Ezra Barnes

Welcome to my website. I’m an actor, producer, director and teacher. My numerous appearances Off-Broadway include the acclaimed New York premiere of Fraser Grace’s Breakfast with Mugabe, which was a critics pick for the NY Times and Time Out and nominated for Best New Play by the Off-Broadway Alliance. I also produced this production.

I’m seen regularly on tv, with appearances on Jessica Jones, The Sinner, Orange is the New Black, New Amsterdam, etc., and on-screen in Motherless Brooklyn, The Last Day, Birth/Rebirth, Noah, Joshua, and the acclaimed Group series (see article in the Atlantic Monthly).

I was thrilled to receive the Connecticut Critics’ Circle Award for my direction of Diary of Anne Frank at Playhouse on Park,  

I’m Founding Artistic Director of Connecticut’s Shakespeare on the Sound festival and led the company for 13 seasons, directing and acting in numerous productions. I love bringing the Bard’s plays to a wide audience, including many young people.

Regionally, I’ve performed at the McCarter, Cincinnati Playhouse, Pioneer, Papermill, Denver Center, Portland Stage, Florida Rep and many others.

Sincer 2003, I’ve run the Young Actors Workshop Brooklyn, introducing children from ages 8-18 to the joys of theater. I’ve taught at numerous schools in the New York area and given master classes at universities and colleges.

I went to Amherst College and the National Theater Conservatory, am a native son of Brooklyn, and father of two.

I was interviewed by John Penn Junejo for his excellent podcast "How Did They Get There," if you want to know a bit more about me: Ep. 45 - Ezra Barnes on Group, Jessica Jones and Count Basie.