Passing of a Coach

My long-time teacher and coach Terry Schreiber, of the renowned Terry Schreiber Studios in New York City, has passed away.

Terry taught acting for many years — the Stanislavsky and Uta Hagen methods — but he was always careful to remind you that there is no single path to reaching your goals. One size does not fit all. It never has.

In the words of historian Timothy Snyder, from his book On Freedom, "a free person is an individual, but no one becomes an individual alone."

Terry lived that truth in every room he taught in.

He was warm. Immensely knowledgeable. He designed scenes and paired me with actors I could truly work with — from contemporary pieces to the great classical playwrights from around the world. Most importantly, he saw me. He supported my individuality, as he did for every actor who had the pleasure of knowing him and working alongside him.

When my father died, Terry was the one who quietly pulled me aside and told me to stand up and acknowledge him. That was Terry — he knew when to teach and when to just be human.

Terry will be missed — not just now, but by generations to come.

What he leaves behind in me is something I want to carry into the youth coaching landscape: coaching is support. It is love. It is making space for each individual to express themselves in the way only they can. You can have immense knowledge in your field, but the greatest gift you can give the people you coach is an open, playful sandbox — and the freedom to make it their own truth.

We've all had teachers and coaches who've meant something to us. Today is a good day to remember them.

Play ignites creativity. Keep yours alive.