Photo Coverage: Harold Clurman Festival Opens

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