Queens Theatre Offers Training For Early-Career Actors With Disabilities

Queens Theatre is excited to announce its new training program specifically for early-career Deaf and disabled actors with its Theatre For All Initiative. The two-week, free program runs Sept. 16 to Sept. 28, and will include workshops on Acting for the Camera, Acting for the Stage, Movement, Voice, Improv, Auditioning, and Commercials. The program will culminate with a showcase performance for an invited industry audience.

Queens Theatre has brought together an excellent team of instructors, including Vincent D'Onofrio (Netflix's "Daredevil," "Jurassic World," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Full Metal Jacket"), Brigid Brady (Actor/Singer/Teacher, Broadway - The Phantom of the Opera, "Gossip Girl"), Christine Bruno (Actor/Teaching Artist/Consultant; member, The Actors Studio; Law & Order), Pat Shay (Improviser and faculty member, The PIT), Stephen DeAngelis (Producer/Casting Director), and Liz Eckert (Actor and Designated Linklater Voice Teacher). Additional instructors to be announced.

All workshops and events will take place at Queens Theatre, located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The program is offered as part of Queens Theatre's Theatre For All Initiative to advance the inclusion of people with disabilities in the performing arts, with support from New York Community Trust.

"Our goal with this program is to support skill-building and to help actors cultivate relationships with their fellow students and with industry professionals," Queens Theatre Executive Director Taryn Sacramone said. "We are excited to spotlight these talented early- career actors and expand our own artistic family in the process."

Actors will be selected through an application process. Queens Theatre anticipates an inaugural cohort of 25 actors. TFA will offer both daytime and evening sessions.

Gregg Mozgala, TFA Advisor, Actor and Founding Artistic Director of The Apothetae?a company dedicated to producing works that explore the disabled experience?believes such a program is long overdue.

"If I could go back in time to the start of my career, I would want to be part of Theatre For All. Representation matters. Not only on the stage and screen, but in training environments like the one Queens Theatre has so painstakingly and passionately created," Mozgala said. "Queens Theatre understands that truly inclusive theater is about reflecting the experience of ALL of us."

HOW TO APPLY

Application deadline: Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Identify as a person with a disability
• Be 18 years or older
• Recent graduate, and/or
• Actively pursuing a career as a professional actor

To Apply, please submit the following:

• Resume
• Headshot
• Cover letter (1 page only) that includes the following:
• Identify your disability (This information will be kept confidential and used only for classification purposes)
• Describe your career path to date, including training history; and
• How you hope to use this training to further your professional goals.

Submission process:

DEADLINE: Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 by 5:00pm.

Submit materials (resume, headshot, cover letter) via email to TFAapplication@queenstheatre.org

In the subject line, write [YOUR NAME] - TFA Training Application

Students will be selected and notified of acceptance no later than Friday, Aug. 31.

Once selected, students will be asked to pay a $100 deposit, which will be returned in full upon completion of the program. Queens Theatre is unable to provide housing or transportation. Queens Theatre is a wheelchair accessible venue.

Please direct all questions to TFAapplication@queenstheatre.org