Actor Jeff Hiller Gives Back with FREE Acting Masterclass for Staten Island/Wagner College Community

Television and theater actor Jeff Hiller will lead a free acting masterclass on Sunday, February 28th sponsored by the non-for-profit group BROADWAY SINGS FOR PRIDE (www.BroadwaySingsForPride.com) and Sound of Port Richmond on Staten Island. This special masterclass will take place at Wagner College at 2:00pm-3:30pm. The event is primarily open to Sound of Port RIchmond and Wagner College alumni.

Jeff Hiller (known for his roles in Guiding Light, Ugly Betty, 30 Rock, & Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson) will focus on creating meaningful characters within scenes using improvisation, and techniques of storytelling that can help make a performer a stronger. The class is intended to help performers at all different skill levels. The goal is to make people comfortable using improvisation and to learn different techniques that can help strengthen their performances.

BROADWAY SINGS FOR PRIDE, in their 5th year, we have been honored by Wagner College (Citizen Alum Award 2015 Honoree), Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival's 2015 Non-Profit Organization All-Star Award, Tyler Clementi Foundation's The Upstander Legacy Honoree Host Committee Member, and a four-time nominee for "Most Valuable Campaign" & "Most Valuable Organizer" from the New Organizing Institute. At the core, Broadway Sings for Pride works with Broadway performers to educate the public, raise awareness of the needs of LGBTQ youth, and support these young people so that they may reach their full potential. It achieves these goals by staging concerts and events that bring to light the challenges faced by these individuals, using the funds raised from these programs to aid LGBTQ youth and their families either directly or through supporting like-minded service organizations. We have performed at Couture Fashion Week (twice), Staten Island Yankees Richmond County Bank Ballpark, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Splash Club, Bamboo 52, TADA! Youth Theater, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York City, The TownHouse Bar of New York, & Barry's Bootcamp, etc. Proceeds from our pride shows benefit worthy LGBT organizations that are truly making a difference in people's lives. Launched in June 2011, this non-profit grew out of the tragic suicides within the gay community, and we have received support from Neil Patrick Harris, Channing Tatum, Bryan Cranston, Carol Channing, Kathy Griffin, LeAnn Rimes, Bernadette Peters, Nathan Lane, Joy Behar, Wendy Williams and many others.

More information: http://broadwaysingsforpride.com or Facebook: Broadway Sings for Pride. Sound of Port Richmond a group sponsored by Wagner College and Staten Island community partners such as Staten Island Arts and Project Hospitality. Members of this theater group are primarily community members with little theater experience who have a passion for the arts who focus on unifying the community. In collaboration Staten Island residents, and non for profits, Sound of Port Richmond uses theater to deepen relationships with their neighbors, reflect on social issues happening in the community, and create meaningful artistic projects.

Jeff Hiller starting performing improv with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre since 2001. He has appeared in various television series, including Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell, The McCarthys, Guiding Light, Ugly Betty, 30 Rock, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Psych, and Community. He was well-received for his performance as John Quincy Adams in the Broadway rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Hiller is openly gay and was founder of the all-gay improv troupe Jeff is an actor and comedian often seen at the UCB Theatre in NY and LA. NY Theatre: Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, Love's Labours Lost, Lady, Be Good!, Silence. Regional: "Up Here", "Emmett Otters Jugband Christmas", "Bright Star", "Lil Abner" Film: "Ghost Town", "Morning Glory", "Adam", "The Little Tin Man". TV: "30 Rock", "L&O:CI", "Psych", "Community", "Hotwives", "The McCarthy's", "Impstor", "Go On", "Partners", Etc."Neely O'Hara". Jeff just finished performing in "Up Here", the new American musical from Bobby and Kristen Anderson Lopez. ("Frozen").