January 2007

Josh Chambers - Class of 1994

Josh is the son of Joe & Betty Chambers of Greenwich. Following his high school graduation, Josh attended Skidmore College, where he was a Filene Music Scholar in Classical Guitar and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Theater in 1998. Next, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing from the California Institute of the Arts.

Josh has been working as a theatrical director and composer throughout the United States for the past thirteen years. His work has taken him to such diverse locales as Spain, Mexico, Morocco, NYC, Washington DC, Austin, TX, Boulder, CO, and Los Angeles, to name a few. He currently splits his time between Los Angeles and New York City. He is the Artistic Director at Fovea Floods Theater in New York City (www.foveafloods.com) and a freelance theater and film director / composer.

Over the past ten years he has directed twenty-four productions with his company, including Edmond, The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, Jungle of Cities, Dollbody (Atlantic Theatre, NYC), Goose/Goose, A Party for Boris, Tunnel, Baal (Proctors' Theatre, Schenectady, NY), Paul Pry (Saratoga Stages, Saratoga, NY), Mount Weather (DC Arts Center, Washington, DC), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Ontological-Hysteric Theatre, NYC), and Bull Spears (CSV, NYC).

In 1999, Chambers co-wrote and directed A Sleep of Reason Creates Monsters with Scott Feldsher for the 1st Annual Chekhov Now Festival at the Access Theater in New York. In the fall of 2002, he directed Not In Our Name – "An Evening of Conscience" at The Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York City, the performers for which included Edward Asner, Danny Glover, Tony Kushner, Marisa Tomei, Wallace Shawn, Andre Gregory, and Howard Zinn. In June 2003 and 2004, Chambers was a guest artist with LAByrinth Theater Company at its summer intensive, where he directed workshops of Brett C. Leonard’s Guinea Pig Solo, and Alice Tuan’s Hit. At Cal Arts, he has directed Erik Ehn’s Book of Tink, Brian Bauman’s Elegy for a Mid-Shipman, Monteverdi’s Orfeo, an original adaptation of Hamlet entitled A Toy in Blood, and Ibsen’s Ghosts. In May 2004, he directed the world premiere of Erik Ehn’s Medusachrist at the REDCAT theater space in downtown Los Angeles. His composing credits include US Highway Love Slaves Pt. III - South of Heaven with the Sledgehammer Theatre in San Diego, The Butterfly's Evil Spell, The Madwoman of Chaillot, and Vinegar Tom, all directed by Alma Becker for Skidmore College. Additional composing credits include the world premieres of Erik Ehn's Imp of Simplicity and Book of Tink, Amanda Maddock's Timepiece, Thursday's Child, and Your Birthday Slumber Party, Noel Allain's Wolfbrow, and The Body Snatcher, co-written with Peter Maradudin and Scott Feldsher. Josh also scored Mary/Mary, an award winning feature film now in festivals across the United States.

Josh’s original play Bull Spears, was published in the anthology “Plays and Playwrights 2005” and will be performed at the Sledgehammer Theater (www.sledgehammer.org)  in San Diego in May 2007. nytheatre.com’s Martin Denton called Bull Spears “a music-theatre experience that's original, challenging, and explosively exciting; I can't remember being so viscerally struck by a musical since Des McAnuff's Tommy ten years ago” Josh Chambers, is an authentic visionary whose work should soon be making a giant impact on the face of American theatre.”

Over the years, Josh has earned recognition including the Palamountain Award for Outstanding Young Alumni, the Periclean Award for Directing and the Janet Kinghorn Bernard Award for Theater.

In recalling his high school days, Josh says that “GCS gave me the hunger, drive, and passion to fully commit to an anarchic life in the arts. I am greatly indebted to my school, mentors, and friends for an incredible foundation for my future pursuits.” He also cites specific mentors who helped make a difference for him. “Firstly, and forever, I am thankful for Laura Goodman for directing and totally encouraging me toward a creative life in the arts. Equally, Carol Hawks was an angel to me and I will never forget what she did for me as a musician. There really are too many to mention: Doc Fitzgerald, Dave Rosen, Sarah Idleman, Mrs. Buckley, Mrs. Patrick (3rd Grade). Also my friends: Dave Bengle, Dan Morse, John Carter, Jason and Justin Baker, Doug Idleman, Stephanie Knight, Brian Beecroft, Aaron Moore, Christian Smialek, Jake Williams, Mark Mosher, etc. I’m going to feel bad if I leave anyone out. Everyone was important.”

In high school, Josh was involved with the Jazz Band, Denmark Boyz Outing Club and the Drama Club. Today, he enjoys rock n’ roll, food, film and travel.

Reflecting upon qualities necessary for success in directing and composing, Josh identifies “tenacity, a clear vision, and the ability to re-invent oneself.”

Despite the bi-coastal career, Josh still feels connected to home and is grounded in his family. “My mom and dad still live in Greenwich and are doing very well. My brother, Mike Chambers (GCS Class of 1990) is working on web design, and producing independent films.”

What wisdom does Josh offer present high schoolers? “Take it all, love hard, and be yourself.”