Eric Krebs (producer)
American Theater Producer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eric Krebs (born December 13, 1944, Danbury, Connecticut) is an American theater founder and manager, producer, and educator.
- Theater producer
- educator
Eric Krebs | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 13, 1944 Danbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Spouse | Suzanne Karp Krebs |
| Children | 2 |
Career
Krebs' father was a German communist who fled from the Nazi regime.[1] When Krebs was three, his parents divorced, and three years later, his father died.[2]
After graduating from Morris Hills Regional High School in Rockaway, New Jersey, Krebs studied English at Rutgers University, wrote plays, and became involved in theater.[3] In 1967, he started a part-time graduate program at Rutgers and launched a theater in New Brunswick called Brecht West. In 1974, he moved the theater into a former Acme supermarket, renaming it George Street Playhouse for its new location. He started with six plays and 110 subscribers. About a decade later, with the expansion of Johnson and Johnson, a new location had to be found. Thus, in 1985, George Street Playhouse moved to its current location on Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, into a renovated former YMCA building. After three seasons, Krebs left the Playhouse[3] later saying "I outgrew it and it outgrew me".[2] In Manhattan, he founded and directed the Off-Broadway John Houseman Theater Center and Douglas Fairbanks Theater.[1] He operated the Playroom Theater in Manhattan.[4] He owns and operates Theater555 in Manhattan, formerly called the Pearl Theatre.[5] Krebs created more than 150 productions over the course of his career.[1] and wrote 15 plays, one about his father.[2]
Krebs' parallel academic career led him to become a Professor of Theater Arts at Rutgers University, now in emeritus status. He also taught at Baruch College, City University of New York, until his retirement.[1] He is committed to making theater accessible to young people, and as such, he developed the School Theater Ticket Program and other online programs to make theater affordable.[6]