Blackwell & Bell Launch New VINEYARD MASTERS Workshop Series, 1/9

The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) will kick off a brand new series, VINEYARD MASTERS - master classes with leading Vineyard Theatre artists - on Sunday, January 9, 2011 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a "DIE VAMPIRE, DIE! WORKSHOP" conducted by the actress Susan Blackwell and actor and Tony-nominated writer Hunter Bell, both stars of the musical [title of show], which was given its world-premiere at the Vineyard in 2006 prior to its Broadway transfer in 2008.

The "DIE VAMPIRE, DIE! WORKSHOP" is the first of three VINEYARD MASTERS classes on tap for January at the Vineyard. On Saturday, January 29 at 3:30, Kathleen Chalfant will conduct a master class entitled "ACTING PRACTICUM WITH Kathleen Chalfant" followed on Monday, January 31 at 6:30pm by "ACTING THE SONG - VOCAL PERFORMANCE WITH Judy Kuhn." Ms. Chalfant has appeared at the Vineyard in TRUE HISTORY & REAL ADVENTURES and FAITH HEALER, while Judy Kuhn has appeared at the Vineyard in the musicals DREAM TRUE and the Obie Award-winning ELI'S COMIN.

The VINEYARD MASTERS on January 9 marks a return engagement for the "DIE VAMPIRE, DIE! WORKSHOP": Ms. Blackwell offered the class to great success at the Vineyard Theatre on January 2, 2010. The " DIE VAMPIRE, DIE! WORKSHOP " is based on the [title of show] show-stopping number, "Die Vampire, Die!" -- performed by Ms. Blackwell in the original Vineyard Theatre and Broadway cast. In that musical number, it is explained that "a vampire is defined as any person, thought or feeling that stands between you and your creative self-expression." During the 4-hour workshop, Ms. Blackwell and Mr. Bell will work with participants to identify and nurture their creative ideas.

In addition to [title of show], Susan Blackwell has appeared in SPEECH AND DEBATE, ANON, Working Title, VILNA'S GOT A GOLEM and THE HEIDI CHRONICLES. TV appearances include "The Sopranos," "Third Watch," "All My Children" and various "Law & Orders." Films include "PS: I Love You," "Margot at the Wedding," "Bun Bun," "Changing Lanes" and "Night Int." She is a co-creator of the New Wondertwins, where she performed at such venues as Dixon Place, Caroline's Comedy Club and the HBO Workspace in L.A. She has created and performed original material for many projects, including the [title of show] show, The 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards, the Actors' Fund 125th Anniversary Gala and the Avant-Garde-Arama series at P.S. 122.

Hunter Bell earned an OBIE Award and a 2009 Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical for [title of show]. Other credits include the books for SILENCE! THE MUSICAL, BELLOBRATION! (Ringling Bros. circus), VILLAINS TONIGHT! (Disney Cruise Lines) and new works at the O'Neill Center, PS 122, and the Manhattan Theatre Source. He is co-creator of the web series the [title of show] show, and is currently creating a new half/hour sitcom for ABC television and working on the upcoming show AND NOW THIS IS HAPPENING premiering spring of 2011 at the Vineyard Theatre. As an actor, he has performed on Broadway, off Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre, York Theatre, and Carnegie Hall and around the country at numerous regional theaters including the St. Louis Rep, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, North Shore Music Theatre, The MUNY, Dallas Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland Playhouse, Stages St. Louis, ALLIANCE THEATRE, Coconut Grove Playhouse, and the Paper Mill Playhouse, as well as on television and in the films Goodbye Baby, and Men Who Stare at Goats. Hunter is a graduate of Woodward Academy, a distinguished alumnus of Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts, an honorary inductee to the Yale Drama, and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, Actors Equity, SAG/AFTRA, and the Writers Guild of America.

Judy Kuhn has been nominated for the Tony Award for her performances in the original Broadway production of LES MISERABLES, along with the musical CHESS. Her other Broadway credits include THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, TWO SHAKESPEAREAN ACTORS, SHE LOVES ME and the revival of LES MISERABLES. Her Off-Broadway and regional theatre credits include the title role in THE BALLAD OF LITTLE JO at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, AS THOUSANDS CHEER, STRIKE UP THE BAND, THE GLASS MENAGERIES and MARTIN GUERRE. She appeared in the musical SUNSET BOULEVARD in the musical's pre-Broadway tryout in Los Angeles. Ms. Kuhn sang the title role in the animated Disney film "Pocahontas." She has released two solo albums: "Just in Time: Judy Kuhn Sings Jule Styne" and "Serious Playground - The Songs of Laura Nyro."

Kathleen Chalfant was nominated for the Tony Award for her performance in ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENIUM APPROACHES. She earned much critical acclaim for her unforgettable performance in Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play WIT, winning the Outer Critics, Drama Desk, Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards. She won a second Obie for her performance in Alan Bennett's TALKING HEADS. She performed in the documentary feature film "The People Speak" that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries and speeches of everyday Americans.

Vineyard Theatre is the recipient of the Tony Award for the musical AVENUE Q and continues as producer of the musical's current production at New World Stages in New York. The Vineyard has also produced the musical [title of show] on Broadway, along with the musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. One of the nation's leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to new plays and musicals and bold programming, The Vineyard debuted the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN and Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE. The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works and developed innovative educational collaborations. Recent productions include Tarell Alvin McCraney's acclaimed WIG OUT!, A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo, the world premiere engagement of the musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson, and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, the world premiere of Adam Rapp's THE METAL CHILDREN and (along with Playwrights Horizons) the new musical THE BURNT PART BOYS by Mariana Elder, Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller, directed by Joe Calarco. The Vineyard most recently presented the acclaimed world-premiere of Will Eno's play MIDDLETOWN.

Douglas Aibel is Artistic Director of Vineyard Theatre; Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell is Executive Director.

Admission to "DIE VAMPIRE, DIE! WORKSHOP" is $100. Reservations can be made online at www.vineyardtheatre.org or at the Vineyard Theatre box office (108 E. 15 St.) from 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.

Additional information about "ACTING THE SONG - VOCAL PERFORMANCE WITH Judy Kuhn" and "ACTING PRACTICUM WITH Kathleen Chalfant"will be announced shortly..

For more information on the Vineyard Theatre please visit www.vineyardtheatre.org or call the box office at 212 353 0303.