Dennis Staroselsky Named Stella Adler Studio of Acting's Harold Clurman Lab Theater's 2014 Playwright-in-Residence

The Harold Clurman Playwrights Division, a program of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, has chosen actor/writer Dennis Staroselsky as it's Playwright-in-Residence for 2014. Previous residents include Halley Feiffer, Mia Chung, Anton Dudley, Christina Gorman, Zayd Dohrn, and Peter Nickowitz. Over seventy writers submitted applications and full-length plays for consideration in the merit-based annual search.

Dennis Staroselsky is an actor whose credits include Pre- Broadway: The Mambo Kings and Off Broadway: An Early History of Fire (The New Group-World premiere by David Rabe). Regionally, he has appeared as an actor at the Huntington Theater, A.R.T, and Dallas Theatre Center among others. On Screen appearances include It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Nurse Jackie, Law & Order, White Collar and The Michael J. Fox Show among others. His first penned play, Just About Cured, received a public staged reading by The New Group in the Fall 2013. His newest piece is titled Mourning Found me Again loosely based on the tragic events that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the issue of gun control. He holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University, and an MA from NYU in Educational Theater.

The Playwrights Division was created to provide support to emerging playwrights. Each residency is unique and writers work with the Artistic Director Tom Oppenheim to build a residency that will be most beneficial to them and their process. For one year the resident writer has the opportunity to make use of the studio's resources to advance their craft, spend time on works-in-progress or develop new work. The "playwright's choice" model has resulted in a number of projects including new works receiving a showcase production from the studio's Harold Clurman Lab Theater or being paired with a creative team to collectively conceive and design a new play. Resident playwrights receive a modest stipend and have access to studio space, members of the Clurman Lab Theatre Company and student actors for readings and workshops.

Said Artistic Director Tom Oppenheim, "Stella Adler's reverence for playwrights and the written word was central to her technique. Harold Clurman's deeply sensitive and nuanced criticism nurtured a generation of writers. In accordance with our tradition's legendary and deep regard for the playwright, the Studio is proud to support and nurture gifted writers. We are honored to have the opportunity to support Dennis Staroselsky as well as the writers whose work we will hear in the First Breathe New Play Reading Series."

The Harold Clurman Playwrights Division will present the second annual First Breath New Play Reading Series to support additional promising writers who were finalists in the residency search. During the week of March 24, 2014, five finalists will be featured in the reading series: Dan Bernitt, Adam Kraar Dan O'Neil, Crystal Skillman, and Mark Chrisler.

THE HAROLD CLURMAN LABORATORY THEATER COMPANY is the Stella Adler Studio of Acting's professional theater company. The Lab aims to produce socially relevant theater committed to the standards and ideals set out by Stella Adler, Harold Clurman and the Group Theater. Select production history: Mercy Killers by Michael Milligan (Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013, Fringe First Award), Lebensraum by Israel Horovitz (off-Broadway), Long Way Go Down by Zayd Dohrn (East Coast premiere, Ovation Award Nominee), Our Town by Thornton Wilder, What Shall I Give My Children? by Don K. Williams (world premiere), Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The Lab recently made its Los Angeles debut with Clifford Odets' Waiting for Lefty at the Art of Acting Studio. About The Stella Adler Studio of Acting

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting is an acting school based in New York City founded by actress and teacher Stella Adler in 1949. Adler founded the Studio on her belief in the seriousness of her art. Adler and the school have trained many of the brilliant actors of our time. The Stella Adler Studio of Acting is a nonprofit organization, which trains over 500 actors annually. The Studio also presents public lectures, poetry readings, concerts, theater performances, dance theater events and an annual arts festival. www.stellaadler.com.