Shellen lubin
Encyclopedia
Shellen Lubin is a director, writer, performer, and teacher of theatre and music. She is best known for her philosophical musings about art and artists, found in her Monday Morning Quotes and articles in Backstage.
in 1974 with a triple major in Drama, Music and Dance. During her time at Bennington, she appeared in Miloš Forman's
first film in America, 'Taking Off'
, which featured two songs she wrote ("It's Sunday", which she performed, and "Feeling Sort Of Nice", performed by Karen Klugman). After graduating, she moved to New York City
to continue pursuing her career in music and theater.
and Jane Ives, then at the 92nd Street Y
featuring Rosalind Harris
and directed by Pamela Berlin. Afterwards, she spent a long time writing various plays and songs, most notably Imperfect Flowers for Gretchen Cryer
and James “Jimmy” Wlcek
, and a number of songs with musician and composer Bill Dixon
. In 1983, WBAI-FM
presented a one-hour special of her songs entitled Shellen Lubin, Songwriter/Singer. She also wrote and performed a one woman musical about the experience of having her first child (entitled 'Mother/Child') at numerous cabaret spaces and theatres from 1986–88, including the Susan Bloch Theater and Interart Theatre.
In 1989, she began her professional theater directing career at the Producer’s Club Theatre with LIARS, written by Elliot Meyers and starring James “Jimmy” Wlcek
, Peter Sprague, Annie Hughes, and Joyce West. She followed LIARS with the critically acclaimed Larry Myers’ Gene Tierney Moved Next Door in 1994 at Theater for the New City, with Cynthia Enfield, Rik Walter and Tom Fenaughty. She worked with Larry Myers again two years later, directing Coffee With Kurt Cobain, starring Angelica Page Torn
again at Theater for the New City. In 1996, she also directed an evening of one-act plays by Suzanne Bradbeer, Kaadi Taylor, and Andria Laurie at the Mint Theater for the Six Figures Theatre Company. Norman Siopis’ one man show, REAL, followed at the Trilogy Theater in 1998.
She has spent the last few years working on My Brave Face, a ‘rocabaret’ which she co-created with Robert John Cook, starring Robert John Cook, Cynthia Enfield and Matthew Gandolfo. It spent the two years since its inception on the cabaret circuit to critical and audience acclaim, while going through rewrites, and is currently in the recording studio.
Early life
Shellen Lubin (B. April 4, 1953) was born and raised in Valley Stream, NY by parents Samuel and Lora Lubin (née Bondrov), with her older sister Allene. She graduated from Bennington CollegeBennington College
Bennington College is a liberal arts college located in Bennington, Vermont, USA. The college was founded in 1932 as a women's college and became co-educational in 1969.-History:-Early years:...
in 1974 with a triple major in Drama, Music and Dance. During her time at Bennington, she appeared in Miloš Forman's
Miloš Forman
Jan Tomáš Forman , better known as Miloš Forman , is a Czech-American director, screenwriter, professor, and an emigrant from Czechoslovakia. Two of his films, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus, are among the most celebrated in the history of film, both gaining him the Academy Award for...
first film in America, 'Taking Off'
Taking Off (film)
Taking Off is a 1971 film comedy. It was Czech director Milos Forman's first American film. It tells the story of a group of parents whose children have run away from home...
, which featured two songs she wrote ("It's Sunday", which she performed, and "Feeling Sort Of Nice", performed by Karen Klugman). After graduating, she moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to continue pursuing her career in music and theater.
Songwriting and Theater
Her first major theater project after college was the musical Molly’s Daughters, which she wrote for the American Jewish Theater in 1978. It was produced twice, first at the Henry St. Settlement featuring Lisa LoomerLisa Loomer
Lisa Loomer is a playwright and screenwriter of Spanish and Romanian ancestry who has also worked as an actress and stand-up comic...
and Jane Ives, then at the 92nd Street Y
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
featuring Rosalind Harris
Rosalind Harris
Rosalind Harris is an American actress who played Tzeitel in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof in 1971.She played "Golde", Tzeitel's mother, in a touring stage revival of the same musical nearly twenty years later with Topol, the Israeli actor as "Tevye".She appeared...
and directed by Pamela Berlin. Afterwards, she spent a long time writing various plays and songs, most notably Imperfect Flowers for Gretchen Cryer
Gretchen Cryer
Gretchen Cryer is an American playwright, lyricist and actress.-Early life:Cryer was born Gretchen Kiger in Dunreith, Indiana, the daughter of Louise and Earl William Kiger...
and James “Jimmy” Wlcek
James Wlcek
James 'Jimmy' Wlcek is an American actor born in New York.He began his acting career in 1986 with an episode of Tales from the Darkside. In 1987, he auditioned for a part on All My Children; however he did not get the part because he was not old enough...
, and a number of songs with musician and composer Bill Dixon
Bill Dixon
Bill Dixon was an American musician, composer, visual artist, and educator. Dixon was one of the seminal figures in the free jazz movement. He played the trumpet, flugelhorn, and piano, often using electronic delay and reverberation as part of his trumpet playing.-Biography:Dixon hailed from...
. In 1983, WBAI-FM
WBAI
WBAI, a part of the Pacifica Radio Network, is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station, broadcasting at 99.5 FM in New York City.Its programming is leftist/progressive, and a mixture of political news and opinion from a leftist perspective, tinged with aspects of its complex and varied...
presented a one-hour special of her songs entitled Shellen Lubin, Songwriter/Singer. She also wrote and performed a one woman musical about the experience of having her first child (entitled 'Mother/Child') at numerous cabaret spaces and theatres from 1986–88, including the Susan Bloch Theater and Interart Theatre.
In 1989, she began her professional theater directing career at the Producer’s Club Theatre with LIARS, written by Elliot Meyers and starring James “Jimmy” Wlcek
James Wlcek
James 'Jimmy' Wlcek is an American actor born in New York.He began his acting career in 1986 with an episode of Tales from the Darkside. In 1987, he auditioned for a part on All My Children; however he did not get the part because he was not old enough...
, Peter Sprague, Annie Hughes, and Joyce West. She followed LIARS with the critically acclaimed Larry Myers’ Gene Tierney Moved Next Door in 1994 at Theater for the New City, with Cynthia Enfield, Rik Walter and Tom Fenaughty. She worked with Larry Myers again two years later, directing Coffee With Kurt Cobain, starring Angelica Page Torn
Angelica Torn
Angelica Torn is an American award winning actress, director, producer and screenwriter and the only daughter of actors Rip Torn and the late Geraldine Page.She legally and professionally changed her name to Angelica Page in September, 2011....
again at Theater for the New City. In 1996, she also directed an evening of one-act plays by Suzanne Bradbeer, Kaadi Taylor, and Andria Laurie at the Mint Theater for the Six Figures Theatre Company. Norman Siopis’ one man show, REAL, followed at the Trilogy Theater in 1998.
She has spent the last few years working on My Brave Face, a ‘rocabaret’ which she co-created with Robert John Cook, starring Robert John Cook, Cynthia Enfield and Matthew Gandolfo. It spent the two years since its inception on the cabaret circuit to critical and audience acclaim, while going through rewrites, and is currently in the recording studio.