Bob Kale, CSA
Casting Director, Teacher, Writer
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A Brief History


Below: 8" by 10" from 1978.

Below: 8" by 10" from 1988

 

Below: the many faces of today.

Bob began working in the theatre in 1967 in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. At age 11 he was studying with Broadway Actress and Musical Theatre AEA professional, Lillian Hanham, who instilled in him an extraordinary sense of devotion and professionalism. He was chosen for college-level acting classes as well as appearing in productions at the University of Toledo at the age of 14. In addition to doing the usual high school plays and such, Bob did plays at the Toledo Repertorie Theatre under the direction of Roy Fluhrer, a Northwestern University student of Alvina Krause—very fortunate to be exposed to genuine professionals so early in life. He also apprenticed at Toledo Summer Star Theatre (which was on the Kinley circuit) and the Westgate Dinner Theatre.

After coming to NYC, Bob trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse and The Juilliard School. At Neighborhood Playhouse he was taught acting by William Esper, William Alderson, Phillip Gushee, Ed Moor . . . and he first came into direct contact with Sanford Meisner, who became his mentor. He studied with Sandy during his two years at the Playhouse and in Sandy’s professional class for three years, including the class being taught in the book, Sanford Meisner On Acting. He also had the honor of serving as an associate and assistant during the third year. He has carried the sincerity, simplicity and specificity he learned from this exceptional man with him into all aspects of his life.

Additional training included Lehman Engel (Musical Theatre), Dorothy Loudon (Musical Audition), Jeffrey Dunn (Musical Theatre Scene Study), Metropolitan Opera Tenor, Felix Knight (Singing), Zoe Caldwell (Shakespeare), Elizabeth Smith and Robert Neff-Williams (Juilliard -- voice for theatre), Edith Skinner (Speech), Barbara Cole (Ballet), Dorothy Villiard (Martha Graham technique), Gary Gendell (Jazz), and many others.

Bob was also trained in commericals, soap opera and on-camera work, in general, at the renown Weist-Barron Studios with the assistance of extraordinary show business professional, Valerie Adami.

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE

Bob's On-Camera experience included All My Children, One Life To Live, Kate & Allie, Ryan’s Hope, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Pete ‘N Pete, The Equalizer and others. Played Off- and Off-Off Broadway at the Theatre dy Lys, West End Theatre, Town Hall, Classic Theatre, St. Clements, Fifth Avenue Theatre Company, Working Theatre and others. Stock: Colgate Repertory Company (NY), Cortland Repertory Theatre (NY), Pantheon Theatre Company (OH), Esquire Repertory Playhouse (IN), Philadelphia Centre Street Theatre (PA), Croswell Opera House (MI), Tibbits Opera House (MI), Colony Stages (NY), Rivoli Repertory (PA) and others.

Roles played included: Harpagon in The Miser (Moliere), Sid in Waiting for Lefty (Odets), Orin in Mourning Becomes Electra (O'Neill), Allan in Play It Again, Sam (Woody Allen), Kent in King Lear (Shakespeare), Bernie in Sexual Perversity In Chicago (Mamet), Lord High Chancellor in Iolanthe (Gilbert & Sullivan), Nicodemus/Lady Enid/Alcazar in The Mystery of Irma Vep (Ludlum), Pseudolus in A Funny Thing . . . (Sondheim, Gelbart, Shevelove), and General St. Pe in The Waltz Of The Toreadors (Anouilh).