CURRICULUM VITAE (Sorry, but I worked at USC for 30 years!)
EDUCATION
SUNY at Buffalo, B.A. Frisbee, Cum Laude, 969
PROFESSIONAL ARTS TRAINING
Theater Training – La Mama Etc., NYC – Grotowski Technique, 1970
Dance Training – 1970—77 – Shirley Mordine; Graham & Cunningham technique;
Ballet; Jazz – JoJo Smith, NYC,
Acting Training – Lee Strasberg, Jose Quintero, Susan Batson, Michael Shurtleff, 1978-86
Director’s Training – Lee Strasberg & Jose Quintero (Theater): Nicholas Ray (Film):
Nick Ray, Director, “Rebel Without a Cause” with James Dean
PROFESSIONAL ARTISTIC CAREER
MODERN DANCE
The Dance Troupe, Director Shirley Mordine, in Residence at Columbia College, Chicago
Company Member, 1970-74. Performed and toured with the company, and with Meredith Monk.
MoMing Dance Theater, Chicago, IL – Co-founder and Co-Director, 1974-77
Dancer, Director, Choreographer, Clown. Funded by the Illinois Arts Council
MoMing Dancers, 1975: Susan Kimmelman, Jim Self, Kasia Mintch, Eric Trules, & Jackie Radis
CLOWNING
Cumeezi Bozo Ensemble, NYC’s Resident Clown Troupe, 1978-1982, Founder, Artistic, and Executive Director; Toured Holland, Switzerland & France, 1979.
Performed at Lincoln Center, Town Hall, and hundreds of other venues in NYC.
Funded multiple times by the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts), NYSCA (New York State Council on the Arts), and many other local and nationally prominent foundations & corporations
THEATRE
Professional Actor, Los Angeles, CA, 1983-1990, Various, Film, TV, & Theater Roles, See Separate Resume
Theater Director-Producer, Los Angeles, CA, 1985-present: Specialize in 1 person shows, awards from Drama-Logue, Back Stage West, and LA Weekly
2011-present: Developed and Directed “Last of the Knotts’, an original 1 man show written and performed by Doug Knott, Debuted at Theatre Asylim Lab, moved all around the U.S., LA Times Review
2014: Developed & Directed LINE, PLEASE!, an original 1 man show written by Burke Byrnes, Played at Theatre Asylum Lab in Hollywood, Moved to Odyssey Theater in 2015
2012: Developed & Dramaturged “Piano Man” by Lexi Pappas (former USC School of Theatre student), winner of “Best of the Fest” of 2012 Hollywood Fringe Festival
2011: Developed & “Dramaturged” 5 original 1 person shows that opened in LA; All 3 in the 2011 Hollywood Fringe Festival were chosen as “Best of the Fest”.
1986: Developed and Directed “America’s Finest”, an original 1 man show written and performed by Burke Byrnes, Played at Beverly Hills Playhouse in LA and at Edinburgh Fringe Festival
1985: Developed and Directed “Warhit” and “More Warhit” 2 original 1 man shows written and performed by Doug Warhit. Played at Beverly Hills Playhouse for a successful and extended run. Lee Melville of the LA Weekly said: “Warhit is the next brightly original comedien destined for stardom”.
Theater Festival Producer, Los Angeles, CA, 1985-present,
“Spoken Word Festival” (SWF), Founder, Artistic, and Executive Director, 1990-present; Funded by the NEA National Endownent for the Arts) , CAC (California Arts Council), LA Country Arts Commission, and City of LA Cultural Affairs Department
1990: Los Angeles Festival, Spoken Word Segment Producer (for Peter Sellars)
1991: Santa Monica Festival, Artistic Director & Producer (for Santa Monica Arts Commission)
1992: WORD/LA, An Oral Response to the Rodney King Violence, Producer for SWF
1995: SOLO LA, CBS Studios, Producer for SWF
2011-14: Hollywood Fringe Festival, Solo Performance, Producer for SWF
SOLO PERFORMANCE ARTIST
Writer & performer of original 1 man performances
1988: “Down, But Not Out” – Wallenboyd & Theatre/Theater, LA; MoMing, Chicago; Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Shortlisted for “Best Show of the Fringe” See Ray Loynd’s LA Times Review
1990: “W(Holes)” – Theatre/Theater, LA
1995: “The Day After Valentine’s Day” – Hudson Theater & CBS Radford Studio (LA); Edinburgh Fringe Festival
2002-03: “Cock Tales”, Various theaters, Los Angeles, CA
2010: “Waiting for Jack”, Played Allen Ginsberg
John Densmore of The Doors and Trules as Allen Ginsberg, both “Waiting for Jack” (Kerouac)
2015: “An Evening with Eric Trules”, Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA, produced by Eve Brandstein, Poetry in Motion, 97 minute full length reading/performance of Travel Stories, Available on YouTube
POET/SPOKEN WORD ARTIST, 1988-present
Published in Various Anthologies w/ Allen Ginsberg, Charles Bukowski, etc.
Featured Poet at Beyond Baroque, Cafe Largo, many other LA venues, 1988-present
“Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award” winner
1989-2016: Presented original poetry & spoken word work at Beyond Baroque, LA’s most historic literary venue, for “Poetry in Motion”, Produced by Eve Brandstein
RADIO WORK, 1988-present
Hosted KPFK’s “Theater Closeup”, 1991
Presented original work on KPFK, KCRW, KXLU, Los Angeles, 1988-present
NPR “Savvy Traveler” Correspondent, 2001
SCREENWRITER, 1986-present
“King Blood”, Adapted Jim Thompson’s novel of the same name, 1994
“The Gardener” – Wrote Oringinal Screenplay, Produced & Broadcast by HBO/Cinemax, 1995
FILMMAKER, 1991-present
“The Poet and the Con” – feature length documentary – Director, Producer, Editor (1998),
Screened at over 20 International and Domestic Film Festivals; Commercial Theatrical Presentation at the Laemmle Theaters in LA (See LA Times Review & Feature Article), Available on Netflix and Amazon
2014: Screened “The Poet and the Con” in LA for the 1st time in 15 years at Beit T’Shuvah
PUBLIC SPEAKING
2015: TEDxFulbright Talk, “The Train of Opportunity“, The Broad Stage, Santa Monica, Available upon request.
Screening and Q & A of “The Poet and the Con”, 2 hour program: 78 minute film screening with 40 minute Q & A (Question & Answer) with Filmmaker
Leadership: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, 2006. American Leadership Academy : 30-60 minute talk on “Finding Your Own Voice/Thinking Outside the Box/Taking the Road Less Traveled”
“Arts in America”: 1 hour Lecture on the history of modern art in America, 1960 – present: at UMS (University of Malaysia Sabah), 2002.
Traveling the World, 1999-present: 1 hour live presentation with computer projections and first hand stories on traveling the world to suc places as India, China, Morocco, Cuba, Jamaica, Western & Eastern Europe, the Mid-East, SE Asia, South America, 49 of the United States of America. Website: “e-travels with e. trules”
Corporate Training: Malaysia, 2002. – Taught government employees (lawyers, police men & women, clerks) teamwork, how to be more creative and communicative.
BLOGGER & PODCASTER
2014-present: The Huffington Post and The Cultural Weekly
2 Personal WordPress Blogs, since 2002
2016: New Podcast, “e-travels with e. trules” created with USC Capstone grant
TEACHING
University of Southern California (USC, 1986 to present)
USC School of Dramatic Arts (SDA)
Associate Professor of Theatre Practice, 2010 – present
Senior Lecturer, 2006 -10
Lecturer, Full-time Faculty, SOT 2003-05
Adjunct Assistant Professor, SOT 1986-2003
School of Cinema/Television – Adjunct Assistant Professor, 1999
Created new course and co-taught “Personal Voice Documentary Filmmaking”
Fulbright Senior Specialist in American Studies (Theater), 2008-2013
Guest Artist at the national Caragiale Film & Theater Institute, Bucharest, Romania, 2010
Taught Solo Performance & Improvisation
Guest Teacher at LDTX Beijing Modern Dance Company, Beijing, China, 2007
Washington Prep High School, Director & Creator of Pilot Film & Video Program, 2004
Fulbright Scholar, 2002, Malaysia
Taught Improvisation & Theatre Games & Solo Performance at 2 different Islamic universities
UCLA Extension – Taught Improvisation & Theater Games, 1994-95
California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA), at Cal Arts, Valencia – Taught Creative Writing, 1992-93
MoMing Dance Theater, Chicago – Taught Modern Dance, Ballet, Improvisation, & Clowning, 1975-77
MoMing Bozo Ensemble, Chicago, 1975
Columbia College, Chicago – Taught Modern Dance & Improvisation in School of Dance, 1971-75
Columbia College, Chicago – Taught Movement for Actors in School of Theater including Grotowski Technique, 1970-72
COURSES TAUGHT/PRESENTATIONS OFFERED
Theatre (at the USC School of Dramatic Arts)
-Improvisation & Theatre Games, THTR 122
Original improvisation & movement technique developed by Trules: Teaching creativity & self-expression. Enhances team work, self-confidence, risk-taking, trust, & thinking outside the box.
USC, 1986 – present; UCLA Extension, 1994-95; Malaysia, 2002 (Fulbright residency); LDTX Beijing Modren Dance Company, 2007; Bucharest Romania, 2010 (Fulbright Senior Specialist Residency)
-Solo Performance, THTR 479
Original personal story telling technique developed by Trules, teaching autobiographical monologue creation, first in writing, then in performance. Connects performers to themselves and an audience in empowering, alchemical ways. Bridges the gap between people, politics, religion, & cultures.
USC, 1993- present; Malaysia, 2002; Bucharest, Romania, 2010.
-Clowning, Original Clown Technique developed by Trules to train the body, mind, & spirit in clowning, character, costume & makeup and to bring students out in public as clowns! “Free Public Laughs”!
Clowning: USC, Spring 2014
Chicago, 1974-77; New York City, 1977-82; UMS, Malaysia, 2002;
-USC SDA Guest Artist Seminar, 2012-14: “A Life in the Theater with Gordon Davidson”
New course created by Trules w/ Gordon Davidson, Founding Artistic Director of the Mark Taper Forum, 1967 – 2005. Passing on the Davidson legacy with guest artists such as Charlayne Woodard, Ken Brechner, Arvin Brown, Alan Mandell, John Rubinstein, & Charles McNulty, Theater Critic for the Los Angeles Times,who came to class and wrote a front page “Calendar” piece
–General Studies, USC
Freshmen Seminars
–Self Expression & the Arts, USC 1993 – 2010.
An original Freshman Seminar created by Trules exposing students to arts and culture in Los Angeles, on USC’s campus, and within themselves.
–Bob Dylan, the Early Years, 2011-13.
An original Freshman Seminar created by Trules covering albums 1-7 of Dylan’s musical career
– 2014-16 “Bob Dylan, the 60s, and YOU” – Seminar Focused on Student Activism & Engagement in Social Justice and Social Enterprise
–Micro Seminar: 2005-present: “Arts & Culture, Los Angeles/USC”
An original seminar created by Trules exposing incoming freshman to LA’s & USC’s Arts & Culture through the city’s physical and cultural geography, and cultural opportunities such as museums theaters, ethnic neighborhoods; USC’s “Visions & Voices” & Spectrum programs
Filmmaking
Personal Voice Filmmaking, USC 1991; Washington Prep High School, South Central Los Angeles, 2004
Teaches novice or experienced filmmakers how to conceive, write, shoot, edit, title, and score, film/video with the filmmaker at the center of his/her own autobiographical story.
California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) at California Institute for the Arts, Valencia, CA, 1992-93. Poetry, Solo Performance, Short Fiction, Screenwriting
GRANTS & AWARDS:
1975-76: CETA Grant, Chicago, one of the 1st CETA artist grantees in the USA
1975-77: Illinois Arts Council grants
1979, 81, & 82: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) “Arts Exposure” grant
1980: NEA Expansion Arts grant
1981 & 82: NEA Theater Program grants
1983: NEA Special Constituencies (Deaf, Senior, & Handicapped)
1980-82: New York State Council on the Arts
1991: Brody Grant from the California Community Foundation
1991-95: Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Dept. grants
1991-95: California Arts Council grants
1991: NEA Inter-Arts grant for the Multi-Cultural Spoken Word Festival
1991: Western States Regional Media Fellowship
1994: LA County Music and Performing Arts Commission grant
1994: USC Mellon Mentoring grant/award to create pilot film/tv program at Washington Prep, LAUSD
1995: Pioneer Fund grant for THE POET AND THE CON
1998: Catherine E. & Edwin W. Davis Foundation grant for THE POET AND THE CON
2002: Senior Fulbright Scholar, 8 months in Malaysia
2004: USC Undergraduate Research Project (Film Program, Washington Prep HS, LA)
2008-13: Fulbright Senior Specialist in American Studies (Theatre)
2010: Fulbright Residency at Caragiale Film & Theater University, Bucharest, Romania
2016: USC Capstone grant to create new Podcast, “e. travels with e-trules”
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS
Theatre Without Borders
International Documentary Association
Independent Feature Film Project
Association of Los Angeles Playwrights
Fulbright Alumni Association, LA Chapter Board Member (2015-present)
Servas International
PUBLICATIONS
2013: TCG’s website (Theatre Communications Group, leading national theater publication), on Trules’ Fulbright experiences
2013: November 14, 2013 Los Angeles Times feature story by Gary Klein published on the front page of the Sports section, featuring SDA student and USC football player, Cyrus Hobbi’s experience in Trules’ solo performance class
2013: February 9, 2013 Los Angeles Times feature story by Charles McNulty published on the front page of Sunday’s “Calendar”: “Gordon Davidson Is Still Giving To Theater”:
2010, Bucharest, Romania, “Trules Speaks”, 2 hour oral presentation
2005, Granada, Spain: Refereed Paper published in International Journal of Learning: “Personal Storytelling Bridges the Global Divide, Changing the World One Story at a Time”
AUTHOR/EDITOR/PUBLISHER
2016: Soon to be launched Podcast, “e-travels with e. trules”, funded by USC Capstone grant
2002-2014: “e-travels with e. trules“, original literary travel website
2004; “Stories About Ourselves”, Performance Monologues for Young Adults, USC, Editor
1995: “It’s the Day After Valentines’ Day”, original 1 person show, published by Lucretia press
1990-2015: Poems, short stories, & essays published in national anthologies and in The Los Angeles Times
1991-93: “Euphonia”, A Los Angeles Journal for Men, Editor & Publisher
PROFESSIONAL/ACADEMIC/COMMUNITY SERVICE
2006-09, 2010-2014: Faculty Representative for USC SDA’s “Good Neighbors Campaign”
2011-13: Served on USC SOT (School of Theatre) Faculty Recognition Committee
2006-14 – Served on SOT Global Committee
2009-11: SOT rep on University Non Tenue Track (NTT)Faculty Committee
2004: Creator and Director of Pilot Film/Video Program at Washington Prep HS, Los Angeles, Funded with USC Mellon Mentoring Undergraduate Research Project Grant
2005-06, Chair USC SOT Library Committee
2003-06, Served on USC SOT Scholarship Committee
1993-2006, USC Non-Resident Faculty Advisor/Fellow
1990-Present, Individual Student & Club Advisor
1990-1995, Producer of City-Wide (Los Angeles) Arts Festivals
1990-present, Occasional Editorialist for LA Times and other publications
ACADEMIC CONFERENCES/SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
1992 – “Inventing the Future: The Playwright’s Perspective”, UCLA – featured panelist
1999 – “Visible Evidence Conference”, UCLA – featured invited panelist
2004 – “What Matters to Me and Why” USC Lecture, 2004 & 2008
2005 – “International Conference on Learning”, Granada, Spain, invited presenter
2006 – Speaker at the American Leadership Academy, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
2010 – “Trules Speaks”, Bucharest, Romania
AWARDS/SPECIAL RECOGNITION/HONORS
1988, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Shortlisted for “Best Show of the Fringe”
1992, Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award
1992: Certificate of Award 17th Annual Poetry Film/Video Festival, San Francisco
1999: USC Phi Kappa Phi “Faculty Recognition Award” from University of Southern California
2002: Fulbright Senior Scholar to Malaysia
2008-13: Fulbright Senior Specialist in American Studies (Theater)
PROFESSIONAL & PEDAGOGICAL TRIPS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
2014: Jakarta, Indonesia: Taught international theater workshops in Improvisation and Solo Performance
2010: Bucharest, Romania: Fulbright Senior Specialist Residency at Caragiale Film & Theater University
2009: Havana, Cuba: Creative Consultant for International Theatre-Film project, “The Closest Farthest Away”
2007: Beijing, China: Resident Artist, Taught the LDTX Beijing Modern Dance Company
2006: Cochi, India: Researched Kathakali Dance, July-August, 2006
2005: Granada, Spain: Presented paper at 12th International Conference of Learning, July, 2005, Sponsored by USC and International Learning Conference
2002: Senior Fulbright Scholar, East Malaysia (Borneo) & Kuala Lumpur, January-August, 2002 (8 months) Sponsored by CIES
1999: Screened “The Poet and the Con” in Jerusalem, Israel, July, 1999, Invited by Israeli Cultural Diplomats
1998: Premiered feature-length Documentary film, “The Poet and the Con” in Nyon, Switzerland, Invited by Visions Du Reel International Documentary Film Festival
1995: Presented 1-man show “It’s the Day After Valentine’s Day” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
1988: Presented 1-man show “Down But Not Out” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – Shortlisted for “Best Show of the Fringe” by London’s Independent
1979: Toured Holland, Switzerland, & France as Artistic Director of NYC’s Resident Clown Troupe, the “Cumeezi Bozo Ensemble
