Michael Chekhov Association Names New Managing Director And First-Ever Artistic Director

Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA), the not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the artistic vision and technique of actor/director/author Michael Chekhov, today announced the appointment of Thomas Morrissey as its Managing Director. He will work alongside former Managing Director, Jessica Cerullo who now steps into the newly created role of MICHA's Artistic Director. Together, they will manage the day-to day operations of MICHA, produce the annual International Summer Workshop and Festival at Connecticut College in June, and seek out other ways to extend and preserve the legacy of Michael Chekhov and the MICHA.

"Tom is a consummate theater professional who brings extensive experience in the theatrical realm," says Joanna Merlin, founder and president, MICHA. "We're confident that, working in tandem with Jessica-who has long been the backbone of MICHA-Tom will be a wonderful addition to this thriving and passionate community. It's truly a thrill to have both Tom and Jessica as partners as MICHA heads into our 20th anniversary celebrations."

Tom Morrisey brings over 25 years of nonprofit management experience to his new role at MICHA. He is the Producing Artistic Director with Theatre Now New York, a nonprofit that creates and develops new plays and musicals, and produces the annual SOUND BITES Festival of 10-minute musicals each spring in NYC. Tom is a faculty member at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy where he teaches advanced musical theatre scene study and audition technique.

Jessica Cerullo has worked in partnership with MICHA founder Joanna Merlin since its founding in 1999, first as Managing Director and now in as the first-ever Artistic Director of the organization. Jessica is the editor of the expanded edition of Michael Chekhov's Lessons for Teachers, Michael Chekhov: Critical Issues, Reflections, Dreams and the english translation of Chekhov's original story A Tale About Lies and How Swiftly They Spread Across the Earth. Together with Fern Sloan, she wrote The MICHA Workbook, a practical guide for those studying the Chekhov technique. A performer and teacher, Ms Cerullo trained at MICHA and at the Moscow Art Theater. Jessica's creative work is often socially or civically focused. Her original performance work has been produced by Performance Space 122, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Seattle's Studio Current and The Tin Shop. In 2016, she collaborated with Sojourn Theatre to write and direct a bilingual, Eastern Washington-based production of their play, How To End Poverty in 90 Minutes (with 99 people you may or may not know). She earned her MFA in contemporary performance from Naropa University. Jessica is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.

ABOUT MICHA

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019, MICHA is a not-for-profit association that celebrates and preserves Michael Chekhov's artistic vision and legacy. The organization provides a community for performers, teachers, scholars and directors in the form of workshops and events. It researches approaches to teaching that utilize Michael Chekhov's technique, and publishes primary and secondary source materials. MICHA continues to grow its archive, and support individuals engaged in practice as research as it relates to Chekhov's psycho-physical approach and its many forms of application. As well, the organization is committed to providing opportunities to artists interested in comprehensive teacher training in the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique. www.michaelchekhov.org

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