Alan Alda Leads Ten Chimneys' Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Master Class, Now thru 7/28

Ten Chimneys Foundation announces its 2013 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Master Class with Academy Award nominee, six time Golden Globe winner, and five time Emmy Award winner Alan Alda serving as the Master Teacher. From today, July 21 - 28, Mr. Alda will focus on spontaneity on stage, and will lead ten accomplished theatre actors in a master class and immersion experience on the grounds and within the inspirational rooms of Ten Chimneys, the National Historic Landmark estate of Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in Genesee Depot, Wisconsin.

"The prospect of working with talented, experienced actors as we explore spontaneity is exciting. That mysteriously compelling quality of life happening before our eyes is the goal, and I hope to learn as much as they do. This is going to be fun."
- Alan Alda, 2013 Master Teacher

Since its inception in 2009, the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, conceived and executed by Ten Chimneys Foundation, has brought the nation's top regional theatre actors to Ten Chimneys to work with a world-renowned Master Teacher. Past Master Teachers include Lynn Redgrave, Olympia Dukakis, Joel Grey, and renowned Shakespearean Barry Edelstein.

In consultation with a distinguished board of national advisors and in collaboration with top regional theatres from around the country, Ten Chimneys Foundation selected ten accomplished actors from the nominees submitted by this year's cast of award-winning Partner Theatres. These exceptional ten actors, followed by their nominating theatres, have been selected as 2013 Lunt-Fontanne Fellows:

DAVID Alan Anderson - Indiana Repertory Theatre (Indianapolis, IN)
David Breitbarth - Asolo Repertory Theatre (Sarasota, FL)
Kandis Chappell - The Old Globe (San Diego, CA)
George Dvorsky - Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn, NJ)
ROBIN GOODRIN NORDLI- Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Ashland, OR)
Sharon Lawrence - The Pasadena Playhouse (Pasadena, CA)
Kathleen McCall - Denver Center Theatre Company (Denver, CO)
Dee Nelson- Huntington Theatre Company (Boston, MA)
Mark Nelson - Cleveland Play House (Cleveland, OH)
ANDREW PHILPOT - PCPA Theaterfest (Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts)(Santa Maria, CA)

Ten Chimneys, the celebrated Wisconsin estate lovingly created by Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, served as a home and haven for the Lunts and for the artistic leaders of their era. The "best of the best" retreated to Ten Chimneys to relax, to plan, to be nourished, and to nurture lasting relationships, all within the gracious spaces the Lunts created. Hailed as one of the most inspirational historic sites in the country, this National Historic Landmark estate is now open to the public as a world-class house museum and a national resource for American theatre. It has quickly become THE place for celebrated actors to gather, to be inspired, and to grow in the craft to which they have devoted their lives.

"The Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program is a life-altering opportunity for the top theatre actors to expand their creative and mentoring abilities and to give back to their respective communities. We are excited about the opportunity to blend our 2013 selected Fellows with the talents and mentorship of the acclaimed Alan Alda. As the Lunts offered their estate to the artistic leaders of their time, Ten Chimneys Foundation continues to provide inspirational and professional growth for the theatre greats of this generation, celebrating the importance of lasting relationships and fostering a community built on mentorship." - Randy Bryant, Ten Chimneys Foundation President and CEO

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne were widely known for their dedication to the next generation of actors, counting among their protégés some of the most famous actors in the world. The Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program continues that tradition of mentorship at Ten Chimney by offering our nation's accomplished actors the rare and deeply needed opportunity to grow artistically, hone their craft, renew their passion for their art form, deepen their commitment to mentorship, and form a national community of Lunt-Fontanne Fellows, all under the direction of a renowned Master Teacher. This historic context, and the inherent inspiration of Ten Chimneys, is why past Master Teachers and Fellows have raved about this program that has quickly gained a national reputation.

Once chosen as Lunt-Fontanne Fellows, actors travel from across the country to Ten Chimneys for a week of intensive master classes, retreating to the estate the Lunts created to be the perfect working haven for themselves and for their circle of friends who comprised the "best of the best" in American theatre. The Lunts' impact on American theatre was groundbreaking; the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program is in place, in part, to honor and to carry on this legendary tradition of excellence.

At the close of the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, guests are invited to attend two public programs. On Friday, July 26, Ten Chimneys Foundation will present A Conversation with Alan Alda, an intimate evening during which Mr. Alda will share stories about his life and his career. Those in attendance will also have the unique opportunity to participate in a question and answer period at the evening's end. On Saturday, July 27, Mr. Alda and the ten 2013 Lunt-Fontanne Fellows will take the stage together for a Concluding Presentation, a rare look at the work they explored during their week at Ten Chimneys, as well as a one-night-only program highlighting the remarkable actors chosen as 2013 Lunt-Fontanne Fellows. More information, including ticket prices and program details, can be found at www.tenchimneys.org, or by calling (262) 968-4110. Additional information available at www.tenchimneys.org/fellowship.

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