The renowned Stella Adler Studio
of Acting was packed to the rafters last night for the opening night
of the Inaugural Harold Clurman Festival of the Arts.
For ninety
minutes, Ronald Rand, the creator and star of Let It Be Art! Harold Clurman's
Life of Passion!, captivated the crowd with his critically acclaimed
portrait of the Group Theater Founder, who was also a director, producer, teacher and critic. Following Rand's performance,
the audience moved to a larger theater for a discussion of Clurman's
influence on actors, moderated by Daily News critic Howard Kissel. Moderator Daily News critic Howard Kissel
was eloquent in his praise of Clurman and his respect for actors, helping
them bring out their best. Studio co-chairman Roy Scheider and four time Tony Award-winner
Zoe Caldwell drew big laughs with their tales of doing Long Day's
Journey into Night.
Also involved in the sold-out festivities were Lois Smith, Elaine Stritch, Ellen Adler (daughter
of Stella and vice-chairman of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting), esteemed
critic and historian Steven Scheuer, writer/social critic Alida
Brill, award winning playwright Ellen M. Violett, filmmakers
Brenda Siemer and Rick Friedberg, Louise Hirschfeld, actors
Holland Taylor, Cynthia Adler, Judd Jones
and Frank West.
The four-day festival of plays,
concerts, poetry readings and symposia featuring world-class artists
runs through May 8. For more information contact Stella Adler Studio of Acting at www.stellaadler.com.
Photos by Wendy Cassidy

Alida Brill and Joan Micklin Silver

Brenda Siemer and husband
Roy Scheider, Co-Chairman

Four-time Tony Award-winner
Zoe Caldwell
Carlos Caldart, Adler Outreach Program Director

Critic Alida Brill, Nina Capelli, Development Director, and Host
Holland Taylor
Elaine Stritch
Studio Vice-Chairman
Ellen Adler, Honoree Steven Scheuer and actor Ronald Rand

Harold Clurman Spirit Award honoree, Steven Scheuer and actor Ronald Rand
Holland Taylor and award winning-writer Ellen M. Violett
Holland Taylor,
Elaine Stritch and Tom Oppenheim, Artistic Director Stella Adler Studio of Acting

J. Steven White, Stella Adler Studio of Acting Faculty

Louise Hirschfeld and Lionel Friedberg, Filmmaker

Performer
Judd Jones