266:, a complex of seven small theaters, which had been located on the first two floors of the residential Broadway Central Hotel, physically collapsed. Frankel, who had been conducting a rehearsal at the time, noticed the ceiling and walls beginning to buckle and heroically led the actors and several residents to safety; five people died in the collapse.
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Frankel had two children, Laura
Frankel and Ethan Frankel. His son, an aspiring actor, who studied at his father's school had struggled with psychiatric illness which led him to leap off the top of a Manhattan 17-floor-building in 1995 during a psychosis from which he survived. After a lengthy coma
76:(December 23, 1919 – April 20, 2005) was an American actor, theater director, and acting teacher especially notable in the founding of the off-Broadway scene. Frankel served in the Army during World War II in entertainment and as a member of an aerial crew.
247:. Frankel said that the heart of successful acting was, "Truth. I don't let my actors tell lies. The camera doesn't lie, the stage doesn't let you lie." He was a visiting professor in theater at various institutions of higher learning including
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As well as directing over 200 shows and managing at least twelve theaters throughout his career, Frankel taught acting, writing and directing. His last stage was the Gene
Frankel Theatre and Film Workshop at 24 Bond Street in
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and therapy to learn to walk again Ethan was placed in a group home in the Bronx where he was murdered by a fellow resident the following year. Frankel created a scholarship at his theater in his son's name.
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Only his last theater was a financial success, serving as home to artistic director
Christopher Groenwald's New Mercury Players and as a satellite location for artistic director Marilyn Majeski's
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473:(1958) and then won two more also for directing. He also received the first Lola d'Annunzi and Vernon Rice awards for outstanding achievement in theater.
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Managing
Director of the Gene Frankel Theatre and Film Workshop at the Bond Street location. Upon Frankel's death his legacy passed into Thacker's trust.
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was regarded as a crucial production in promoting
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for more than 1,400 performances, the longest-running Off-Broadway non-musical of the decade. The cast included
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He began his own career as an actor and was one of the earliest members of the
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Lola D'Annunzio Award for
Lifetime Achievement In Theatre
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Vernon Rice Award for
Outstanding Achievement in Theatre
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United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
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Gene
Frankel, Acting Coach And Director, Is Dead at 85
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Frankel's direction of the off-Broadway production of
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Channeling icon's spirit while trying to pay the rent
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American actor, theater director, and acting teacher
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809:New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
192:(1975). His off-Broadway productions included
490:1959–60 Best Director for Sophie Treadwell's
807:, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division,
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166:His other Broadway productions included
773:April 27 - May 3, 2005, Vol. 74, No. 51
482:1956–57 Best Director for Ben Jonson's
414:Brecht on Brecht : His Life in Art
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467:for directing, with his production of
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801:August Strindberg Repertory Theatre
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563:October 16, 1969, Vol. XIV, No. 53
310:The Night That Made America Famous
189:The Night That Made America Famous
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432:The Blacks: A Clown Show
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662:. Gene Frankel Theatre.
262:On August 4, 1973, his
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271:Grove Street Playhouse
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276:In 2003 Frankel made
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639:. Jesse McKinley,
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372:Cherry Lane Theatre
355:, February 18, 1961
331:The Engagement Baby
257:New York University
249:Columbia University
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658:2012-01-28 at the
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605:The New York Times
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226:. He directed an
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459:Awards and honors
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49:(2005-04-20)
847:2005 deaths
842:1919 births
712:Obies 1960"
477:Obie Awards
293:Productions
206:Eli Wallach
202:Lotte Lenya
182:(1972) and
153:Stacy Keach
56:Nationality
836:Categories
748:Obituaries
739:Obies 1961
722:2013-05-06
696:Obies 1957
673:Daily News
528:References
518:Drama Desk
505:The Blacks
500:Jean Genet
465:Obie Award
368:A Gun Play
174:Kurt Weill
157:Tony Award
91:The Blacks
86:Jean Genet
64:Occupation
35:1919-12-23
533:Footnotes
222:starring
151:starring
771:Villager
678:Archived
656:Archived
566:Archived
493:Machinal
303:Broadway
172:(1968),
59:American
825:at the
816:at the
763:Variety
485:Volpone
470:Volpone
443:Volpone
338:Indians
148:Indians
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284:Family
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512:Other
67:Actor
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