Rob's Bio
Rob is an actor, writer, producer, and director.
As an actor, he's been seen in the Off-Off Broadway run of Nice Guys Finish…, playing the title 'nice guy' role of Stevie which was produced by Apricot Sky Productions. He also originated the role of Ron in Curing Ron by Eric Alter at the American Theatre of Actors. And he also appeared as Julius Gatz in the (646) Theatre Co. production of Earth & Sky.
As a writer, his 15-minute play Destinations was published in The Best Plays from the Strawberry One Act Festival, Vol. 1 and is currently available online and in bookstores. It has become a rather popular short play to perform in high school and college drama programs as well as one-act play festivals.
Destinations, along with The Love of Your Life, Life on Mars, The Trouble With You Is, Eve, Secret, Rewarding Constance, An Unholy Proposal, and A Dog's Life have been performed in a number of venues throughout the United States and Canada.
His full-length comedy Beer for Breakfast was produced in the summer of 2006 at The Producers Club II in New York City (Backstage review). And his bilingual children's show Animal Babble ran in 2005 and 2006 at the Theater Project in Cranford, NJ.
In August of 2013, Rob's original compilation of short plays, Love & Liquor was produced and performed in Princeton, NJ. The short plays, which were also directred by Rob, focused on stories about love and stories about liquor, and sometimes both! The short plays included in the showcase were: The Trouble With You Is, Destinations, The Love of Your Life, Rewarding Constace, Eve, and Secret.
Rob also founded the Tri-State Theatre Festival — a short play festival presented by South Street Players in Spring Lake, NJ — now in its 6th year. The festival presents original short plays by writers from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The festival has developed into an audience favorite and has even spawned a companion festival, the Tri-State Theatre Festival: Hallloween Edition, which presents Halloween-themed short plays.
As for his NYC directing credits, they include: Nice Guys Finish… for Apricot Sky Productions at the Midtown International Theatre Festival (see review here); also, Destinations (a finalist in the Winter 2004 Strawberry One Act Festival); and In Reverse Order, for the Summer 2006 Strawberry One Act Festival.
Rob has a Master's degree in Broadcasting Production from Boston University and has worked behind the scenes at the CBS serial Guiding Light, Kralyevich Productions, Inc., Drury Design Dynamics, Alignment Media, and BlueprintNYC.
Past News and Blog Items
August 22, 2013
Please join us at South Street Players' 3rd Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival.
Tickets are available now for this special performance of original, short plays by playwrights from NJ, NY, and PA, including: Alex Dremann • Dave Duncan • Donna Hoke • Owen Panettieri • Nancy Parker • Kristen M. Scatton • D.L. Siegel • Robert Scott Sullivan
The plays are being directed by Stephen Dobbins • Dave Duncan • Dave McGrath • Brian Remo • Robert Scott Sullivan • James Walsh • Caitlyn Wright
One Weekend Only:
Friday, September 13 & Saturday, September 14 — 8pm
Sunday, September 15 — 2pm
Wesley Hall • 4th & Mercer • Spring Lake, NJ
$15.00 for Adults
$10.00 for Seniors & Children under 12
Call for Tickets:
732-820-1413
www.southstreetplayers.org
July 23, 2013
Rehearsals are well underway — show time is near — very exciting!!!
If you haven't heard, my compilation of one-act plays, Love & Liquor, will be performed this coming August 9, 10, 11 at the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts in Princeton, NJ.
The 6 short dramas being presented in this anthology of one-acts are: The Trouble With You Is, Destinations, The Love of Your Life, Rewarding Constance, Eve, and Secret.
The cast includes: Maria DeAngelo • Stephen Dobbins • Dorothy Dobkowski • Dave Duncan •
Vince Fay • Laura Herr • Kelly Maizenaski • Jill Mesonas • Candy Predham • Maggie Rogers •
Gina Shuster • Mary Sullivan • James Walsh
Technical Direction is by Jeff Schneider.
And the event is being directed by yours truly, Rob Sullivan.
Please call to reserve tickets — really hope you can make it to this one, it would mean a lot to me — 609-945-1803.
June 19, 2013
GREAT NEWS!!! I'm currently producing and directing a compilation of my one-act plays called Love & Liquor. The showcase will be performing Friday August 9-11 in Princeton, NJ. Please come out and support this show!!!
For info or tickets, call 609-945-1803 or visit www.loveandliquorshow.eventbrite.com
April 25, 2013
South Street Players' 2nd Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival was a huge success. We had nice-sized audiences and they were extremely responsive to the event. I'm so happy people enjoy the minimalist, avant-garde approach to this festival.
Funds were raised for SSP to help the theatre continue its commitment to producing great works...AND...we also saw 7 great one-act plays, great direction and great acting. Very proud of what the TSTF family created this past weekend.
Now, what's next... well, the 3rd Annual TSTF will be coming up in September, so early planning will soon begin for that...
Other than that...guess I'm just going to enjoy work and the summer months ahead...
To keep better tabs on me, follow me on Twitter @RobSull1
April 4, 2013
7 original one-act plays...6 playwrights...6 directors...16 actors...1 WEEKEND!
Please join us at South Street Players' 2nd Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival.
Tickets are available now for this special performance of original, short plays by playwrights from NJ, NY, and PA, including: Alex Dremann • Josh McIlvain • Vanessa Shealy • Bob Stewart • Robert Scott Sullivan • J.C. Svec
The plays are being directed by Elizabeth Barker • Stephen Dobbins • Dave McGrath • Robert Scott Sullivan • James Walsh • Caitlyn Wright
One Weekend Only:
Friday, April 19 & Saturday, April 20 — 8pm
Sunday, April 21 — 2pm
Wesley Hall • 4th & Mercer • Spring Lake, NJ
$15.00 for Adults
$10.00 for Seniors & Children under 12
Call for Tickets:
732-820-1413
www.southstreetplayers.org
February 27, 2013
NEW "News"....
1. I'm in a production of "The Drunken City" by Adam Bock at Edison Valley Playhouse in Edison NJ. The show runs Fridays & Saturdays (and the middle Sunday) March 1-16. For more info, visit their website or call their box office at: 908-755-4654. I'm playing Bob -- a baker who can't seem to make love work.
2. I'm also producing, directing, and acting in South Street Players' 2nd Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival (and I've even written 1 of the plays).
Tickets are available now for this special performance of original, short plays by playwrights from NJ, NY, and PA, including: Alex Dremann • Josh McIlvain • Vanessa Shealy • Bob Stewart • Robert Scott Sullivan • J.C. Svec
The plays are being directed by Elizabeth Barker • Stephen Dobbins • Dave McGrath • Robert Scott Sullivan • James Walsh • Caitlyn Wright
One Weekend Only:
Friday, April 19 & Saturday, April 20 — 8pm
Sunday, April 21 — 2pm
Wesley Hall • 4th & Mercer • Spring Lake, NJ
$15.00 for Adults
$10.00 for Seniors & Children under 12
Call for Tickets:
732-820-1413
www.southstreetplayers.org
June 10, 2012
Found out today that the comedy I performed in throughout October of 2012 — Something in the Air at Alliance Rep — was named in the Star Ledger's 2012 NJ Tony's as Best Comedy of the Year! Woo Hoo! Congrats to the cast, production team and crew. Click here for the article.
In other news, I just finished up my run of "You Can't Say That" today...went well. Audiences weren't as large as we were hoping, but the cast did a great job!
Tomorrow, Monday June 11, I perform in the reading of a play by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Michael Mooney featuring the 4A's (Alan Ayckbourn Aficionados of America). http://sisterlyfeelings.alanayckbourn.net/SF_Synopsis.htm
Starring:
Dr. Ralph Matthews - CHARLES DIETZ
Abigail, his daughter - KELLY MAIZENOWSKI
Dorcas, his daughter - CANDY PREDHAM
Melvyn, his son - VOLNEY STEFFLRE
Len, Ralph’s brother-in-law - GEOFF SHIELDS
Rita, Len’s wife - CODY DALTON
Patrick, Abigail’s husband - GUS IBRANYI
Brenda, Melvyn’s fiancée - GINA DILEO
Simon, her brother - PATRICK DEAN
Stafford T. Wilkins - ROB SULLIVAN
Narrator - JOEY SCHWEIGERT
Holmdel Theatre Company
36 Crawford Corner Road
Holmdel, NJ 07733
June 2, 2012
The show opened last night! Swing on by if you can...
“You Can’t Say That” Comedy by Frank Van Syckel
Jimmy Chase is the head writer for the late night TV’s hottest, most outrageous show (The Evan Kingsley Show). He’s a man with one eye on the past, the other on the show’s sexy, tough as nails executive producer (Juliet Bennet). But when the network hires a new Standards and Practices attorney, he threatens to destroy the world.
Rated R for Language
General Admission $17 | Seniors $14
Friday, June 1st | 8:00PM
Saturday, June 2nd | 8:00PM
Sunday, June 3rd | 3:00PM
Friday, June 8th | 8:00PM
Saturday, June 9th | 8:00PM
Sunday, June 10th | 3:00PM
Traco Theater
16 Washington Street
Toms River, NJ 08753
March 30, 2012
So, it looks like I may be reprising the role of Jimmy Chase in Frank Van Syckel's original comedy, "You Can't Say That". More details to follow, but the production is currently scheduled to take place the first two weekends in June in Toms River, NJ.
From the 2010 production at First Avenue Playhouse, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
December 27, 2011
Happy Holidays To All!!! May your 2012 be filled with happiness, health and success!!!
No shows scheduled for the next few months. But maybe in the Spring.
December 3 & 4, 2011
Nine Theatricals' It's a Wonderful Life (A Live Radio Play!)
My favorite movie of all time is It's a Wonderful Life. So, I'm thrilled to be "reading" the part of George Bailey (for the 2nd year in a row) for Nine Theatricals.
This lunch-theatre performance will take place for 2 days only -- Saturday, December 3 & Sunday, December 4 in Freehold, NJ.
Luncheon & Performances At All Season II Restaurant
Route 9 North (Just North of Route 33)
Freehold, NJ
Luncheon at 12:30pm - Play at 1:30pm
Tickets Include Complete Luncheon & Play
Your choice of Beef, Chicken, Fish
$35.00 Per Person - 10% Discount For Seniors
Children 12 & Under $15.00
Includes Chicken Fingers or Pasta
For Reservations & Tickets Call: 732-447-5169
Maybe I'll see you there!!! Always remember and never forget..... No man is a failure who has friends!!!
This Weekend Only!!!!!
November 4-6, 2011
South Street Players' Tri-State Theatre Festival
I'm producing this inaugural festival of original one-act plays for South Street Players at Wesley Hall in Spring Lake, NJ. I'm also acting in a couple of them, I've directed a few, and I've even written 2 of them as well!!
Hope to see you there!!!
Something in the Air by Richard Dresser
Oct 7th – 22nd
Alliance Rep (performing at Edison Valley Playhouse)
Come see me play Walker in this film noir comedy with a really talented group of actors. Watch a scene via NJ-onstage.tv
See some of our reviews by clicking these links:
NJFootlights.com
NJArtsMaven.com
The Westfield Leader
Random Ramblings—Memorization Tips
OK, I'm a huge proponent of the oldest memorization gimmick in the world -- Flash Cards.
I've adapted a little process for it with regards to acting, which I faithfully use for every show I do. It's worked so well, I even have all my friends using the method.
It's A LOT of upfront WORK, but TREMENDOUSLY BENEFICIAL in the long run...especially if you have difficulty memorizing lines; or, you feel like everyone knows their lines but you; or, you just want to get off-book quicker so you can really begin to work on character. (It baffles me how some actors don't get off-book till the last second -- when do they ever work on character? On choices?
Anyway, here's what I do -- specifically.
1. Read the whole script. Even if you've had a group reading. I still like to sit down with my script alone and read the whole thing, start to finish, without highlighting or underlining...not thinking about what I'm going to do here, or how I'm going to say this line there....I'm just absorbing the gist of the story and the characters and understanding the playwright's intentions.
2. Buy a bunch of index cards. Ruled, unruled, 3x5, 4x6, white, blue - doesn't matter.
3. Write out the cue from the other actor (or stage direction if applicable) on the front of the card. I write out the name of the character who has the line before me, and a blurb of their dialogue that precedes my line.
**I don't just write out 3 or 4 words. I try to write out at least 2-3 sentences that lead me into my next line. It's important to know what the other character is really saying to you (or to another character)...not just a few random words that mean nothing.
**It's also great, because through this process, you'll actually be memorizing more than just your line; you'll have your cues completely memorized too! This is especially helpful if someone in your cast goes up on a line and skips to the next thing he or she remembers. You won't skip a beat if he or she feeds you a line three quarters of the script down, you'll just reply as you're supposed to reply to the line he or she feeds you...(and not make the mistake of backtracking).
4. On the other side of the card, write out your line(s) of dialogue that follow. If it's a monolouge, I still write each and every word on the back of the card...if it's longer than the back of the card allows for...I just continue onto another card(s) till I'm done. Yes, I even do this for the Shakespearean shows I do.
**There is a synergistic effect that will take place if you use every sense at your disposal. Step 4 engages your tactile senses. Hence, why I'm encouraging you to write out all your lines...every single bleeping word.
**Don't take short cuts! If you photocopy and paste the script onto the note cards, you're limiting the very valuable experiencing of writing out all your lines...yes, it takes forever!...don't get me started on when I played Arnold in Torch Song Trilogy. Loved the part - but that character loved to hear himself talk! Anyway, write your lines out -- it's a necessary evil. Trust me.
**Also: be sure to number the cards. If you drop 'em and they fall on the floor, you're going to have a mess of cards to re-order.
5. Next, read the front of the card (the cue) and just slowly begin memorizing your lines on the back of the card. Please read all your lines out loud. When you feel you have one card down, move onto the other, and so on, and so on.
**At this stage, I think it's important to engage more of your senses again! You should really be memorizing out loud. "Thinking" you have something down, is very, very different from "actually" having it down. Plus, by saying it out loud, your tongue begins to find the rhythm of the words and your ears pick up on the way things sound, etc., etc.
**Just keep memorizing. Whenever you have a small stack down, go back to the very first card in your deck and push forward with each one, in order, and get as far as you can. It's OK if you mess up or forget a word during the process, that's why they're flash cards. You can turn the card around and remind yourself what word or line comes next at any time. Pretty soon you'll have the whole stack memorized!! Look at you!!!
6. Keep reinforcing what you've memorized; keep going back to the deck of flash cards in all your free time. Since they're flash cards, they're very portable -- just wrap 'em up with a rubber band and take them everywhere you go. Whenever you have downtime or you're bored, just pull 'em out and continue the process.
**Some of my personal favorite "brush up" spots to work with my flash cards are: on the train (though I don't say my lines out loud -- I think my fellow passengers would be a little disturbed...not to mention scared), in a waiting room, backstage during rehearsal if I'm not needed for awhile, when I'm waiting for rehearsal to begin, when I'm hanging out at home, by the pool, and though I DO NOT ENDORSE YOU doing this, I even pull the cards out when I'm driving (though in my defense, it's typically only at stop lights!).
So that's my advice. Many of my actor friends have followed my lead and have become hardcore believers and users of what I like to unofficially call the "Rob Sullivan acting memorization flash card method." Ha ha - not exactly a catchy name, but I hope it works for you too!
Random Ramblings—So You Wanna Be An Actor?
OK, I have lots of advice for you (as do a lot of people on the subject -- I do not claim to be an expert -- just a fellow actor who has some experience on both sides of the casting table).
Here's my best quick and dirty advice for you:
If you're an actor, you should be acting. Take classes, do Off-Off Broadway or community theatre, and audition, audition, audition. When you're starting out, take anything offered to you. With every role, you'll grow, and when you're lucky enough to work alongside seasoned actors, you'll begin to pick up tips from them that will help you to develop your own style and techniques. In essence, you'll learn how to be an actor by working with great actors, and you'll also learn how to conduct yourself as a professional, how to interact with fellow actors, directors and crew, and how to develop the resources you'll need to get to the next level (headshot photographers, headshot reproduction companies, acting coaches, casting agents, talent agents, etc.).
So get yourself out there and begin doing it. You'll be surprised how fast you'll become part of the greater community and really feel like a true actor...not a wannabe. There's honestly nothing worse than meeting someone who says they're an actor, but they've never acted before. If you meet someone who says they're a surgeon, how confident would you be in their abilities if they said they never actually performed a surgery before?
An actor must act - that's the bottom line.
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