Laurence C. Schwartz: (born September 7, 1961 in New York City) is an American theatre director, actor, writer and educator. Schwartz is the author of the full-length play, Artaud for a While in which he portrayed the French poet Antonin Artaud. The play was produced in 1996 at Wings Theatre in Greenwich Village, where it had an extended run and was cited by The Village Voice. In 2019, Schwartz directed Thank You for Taking My Call at The Players Theatre. In 2018, he directed A Family Christmas Reunion at The Davenport Theatre.
Early life and education: Schwartz was raised in Brooklyn and later on Long Island, where he graduated from Roslyn High School. He earned his BFA from Boston University and an MA from Hunter College/CUNY.
Acting and Directing: Schwartz made his professional debut in the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s production of Cyrano de Bergerac, directed by the late Nikos Psacharopoulos. He appeared Off-off Broadway at St. Bart’s Playhouse in W.S. Gilbert’s Engaged, and in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Allegro. He was also featured in Lewis John Carlino’s Objective Case and The Brick and the Rose. Schwartz gained notice in 1985 with his performance as an Olympic gay wrestler in the Off-Broadway farce Max's Millions by Jerry Douglas. Schwartz’s performance earned him a favorable review from The New York Times and membership to Actor’s Equity Association. Schwartz continued performing in featured roles in Edward II, The Three Sisters, The Quare Fellow, and Richard III. He appeared in Richard Helfer’s The Poisons at The New York International Fringe Festival. He studied Acting in New York with Suzanne Shepherd. Schwartz has directed over a dozen plays in New York for Riant Theatre’s Strawberry One-Act Festival. He has also directed at Manhattan Rep and The Secret Theatre. For several years he was director-in-Residence at American Theatre of Actors where he directed Lynn Navarra’s Leaving Lannahassee, Spoiling for Justice, Strangers, Men are Dogs, Tea in a Tempest, Perception of Color.
Writing: Schwartz has had several one-act plays produced in New York. His short fiction has been published in The Pink Chameleon, StarryNight Review, The Paumanok Review, In Posse Review, and American Feed.
Educator: Schwartz began teaching university in 1989. He has taught many subjects including Introduction to Opera, Introduction to Theatre, The Hollywood Western, Art History, Cinema Studies, and Public Speaking. He has taught at many campuses in C.U.N.Y., Long Island University, College of New Rochelle, and currently teaches Film Studies and Oral Communications at Mercy College. He has written a memoir chronicling his many years on the university circuit, Adjunct; Memoirs of a Migrant Intellectual Worker. He is seeking a publisher.