Online, In-person Classes (original) (raw)

The Barrow Group is an award-winning New York City non-profit performing arts training, education, and production center that serves as an inclusive, creative home for thousands of actors, writers, directors, and filmmakers from all backgrounds.

The Barrow Group was founded in 1986 by an ensemble of actors and directors, all of whom shared a desire to produce meaningful plays using a highly naturalistic, intimate mode of performance. Since that time, TBG has developed and/or produced over 150 shows, including Martin Moran’s The Tricky Part (2004 Obie Award and two Drama Desk nominations), Jon Marans’ The Temperamentals (2009 Drama Desk Award), Mike Birbiglia’s My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend (2011 Lucille Lortel Award), David Edgar’s Pentecost (2013 Drama Desk nomination), and Martin Moran’s All the Rage (2013 Lucille Lortel Award). In 2005, TBG received a Drama Desk Award for Off-off-Broadway Excellence.

Philosophy

The best technique is invisible.
Unplanned behavior is usually much more interesting than planned behavior.
There is no one “way” to approach acting. It’s all about finding whatever works.
Relaxation is the key to many of the things we strive for.
Acting is most exciting when it is spontaneous and moment-to-moment.
The best technique leaves us free (free to imagine, free to respond, free to feel, free to whatever).
Acting is easy, and acting classes are fun. Learn more...

Programming

Theatrical Productions

TBG produces off-Broadway theatre productions in its 99-seat theatre, with an emphasis on work that engages artists and audiences alike through a realistic performance style.

Readings / Workshops

TBG’s Developmental Wing is part of its ongoing support of new works. This programming is free for artists to participate in and includes: FAB Women; Artist Performance Residencies; First Fridays; and in-house readings.

F.A.B. (For, About, and By) Women, created in 2009, is devoted to the work of women theatre artists. With over one hundred participants, F.A.B. Women has flourished, and for this upcoming summer, the program will for the first time be presenting a festival of new work in TBG’s Mainstage.
In the Artist Performance Residency program, theater artists may apply to use the 40-seat Studio Theatre to rehearse and to publicly present their own created work. TBG staff review and rank those applications on an on-going basis to determine which artists should be awarded a residency. This free-of-charge program gives artists the chance to refine their work while providing audience members a window into the process of developing original theatrical work at an early point in one’s career.
First Fridays is a monthly community-building program. On the first Friday of each month, playwrights and actors read sections of new works in the 40-seat Studio Theatre. Participants are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis – actors and playwrights are paired on the spot, and the readings are free-of-charge for audiences.
Finally, TBG hosts dozens of in-house readings year-round to help both emerging and experienced writers bring their visions to life, offering them the opportunity to see their words brought to the stage and allowing them to refine their work with constructive, nurturing feedback from Seth and Lee. TBG has helped develop the work of hundreds of artists in this way, including Mike Birbiglia (Sleepwalk with Me), Stephanie Zadrovich (Honey Brown Eyes), and Martin Moran (The Tricky Part).

Performing Arts Training

At the heart of The Barrow Group's approach to training actors, writers, directors, and filmmakers (both online and in-person) is the desire to promote clear and concise tools of the trade. These tools are outlined and published in “An Actor’s Companion – Tools for the Working Actor” by Seth Barrish, TBG’s founder and co-Artistic Director. Acting teachers who work with TBG have all participated in a one-year teacher training program, to ensure a high-quality, consistent experience for students.

Our youth program serves students 5 to 17 years-old with online and in-person classes in scene study, improv, musical theatre, playwriting, and on-camera acting.
Our adult program serves both beginners and professionals with online and in-person classes in movement, voice, stage combat, script analysis, solo show development, on-camera acting, filmmaking, scene study, monologue, and clowning.
Each year, TBG's training program reaches over 4,000 students. Time Out NY, Backstage, and CBS-NY have named TBG one of the top places to study in New York.