A Standing Ovation for James Glossman
Teacher, Director, Playwright
At Far Brook School, we believe the arts are essential to learning, a belief that has been at the core of our educational philosophy since our founding in 1948. We see this come to life every day in our Drama program, led for over three decades by the extraordinary Jim Glossman. As we celebrated the end of the school year with our Eighth Graders’ powerful capstone Shakespeare performance, we also honored an exciting milestone in Jim’s artistic journey: the debut of a new Off-Broadway play he co-wrote with two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks.
Yes, that Tom Hanks.
“This World of Tomorrow,” written by Hanks and Glossman and based on stories from Hanks’ collection Uncommon Type, will open this fall at The Shed in Manhattan. Directed by Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon, the play features Hanks in the leading role of a time-traveling scientist discovering love at the 1939 NY World’s Fair. It’s a classic love story—rich with imagination, adventure, historical resonance, and emotional depth. This isn’t Jim's first collaboration with Hanks; the two previously partnered on “Safe Home,” produced in 2022.
We at Far Brook have known about Jim’s immense talent and brilliance for years. Since 1992, he has been helping to enable young voices, build confidence, and instill a lifelong love for language and performance. In addition to his role here, Jim has been a Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University’s Theatre Arts and Studies Program for over twenty years, teaching and directing a wide range of productions with college students and mentoring the next generation of theater artists.
The culmination of our students' drama experience is the unforgettable Eighth Grade Graduation gift back to the school: a fully produced Shakespeare play. Each June, our graduating class presents The Tempest or A Midsummer Night’s Dream, full-length productions featuring live professional musicians performing an original score by Music Director Emeritus Edwin A. Finckel. These performances are the crowning achievement of five years in our drama curriculum and a hallmark of the Far Brook experience. The sophistication and artistry of this work are rare in elementary and middle school education. Our Alumni share that long after they have graduated, they still recall their lines, their roles, and the remarkable experience of the play—and they credit Jim as a transformational teacher who was integral to developing their voice and building their confidence.
That someone of Jim’s caliber has chosen to dedicate his time, talent, and heart to our students year after year is an extraordinary gift. His work on the professional stage is impressive, but for us, the real magic happens right here at Far Brook, where students discover themselves and learn to take imaginative and creative risks. Through ensemble-based learning, students develop not only artistic skills but also empathy, collaboration, and trust—learning from and with one another as they create something that truly reflects the strength of collective effort.
Congratulations, Jim.
