Ian McRae was an acting student of Sanford Meisner. He then went on to apprentice with Mr. Meisner as a teacher, eventually going on to teach his technique at The Neighborhood Playhouse School Of The Theatre. He was a member of Cucaracha Theatre in NYC where several of his plays were produced. His work has also been produced in Los Angeles ,Santa Cruz, and San Francisco, CA.
EXPERIENCE
Cabrillo College
Adjunct Instructor, Drama Department, 2002 to 2005
Taught Introduction to Acting (TA7), Basic Acting Techniques (TA10A), Intermediate Acting (TA10B)
Cast and Directed Spring and Fall Scene Showcases
Ian McRae Acting Studio
First and Second-year Meisner Technique, San Francisco and Santa Cruz, CA, 1997 to 2005.
American Musical Theatre of San Jose
Guest Teacher, Summer Session, 1998
Guest Lecturer, Theatre Bay Area
Meisner Technique overview, San Francisco, 1998-2000
The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, New York, NY
Senior Acting Instructor, New York, 1990 to 1997
Taught daily, year-long intensive training program
Marymount Manhattan College
Adjunct Instructor: Special Topics: Meisner Workshop, New York, Spring 1997
The Piero Dusa Acting Conservatory East
Staff Member, Acting Department, New York, 1995 to 1997
The Acting Studio
Staff Member, Acting Department, New York, 1995 to 1997
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Hunter College, City University of New York
B.A. Theatre, Cum Laude, 1996
Coursework included directing, lighting design, make-up, dramaturgy/script analysis
Sanford Meisner, The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, NY
• Teaching Assistant to Mr. Meisner, 1989-1992
• Teacher-in-training under Mr. Meisner, 1987-1996
• Professional Acting Class, Neighborhood Playhouse, 1985-1987
Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz (1979-1981)
• Wilma Chandler, acting and movement
• Tandy Beale, dance and choreography
Phil Black Dance Studio, New York (1982-1985)
• Intern/Scholarship student: jazz and tap
Joffrey School of Ballet, New York
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Directing
Average Intelligence, “Eight Tens at Eight,” Santa Cruz
Maybe, “Eight Tens at Eight,” Santa Cruz
My Higher Power, “Eight Tens at Eight,” Santa Cruz
Animal Keepers, The Neighborhood Playhouse, New York
Borderline, The Neighborhood Playhouse, New York
The Man with the Flower in his Mouth, Second Generation, New York
Venice Live: A Weekly Cabaret, Los Angeles
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Truckline Theatre, Los Angeles
Fool For Love, Truckline Theatre, San Francisco
North Shore Fish, Assistant Director, Samuel Beckett Theatre, New York
Scene Showcases for graduating Meisner students, New York & Santa Cruz (from major contemporary and period works), annually, 1990 to present
Writer/Director
Gold Coast, official selection of Santa Cruz Film Festival
Pearls Before Swine, Performed at Cucaracha Theatre and Neighborhood Playhouse
The Tattoo, Cucaracha Theatre, New York
The Interview, Cucaracha Theatre, New York
The Hitchhikers, Artists in Cahoots, New York
Untitled, Artists in Cahoots, New York
Shop Talk, Bay Area Playwrights Festival
Writer
Strawberry Fields
Before The Crash
There Are No Kooks In Heaven
Pool Party
Frank and Stella Sittin In A Tree
The Alamo
The Joy Wheel
Pearls Before Swine
Kind Of Blue
Amalganation
Still Waiting For Lefty
Bloody Grapes
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre
Former senior acting instructor and current commissioned playwright
Runnin’ Dog Gallery
Founder and director of this downtown Santa Cruz theatre, rehearsal and performance space
Cucaracha Theatre Company, New York
Founding member; actor, writer, and director of The Obie Award winning Off Off Broadway theatre company
Truckline Theatre Company, San Francisco and Los Angeles
Founding member; actor, director
The Dramatists Guild, member
Theatre Bay Area, member