The Workshop Company
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About
The Workshop Company at The Actors Center is just that. It is
a self-selecting group of peers, who work together to become better
actors individually. There are no other purposes beyond continued,
individual growth. Younger actors have much to gain in working
with older, more established, experienced, and tested actors.
Established actors are afforded an opportunity to continue to
explore and re-explore their creative possibilities. This is the
inner dynamic that sustains this unique company and is the core
of its mission, namely the continued support of the artistic goals
by some of our nation's most talented actors / artists.
How? We meet regularly. Forty weeks per year,
the Company meets on Monday mornings from 10 to 1. In the fall,
this weekly workshop is led by Ron Van Lieu and focuses on each
individual actor's issues through scenes the actors choose to
present. In the spring, the Monday workshops tend to be more varied.
For example, Olympia Dukakis (much like Ron), Joanna Merlin (Michael
Chekhov), Fay Simpson (chakra, physical-release points).
We also meet three times per year in two-week
intensive workshops with world class Master Teachers. These workshops
have revolved around Shakespeare (Rob Clare, assoc. Royal Shakespeare
Company, and Dakin Matthews, assoc. Old Globe); Anton Chekhov
(Viatcheslav Dolgachev, formerly a leading director of the Moscow
Art Theatre and now Artistic Director of the New Drama Theatre
of Moscow). We are currently exploring a workshop to be lead by
Tina Landau and Jeff Perry (co-founder of Steppenwolf) on the
working relationship between the tenets of Viewpoints and any
given text.
The Workshop Company relies on no particular
aesthetic or approach to acting. It does argue for the actor as
artist, for the actor's individual commitment to artistic process,
and the actor's continued pursuit of deeply human performance.
Membership in the Workshop does not require an audition. It rests
more upon your current level of achievement and the recognition
of your continuing promise by your peers. (An outline of the admission
to membership process follows.)
As a member, you will be assessed minimal
dues to cover necessary Company expenses. Annual dues are $200.
While Monday workshops are free, the two-week intensives cost
$100 each for those who choose to enroll. The dues go to rental
of studio space, fees for Master Teachers, and a stipend for the
Company coordinator, who not only maintains communication, but
issues regular bulletins such as "Members Working."
That little exercise keeps all members connected to the challenges
each member is undertaking throughout the year, and connected
to what we share with each other. All other costs of administration
are being born by The Actors Center, The Workshop Company being
the core component of its mission.
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The Workshop Company - Application Procedure
1. Nominations for membership
may only be made by a current, paid-up Workshop Company member.
Nominations must include a brief written statement about the nominee
including how well the nominator knows the nominee and why they
believe s/he is qualified for membership. The nomination must
also include the nominees resume. Completed nominations
are to be submitted via e-mail to Jennifer Rockwood at The Actors
Center office (info@theactorscenter.org).
2. The Workshop Company
Coordinator will announce the nominations, via e-mail to the entire
Workshop membership.
Hopefully more than one member of the Company will second the
nomination. To second a nominee, you must submit a brief statement
as to how you know the nominee, and why you think s/he should
be a candidate for membership. These seconds, and
we hope there will be more than one, should also be sent to info@theactorscenter.org.
If a nominee does not receive a second, on the first
posting, The Workshop Company Coordinator will include them the
next time nominees are posted. If they still receive no second
then their candidacy will be dropped. Those nominees who are or
are not seconded will be notified by the Company member who originally
nominated them.
3. Nominees who
are seconded will also be notified by their nominator and invited
to apply.
It is then up to the candidate to submit the following:
- all relevant contact information including a phone number
- a current picture and resume
- a brief statement telling the membership committee about themselves
as an actor, why they would like to be a member and what they
have to offer the company.
ALL materials (including nominating
statements, seconding responses and all submissions
from the applicant) will be submitted to the membership committee
one week BEFORE interviews are scheduled. Committee members will
discuss candidates before interviews are scheduled.
4. Interviews will be
held on a monthly basis, followed by discussion and decision on
membership for the candidates by those committee members present.
Decisions on membership will again be communicated to the candidate
by their original nominator.
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The Workshop Company
Members Appearing on Stage and Screen
As of September 2009
RUFUS COLLINS
is "Mcdermott" an ex-boxer and "Gunga" a sinister East Indian (and is standing by for Tony and Gil)
in THE ROYAL FAMILY
starring Rosemary Harris
at Manhattan Theatre Club
Doug Hughes directing
previews in September
opens in October
ELIZABETH RICH
will be in THE COMMON SWALLOW as part of the annual HOWL Festival
Performances at 45 Bleeker Street Theatre
Friday September 25th First Performance at 8:00 PM
Saturday September 26th at 8:00 PM
Sunday September 27th at 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM
EMMA O'DONNELL
in the role of "Jane" in Charles Smith's A FREE MAN OF COLOR
at the Penguin Repertory Theater
directed by Joe Brancato in October
CINDY CHEUNG
as "Masha" in THE SEAGULL
directed by Gia Forakis in a vaudevillian style
at Theater for the New City
Sept 29 - Oct 17
* AEA showcase *
OLIVIA BIRKELUND
just did an episode of LAW AND ORDER
AND
is in the upcoming series The Good Wife
GRETCHEN EGOLF
recently shot an episode of LIE TO ME
ANSON MOUNT
shooting Screen Gems feature film STRAWDOGS
directed by Rod Lurie
LOUIS OZAWA CHANGCHIEN
in GIGANTIC starring Paul Dano and Zooey Deschanel
film now available on Netflix and Amazon http://www.thegiganticmovie.com/home.html
AND
in FAIR GAME directed by Doug Liman
starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts
premieres December 2009
NOEL JOSEPH ALLAIN
plays "Adrian" in ROCKY/PHILLY at the Bushwick Starr
September 9th - 26th
tickets and info at www.thebushwickstarr.org
AND
Will appear in Seattle in October in Reggie Watts' and Tommy Smith's TRANSITION as part of On the Boards
AND
Will play "Jacob" in Tommy Smith's THE WIFE at The Lark in December
WAYNE DUVALL
Completed filming on the indie THE MULBERRY TREE
in Providence, Rhode Island
AND
Begins rehearsals in October for the Frank Wildhorn musical
BONNIE AND CLYDE
at The La Jolla Playhouse
from November 20th to December 20th
AND
Films coming in 2010 EDGE OF DARKNESS with Mel Gibson
AND
13
with Jason Statham and Ray Winstone
NANCY LEMENAGER
as "Lady/Lord Capulet" in ROMEO AND JULIET
at the Virginia Stage Company
October 18th - November 8th
MALCOLM GETS
in a new play by Morris Panych entitled VIGIL
a 2-character play with Helen Stenborg
previews September 20th at the DR2 Theater
at Union Square
JOHN ROTHMAN
rehearsing THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST as "Chausible"
at Baltimore Center Stage
runs October 14th - November 8th
ARMAND SCHULTZ
as "Doc Gibbs"
in OUR TOWN
starting 8/18 at Barrow Street Theatre
WELKER WHITE
shooting EAT, PRAY, LOVE - playing Julia Roberts' divorce attorney!
AND
finished MORNING GLORY with Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford
ANTOINETTE LAVECCHIA
in October 2009 opens in her one-woman show for open-ended run:
HOW TO BE A GOOD ITALIAN DAUGHTER (In Spite of Myself)
directed by Ted Sod
@ Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (first preview is coming on October 3rd)
38 Commerce Street (Off 7th Avenue, 1 block south of Bleecker)
New York NY 10014
Tix can be bought at:
http://jonesstreetproductions.com/ OR Telecharge.com OR call 800-432-7250
WENDY VANDENHEUVEL
appears in Brad Coley's film THE UNDESERVED with fellow member FRANK WOOD
screened at the IFC movie theater and premiered on the pay per view IFC channel. Watch the youtube trailer link and see the IFC films information link listed below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md3qrX4o-uU
http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/the-undeserved
GERRY BECKER
will be on the road all year with the broadway tour of
SOUTH PACIFIC
playing "Captain Brackett"
MAULIK PANCHOLY
returns to his recurring role of "Jonathan" on NBC's 30 ROCK
episodes begin airing in October
AND
in THE HAPPY SAD by Ken Urban
directed by Trip Cullman
AND
continuing his recurring role on Showtime's WEEDS
LEEANNE HUTCHISON
appears in the upcoming feature film ONE FALL
in a supporting role opposite Dominic Fumusa & Jim McCaffrey
AND
just completed a workshop of THE ODYSSEY PROJECT
directed by Jake Whitlen for The Internationalists
PETER RINI
as "Commander Harbison"
in the SOUTH PACIFIC national tour
opens in San Francisco
CYNTHIA DARLOW
will be standing by for the role of "Grandma" in
BILLY ELLIOT
CHING VALDES-ARAN
is in the second episode of
NURSE JACKIE
opposite Edie Falco
BETSY AIDEM
is touring SEVEN
AND
doing an SPF at the Public this summer called TENDER
SAIDAH ARRIKA EKULONA
will perform OTHELLO directed by Peter Sellars, with Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz
in NYC Sept 9 - October 4 at NYU's Skirball Center
AND
can be seen in THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3 in movie theatres everywhere
GORDANA RASOVICH
recurring role on GUIDING LIGHT
AND
A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY Denver Center Theatre
AND
BELL BOOK AND CANDLE at Bay Street
POLLY ADAMS
was in a featured role in WE PEDAL UPHILL a Roland Tec film
premiered in NYC last spring
GILBERT CRUZ
in a national commercial for Bank of America and a Morgan Stanley print
JASON BUTLER HARNER
on 8/15 takes over from David Cromer as the "stage manager"
in the Barrow St. Theater production of OUR TOWN
AND
can be seen in THE IRISHMAN
AND
is in THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE with Bobby Cannavale and Sarah Paulson
AND
is in THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3
ALEXANDRA NEIL
is in DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS
AND
in TWELVE -- playing the mother of a psychopath
MARY BACON
was an irate mom of a sexually abused teen on LAW AND ORDER CRIMINAL INTENT
KARL BURY
is in DUPLICITY
AND
also in SUGAR
Sony Pictures Classics (Sundance 2008)
JACK KOENIG
is standing by for David Hyde Pierce in MTC's production of
ACCENT ON YOUTH
ANGEL DESAI
appeared on THE ELEVENTH HOUR on CBS
AND
is in KINGS
AND
will be "Sophie" in two later episodes of DOLLHOUSE on FOX
HENRY STROZIER
recently reappeared on DAMAGES
AND
narrates the trailer for CORALINE
AND
received a nice award from Audiophile Magazine
PETER GERETY
will be recurring as "Dennis York"
in ABC's BROTHERS AND SISTERS
beginning in September
AND
is Johnny Depp's lawyer "Louis Piquett" in
PUBLIC ENEMIES directed by Michael Mann
JULIA MOTYKA
in CROSSEYE a short film written and directed by Hall Powell
and
an indie called THE KINDERGARTEN SHUFFLE
MAGGIE LACEY
in an episode of
LAW AND ORDER
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