ABOUT ALLEN BARTON

Allen Barton is a Los Angeles-based playwright/author, director, teacher and classical pianist. Plays include CIRCLING (2018), DISCONNECTION (2015), YEARS TO THE DAY (2013), and ENGAGEMENT (2010).  YEARS TO THE DAY was named one of Los Angeles’ 10 Best New Plays by LA Weekly, and has since been performed in ten cities across three continents. Directing credits include ENGAGEMENT, THE REAL THING, RABBIT HOLE, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, BURN THIS, THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, OLEANNA, SPEED-THE-PLOW, GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES and BRILLIANT TRACES. Allen earned many years’ worth of L.A. stage, television and film credits as an actor, and he is also active as a classical pianist - he was a prizewinner in the 2002 Los Angeles Liszt Society Competition, has recorded five compact discs (available on Apple Music and other streaming services) and performs solo recitals regularly on both coasts. In 2010 he was made a Steinway Artist.  A native of Boston, a graduate of Harvard University and longtime student of the late Milton Katselas, Allen is currently owner and principal teacher at the renowned Beverly Hills Playhouse acting school. His 2017 book THE OASIS OF INSANITY (available at Amazon) is a memoir of his apprenticeship with Katselas, as well as a guidebook to the study and pursuit of acting in the 21st century. Allen lives in Los Angeles with his wife, three children, and a black Labrador Retriever.  

Moving to Los Angeles in 1990, Allen took up acting and directing studies with the renowned Milton Katselas at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, one of LA's oldest and most respected acting schools. He began helping the BHP with basic administration in 1993, was made CFO in 1997, became its youngest-ever CEO/Executive Director in 2003, and with Milton's death in 2008 became the BHP's majority owner. Katselas appointed Allen a member of the BHP teaching staff in 2005 after working through and extensive apprenticeship program under Katselas' tutelage. He currently teaches regularly at the Advanced level at the BHP.

Allen has continued his studies as a pianist with many Los Angeles-based teachers, and is a Steinway Artist. He performs live concerts annually on each coast, and has recorded five CDs.