ERIK ANDREWS
Erik Andrews is a theatre practitioner who believes that the best work happens in the space between collaboration and discovery. Originally from Florida, Erik wasn’t exactly sure what came after high school—until he found himself swept up in a theatre community (a family, really) in the Bradenton/Sarasota area that made him realize, "Oh, this is it." ​In this newly discovered community, Erik’s creative spirit was nurtured, and he decided to bring his dedication and training to the next level, leading him to study at some of the most rigorous and esteemed institutions in the field. Since then, his career has taken him from regional theatres to New York City and, since 2016, to Cleveland Heights.
His work has always been driven by curiosity—about people, about process, and about the many ways a story can come to life on stage. When Erik is wearing the hat of educator, he believes teaching is as much about learning as it is about giving, and he is continually inspired by the artists in the room with him—whether they’re students, collaborators, or fellow educators. At the heart of it all, Erik is always interested in how people create art—what drives them, what surprises them, and how the process itself can be as meaningful as the final product.​
Erik has directed, performed, and collaborated with several NYC-based companies and regional theatres including NYCFringe at the Cherry Lane Theatre, the Cleveland Play House, the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, and the Olney Theatre Center, among others. One of his most inspirational experiences was acting under two-time Tony Award Winner David Cromer, who cast and directed him as Noah Joad in The Grapes of Wrath at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.
During Erik's tenure as a founding board member of, and an artistic associate with, New York Shakespeare Exchange, he experimented with collaborative theatre through ensemble exploration, and the organization received a glowing mention from Backstage: one of 8 Young (and Mighty) New York Theater Companies. Recently, Erik had the pleasure of portraying Harold in Them That Follow, starring Olivia Colman and Walton Goggins; directing Aliens With Extraordinary Skills at Case Western Reserve University; devising Sanzaru at Playwrights Local in Cleveland, OH; and directing a reading of Cannon Fodder by Stuart Hoffman via Dobama Theatre's Playwright's Gym. You can check out various production photos here. ​
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As an educator, Erik has had the privilege of teaching at Long Island University, Stony Brook University, Manhattanville College, and Case Western Reserve University, and leading workshops in NYC and London. His own training has been shaped by remarkable mentors, with an MFA from CWRU/Cleveland Play House, a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and further studies at the Royal National Theatre Studio in London. ​​​He also received pedagogical training at the Actors Center’s Teacher Development Program, NYC. Erik holds a Certificate of Completion for Teachers from The Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA) where he trained with numerous master teachers of the Chekhov technique, including most notably the late Joanna Merlin.
