John Gould Rubin

John Gould Rubin (born January 26, 1951) is an American theatrical producer, director, and former actor. He is the Artistic Director of The Private Theatre and a former co-Artistic and Executive Director of the LAByrinth Theater Company, which he co-led with Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz. Rubin has directed experimental and site-specific theater productions.

Early life and education

John Gould Rubin was born in New York City on January 26, 1951. He earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama.

Career

Acting

Rubin began his career as an actor, appearing in films such as Three Men and a Baby (1987), Dead Again (1991), and The Out-of-Towners (1999). He performed in Broadway productions like Death and The Maiden, sharing the stage with Glenn Close and Gene Hackman under the direction of Mike Nichols. He also played leading roles in productions such as Molière's Don Juan at the Mark Taper Forum, for which he won the Drama Logue Award in 1991. Other acting credits include:

• Martin Crimp’s adaptation of The Misanthrope at CSC, with Uma Thurman and Roger Rees.
• Play With Repeats by Martin Crimp, with Frances McDormand, at NY Stage & Film.

Directing and Producing

Rubin later transitioned to directing and producing, gaining attention for immersive and site-specific theater productions. His notable works include:

• A deconstruction of Strindberg’s Playing with Fire at The Box, a cabaret venue.
• A site-specific adaptation of Hedda Gabler staged in a 19th-century townhouse.
• Turn Me Loose, a production about comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory, which premiered Off-Broadway starring Joe Morton. Rubin was a finalist for the Joseph Calloway Award for Best Direction in 2016.

Notable Productions

• American Buffalo with Treat Williams and Stephen Adly Guirgis.
• The Cherry Orchard with Ellen Burstyn at The Actors Studio.
• A multimedia stage adaptation of Double Indemnity at The Old Globe in San Diego.
• Little Doc by Dan Klores, with Adam Driver, at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre.
• A Matter of Choice by Chad Beckim, with Jeremy Strong and Chris Chalk, for Partial Comfort.

Notable Producing Credits

• Producer of Macbeth, with Stephen Dillane performing all roles accompanied by a jazz trio, directed by Travis Preston. This production was staged at the Almeida Theatre in London, the Sydney Theatre in Australia, and the Adelaide Festival in 2006.
• Producer of Our Lady of 121st Street by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, at the Union Square Theater (Drama Desk Award), and at the LAByrinth Theater Company.
• Producer of Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, performed off-Broadway and at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival, The Donmar Warehouse in London, and The Arts Theatre in the West End (Olivier Award nomination).

Writing and Performing

Rubin wrote and performed The Predators' Ball, playing Ivan Boesky in a multimedia, multi-genre theater piece about Michael Milken. It was created in collaboration with Karole Armitage and David Salle. The production was staged at the Pergola Theater during the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Festival in Florence, Italy, in May 1996, and later at the Next Wave Festival at BAM Opera House in October 1996.

Teaching

Rubin serves on the faculty of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and Columbia University’s MFA Film School. He has also taught at SUNY Purchase, Harvard Summer School, and Playwrights Horizons Theater School at New York University.

Personal life

Rubin was married to actress Julianne Moore from 1986 to 1996. He is currently partnered with Laura Hughes and has a son, Samuel Hughes Rubin.