The prominent and provocative racial justice scholar Cornel West is a well-known intellectual, but less well known is his love of Chekhov, the writings of Stella Adler and the theater. Dr. West values arts education for disadvantaged youth and is an aficionado of legendary acting teacher Stella Adler. As part of the Harold Clurman Festival of the Arts, Dr. West will participate in a panel discussion about the relationship between access to arts education and economic and social justice. The panel will follow a performance of Julius Caesar by students of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting's Outreach Division.
WHO:Dr. Cornel West is a teacher, philosopher, civil rights activist, author and thought leader. His regular appearances on news programs on HBO, CNN and PBS are lively and thought-provoking.
Dr. West will be joined in the discussion by Tom Oppenheim, the grandson of Stella Adler and the Artistic Director and President of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. The panel will be moderated by Colin Greer, President of the New World Foundation. Student-actors from the Outreach Division's Adler Youth Group, a free after-school program for New York City youth who lack access to the arts in their public schools, will also participate.
WHAT: Stella Adler Studio's 7th Annual Harold Clurman Festival of the Arts bringsartists and activists together to consider the relationship of art and social activism. It runs now to October 1st. This year's theme is 'On Fairness and Forgiveness.'
WHEN: The Cornel West panel will take place TONIGHT, September 24, 2012, 8:30PM
WHERE: The Stella Adler Studio of Acting, 31 West 27th, Floor 3, New York, NY 10001
WHY: Cornel West is a firm believer in the value of arts education for economically disadvantaged young people as well as a devotee of legendary acting teacher Stella Adler and her lectures on America's greatest playwrights. This panel, inspired by Tom Oppenheim's book "The Muses Go To School," is an opportunity for Dr. West to discuss the relationship between art, social activism and economic justice.