedy Center, the Mark Taper Forum
Mark Taper Forum
The Mark Taper Forum is a 739 seat thrust stage at the Los Angeles Music Center built by Welton Becket and Associates on the Bunker Hill section of downtown Los Angeles...
, Naked Angels
Naked Angels (theater company)
Naked Angels is an American theater company founded in 1986 and based in New York City. It was named after John Tytell’s book about the Beat Generation, Naked Angels...
, La MaMa Etc.
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club is an off-off Broadway theatre founded in 1961 by Ellen Stewart, and named in reference to her. Located on Manhattan's Lower East Side, the theatre grew out of Stewart's tiny basement boutique for her fashion designs; the boutique's space acted as a theatre for...
, and MCC Theater
MCC Theater
MCC Theater is an Off-Broadway theater company located in New York City, founded in 1986 by artistic directors Robert LuPone and Bernard Telsey along with six graduates of the New York University drama department, including Jana Herzen...
.
As a filmmaker he wrote and directed the short Central Park with dancers Robert LaFosse and John Kelly (1996 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
and 1997 PBS) and the Documentary about Russian adoption, The Waiting Children (1997 Sundance Film Festival).
As a screenwriter he has collaborated with producer Gary Foster and Barry Levinson on his original screenplay My Italian Story and with Boy George
Boy George
Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
on a fantasy bio pic based on Boy George’s life. He edited and wrote the introduction for photographer Rivka Katvan’s Backstage: Broadway Behind The Curtain (Harry N. Abrams).
In 2008 he was a writer in residence at Yaddo
Yaddo
Yaddo is an artists' community located on a 400 acre estate in Saratoga Springs, New York. Its mission is "to nurture the creative process by providing an opportunity for artists to work without interruption in a supportive environment."...
in Saratoga Springs, NY and a writer/director in residence at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in Manhattan on Jack From Above the one man show he is currently collaborating on with director Jack Hofsiss
Jack Hofsiss
Jack Hofsiss is an American theatre, film and television director. He received a Tony Award for his direction of The Elephant Man on Broadway, the youngest director to have ever received it at the time...
. Ethan began his professional career as Jack Hofsiss’s assistant on the Broadway production of The Elephant Man
The Elephant Man (play)
The Elephant Man is a 1977 play by Bernard Pomerance. The production's Broadway debut in 1979 was produced by Richmond Crinkley and Nelle Nugent, and directed by Jack Hofsiss...
and the television play The Oldest Living Graduate with Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
.
He is currently an Adjunct Professor in the MFA Design & Technology Program at Parsons The New School for Design
Parsons The New School for Design
Parsons The New School For Design, known colloquially as Parsons, is the art and design college of The New School university. It is located in New York City's Greenwich Village, and has produced artists and designers such as Marc Jacobs, Dean and Dan Caten, Norman Rockwell, Donna Karan, Jane...
where he teaches Thesis Writing and Research and Narrative Strategies.
He is married to literary agent and producer Erica Spellman-Silverman.