Tony Winners Christian Borle, Lisa Kron & More Set for Drama League's Fall 2015 UP CLOSE Series

The Drama League has announced their Fall 2015 Schedule of events and workshops at the Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas) in Tribeca.

Highlights include intimate evenings with 2015 Tony Award winners Christian Borle (Something Rotten!), and Lisa Kron (Fun Home), and Julie White (Airline Highway), in a conversation hosted by Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford (You Can't Take It With You), her co-star in the upcoming Broadway production of Sylvia. The Drama League will also host a once-in-a-lifetime workshop for actors with the acclaimed British ensemble Frantic Assembly, who created the stunning movement and choreography for the Tony-winning play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; a conversation with Tony Award nominee Max Von Essen (An American in Paris); and the return of DirectorFest, the annual short play festival featuring the work of America's most exciting new directors.

This fall, The Drama League will also offer over fifty special performances on Broadway and Off-Broadway, as well as open rehearsals, artist residencies, play readings, excursions to London's West End, and more.

To reserve seats for any of the events in the Fall Series, please visit dramaleague.org.

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UP CLOSE SERIES

Up Close: Christian Borle
Moderated by Rick Elice
Wednesday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Premium Seating: $45
General Public: $25
League Members: $15

Christian Borle takes a break from his Tony winning turn as William Shakespeare in this season's smash hit Something Rotten! to join us for a fun filled evening. Mr. Borle's career spans stage and screen, having previously starred in the hit NBC musical drama Smash and the fantastically inventive Peter and the Starcatcher, for which he won his first Tony. Other Broadway acting credits include Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins, Spamalot, and more. He joins us to discuss his prolific career and what it takes to pull off being the rock star Bard eight performances a week. This special event will be moderated by Peter and the Starcatcher playwright, Tony Award nominee Rick Elice.

Up Close: Max von Essen
Monday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Premium Seating: $30
General Public: $20
Drama League Members: $12

Max von Essen is currently appearing as Henri Baurel in the award-winning An American in Paris, a role which earned him a 2015 Tony Award Nomination for best performance by an actor in a featured role. He previously appeared on Broadway in the 2012 revival of Evita as Agustin Magaldi. His other credits include the closing company of the original Les Miserables, performing the role of Enjolras in the first revival of Les Miserables, and making his debut in the first revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. Join us as he discusses his career, current and upcoming projects!

Up Close: Lisa Kron
Wednesday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Premium Seating: $30
General Public: $20
Drama League Members: $12

Lisa Kron is a Tony winning writer and performer. This year, she and her writing partner Jeanine Tesori made history as the very first all-female writing teams to win the Tony Award for a musical score, with their groundbreaking show and Best Musical Tony winner, Fun Home. Lisa's last outing on Broadway was her acclaimed autobiographical work, Well, which she wrote, and for which she was nominated for a performance Tony in the starring role. She was most recently seen on the New York stage as Mrs. Mi-Tzu and Mrs. Yang in the Foundry Theater's acclaimed production of Good Person of Szechuan. She will join us to discuss her 30-year career in New York, and what will follow the smash success of Fun Home.

Up Close: Julie White
Moderated by Annaleigh Ashford
Monday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Premium Seating: $45
General Public: $25
League Members: $15

The hilarious Julie White returns to Broadway this season in the canine comedy, Sylvia. Her other Broadway credits include The Little Dog Laughed, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play, Airline Highway, Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike, and Ann. She is also beloved for her characters on screen, including TV's "Grace Under Fire", "Nurse Jackie" and the "Transformers" film franhise. She will join us to discuss her extensive career on stage and screen and discuss her upcoming projects. This event will be moderated by her puppy co-star in Sylvia, Tony Award winner, Annaleigh Ashford.

Drama League DirectorFest 2015
December 12, 13, 14, 15, 2015, 7:00 PM
December 13, 2015, 2:00 PM*
(*This performance is followed by "The Directors Roundtable" discussion with the directors)
TBG Theatre
312 West 36th Street
Tickets: $18

The Drama League presents its annual festival showcasing the work of the country's most exciting emerging directors. This year's four short plays (which play together in a full-length evening) will be directed by Sarah Elizabeth Wansley, Annie Tippe, Estefanía Fadul and Brandon Woolf. For tickets, visit www.dramaleague.org/events.

WORKSHOPS

Frantic Assembly:
Devising and Physicality
Two-Day Workshop:
October 17 & 18 from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
General Public: $399
League Members: $299
SDC, AEA, SAG-AFTRA Members: $299

Award-winning UK theatre company Frantic Assembly are Movement Directors on Broadway's striking, Tony Award-winning The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Formed in 1994 by Scott Graham and Olivier Award-winner Steven Hoggett, Frantic Assembly is celebrated for its physical and collaborative approach to making thrilling, energetic and unforgettable theatre, such as 2011's Beautiful Burnout, seen in New York at St. Ann's Warehouse.

Join Frantic Assembly's Associate Director, Neil Bettles for a two day workshop, Devising and Physicality. Explore the unique Frantic Method of creating physical material in this highly energetic and creative workshop. Performers, devisers, directors and choreographers will learn how to devise their own movement-led work, quickly and simply through Frantic Assembly's Building Blocks approach.

National Arts Month:
International Arts Programs and Exchanges
in partnership with The Foundation Center
moderated by Drama League Executive Director Gabriel Shanks
Thursday, October 15 - 11:00 a.m.
General Public/Drama League Members: Free

Celebrating National Arts Month, The Drama League partners with The Foundation Center for this fascinating panel discussion on theater around the globe. Artists and non-artists can explore theater in a global context: what's it like to work with other artists around the world? What is the role of Americans who want to create theater in a global context? Panels will field questions about funding for international projects, the political landscape in other regions, and the challenges brought by different languages, histories and customs. Bring an open mind and a pad to take notes from our speakers who have lived this major undertaking.

Yoga for the Creative Mind
with Laura Brandel
Drop-In Classes:
Every Monday and Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
$12 per class
$60 for a 6-class pass

Yoga for the Creative Mind guides students in safely releasing tension to achieve mind-body connection and a stronger sense of self. Tension in body, mind or soul is detrimental for the performer. It can block artistic impulses, disrupt focus, and derail the creative process. Learn from and alongside fellow artists in this 75-minute practice, which will include meditation, breathing techniques, and asana specifically tailored for the needs and concerns of the students present. Relax, release and recharge with yoga guru and theater director, Laura Brandel.

Beyond Kickstarter: Fundraise Your Next Project
with Toby Banks
Sunday, September 12 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
General Public: $40
League Members: $30

Spend the day with fundraising veteran Toby Banks as she unveils the secrets of professional fundraising. Learn how to put your best foot forward, win grants and turn one-time donors into loyal supporters. Explore strategies that you can implement to help your organization grow to its full potential. Topics will include donor relations, fundraising planning, the grant process - from prospect research through grant writing and reporting - and how to best utilize your existing resources.

The Directors Project: Application Workshop
Moderated by Drama League Artistic Director Roger T. Danforth
Monday November 30th, 6:00-8:00pm
OR Saturday January 9th, 2:00-4:00
All participants: $10

After three decades as the preeminent career development and training program for professional theater directors, The Drama League Directors Project Fellowship program has never seen more competition for its coveted places. In this informative, insightful workshop, Artistic Director Roger T. Danforth offers prospective applicants a rare glimpse into the criteria used for selecting this year's fellowship recipients, and offers personal advice for crafting a strong, competitive application for the Directors Project Fellowships.

2015 Drama League /Williamstown Theatre Festival Directing Commision:

Once Five Years Pass: A New Musical
By Frederico García Lorca. Adapted and directed by Dustin Wills.
Music by Daniel Schlosberg
Monday November 9th, 4pm
General Public: Free

Dustin Wills, the first-ever recipient of The Drama League/Williamstown Theatre Festival Directing Commission, presents a work-in-progress showing of his new musical, Once Five Years Pass. Adapted by the 1931 play by Federico García Lorca, this touching, meditative piece has been the inspiration for ballets by Merce Cunningham and Paul Bowles, among others. Now Wills, a two-time recipient of a Princess Grace Foundation Award for Theatre, helms this new musical interpretation, collaborating with composer Daniel Schlosberg. The result is a timeless fable about passion and the tests that love often requires.

The Drama League Theater Center, a new, state-of-the-art facility, brings world-class theater artists, emerging talents, and New York theatergoers together under one roof. The Center is located on the lobby level of the historic former AT&T Building at 32 Avenue of the Americas, in the heart of TriBeCa's arts district.

To become a member of The League, our exclusive club for theatergoers, please call (212) 244-9494 or visit www.dramaleague.org/theleague.