Off-Broadway's Eric Gelb Writes GROWING UP IN THE WINGS Memoir

Eighteen-year-old Berkley High student Eric Gelb is set to head off to New York University next year, but before he does, he'll share his story of life in theatre in his memoir GROWING UP IN THE WINGS.

A resident of Huntington Woods, MI, Eric makes his literary debut with the release of his memoir GROWING UP IN THE WINGS. Bitten with the theatre bug at the mere age of 4, Eric shares a story of life in the theatre that's equally entertaining as it is heartfelt. Entering the world of entertainment as a figure skater and emerging as a producer and an educator, the memoir serves as an excellent adventure of how life in the theatre can fork into many paths and passions. Perfect for any parent with a child in the theatre, aspiring actor or director and everyone in between, GROWING UP IN THE WINGS is a rousing and triumphant recollection of a young man's journey falling in love with the theatre and the unlikely stories learned along the way.

His love for sharing his own stories and of others' stories in the theatre has been represented in stages in Michigan and in New York. In Michigan, he co-produced an original touring stage show at just 13 years old (DEAR JOURNAL - THE MUSICAL). Eric holds a long-term internship with Performing Arts and Education company Project DayDream Inc., from which many of his stories in the book are derived from in his experiences student directing and producing to appearing in over ten PDD productions.

As a four-year member of Be Drama at Berkley High School, Eric's legacy will be preserved through an award in his name, the Eric Gelb Inspiration Award, which will be awarded to one graduating senior each year. He is also the co-owner of Magical Memories Entertainment, a Princess Entertainment company, as a character performer and entertainer.

"As a young adult, there are so many stories I already have accrued to share with my students, friends and co-workers," says Gelb. "I love to tell them, and they love to hear them. Life is all about stories - whether they be your own, a story of someone else that you're bringing to life onstage or a story that you use as inspiration for your life. My main goal in publishing the memoir is that, hopefully, it will fall into the lap of a young adult who will read my story and recognize themselves in mine."

Eric's big city dreams for entertainment drove him to reach heights that college students would not dare touch. Co-producing an original musical at thirteen, participating in college-level internships at fourteen and co-owning a business at sixteen and now a published author at eighteen, his unstipulated passion and drive in his story is one that will fly into your heart and stick to it.

GROWING UP IN THE WINGS is now available online for purchase at www.bit.ly/guitwbuy and retails at $16.99.

More about Eric: A "jack of all trades", Eric works simultaneously in the Metro Detroit and New York area as a producer, director and manager of projects in the entertainment industry. With experience ranging from co-directing full musicals to making his Off-Broadway debut before he was 16, Eric's versatility and ability to seamlessly transcend genres and art mediums in his work in the theatre has allowed him to gain an expansive knowledge of what he does.

In New York, Eric worked closely alongside Maggie Keenan-Bolger as a social media intern (The Birds and the Bees: Unabridged, Queering History, Not Just Another Coming Out Story). Playing an active role in the New York theatre world, he also worked on the campaign Broadway for Obama as a social media intern, promoting and creating new content for the campaign under the direction of Celia Keenan-Bolger.

Eric made his Off-Broadway debut with DISASTER! the Musical in New York City in 2013 under the direction of Seth Rudetsky as a social media intern. As a writer, he has extensive experience in the performing arts journalism industry, serving as a student blogger for both BroadwayWorld.com and CampBroadway.com, now serving as an editor at Camp Broadway.

In Michigan, he co-produced an original touring full-length stage show at 13 years old (Dear Journal - the Musical). Eric holds a long-term internship with Performing Arts and Education company Project DayDream Inc. From student directing and producing to appearing in their theatrical productions (RENT, Seussical JR., Disney's Beauty & the Beast, R+H's Cinderella, Willy Wonka, R+H's The Sound of Music, PDD Homecoming Concert, Madeline the Musical, DayDream on Broadway), Eric has remained a staple of the company for several years. As a high school student, Eric remained actively involved in Be Drama at Berkley High.

Eric's time is now occupied as the co-owner of Magical Memories Entertainment, a Princess Entertainment company, as a character performer and entertainer. Through his work with numerous organizations, companies and directors in the realm of entertainment, Eric has brought his perseverant work ethic and productive process to hundreds of individuals.

To post a comment, you must register and login.