Charles Carshon
Charles Carshon | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1920 |
| Died | October 28, 2011 (aged 91) |
| Occupations | Actor, theatre director, acting teacher |
| Years active | 1950s–1990s |
| Spouse |
|
Charles Carshon (c. 1920 – October 28, 2011) was an American actor, theatre director, and acting teacher. A veteran of Broadway and Off-Broadway, he taught at several New York City conservatories and for 35 years headed the Studio Theatre at Sarah Lawrence College. The New York Times obituary called him an “actor, director, teacher, [and] Off-Broadway pioneer.”[1]
Career
Carshon's early stage credits included two Broadway productions: The Tower Beyond Tragedy (Nov–Dec 1950) and Billy Budd (Feb–May 1951).[2]
By the mid-1950s he was active Off-Broadway, heading his own company, the Tapestry Theatre.[3] He later performed in the 1975 Off-Broadway production Beethoven/Karl[4] and collaborated frequently with his wife, Gloria Barret Carshon.
Carshon was also closely associated with Sarah Lawrence College for decades. As head of the college's Studio Theatre for 35 years, he directed student and resident company productions and mentored generations of actors.[1] In the late 1970s, the Carshons’ resident company Green Gate Theatre presented Harold Pinter's Old Times as part of the college's “Summer Evenings at Sarah Lawrence” series, under Charles and Gloria's direction.[5][6]
Teaching
Beyond Sarah Lawrence, Carshon taught at New York City's High School of Performing Arts, the Stella Adler Studio, the Neighborhood Playhouse, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[1] His obituary notes that “many famous actors passed through his classes.”[1]
Stage credits (selected)
- Broadway
- The Tower Beyond Tragedy (Nov 26–Dec 22, 1950) — The Queen's Slave (cast).[2]
- Billy Budd (Feb 10–May 12, 1951) — company member (replacement).[2]
- Off-Broadway
- Beethoven/Karl (1975) — performer.[4]
Personal life
Carshon married actress and producer Gloria Barret. They frequently collaborated on productions connected to Sarah Lawrence College, including projects with the Green Gate Theatre company.[5][6]
In 1948, Carshon resided at 444 East 58th Street, Manhattan (Sutton Place).[7]
Death
Carshon died on October 28, 2011, at the age of 91. He was survived by his wife, Gloria Barret.[1]
Legacy
Carshon's blended career—as a working actor/director and a long-tenured teacher/mentor—made him a fixture of New York's mid-century theatre training ecosystem and a contributor to the growth of Off-Broadway ensembles such as Tapestry Theatre and Green Gate Theatre.[3][5][6]
References
- ^ a b c d e "CHARLES CARSHON Obituary". Legacy.com (republication of The New York Times). November 9, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Charles Carshon – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database (IBDB). Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ a b "Carshon to Give Poetry Readings". The Scarsdale Inquirer. November 4, 1955. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
At present, he heads his own off-Broadway group, "The Tapestry Theatre," and since Sept. 28 has had a novelty TV show, "The Decor Analyst," on Channel 5.
- ^ a b "Beethoven/Karl – Off-Broadway". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Summer Evenings at Sarah Lawrence Records". Sarah Lawrence College Archives. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c "A Guide to the Summer Evenings at Sarah Lawrence Records (PDF)" (PDF). Sarah Lawrence College Archives. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ "Display Ad 100 -- No Title". The New York Herald Tribune. May 1, 1949. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
External links
- Charles Carshon at the Internet Broadway Database
- Charles Carshon at BroadwayWorld