Meet GILLIAN ROUGIER (Ensemble Members...)

Meet Ensemble Member, Gillian Rougier.  She was most recently seen in our bareNaked LA Reading Series in the staged reading of Accidents Waiting To Happen by Jonathan Libman.  Gillian has been a part of the development process and many readings of Libman's new play directed by Producing Artistic Director, Francisco Solorzano.  Gillian has also been active in our readings and development of new screenplays.  We hope you had the chance to see her work with us in RAFT OF THE MADUSA by Joe Pintauro and Kristoffer Diaz's F**KING VIGWAN (OR SWAG).  Gillian's acting strengths and commitment to ensemble collaboration makes her a great representative of Barefoot Theatre Company.   

Where is your hometown?

San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago

What has been your favorite theatrical experience and why?

With each role, you get to learn more about yourself and your craft. I've been fortunate to work with people that I love and respect. Working on Raft of the Medusa with Barefoot, I felt that I grew so much as a person and as an artist.

    (or)

I had the privilege to see Viola Davis in Fences by August Wilson

and she was breathtaking. I had such a visceral reaction to her performance. I was shaking after!

What is your favorite film and why?

It's so hard to pick! Some of my favorite movies are Melancholia, Atonement

and The Notebook. I love epic stories. 

Why do you do theatre? Why are you in theatre? Why do you love theatre?

I love theatre because there's nothing in the world like it. Theatre presents the opportunity to learn more about yourself and others. Great plays can change your life, your outlook, your soul. I love that. 

I do theatre because I get to connect with something deeper in myself, something so powerful, so freeing. I get to collaborate with amazingly talented people that inspire and motivate me. Also, I am shy and reserved by nature and theatre allows me to go beyond those limiting constraints.

Gillian Rougier:

is proud to be a member of the Barefoot Theatre Company! Recent Credits with Barefoot: The Temp in the workshop production of Kristoffer Diaz’s “Fucking Vigwan” or “Swag.” She was privileged to play Nairobi in the premiere revised edition of Joe Pintauro’s“Raft of the Medusa.” She also did a staged reading with the company of Balm in Gilead.  She holds a BFA in Acting from Brooklyn College (CUNY.) She was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago.

OPEN CALL (seeking Managing Director)

Now in our 15th year as an ensemble of actors, directors, playwrights and designers we want to extend our search for a Managing Director.  We are looking for someone with a drive to grow and become part of a critically acclaimed and award winning NYC & and LA based Ensemble.

Our focus on ensemble collaboration is in order to present new and existing plays (lesser known works by established playwrights) and give artists the opportunity to work in public readings, workshops and fully staged productions.  Additionally, we have continued our commitment to the advancement of women in the arts.   

Our aesthetic is considered to be a "...raw acting style" (NYTIMES) that is "powerful and commanding" (BACKSTAGE) and goes back our genesis production which was inspired very much by the work of Chicago's STEPPENWOLF THEATRE CO.  We have branched out to films (Barefoot Studio Pictures) along with Education work with our Outreach Program (Good Shepherd Services, Stella Adler, etc.) and raising funds for great causes like our benefit ROCKAWAY, which raised funds to help Hurricane Sandy Victims in the Rockaways.  We've been grateful for the collaborations with artists from Broadway, Film and Television including Bobby Cannavale, Ethan Hawke, Chris Cooper, Gina Gershon, John Doman, Mickey Sumner, Jesse Eisenberg, John Magaro, Annabella Sciorra, and many others...

In order to continue growing as an ensemble of professional artists in New York and California, we need to search high and low for other strong leaders...this is where YOU come in.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Barefoot Theatre Company, Inc.

The managing director is responsible for working closely and efficiently with the artistic director and director of development to help fulfill Barefoot Theatre Company's mission while leading the company forward.  He or she will work diligently to improve the annual budget performance while consistently keeping the company's integrity and principles in mind.

The managing director must have a keen eye for developing industry trends, new opportunities and any issues that may affect the company both regionally and nationally.

They will present financial and marketing reports to the board periodically as well as progress reports at every meeting.

The managing director works with many departments, including finance, marketing, development, planning, human resources and administration.

The managing director must have great communication skills and ability to use available resources and skills optimally.

Specific Duties

Develop (with the artistic director) and track progress of new programs and fundraising ideas that are resourceful and creative.

Keeping a watchful eye on the company's fiscal integrity which includes making annual budgets, working with the Artistic Director, staff and financial committee.

Other responsibilities include:

1 Creating programs and plans with artistic director,

2 Monitoring grants with development director and board members,

3 Being a spokesperson for foundations/ corporations/ government,

4 Pursuing new relations with business, and community organizations.

5 Managing required reporting processes for grants and programs so that they are completed accurately and in a timely manner.

7 Making all hiring decisions and ensure that the staff has adequate resources and clarity to perform their jobs.

Overseeing all public materials, press releases and website while contributing to public and internal communication.

Making strategic actions to achieve long-term goals that have been approved by the board.

If you're interested in applying and setting up an appointment to meet with us please email a brief memo, resume and any other materials that will help give us a better sense of your work and interest.  Send all submissions to barefoottheatre@aol.com with Subject Line: Managing Director.

THANKS and we look forward to hearing from YOU!

Meet GABE FAZIO (Ensemble Members)...

OUR Meet Ensemble Members Mondays are back!  Here's Gabe Fazio who's been a member since he appeared in playwright/ensemble member, Israel HOROVITZ's short one act version of Sins Of The Mother back in 2004.  We're proud to call him an Ensemble Member and hope you're just as excited about his work onstage and on the big screen as we are!

  

Where are you originally from..?

1. Holtsville, Long Island

What has been your favorite theatrical experience and why?

2. Romeo, for three months was a (exhausting) trip, because I almost quit before we opened.

What is your favorite film and why?

3. The Bicycle Thief, because it's perfect.

Why do you do theatre? Why are you in theatre? Why do you love theatre?

4. keeps me sane, keeps me sane, you get to do things you would not be able to get away with in real life.  

Why or how did Barefoot become a part of your life?

5. Frank asked me to audition for a new Israel Horowitz play.  I said yes.

Do you have any advice for young or aspiring artists?

6. Don't do it.

Over the course of theatre history many different movements have occurred. Do you foresee or anticipate any new movements coming our way? Are we in the middle of a movement right now?

7. The movement hasn't arrived yet, I do believe we have gone backwards.

Do you think the rise of social media will affect or is affecting theatre as an artform, or with regard to audience responses or subject matter of plays? How so?

8. I think the media does, and so far, at least in the art realm, it has watered things down a bit, but I believe the cream will rise eventually.

Who in your field do you admire most and why?

9. I admire my peers most, only a few, but I couldn't say who they are, because it would be hurtful to others.

GABE FAZIO is from Holtsville Long Island, started acting at 16.  Attended Suffolk Community College, where he competed in the American College Theatre festival, at the Kennedy Center, and received the 1996 Irene Ryan Award for best actor.

Attended the New School For Social Research, and received an MFA, in 2000.  Gabe is a member of the Actors Studio, and the Barefoot Theater.  He is a resident actor at the Long Island Shakespeare Festival, since 2000, where he played the title roll in ROMEO and JULIET and “Grumio” in THE TAMING of the SHREW, directed by Barri Ingham.

Off, and off-off Broadway Credits: The NYC premier of Tennessee William’s SPRING STORM, at the St. Clements Theatre, NYC premier of the short play, SINS Of The MOTHER at 79^th Street Theatre, with Barefoot Theatre Company, “Phillip” in LOBO’s Production of Lyle Kessler’s ORPHANS at Urban Stages, ROOM SERVICE, directed by Arthur Stortch, at the Actor’s Studio, the world premier of Edward Allan Baker’s, A FREE GIFT INSIDE, directed by Elizabeth Kemp at The Actors Studio. Television and Film Credits: LAW and ORDER, ABC mini series, THE PATH to 9/11, PAPER COVERS ROCK, BLUE COLLAR BOYS, A SONG STILL INSIDE, NIGYO, THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES, INDIANA, GUN.  Gabe is co-director and writer of two short films, JOE MOVER and TEN: THIRTY ONE.

He is currently starring in the short film GUN, which had its debut this year at the Sundance Film Festival.  GUN has been raking up awards all over the country, including A BEST ACTOR award, at the 2013 HollyShorts Film Festival. 

Gabe recently had his first run on the big screen this past March in the critically acclaimed, The Place Beyond The Pines, directed by auteur Derek Cianfrance.  Gabe portrays “Scott”, an unassumingly, viscous Schenectady Policeman with a furious chevron mustache.

Gabe is currently filming the feature, INDIANA and is work-shopping a project he wrote for the screen.