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 nominee’s 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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