John Ryerson
If hindsight is indeed twenty/twenty, it is clear that the trajectory of John’s life in the performing arts was squarely set on him creating musical theatre. Born into a musical family, (his dad, Artie Ryerson, played guitar with jazz legend Charlie Parker as well as Elvis Presley! His brothers Art and Rich and sister Ali are accomplished musicians – Ali’s latest jazz flute cd reached last year’s Billboard top 10!). But the musical gene did not have the same hold on John as his siblings, as the ensuing years found him exploring other forms of expression. Today, John is as much a Songwriter/Musician as he is a Playwright/Actor – a good combination to create musical theatre! As an actor, John studied at The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts in NYC as well as with Lee Strasberg at the Strasberg Institute and the famed Actor’s Studio, NY and LA. He attended Wesleyan University as a Film/Music major. John has been a resident actor at The Bristol Valley Playhouse, The Bucks County Playhouse, The Arena Stage, Wash., DC., and enjoyed a couple of National Tours with The Hampstead Players. As a musician, John was the songwriter, lead singer and keyboard player for the band, STRUGGLE. STRUGGLE played the original band club circuit in Boston and NYC including the famed NY rock club, CBGB’s. The band produced two well received albums, and their video, “You Gotta Be Kidding”, played on MTV. Along with his wife, Bonnie, John created the Pied Piper Youth Theater almost twenty years ago. As co-directors, they have mounted more than fifty productions and have had the unparalleled pleasure of seeing young people grow and develop as actors and people. To their list of productions, John has contributed original plays and musicals: “Tech-night (The Day of The Big Show”, “The Record Release Party”, “A Christmas Carol”, “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory”, “Monologue Showdown”, “Alice In Wonderland”, “Jack and The Beanstalk” among others. His rock musical, “Piper’s Song” was produced at The Gene Frankel Theatre, NYC to enthusiastic audiences.
|
|
|