Who We Are
Company Mission
EBE Ensemble is dedicated to developing and presenting new and unique works of theatre. We believe that making theater accessible enhances our community and that, through an ensemble-based approach, we can better present quality theatre that strives for an emotional truth.
History
Production History | Mailing List
EBE Ensemble began with a group of NYU undergraduate drama students, all studying with the Atlantic Theater Company, who set out like the Atlantic to produce our own work. We strive to develop great new plays and create theatre for a twenty-something audience, while fostering an environment of support and encouragement for theatrical artists at the beginning of their careers. Simultaneously, we aim to stretch our acting ensemble by equipping them with real-world experience in all facets of the theatre -- from scenic painting to event planning to education.
EBE launched in December 2006 with the first of what eventually became an annual festival of one act plays, Elephants on Parade. For the next two years the company focused on producing full-length plays such as John Albano's Solitude as well as several works by John Prescod including Reck, Pre-Disposal, and a one-act show entitled Russian Roulette.
In February 2009, EBE returned to its roots with its production of Elephants on Parade 2009. From the nearly 300 plays submitted, five were chosen to be a part of the festival's two-week run at The Red Room. Nico Vreeland's piece, The Interview took home Best New Short Play at the NYIT Awards. In 2010 & 2011, we continued our Elephants on Parade festival; each with six new plays and with nearly 700 submissions from around the world. Check out some review quotes on our press page.
In 2010, we began the ambitious project of bringing Shakespeare to Prospect Park, for FREE. This outdoor initiative called Shakespeare in the Pagoda started with the dual productions of Romeo & Juliet and Julius Caesar, presented with a repertory company of actors at Prospect Park's historic Music Pagoda, in fast, modern, action-packed productions. The shows garnered press from the Brooklyn Paper and National Japanese Broadcaster NHK among many others. We followed the show’s success with 2011’s production of Much Ado About Nothing, once again at the Music Pagoda.
EBE Ensemble has cemented its position as an important laboratory for the development of new work and new audiences. Help us continue our important role in the New York theater community with a tax-deductible donation, and be sure to join us for our sixth season in 2011/2012 to be a part of ground-breaking theater.
Executive Ensemble
Joe Mullen | Executive Director — jmullen@ebeensemble.com
Joe is a founding member of the EBE Ensemble and has produced or acted in nearly every EBE production since it's inception. Joe graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2009 with a BFA in Theater. Since moving to New York from his hometown, Chicago, Joe has acted in several Off-Off productions including: Stomp and Shout (an' work it all out) Babel theater project, and How and Why I Robbed My First Cheese Store - La Mama Rep / 40 Hour Productions. Joe is dedicated to helping other emerging theater artists, like himself, to find a stage where their talents can be shared with the world.
Eric Alba | Artistic Director — ealba@ebeensemble.com
Eric is a founding member of EBE Ensemble. He earned his BFA in Theater from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Although pimarily an actor, Eric has written and directed several shows for EBE, including the 2009 NYIT Award winning play The Interview by Nico Vreeland. Eric is extremely proud to serve as the Artistic Director of EBE Ensemble. Eric revels in the joy that art can bring to his life and the lives of others and would like to thank his family, friends, and especially his fellow Benevolent Elephants.
Maxim Berger | Financial Director — mberger@ebeensemble.com
Maxim has been acting as Financial Director of EBE Ensemble since joining in early 2009. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the New York University Stern School of Business with a B.S. in Management and International Business. He is the executive producer of Ryan Willard's Not Too Late Show. When not working on shows he enjoys pickling and other do-it-yourself projects.
Amanda Jenks | General Manager — ajenks@ebeensemble.com
Amanda is proud to be EBE’s resident costume designer and general manager. When not keeping the company organized, Amanda has designed the vast majority of EBE’s shows. She is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Theatre with Honors. Outside of the company, she works as a freelance costume designer.
Joshua B. Jenks | Production Manager — jbjenks@ebeensemble.com
Joshua is thrilled to be EBE's production manager since 2010 and resident sound designer since 2008. He holds degrees in Theatre Design & Production, Drama, and Recording Arts. When not doing shows with EBE, Joshua works in fashion as a coordinator, personal shopper, and men's style blogger.
Elizabeth Spano | Literary Manager — ejspano@ebeensemble.com
Elizabeth began working with EBE Ensemble in 2010 on Romeo and Juliet where she played Juliet and also Abram. She found herself playing a lovely ingénue while simultaneously climbing and pummeling a giant, fiercely biting her thumb at everyone, and participating in stichomythia with the rest of the delightful ensemble both on and off stage. Elizabeth continues to work with EBE as an actress and also as Literary Manager. Elizabeth is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where she double majored and received her BFA in English and American Literature as well as Theater.
Courtney Fitzgerald | Director of Literary Development — cfitzgerald@ebeensemble.com
Courtney is a company actor with a BFA in Theater from NYU/Tisch where she studied with the Atlantic Theater Company and the Experimental Theater Wing. In addition to acting, Courtney writes when she is feeling diligent, stares at a blank word document when she is not, and runs long distances.
Rachel Maran | Casting Director — rmaran@ebeensemble.com
Rachel Maran is the casting director at EBE Ensemble. This is her second season working with EBE, and she is extremely excited to be able to work with such a wonderful group of talented theater professionals. Rachel is an NYU Tisch alumnus and graduate of Atlantic Theater Company School. She also works as Casting Resident at Playwrights Horizons.
Genevieve Hudson-Price | Company Manager — genevieve@ebeensemble.com
Genevieve has previously worked with EBE in FourPlay and The Bus That Got Cut Over Its Eye in Elephants on Parade 2009 and on John Albano’s Solitude. Other roles include: Up-in-the-Air Productions: Le Fou (Solene). Film/TV Credits include HBO: The Wire (Deedee), Paramount: Freedomland (Tina), and most recently Loveless (Ava).
Resident Artists
Ryan Willard
Nick Reinhardt
Turner Smith
Ensemble Emeriti
Montgomery Sutton
