James Baldwin ("Go Tell it On The Mountain", "The Fire Next Time") attended The Actors' Studio Playwrights' Unit to adapt his revolutionary novel, "Giovanni's Room". Janine became moderator of the Playwrights' Unit and the two became fast friends. Janine showed a short piece of writing to Jimmie called, "Incident" to which he responded: "You're a writer, baby. Write!" (he later recommended the work to Yale University Press).  He also asked Janine to review the galleys of his later work, "Another Country" with was published in 1962.  Jimmie's voice as a writer, a civil rights activist, a liberator and a friend will be deeply missed, not just by Janine, but by a world still in desperate need of such a voice.

Cheryl Crawford, Broadway producer and co-founder of The Actors' Studio NY, began in The Group Theatre.  She is credited for having raised the funding necessary to support the Studio, including its members, like Janine Manatis.... (more)