This year's 31 Master of Fine Arts (MFA) candidates of the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University have lived throughout the world (six countries, 19 states and two Caribbean islands). They've played professional tennis, recited slam poetry, and pirouetted in a tutu, as well as acted classically, comedically and experimentally. But all have chosen to spend the last three years in New York City, two express subway stops from Broadway ... following their dream and refining their craft as actors, directors or playwrights in the only Masters' theater program endorsed by the renowned Actors Studio.
These 31 "rising stars" will make their professional debuts in a six-week repertory season that is open to the public beginning Wednesday, March 24, but are not total unknowns. Since the fall of 2007, they've been observed by viewers in 89 million homes and 125 countries around the globe as a result of the telecast of their master craft seminar, "Inside the Actors Studio," hosted on Bravo TV by the school's Dean Emeritus James Lipton.
This bird's-eye view of industry greats also comes with red carpet/Schimmel Theater stage interview privileges, allowing the students to personally pose their very own questions "up close and personal" to Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe and Grammy award winners they someday hope to emulate, Lipton guests such as: Judd Apatow, Jason Bateman, Halle Berry, Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, James Cameron, Danny DeVito, The Family Guy Cast, Ricky Gervais, Kate Hudson, Denis Leary, Laura Linney, Conan O'Brien, Amy Poehler, Daniel Radcliffe, Diana Ross, Mickey Rourke, Richie Sambora, Brooke Shields, Christian Slater, Hilary Swank and Tico Torres.
The 2010 Actors Studio Drama School Repertory Season performances will take place at the theater at Dance New Amsterdam, 53 Chambers St., just north of City Hall, Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. from March 24 through May 1. The full schedule and information about plays, actors, directors and playwrights can be found online at www.Pace.edu/ASDSRep
Admission is free, but reservations must be made in advance by phone or e-mail as seating is limited. The 24-hour reservation line is: (212) 714-4643 and email is ASDSRepTickets@gmail.com The works are considered educational and may not be reviewed.
Freedom to Flourish
Eight original one-act plays have been developed by the MFA emerging playwrights for the 2010 repertory season, with themes focusing on a surprise reunion, hostile friendship, forgiveness, extortion, fortitude, Louisiana plantation murder, father-daughter fractured relationship and monkey madness.
Established playwrights with one-act productions or scenes showcased are Edward Allan Baker/ROSEMARY WITH GINGER, Stephen Belber/TAPE, Kathryn Grant/THE WOUND OF LOVE, Murphy Guyer/LOYALITIES, Martin McDonagh/THE PILLOWMAN, Lynn Nottage/RUINED, Dorothy Parker/HERE WE ARE, Harold Pinter/ONE FOR THE ROAD, John Patrick Shanley/DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, Neil Simon/THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE.
Who's Directing the Show? She is!
Directors direct not just one production (as at other MFA programs) but several of varied style, length and genre. "After working so closely with the professional repertory team, our directors (which this year, for the first time in our 12-year history, are all women) find that they have established strong working relationship in the New York theatre community on which to build the foundation of a professional career after graduation," said Andreas Manolikakis, who has been a member of The Actors Studio since 1987 and is the Chair of the Actors Studio Drama School MFA Program. "This of course applies to our actors and playwrights, as well."
"Real" Rep Season: Off-Broadway, Practical Level Experience
"The season is produced, managed, and designed by union member industry professionals, creating an actual Off-Broadway experience that prepares our graduates with practical experience as working professionals before graduation," said Manolikakis. "Unlike other MFA programs' productions, we provide each and every student actor with the opportunity to be the ‘lead' in a production. In many other programs, a few students carry those roles while the rest ‘carry spears.'"
"The Actors Studio Drama School Repertory Season is real repertory where our students work as a repertory company - acting, directing and writing the material - creating collaborations that can last a lifetime," concluded Manolikakis.
The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University is the only MFA theater program officially sanctioned by The Actors Studio. The entire faculty is chosen and approved - and the curriculum is designed and supervised - by the leadership of The Actors Studio through its Curriculum Advisory Committee, including the Presidents of The Actors Studio, Ellen Burstyn, Harvey Keitel and Al Pacino. All students -- actors, directors, playwrights - train side-by-side as actors. All students participate in the Craft Seminars known to the world as the Bravo Network television series, "Inside the Actors Studio," hosted by James Lipton. For further information about the program, go to www.pace.edu/actorsstudiomfa
