Butch - "Butch was raised in Oklahoma and GREW up quickly in the Marine Corps". After serving proudly in Vietnam (69), he set off to chase that dream that at the age of 12 he said to his dad Ray "someday I'll be doing that". He started in the early 70's living that dream traveling with The Tournament of Thrills Mustang Auto Daredevil's (The show his dad had taken him to) & the Super Star's Auto Thrill Show. Crashing cars....why???. Ironically his first job in NYC was as a monitor for an open call for "The Bugs Bunny Follies" at the Showcase Studios (56th & 8th Ave.) As a stuntman he had no idea what a rehearsal studio was.

NOW THE KING OF REHEARSAL SPACE!...FATE?? After years of doing stunts, acting, directing, dancing (ha), producing off Broadway and alas now his first attempt at BROADWAY ("DEEP SONG") finds himself a very fortunate guy to be able to have lived a dream! Every day gets better & better!! THANKS NEW YORK CITY!!!!

Patricia - Patricia was born in Newark, N. J., grew up on the Jersey Shore, and attended Monmouth College, (now Monmouth University), in West Long Branch N. J. She worked "down the Shore" as a bartender and nightclub manager in Asbury Park. She was instrumental in discovering Bruce Springsteen, and introduced him to, and worked for, his first manager and produced his first concert. She was one of the pioneers of the music scene in Asbury Park and the "Shore". She worked in the music business for 5 years. After moving to Manhattan, she changed careers to become a fitness instructor at the Lotte Berk Method Studios on the East side. She worked as an instructor and assistant manager there for 7 years.

In 1982, with a partner, she opened a studio on West 72nd Street on the West side of Manhattan called Creative Energy Studios; and taught fitness classes for 2 years. In 1984 she became the manager of the West Side Studios on West 72nd Street, and ran it from 1984 to 1987. She started her own fitness company in 1987 called Fitness Concepts for LIfe. That same year she and Butch took over the ownership of the West Side Studios and renamed it the West 72nd Street Studios. She and Butch acquired another location and changed the name of the company to New York Spaces, Inc., of which she is the president. In 1999 she and Butch adopted the lovely Jean-Michelle and at the same time built and opened the Ripley-Grier Studios. After 10 years of expansion at that location they are now the owners of the largest rehearsal space facility in the world. In June of 2003 she graduated from the Metropolitan Institute's one year Feng Shui program, and designed Ripley-Grier IV using those principles.

In the fall of 2003 she and Butch decided to expand to another field in the entertainment business and began Jean-Michelle Productions to produce a play which is now "The Deep Song" musical play. After two successful workshops the play is ready to progress to bigger venues. She continues to teach fitness classes and has for over 30 years. She is looking forward to a great 2010.

Chris LaCour is man. Chris LaCour lived in Guam. Chris LaCour is artist. Chris LaCour is chill. Chris LaCour is traveler. Chris LaCour is Fokai. Chris LaCour is you. Chris LaCour is me. Chris LaCour is Chris LaCour.

Hi everyone, I'm Alessandra. Since September of 2006, I've been working at Ripley-Grier Studios and for Patricia Ripley and Butch Grier - two very wonderful people.
I have known Patricia and Butch for a while, long before they decided to adopt their wonderful and joyful child, Jean-Michelle.
Now, my life is quite different, and of course, much better!

As a Ripley-Grier Studios staff member, I feel their appreciation for my work and the opportunity to grow side by side with them.

I love the ambiance and environment at the studios, which is interesting, colorful, and different every day.

It always feels like I'm part of one big family.

Desireé is from Corpus Christi, Texas, and has been performing in New York for more than eight years. She graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy with a degree in Auditioning.  A classically trained singer, Desireé spent her early years gracing the stage in various musicals.  Her favorites beingSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Into the Woods, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. You can see her perform regularly with her improv groups SidViscous!, Best New Artist, Zoltar: The Future-Telling Machine, Miracle Baby, and Crosby, Huang & Nash.  She is also often featured in The Made-Up Musical at The Magnet Theater (www.magnettheater.com) and is a regular performer with Baby Wants Candy (www.babywantscandy.com)

From time to time you can check out her variety show  “Desireé’s All You Can Laff Yuk Yuk Buffet,” which can be seen at The Peoples Improv Theater (www.thepit-nyc.com).   Her character, Dolores Delores, has been featured in shows as “The Apple Sisters Variety Show” (www.theapplesisters.com) and “The Girly Girl Burlesque Show.”

Since moving to NYC 9 years ago, Mikee has found great inspiration in his studies of Holistic Nutrition and Anusara Yoga. Soon to complete his Bachelors Degree in Holistic Healing, and his Teacher Certification, he hopes to extend his education and enthusiasm for his studies to others. Mikee is a dedicated friend and care giver to 10 yr old Jean- Michelle Ripley-Grier. He sees his life and Path to be inspired by J.M. playfulness and simple wisdom.

John has been with Ripley-Grier since '99, when he moved to the city with his wife Rebecca. He enjoys his work at RG as a respite from his full-time position as Daddy to his two boys, Jack (5) and Isaac (3). John is also Vocal Director for Theatre Group Dzieci, RG's Theatre in Residence, and a songwriter with 2 solo EPs out on his own label. Other interests include going to the zoo, building tents in the bedroom, making pancakes, and high-stakes games of hide-and-seek.

www.dziecitheatre.org
www.myspace.com/normantunes

I work at Ripley-Grier studios at 939 Eight Avenue . I'm in charge of the cleaning at that location and now the building at 939 hired me to be in charge of the entire  building!! and I'm very happy to work here with all the other employees at RG. I have a wife and a son name Rene Salas. I think that Ms. Patricia and Mr. Butch are best bosses I ever met and I'm happy to work for them.

I have been working for Ripley-Grier Studios since 1998 I feel happy working for Patricia Ripley and Butch Grier

Jeanette & Shirley started taking Yoga classes from "Butch" Grier in 1994. We enjoyed his classes (and his personality) so much, that we faithfully came every Saturday morning to take his class. Now we substitute for Butch, on Saturday mornings, when he and Patricia are out of town. We use to be in a modern dance company and we also take ballet classes when our work schedules are not too hectic.

Pancho Villa and his "WINDEX BANDIT'S" crossed over the Rio Grande years ago. All on a mission to invade our territory so they could start sending some GREEN BACKS back home to their families in Mexico. They all set up encampments in the outer boro's. EVERY single morning they are up before the break up dawn to ride into town...sometimes together sometimes alone.

     It took me two and a half years to procure this bio interview with the enigma known as Shayne Grier. Even now, mere moments away from being face to face with the one interview which has eluded me over the course of my web-page biography writing career, a part me still isn't ready. Seven hours waiting in this white room and the door finally opens to reveal a slightly under height African-American man with a George Washington shaped Fro wearing a bedazzled leather jacket. He took my breath away. Sitting down in the chair across from me he flipped open a pack of Newport's offering one to me, I declined. Sitting in sweet silence for what seemed liked an eternity I gazed into his brown starry eyes, then, after he finished his first cigarette his majestic tenor voice adorned my unworthy ears.             

  I learned everything there was to know about this great human in the most blessed hours of my life. He left me speechless as I learned about his bionic left pinky toe, his newly insured left frontal lobe, the first man he ever killed, the last time he surfed a whale, and the forty-three other adventures from his national best selling book, “The forty-seven things you have to do before you die; because we are all going to die, I mean there is just no way around this whole death thing (So why wait until you're dead to start doing these things. Death is what makes life worth living, so stop dying everyday and start living every-way)”.

              Then as suddenly as he came into my life, he was gone. As I gathered my notes to leave the room, a way less majestic voice whispered in my ear, “What did you think of my additive inverse?” Jumping out my seat I spun around to find a pale, almost Albino shaded man had been hovering behind me. “Additive inverse?”, I said with a quiver. The lone Albino nodded in agreement. Questioning with purpose I spoke softly saying, “You mean your opposite, right?” The pale rider made me shudder with his two and a half minute gut laugh in regards to my question, then he took his pigment-less ostrich arms and wrapped them around my numb body. “You are worthy”, he murmured as he shoved a piece of paper deep within my shaking hand. Almost instantly I was out of his grasp and he was straddling the door handle to leave. He turned exiting the door and said, “Just print what's on the paper. Tis all the world needs to know of me”. Then, with a whistle of the wind, he was gone.

              The following are those words:

                                          “I love my wife and three beautiful children with all my heart. They are the fire that keeps me striving to be the best I can be every single day. I am also truly thankful for all my friends and family who have supported me in the pursuit of all my dreams, no matter how big or small. I believe there is no such thing as failure as long as you learn from the mistakes you make and keep pursuing what makes you happy. Love, laugh, live, and never give up”.