I am a director, actor, playwright, dramaturg, and theatre scholar. This year (2017) marks the fortieth anniversary of my professional theatre debut. I have worked on over one hundred professional productions since in the US, Germany and Luxembourg.
As Founder and Artistic Director of Actors Repertory Theatre Luxembourg (Actors Rep), I directed our debut production, Edward Albee's 'The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?' in a co-production with Théâtre National du Luxembourg in June 2013. I also directed Actor Rep's next production, 'Love Letters', by A R Gurney, in January and February 2014, and 'Greyhounds' in June 2015.
In October 2016 I starred in Actors Rep's critically acclaimed production of Wallace Shawn's solo piece 'The Fever'. In May 2017, I will be performing in '#WTF Happened' a solo piece I've developed for Théâtre d'Esch, in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, as part of the city's 'Nuit de la Culture' (Night of Culture).
An Actors’ Equity member since 1989, I have acted at, among others, the Guthrie Theater, The Lost Colony, and the Charlotte Shakespeare Company and directed for companies such as Theatre Unbound and the Professional Theatre Workshop. I directed my play, ‘A Star to Steer Her By…’ and another piece in New World Theatre Club's (NWTC) 2012 Ten-Minute-Play Festival. I directed David Mamet’s ‘Jolly’ in 2010, which won 'Best Production' at the FEATS festival and the Sydney Fisher Trophy at the British All-Winners Festival.
I've also appeared in the feature film 'The Runway' and have done numerous industrial films and several US commercials. My voice acting work includes the feature film 'The Congress'.
I am a former Core Member of The Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis, where I was also on the artistic staff, and was twice a Jerome Playwriting Fellowship finalist. My works have been staged at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, The Playwrights’ Center ‘Hothouse Festival', Red Eye Collaboration, and NWTC in Luxembourg. I have published in the scholarly journals Western European Stages and Contemporary Theatre Review and taught at several campuses of the City University of New York, including John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Hunter and Brooklyn Colleges. I was an artist-in-residence with Steppingstone Theatre and the St Paul, Minnesota, school system.
In addition to acting, directing and playwriting, I write theatre reviews and articles for Luxembourg's online English paper, Wort.lu.
Name: Erik Abbott
Lives in: Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Company: Actors Repertory Theatre Luxembourg
Occupation: Theatre Director, Actor, Film/theatre Journalist, Dramaturge, Researcher, Playwright and Voice Actor
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
(2001-2014)
Hamline University
(2001-2014)
University of North Carolina - Greensboro
(2001-2014)