Ric Siler

Actor

+

Playwright

(845) 480-2647 ricsiler@yahoo.com New Play Exchange

When I told my parents that I was going to move from West Virginia to New York, at the ripe old age of 33, to pursue my dream of acting, my mother said: 'You're going to be a writer.'

I'm not sure what she based that on because I hadn't been seriously applying myself as a writer up to that point, but my father always said she was 'witchy'.

At any rate, I moved to New York and chased my dream: studying with Ed Morehouse at HB Studio, doing many showcase productions, the usual. Then I met my wife in one of these showcase productions, and we eventually had a child, which put the acting on hold as we took a sabbatical to see to raising our daughter. Then I saw an ad in Backstage for auditions for a production of The Trip to Bountiful. All the parts were regional and the men were all in my age range, so I had to do it. Since I had no monologue that was appropriate, I decided to write one based on my grandfather, who was a farmer in Kentucky.

That monologue changed our lives. I was cast in the play. Ellen Burstyn was the lead, and through her we found Nyack, NY, where we have lived ever since. I also got into Actors Equity through that production. After that experience, my wife said these fateful words to me, 'See what happens when you write?'

Indeed.

Since then I have written many full length plays and a few one acts (one of which won some awards). About 2008 or 2009, I decided to combine my acting and writing and try my hand at solo work; I have written and performed six solo pieces, most recently Like a Sack of Potatoes at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, where I received a four star review!

My play Where the Rain Never Falls was broadcast on WBAI radio, in New York.

In 2016 my wife and I performed in Beckett's Happy Days in the historic Byrdcliffe Theater in Woodstock, NY (where I also performed a number of my solo pieces).

I have been affiliated with several groups over the years, including: Woodstock Fringe Playwrights Unit; Theatre Artists Workshop, Supporting Players; Blueberry Pond Writers Workshop; Hudson Valley Professional Playwrights Lab; The Genesius Guild; Pulse Ensemble and Westchester Collaborative Theater.

Among my other credits, I was directed by Edward Albee in his play Counting the Ways, and appeared in the John Sayles film Matewan.

Along with Actors Equity, I am a member of the Dramatists Guild and SAG/AFTRA.

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Theater

The Trip to Bountiful
(w/ Ellen Burstyn)
Roy Phoenix Theatre, Purchase, NY/
Theatrefest, Montclair, NJ
Counting the Ways
(written and direct by Edward Albee)
He Charleston, WV
Happy Days Willie Byrdcliffe Theater, Woodstock, NY
Where the Rain Never Falls Dewey Painter WBAI Radio Broadcase
Breaking the Code Knox Woodstock Fringe, Woodstock, NY
It Can't Happen Here Martin Woodstock Fringe Festival, NY
Thirty Odd Years Uncle Lee Samuel French Fesitval
George Dandan (Moliere) Colin 7th St. Church, NYC
Rocket to the Moon (Odets) Frenchy 29th St. Theatre, NYC
The Days Between (Anderson) David Ives (lead) 29th St. Theatre, NYC
Twelve Angry Men Foreman ATA, NYC
The Grass Eats the Horse (Eric Blau) Ensemble St. Marks Church on the Bowery
Agamemnon Chorus Leader Sidewalks Theatre, NYC
Sci Fi Tom dir. Cynthia Belgrave, Bklyn
What of the Bird? Hobart Depot Theater, Garrison, NY
The Zoo Story Jerry Rising Suns, Charleston, WV

Solo pieces

Like a Sack of Potatoes Frances Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 4 Star Review
Midtown International Theater Festival, NYC
One Man Talking Festival, NYC
Old Hickory Jimmy World Premiere, Woodstock Fringe Festival
One Man Talking Festival, NYC
Letter of Resignation Herb One Man Talking Festival, NYC
Shades Rep, Haverstraw, NY
Preston's Spot Bobby One Man Talking Festival, NYC
The Red Hand of O'Neill James O'Neill One Man Talking Festival, NYC

Film

Matewan Native Miner John Sayles, Dir.
High Road, Low Road Tommy New Directors/New Films, MOMA
Escape from Safehaven Hatchet (Principal) Sony Films
Posed for Murder Detective Murphy (Principal) Fox/Fury Productions
Underground Terror Weasel (Principal) Sony Films

Name of the Play
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Download full resume

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'Like A Sack of Potatoes' "masterfully written . . . a character with real depth . . . who nevertheless possesses an intelligence and sensitivity that belies the Hillbilly stereotype" 4 Star Review ★★★★, North West End UK

'Old Hickory' “I have a soft spot for one person shows that attempt to expose deeply felt, raw extreme motions and situations of human life. I like it even more when the writer/performer mixes wit with a descriptive power that brings us directly into the place where these emotions live. . . Siler's Southern storytelling voice rings true . . . This is a must see show . . .” New York Theatre Wire