National Theatre of the Deaf Announces 2004 Actors Academy

From: NTD - Jul 26, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2004

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Pamela Holden
Director of Media
(860) 236-4193, Ext. 3015 voice/TTY

CONNECTICUT'S OWN NATIONAL THEATRE OF THE DEAF ANNOUNCES 2004 ACTORS ACADEMY, AUGUST 9-22

WEST HARTFORD, CT -The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD), with great anticipation, presents its annual summer professional training program for Deaf and hearing artists, The Actors Academy at the beautiful Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Cromwell, CT.

In the winter of 2004, NTD made a successful move to its current home, the campus of the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, CT. The National Theatre of the Deaf is celebrating its 37th Anniversary Season this year, after much acclaimed work in cultural-changing performances that have received international awards and attention, including the prestigious Tony Award.

The Actor's Academy serves as the foundation of NTD's mission to seek, train, and hire new artists. For the past 37 years, the NTD has stimulated imaginations, ignited careers, and provided Deaf actors with the skills they need to artistically contribute the area of performance arts through the Actors Academy.

The academy will take place from August 9 - 22nd and will engage students, master artists, and teachers from around the country. This year welcomes Nicole Capri, Frank Dattolo, Robert DeMayo, Ruthie Jordan, Raymond Luczak, Shanny Mow, Paul Savas, Stephen Smith, and Vikee Waltrip to the teaching cadre. Classes will include acting, directing lab play writing, script analysis, improvisation, how to prepare for auditions, movement/dance, workshop preparation, and stage combat.

To continue this critical part of its mission, the Academy will concentrate its training on the children's theatre wing of NTD, the Little Theatre of the Deaf. On an annual basis, the Little Theatre of the Deaf performs to over 75,000 children and adults each year.

Shanny Mow, Director of upcoming Shows, Poetry In Motion and Fingers Around The World and Director of the Actors Academy, is thrilled to be back at the Actor's Academy.

"As a director and writer as well as an actor myself, I welcome the opportunity to teach acting and character development. Sign language is a performing language. The Academy is an ideal time to experiment with material and audition and prepare actors for the 2004-2005 season."

Joy Bates, Coordinator of the 2004 Actors Academy, can't wait for the classes to begin.

"It is always exciting to see how people will work together under fairly intense circumstances. I am sure we will have no problem finding our diamonds in the rough."

Dr. Paul L.Winters, NTD's Executive Director adds, "It will be exciting for everyone, participants and instructors, to have that much talent in one room for two weeks."

The 2004 Actors Academy is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

EDITORS NOTE: Interview requests or location stories should be directed to Pamela Holden, Director of Media, 860-236-4193, ext. 3015.

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