DINA MERRILL ACADEMY SPRING GALA honors alumna

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS
ACADEMY SPRING GALA
honors alumna
DINA MERRILL
Roger Croucher & Dina Merrill
Academy alumna Dina Merrill was honored
at a gala tribute in the Grand Ballroom
at The Pierre hotel on Sunday, April 17.
Proceeds of $140,000 from the event
and evening’s auction are being used to
establish a Dina Merrill Scholarship Fund
at both the NYC and LA branches of the
Academy. Miss Merrill was presented
with the Franklin Haven Sargent Award by
President Roger Croucher for her lifetime
contributions to the dramatic arts at
the elegant black tie affair. Co-Chaired
by Academy Trustee Claudia Faris and
Broadway producer Nelle Nugent, the
event was attended by some of Broadway’s
brightest stars and leading members of
the entertainment, finance and diplomatic
communities, including producer Roger
Berlind, Lehman Brothers’ Chairman
Richard Fuld and CFO Joseph Gregory,
United Nations’ British Ambassador
Emyr and Lady Jones-Parry and Austrian
Ambassador and Mrs. Gerhard Phanzelter.
Produced by George C. White and directed
by Donald Saddler with Music Direction by
Michael Dansicker, the evening’s program
paid tribute through film clips and delightful
entertainment to Miss Merrill’s many
accomplishments in film, stage and television.
Christine Ebersole (N 1975), Penny
Fuller, Dennis Haysbert (C 1977), George
S. Irving, Robert Creighton (N 1992),
Karen Ziemba and Master of Ceremonies
Richard Kind, star of Broadway’s The
Producers, celebrated and serenaded
Miss Merrill. Congressman Rob Simons of
Connecticut presented Miss Merrill with a
Congressional Citation for her work as an
entertainer with the USO during WWII, a
period in Miss Merrill’s acting career filled
with special memories of troops and
adventurous plane travel.
SHOWN ABOVE: Dina Merrill with students from NYC
and LA campuses (Left to Right) Paula Burton,
Stephanie Dulewicz, Meagan Monahan, Malcolm
Metoyer, Dina Merrill, Alex Benjamin, Sarah Hellickson
Nelle Nugent & Claudia Faris
[continued from the cover]
Los Angeles-based, Academy Trustee Felix Grossman
spearheaded efforts to bring a group of LA Company
students from the Hollywood campus to the Tribute.
These students, along with benefit volunteer members
of the NY Company, had the opportunity to meet Miss
Merrill and participate in the festivities. Marguerite Artura,
President of the LA Division of the Academy, and Director
of Instruction, Madonna Young, were also among the
guests who flew in for the event.
AMERICADA
2
SPRING 2005
Christine Ebersole
An important part of the evening’s festivities was the
celebration of the 120th Anniversary of the Academy.
To commemorate the occasion, Mayor Michael Bloomberg
declared April 17, 2005, American Academy of
Dramatic Arts Day in New York City. Katherine Oliver,
Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and
Broadcasting, presented the Proclamation to the Academy
on behalf of Mayor Bloomberg.
Among the exciting items given by benefit auction donors
for the event were a seven day cruise on The Sea Cloud, a
trip to Thailand, a walk-on on Fox Network’s 24, a London
theatre trip featuring the musical Guys and Dolls and an
invitation to the cast party. Shown below are auction prize
winner Gail Coleman and Ewan McGregor, star of Guys and
Dolls, at the London cast party.
Penny Fuller, Richard Kind, Dina Merrill, Dennis Haysbert, Karen Ziemba
letter FROM THE
PRESIDENT
Dear Alumni and Friends,
As you will note, Americada is filled with exciting news about
the many activities that occurred on both of our campuses
during the past year—our enchanting spring gala, arresting plays
and performances, distinguished guest artists, and continued
improvements to our theatres and classrooms. Our talented
Academy community has worked together toward common
goals and set especially high benchmarks for the future.
This past fall, alumni came together in Hollywood and New York
to commemorate our anniversaries at festive events in honor
of the occasion—our 120th anniversary in New York and our
30th in California—to meet with classmates, reminisce and view
the improvements to our campuses. Our faculties and staff were
delighted to share this time with each of you, and on behalf of
all of us, I express our appreciation to you for coming. To those
of you unable to attend, we look forward to seeing you at future
reunions or at anytime you are in the “neighborhoods”.
For the past 18 years, we have been privileged to have Robert
E. Wankel as our Board Chairman and fortunate as well that
Samuel Davis has become our new Chairman. Their continued
devotion to the Academy and constant support is an inspiration
to all of us.
With Best Wishes,
Ewan McGregor & Gail Coleman
Roger Croucher
AADA President
3
AADA New York Class of 2005
GRADS
April 25th at the Majestic Theatre in New York
Oscar-winning actress Ellen Burstyn delivered the
principal address at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre before
eighty-one Academy graduates, their families and friends.
Ms. Burstyn is widely known for her long and remarkable
career in theatre, film and television. In 1974, she won the
Oscar for Best Actress and the British Award (BAFTA) in
the same category for her memorable performance in
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. That same year, Ms.
Burstyn made history by also winning a Tony Award for
her work in Same Time, Next Year.
The occasion was especially memorable for the Academy
and its President. For the first time in Academy history, a
President’s son, Sebastian Croucher, was a member of
the graduating class. Board Chairman Robert E. Wankel
presided over the New York Academy’s 120th graduation
ceremony, Alumni Association Chairman Richard Pierce
(N 1977) welcomed the latest Academy graduates to the
Alumni Association and Student Representative Justin
Mark Winton (2005) spoke on behalf of his classmates.
shared his experiences of a lifelong career in the theatre,
the rewards of perseverance and his personal challenge of
taking remedial speech lessons to attend the Academy’s
Second Year.
May 15th a the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA
Board Vice-Chairman William Blinn (N 1957) welcomed a
record number of 112 graduates, their families, and friends
to the Academy’s 29th graduation ceremony in California
and introduced Academy President Roger Croucher with
the tribute, “It could not have been done without you.”
President Croucher noted the large number of students
from around the world, including Europe, Asia and South
America, in the graduating class. He then read out all
sixteen countries by name, plus the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico.
In concluding his remarks President Croucher recognized
Marguerite Artura, the newly appointed President of the
Los Angeles Division of the Academy. Her previous
title was Vice President, Managing Director. President
Croucher congratulated Ms. Artura and everyone gave
her a convivial round of applause.
Award presentations were made by Academy alumni
Victoria Arbiter (N 1997), Nelson Lee (N 2000) and
Trustees Gregory Gerard and Carol Nadell. Closing
remarks were given by a previous recipient of the
Academy’s Jehlinger Award, Yusef Bulos (N 1963),
currently appearing on Broadway as the Rabbi in Fiddler
on the Roof. Originally from Amman, Jordan, Mr. Bulos
Madonna Young, Marguerite Artura, William Blinn, Beth Broderick,
Roger Croucher, Gena Rowlands, and Bruce Davison
SPRING 2005
2005
Ellen Burstyn
AMERICADA
Ellen Burstyn and
Gena Rowlands address
AMERICADA
SPRING 2005
4
AADA Los Angeles Class of 2005
(continued from page 3)
The principal address was given by award winning actress
Gena Rowlands (N 1952), an alumna who along with her
husband Academy alumnus John Cassavetes (N 1950)
established an Academy dynasty. It was a special moment
in Miss Rowlands’ life as well as the history of the
Academy. Among the 112 graduates was her grand
daughter Gina Cassavetes, daughter of Nick Cassavetes
(C 1980) and third generation Academy. In her warmly
received remarks, Miss Rowlands spoke of the importance
of holding on to Academy friendships and helping each
other throughout the struggles
ahead to have a career
in the acting profession.
Gena Rowlands
The award presenters included
Beth Broderick (C 1977)
and Trustee Basil Hoffman
(N 1962). The closing speaker
was Bruce Davison, who was
the first actor to be selected
for X-Men and has had a
remarkable career in films.
Lisa-Marie Burnside was the
Student Representative for
the Class of 2005.
ALUMNI REUNIONS CELEBRATE
ANNIVERSARIES IN NYC AND LA
The alumni reunion weekend in New York featured a
Company performance and reception and a gala seated
dinner celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Academy
in New York. The Hollywood campus alumni celebrated
the 30th anniversary of our west coast campus with a
festive buffet dinner/dance, Company performance and
ballgame. All of our alumni who were able to attend these
events enjoyed meeting their classmates and viewing all
of the recent changes to our campuses. The events raised
nearly $10,000 for the Alumni Scholarship Fund.
Alumni Chair Richard Pierce & Roger Croucher – New York
Alumni Angel Parker, Eric Nenninger,
Lindsay Sipple, & Micah Warton - Los Angeles
board SPOTLIGHT
Samuel Davis
Chairman of the Board of Trustees Robert E. Wankel
announced his decision to step down after 18 years
as leader of the Academy’s Board at its May 26, 2005,
meeting in New York City. Mr. Wankel, Executive Vice
President of the Shubert Organization, has been
unstinting in his dedication to the Academy—even
serving as an interim, off-site president for one year
during a presidential search in 1999. His leadership was
instrumental in bringing the Academy through one of the
most complex transitional period in its history—involving
the retirement of a long-term president, the purchase of
the Hollywood campus in 1999, and the year-long search
for a new Academy President. This search successfully
concluded with the hiring of Roger Croucher who has
been with the Academy as president for the past five years.
Remarking upon his tenure, Mr. Wankel expressed his
appreciation to the Academy administration and staff for
their help during his many years as Chairman. He
congratulated the Dina Merrill Tribute chairmen and
producers, the Academy’s Director of Development James
Simon and all those whose efforts made the benefit a
success. On behalf of the Board, he expressed the desire
to revive our benefits as annual events and to include Los
Angeles as a future host city. The Board and the Academy
community are delighted that Mr. Wankel will continue to
serve as a member of the Board, and be available to
provide a smooth transition for the next Chairman.
As a successor to Mr. Wankel, Board Secretary
Samuel Davis was elected as Chairman at the May 26th
meeting. Mr. Davis is the former President and CEO of
The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City where he
was responsible for the acknowledged financial and
managerial turnaround of one of the largest academic
Brian Henson, an award-winning
director, producer, writer, performer
and Co-Chair/Co-Chief Executive
Officer of The Jim Henson Company
was elected to the Academy’s
Board of Trustees on May 26, 2005.
After the untimely death of his
father Jim Henson in 1990, Mr.
Henson took over The Jim Henson
Company and for over ten years
Brian Henson
helped to position it as a leading
family entertainment brand. He has been instrumental in
continuing the Henson legacy of creating groundbreaking
technology through Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Mr.
Henson’s outstanding leadership qualities and experiences
in our field will add a great deal to the expertise and work
of the board. The Jim Henson Company, located in the
historic Charlie Chaplin Studios in Hollywood, has been a
generous neighbor for our Hollywood campus (originally
part of the Chaplin properties prior to being developed as
A&M Records) by providing space in their sound studio for
the campus’ 2000 Gala Opening festivities and the most
recent Alumni Reunion.
TED TULCHIN’S LONDON PRODUCTIONS
Ted Tulchin
Ted Tulchin was one of the
co-producers of Sweeney Todd
in the West End, London, for which
Paul Hegarty was nominated for
“Best Actor in a Musical.” The
production ran at The Whitehall
Theatre before transferring to
the New Ambassadors Theatre.
He is also the Executive Producer
of Guys and Dolls, starring Ewan
McGregor at the Piccadilly Theatre
in the West End.
SPRING 2005
ROBERT E. WANKEL STEPS DOWN AND
SAMUEL DAVIS APPOINTED BOARD CHAIR
BRIAN HENSON JOINS BOARD
5
AMERICADA
Robert E. Wankel
medical centers in the USA. Currently he is President
of Sam Davis & Associates, a firm that focuses on the
management of strategic organizational change in health
care organizations. The firm also provides consultative
services to large scale corporations and smaller companies
including colleges, universities and “think tanks.” Mr. Davis
has taught in his field for many years, and is currently
Clinical Professor at the School of Public Heath at Columbia
University and a Distinguished Service Professor at
The Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He has a B.A. in
Economics from The City College of New York and an
M.S. in Hospital Administration from Columbia University
School of Public Health and Administrative Medicine.
Mr. Davis is an avid kayaker and a former student of
the Academy’s Saturday Program. He has served on
the Academy’s Board of Trustees since 1999.
alumni SPOTTING
Alumni notes for Americada are obtained primarily through research of trade
publications, newspaper clippings and the Internet. Some come directly from
alumni—the preferred method. Please submit your news to americada@ny.aada.org
or to Americada, AADA-New York, 120 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Don’t
forget to include your class year, campus and program. The letters “N” and “C”
preceding a class year designate the New York or California campus. “Eve”, “Sat”
and “Sum” designate the part-time program on the New York campus.
AMERICADA
SPRING 2005
6
Carmen Argenziano (N 1964) is
currently playing Chief Tunney on the
television series Blind Justice. He has
appeared on Crossing Jordan and has
the role of Jacob Carter/Selmak on
Stargate SG-1.
Doris Belack (N 1944) can be seen
in the upcoming feature film Prime
with Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep.
Armand Assante (N 1969) can be
seen in the feature films The Third
Wish, Funny Money, Ennemis Publics,
and Gilgamesh.
Lauren Bacall (N 1941) recently
finished filming both Manderlay
and These Foolish Things for release
in 2005.
Ryan Bachand (N 1999) can be seen
in the feature film Imaginary Heroes
with Sigourney Weaver and Jeff
Daniels.
David Backus (C 2000) had a guest
starring role on the television series
7th Heaven and was in the feature film
Cloud Seven.
Eion Bailey (N 1996) can be seen in
the upcoming feature Life of the Party
and is filming Mount of Olives with F.
Murray Abraham. He recently had a
recurring role on ER.
Joe Bartolotta (N 2004) will be
playing the lead role in the DV feature
Transformations. He can be seen later
this year on stage at the Gene Frankel
Theatre in a John Patrick Shanley
review and has completed an NYU
film One Last Stop.
Eileen Brennan (N 1956) appears in
the films Miss Congeniality 2: Armed
and Fabulous and The Moguls.
Lisa Brescia (N 1991) starred in Evita
at the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport,
Long Island following her Broadway
debut in Aida.
Beth Broderick (C 1977) has completed
work on the feature comedy Tom’s Nu
Heaven and the television mystery
Mystery Woman: Mystery Weekend.
Sheila Brodie-Levin (C 1978) works
as a psychotherapist both in private
practice and in a hospital. She writes,
“I love psychology as a career. Naturally
it will never replace acting.” She has a
son who is a talented musician.
Adrien Brody (N Sat) Just completed
filming King Kong, directed by Peter
Jackson, and will be starring in Truth,
Justice and the American Way with
Diane Lane and Ben Affleck, directed
by Allen Coulter. He recently played an
American soldier in the Sundance film
entry, The Jacket.
Katie Aselton (N 2004) was recently
seen in The Puffy Chair which had its
world premiere at the Sundance Film
Festival.
Hank Azaria (N Sum) plays the
lead character, Dr. Craig Huffstodt, a
troubled psychiatrist, in the television
series, ! Huff, which premiered on
Showtime. In March 2005, he opened
on Broadway in Monty Python’s
Spamalot, a musical adaptation of the
1975 film Monty Python and the Holy
Grail and the recipient of the 2005
Tony Award for best musical.
Incident at Vichy with F. Murray
Abraham. He was admitted to Lifetime
Membership in The Actors’ Studio
following a three-part audition.
Max Casella (N 1986) plays Benny
Fazio in HBO’s The Soprano’s, and
was on stage in A Theatre for a New
Audience’s production of Eduardo de
Filippo’s Souls of Naples.
Kevin Cherry (N 1992) owns two
restaurants in Kill Devil Hills, NC
(Mama Kwan’s and Shuck U raw bar).
He reports, “Everything I learned at
the Academy I have put to use in the
business world when dealing with
banks, customers and lawyers.”
Dawn Cody (C 1991) appeared on
an episode of Cold Case.
Jake Coe (N 2002) played Valentine
in Two Gentlemen of Verona at
Different Stages in Austin, Texas and
was a principal in two music videos,
Divide’s Ask Me to Hush and Brooks
and Dunn’s Red Dirt Road. Both will
be in circulation on MTV2 and CMT
this year.
Edward Bennett-Coles (N 2004)
completed filming the feature Rabbit
Fever with Sienna Guillory, Julien
Rhind-Tutt, Lisa Barbuschia and
Stephanie Powers.
Aisha Coley (N 1983) is a casting
director whose 2005 credits include
Akeelah and the Bee.
Joanne (DeOrto) Conger (C 1985)
appeared in The Laramie Project in
the Seattle area. She also fundraises
for AIDS Housing and Health Care.
Elizabeth Cooke (N 2003) is
appearing in the feature film
No One Gets Out.
Gil Bellows (C 1987)
Gil Bellows (C 1987) has finished
work on the upcoming feature film The
Weather Man along side Nicolas Cage
and Michael Caine. He starred in the
TV mini-series Terminal City as well as
the feature film Keep Your Distance.
Frida Betrani (N 1989) was in the
ABC Family feature School of Life.
Sean Vincent Biggins (N 1991) guest
starred on CSI: NY and is currently at
work on the feature film Mad Cowgirl.
Patrick Blashall (N 1987) resides in
Chicago where he is an ensemble
member of the Lifeline Theatre. He
has performed on stage as Frodo in
the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the
world premier adaptation and has been
nominated for the Joseph Jefferson
Citation for ensemble work for Pistols
for Two and for Strong Poison.
Lucas Blondheim (N 2001) performed
in Alex Lippard’s production of Hecuba
with Kristin Linklater as well as in a
staged reading of Arthur Miller’s
Link Baker (C 1996) can be seen
in the television movies Marker and
Supervolcano.
Graham Beckel (N 1972) completed
work on Man of God with alum Peter
Weller (N 1972) and can be seen this
year in Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain.
Graham Beckel (N 1972)
Jennifer Coolidge (C 1982) is the
voice of Aunt Fanny in the animated
feature Robots and she regularly plays
Joey’s agent on NBC’s Joey.
Adrien Brody (N Sat)
Jenni Brown (C 2004) appeared
as Christmas Past in Glendale
Centre Theatre’s 2004 production
of A Christmas Carol.
Jaclynn Tiffany Brown (N 2003) has
completed work on the feature films
Hitch and Strangers with Candy.
Philip Paul Call (C 1997) wrote,
produced and directed Tangles
and Locks, a two hour television
documentary for the TV ONE network.
It aired on COMCAST and DIRECT TV
in spring 2005.
Nick Cassavetes (C 1980) recently
completed work on the New Line
Cinema feature Alpha Dog. He is set
to begin directing the action movie
Iron Man, based upon the Marvel
Comics superhero.
Kim Cattrall (N 1974) starred in the
Disney feature The Ice Princess, was
Executive Producer and host of HBO’s
Sexual Intelligence, and in January
2005, she began performances at the
Comedy Theatre in London’s West End
in Peter Hall’s production of Whose
Life is it Anyway? She starts work this
spring on Snow Cake, a feature film
that will also star Sigourney Weaver,
Alan Rickman, and Alum Carrie-Ann
Moss (C 1988).
Jennifer Coolidge (C 1982)
Michael Countryman (N 1976) played
the title character in Sam & Lucy at
the Summer Play Festival (SPF) in
New York. He also starred as Mr. Smith
in Ionesco’s The Bald Soprano at the
Atlantic Theatre Company under the
direction of Carl Forsman.
Louie Cowen (N 1990) directed Turkey
Day for the Wilmington Delaware
“Hearts and Minds” film festival for
which he was the recipient of the Best
Short Film Award. It will also be shown
at the Ohio Film Festival. He has
directed and produced two other films:
Safe House and Squirrel Militia.
Angie Creighton (N 2003) has
recently finished filming the feature
film The Producers and is currently in
the Broadway production.
Robert Creighton (N 1992) toured
China in the role of ‘Amos’ in Chicago.
He performed at the Academy’s
tribute to Dina Merrill in the spring of
2005 and is currently on Broadway in
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Randall Dodge (N 1994) recently
appeared as ‘Sergius’ in Arms and the
Man at the Avo Playhouse in Vista,
California.
Jorja Fox (N Eve) can be seen in the
upcoming feature film, Next Exit. She
continues to play Sara Sidle on C.S.I.:
Crime Scene Investigation.
Craig Dudley (N 1966) produced for
Television the 58th Annual Theatre
World Awards.
Elizabeth Franz (N 1962) is
appearing with Hayley Mills in Bird
Sanctuary at the Pittsburgh Public
Theatre directed by Kent Paul.
Julia Duffy (N 1972) recently
reprised her on screen relationship on
Newhart with Peter Scolari for Jason
Alexander’s TV show Listen Up.
Charles Durning (N 1948) plays a
veteran in the upcoming season of
NCIS. This year he can be seen as Tom
Billingsley in Stephen Kings’s
Desperation along with Academy alum
Kelly Overton (N 1999).
Robert Creighton (N 1992)
Diane Delano (C 1990) can be seen
in the upcoming features Death to the
Supermodels and Surf School, both of
which were written and directed by
Joel Silverman.
Paolo de Paola’s (N 1993) original
one-act play Donald’s Affair is being
produced this spring at the Player’s
Theatre in Montreal, Canada. He is in
the cast along with fellow Academy
alum Franco Montesano (N 1993).
William Devane (N 1961) stars in the
acclaimed TV series 24.
David Eigenberg (N 1986) appears as
the vulnerable Reggie in Love, Ludlow
which premiered at the Sundance Film
Festival. In addition to his former role
as Steve Brady on HBO’s acclaimed
Sex and the City, he has the
distinction of being part of the “most
watched series premiere on basic
cable” in the role of Carl Morrison in
Francis Ford Coppolla’s production of
The 4400.
Danny DeVito (N 1966) can be seen
in the feature films: Jump Shot; The
OH in Ohio; Relative Strangers; Be
Cool; Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom
Dancing and Charm School and The
Nature of Enchantment. His production
company Jersey Films will produce
Freedom Writers starring Hilary Swank.
Illeana Douglas (N 1983) can be
seen in the feature film Alchemy
which premiered at the Tribeca Film
Festival. She was a participant in the
Revlon Run-Walk for Women, an event
that raises funds to fight Breast and
Ovarian Cancer.
Beth Glover (N 1989) recently
appeared in The Fall at the Looking
Glass Theatre and in Counsellor-atLaw opposite John Rubinstein at the
Bank Street Theatre both in NYC.
Anne Hathaway (N Sat) was a 2005
Tony Award presenter and will star as
Jane Austen in the feature film
Becoming Jane for release in 2006.
Dennis Haysbert (C 1977) who
participated in the Academy’s April
tribute to Dina Merrill can be seen as
the President on the Fox series 24.
This year he can also be seen in the
television mini-series Empire and on
the big screen in Jarhead, directed by
Sam Mendes. He is slated to star in
the ABC series The Unit.
Siho Ellsmore (N 2000) recently
appeared in Antigone with the
National Asian-American Theatre
Company in NYC.
Dennis Haysbert (C 1977)
William Fichtner (N 1979) can be
seen in the feature films Ultraviolet,
Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Longest Yard,
The Moguls, The Chumscrubber and
Nine Lives. He also appeared in the
television mini-series Empire Falls
with Paul Newman, Ed Harris and
Helen Hunt.
Aaron Fili (N 1996) was recently in
the Flea Theatre’s Production of
Margo Veil and he was in the One Solo
Arts Festival in NYC last summer.
Danny Devito (N 1966)
Troy Garity (N 1995) will co-star in
Lake City with Cissy Spacek for
producer Mark Johnson, and is
currently starring in the film
Milwaukee, Minnesota.
Iva Hasperger (C 1998) will be seen
in the feature film Cloud Seven with
alum David Backus (C 2000).
Christina Fontanelli (N 1977)
performed in a special commemoration and celebration concert for
the holiday season in the Merkin
Concert Hall at the Kaufman center
New York. Her successful career in the
operatic world includes world-wide
appearances.
John Fondrisi (N 1997) has an art
gallery in Southampton which was
used for screenings during the
Hampton Film Festival.
Chris Foreman (N 2001) made a
guest appearance on Cold Case on CBS.
Nicole Forester (C 1993) made
a guest appearance on Two and a
Half Men.
Dennis Fowler (N 1982) is a featured
comedian on Comedy Central’s
Premium Blend and is an on-air
political humorist for ABC’s World
News Now.
Currie Graham (N 1986)
Currie Graham (N 1986) played the
“by the book lieutenant” Thomas Bale
on NYPD Blue, emerging as the
character you love to hate. He has
appeared on 24, Law & Order, Monk,
C.S.I., Judging Amy, and The Practice.
In early 2005 he was seen as a bad
cop opposite Gabriel Bryne, Laurence
Fishburne and Ethan Hawke in the
film Assault on Precinct 13.
Jennifer M. Granholm (C 1980)
continues to be in the spotlight in her
role as the Governor of Michigan.
Bruce Greenwood (N 1981) stars as
Nolan Walsh in the new movie Racing
Stripes. His other film credits include:
Double Jeopardy, Thirteen Days,
I Robot and Being Julia. He has
recently completed work on Capote
with Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The
World’s Fastest Indian with Anthony
Hopkins, and is presently in
production on Antarctica with Paul
Walker. His TV film Saving Milly aired
on CBS this spring.
Eric Hanson (N 1996) performed the
comedy Cloud Nine at The Gallery
Players in Brooklyn which will stage
his original piece The Sex of Our Lives
during their 8th Annual Black Box
New Play series in the summer of
2005.
7
SPRING 2005
Rana (Fellgraff) Davis (N 1995)
recently made her Los Angeles stage
debut in Jesus’ Kid Brother. She is
currently at work on an album No
Regrets.
Joe Garcia (C 1984) and Tracey
Powell (C 1985) were in a production
of Paint your Wagon at the Geffen
Playhouse.
David Hartman (N 1961) former host
of Good Morning, America is the host
for the broadcasts of the North
Carolina Symphony on WUNC and the
PBS Walking Tours Series.
AMERICADA
Matthew Crowley (N 1997)
performed the role of Nathan Leopold
in Never the Sinner at the Generic
Theatre in Norfolk, VA.
Christine Ebersole (N 1975) is
currently playing M’Lynn in the
Broadway Premiere of Robert
Harling’s Steel Magnolia’s and is
scheduled to co-star in Grey Gardens:
A New Musical at Playwrights
Horizons.
Sarah Fraunfelder (N 2002) was last
seen in Theatre Faction’s production
of God is a DJ. She was also on stage
in NYC in 7 Stories with Academy
alum Nelson Lee (N 2000).
Emily Hardy (C 2003) can be seen
as Petty Officer Carolyn Figgis on
NCIS on CBS.
Yohanna Idha Hedlund (N 2004) is
a featured extra in Hitch starring Will
Smith, has played a supporting role in
Robert Lawton’s Sex & Sushi at The
Sundance Film Festival, and played
the lead in the Swedish Film Molly in
the World, which premiered in March.
Florence Henderson (N 1953) has
completed work on the feature film
Venus & Vegas and the television
special The Brady Bunch Cast Back
in Hawaii.
Robin Higgins (N 1988) has
performed Off-Broadway and in
regional theatre, movies, and
commercials. She can also be
heard singing the National Anthem
at Chicago White Sox games and
currently serves as the Arts
Administrator at the City of Jackson,
FL Recreation and Parks Department.
Florence Henderson (N 1953)
Groomsmen. Onstage he was part
of the 24 Hours Plays – a benefit
performance in which plays are
written, rehearsed and performed
within 24 hours.
Gregory Liosi (N 1992) is currently
the Arts Director for the Hackensack,
NJ, Cultural Arts Center and the Arts
Director for the City where he produces
summer concerts and Shakespeare in
the Park. In addition, he performs in a
Sketch Comedy troupe “Bathing with
Toasters” that performs in Manhattan,
most recently at the NY Improv.
Judd Hirsch (N Eve)
Judd Hirsch (N Eve) is co-starring in
the television series Numb3rs with Rob
Morrow.
AMERICADA
SPRING 2005
8
Alice Hirson (N 1948) appears in the
feature film The Lost.
Mike Irby (N 1995) was recently on
an episode of C.S.I.: New York.
Sylvia Jefferies (N 1995) made a TV
guest appearance on One Tree Hill and
has completed work on the feature film
End of the Spear.
Bryce Johnson (C 1997) has begun
work on the television series Still Life.
Beth Kennedy Jones (N 1973) is the
President and co-Founder of Aunahil,
Inc. an organization that supports
and promotes the moral and ethical
values through the various forms of
entertainment. Aunahil has produced
over 70 custom-designed, theatrical
productions and events.
Heather Kafka (C 1992) can be
seen in the “Night, Mother” episode
of C.S.I.: New York playing Ophelia
Dicharia. She also worked on the
movies A Scanner Darkly with Keanu
Reeves, 3001 and The Wendell Baker
Story. She is currently filming an
untitled Douglas McGrath movie.
Teresa Kelsey (N 1993) was in a
recent production of Missouri Legend
at the Metropolitan Playhouse in NYC.
Sally Kirkland (N 1961) has completed
work on the feature film Spiritual
Warriors.
Tim Koch (N 1983) is Executive
Director of Production & Operations for
MGM Mirage Events in Las Vegas, NV.
Elias Koteas (N 1983) can be seen
in the feature films The Big Empty
and The Greatest Game Ever Played.
Suzanne Krull (C 1986) appeared on
television in Strong Medicine, That’s So
Raven, Phil of the Future and Charmed.
On the big screen she can be seen in
Kids in America.
Lois Livingston McMillen (N 1987)
has had her paintings featured in the
Mattatuck Museum. She studied fine
arts at Boston University and earned a
degree at the Parsons School of Design
in New York.
Nona Lloyd (N 1979) is currently
working on The Color Purple as
Creative Development Executive
at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.
Graham Ludlow (C 1982) is the
executive producer of the feature
film The Condemned.
Deirdre Madigan (N 1985) makes her
Broadway debut in Elaine May’s After
the Night and the Music at the Biltmore
Theatre this spring.
Shelley Malil (N 1987) has completed
work on the feature films Mr. Fix It, El
Cortes, The Forty Year-Old Virgin with
Academy alum Paul Rudd (N 1991) and
is to begin work on an untitled Albert
Brooks project.
Brian Markinson (N 1981) regularly
plays Police Chief Bill Jacobs in the
Canadian Television series Da Vinci’s
Inquest. He will be seen later this year
in the television mini-series The Tommy
Douglas Story.
Paula Markowicz (N 1986) will be
performing with Rex Smith at the
Big E in Springfield, MA, this fall.
Kerin McCue (N 1979) uses many of
the techniques learned at AADA in a
successful radio and voice-over career.
David Oxendine (N 1987) just
completed his PhD in Psychology
and is currently an Assistant Professor
at the University of North Carolina
in Pembroke. He is also the Artistic
Director of the Outdoor Drama “Strike
at the Wind!” a position he has enjoyed
for 13 seasons.
Kelly Overton (N 1999) appeared
in Without a Trace, The Practice and
The Division. She was the lead in her
first feature film Breaking Dawn which
premiered at the Hollywood Film
Festival. She can also be seen in The
Ring 2, the Hallmark movie Wedding
Daze with John Laroquette, and
Stephen King’s mini-series Desperation.
Tony Nappo (N 1991) completed filming
George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead
with Dennis Hopper, is featured in Tilt
on ESPN and Kojak with Ving Rhames.
Robert Redford (N 1957) was the
Executive Producer of the Focus
Features film, The Motorcycle Diaries,
and will be producing and starring in
an untitled project about the life of
Jackie Robinson in which he will play
manager Branch Rickey.
Don Rickles (N 1948) is busy working
on The Catch, a pilot for an ABC
comedy series.
Nathalie (Dorval) Peccoux (N 1989)
has been teaching at the French
acting school, Ecole Florent, and guest
starring on TV series such as Boulevard
Du Palamais, TF1’s Avocats et Associes,
and France 2’s Sauvetage. She has also
appeared on stage in Les Legendes de
la Foret Vienoise.
Michael Pitt (N Sat) is starring in the
film Delirious opposite Steve Buscemi
and The Hawk is Dying with Paul
Giamatti.
Gary Poole’s (N 1951) original art
work was featured in a show titled,
“The Whimsical Art of Gary Poole”
in Spartanburg, SC.
Don Rickles (N 1948)
Amy Rilling (N 2000) has made guest
appearances on the NBC prime-time TV
comedy series Scrubs.
Eric Roberts (N 1977) can be seen
in the feature films Comedy Hell and
Sledge: The Untold story.
Nicola Riske’s (N 1998) theatre
company, Shalimar Productions, is
participating in the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival with their original play Stirring,
written and directed by Academy alum
Shoni Currier (N 1998) and previously
performed in the NYC Fringe Festival.
Among the cast is P.J. Dempsey
(N 1997).
Katherine Moennig (N 1998) costarred in the feature Invitation to
a Suicide. She is a regular on the
Showtime series The L Word.
Matthew Lillard (C 1990) completed
work on the feature Bickford
Schmeckler’s Cool Ideas and is
currently in production on The
Tom Poston (N 1947)
Chelsea (Dixson) Papineau (C 1999)
is living in Sudbury, Ontario, where
she is actively involved with Theatre
Cambrian and Murder by Appointment.
Stephen Milton (N 1998) has
completed work on the feature films
The Game of Their Lives, Man About
Town with Ben Affleck, and is currently
filming the thriller The Wrong Element.
Patrick Scott Lewis (N 2004) played
Paul on NBC’s American Dreams and
just finished shooting his first feature
film Graveyard.
Tom Poston (N 1947) is featured in
NBC’s new sitcom Committed in which
he plays a quirky old clown who lives
in a closet.
Puy Navarro (N 2001) starred in
Women Slightly on the Edge at the
American Globe Theatre in Times
Square. It was Directed by Robert
Castle and based on the text by
Felix Sabroso.
Judson Mills (N 1991) appeared
on the “Nothing to Lose” episode
of C.S.I.: Miami.
Carrie-Anne Moss (C 1988) will star in
Mission Impossible: 3 with Tom Cruise.
She can also be seen in the features
The Chumscrubber, Sledge: The Untold
Story with fellow alum Eric Roberts
(N 1977), and alongside Alec Baldwin
in Mimi’s First Time. She has recently
begun production of Snow Cake with
alum Kim Cattrall (N 1974).
John Lenartz (N 1989) played
Joseph K. in Kafka’s The Trial for
Phoenix Theatre Ensemble in NYC.
This is Tony’s second season on the
Canadian television series This is
Wonderland. He will next be featured
in John Singleton’s film Four Brothers,
and can be seen onstage in PERVERT
at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
in Toronto.
Blake Robbins (N 1993) has appeared
on Television’s Medium and Crossing
Jordan.
Katherine Moennig (N 1998)
Marion Posnock Plotkin (N 1945)
reports that the lessons she learned at
the Academy with Jehlinger, D’Angelo,
Straus and Loeb have served her well
in a lifetime of teaching, acting, and
directing in community and regional
theatre.
Martin Robinson (N 1976) is the
Puppeteer for Audrey II the man
eating Venus Fly Trap in the Little
Shop of Horrors coming to the
Tennessee Performing Arts Centre
(TPAC) in ’05 following the end of its
Broadway revival run. He refers to
Audrey II as his lifelong project of love.
He has received Emmy Awards for his
performances as Snuffleupagus, Telly
Monster, Slimey the Worm and the Yip
Yip Martians of Sesame Street.
Norma D. Rodriguez (C 1984) was
recognized by the VH1 Song of the
Year songwriting contest by placing
2nd place in the Jazz category for her
song “Union #6”. Norma has also
contributed her vocal talents to the
soundtrack for The Whole Ten Yards.
Lisa Romain (N 1993) has completed
a run of the Richard Cumming’s play
Soccer Moms from Hell with TSI/Studio
in NYC.
Joe Rose (N 1969) starred in the short
film Earl & Puppy, and was one of five
actors nominated for best actor in the
Rome International Film Festival in
Rome, GA. Earl & Puppy was also
nominated for Best American Short
Narrative Film.
Paul Rudd (C 1991) can be seen in
The Baxters, Tennis, Anyone…?, The
Forty Year-Old Virgin and The OH in
Ohio with Academy alum Danny DeVito
(N 1966).
Annabella Sciorra (N 1980) completed
work on Find me Guilty, a feature film
starring Vin Diesel, written and directed
by Sydney Lumet. She can also be seen
in the feature Twelve and Holding and
as a regular on the television series
Law and Order: Criminal Intent opposite
Chris Noth.
Adam Scott (C 1993) was recently
seen as Johnny Meyer in the
blockbuster The Aviator. He will star
opposite Sarah Michelle Geller in an
untitled supernatural thriller from
Focus Features. He also has a role
in Furst Films First Snow and will
next be seen in the films Art School
Confidential and Monster-In-Law with
Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda.
Lisa Safran (C 1982) performed as
a stand up comic for several years
and then discovered that she is much
happier teaching elementary school
(much easier crowd) and composing
music in her spare time.
Matthew Sharp (N 1989) is appearing
in the upcoming feature film Daltry
Calhoun.
Ryan Turner (C 2000) appeared in an
indie film in 2004 entitled For the Want
of a Queen.
Mark Shunock (N 1998) can be seen
in the upcoming feature Lethal Eviction.
James Tunstall (N 1988) has
appeared Off-Broadway in The Pirates
of Penzance and HMS Pinafore with
The Light Opera of Manhattan and in
many regional theatre productions,
including I Love You, You’re Perfect,
Now Change, The Boys Next Door,
and The Exonerated.
Mary Jo Slater (N 1968) is a casting
director whose recent credits include
the television mini-series Elvis, the
feature film The Courier and the
untitled Star Trek prequel.
Keith Randolph Smith (N 1986) has
recently completed a run of August
Wilson’s Fences at the Bristol Riverside
Theatre, where he played the role of
Troy Maxon.
Phillip J. Smith (N 2003) appeared
on stage at the Katie Murphy
Ampitheatre @ FIT in Plantanos and
Collard Greens.
Kathi Souci (N 1976) is a top voiceover
actor; Kanga in Pooh’s Heffalump
Movie; Star Wars: Knights of the Old
Republic II-The Sith Lords; roles of Phil,
Lil and Betty in feature film, Rugrats:
The Movie.
French Stewart (C 1985) appeared in
Wedding Daze with Academy alum Kelly
Overton (N 1999). This year he can be
seen as Reuben Kinkaid in The New
Partridge Family and will be starring
in the television series Misconception.
Margaret Strom (N 1967) has been
working steadily in and around the
Washington, DC area in industrials,
commercials, books on tape, and
business theatre.
Don Sammann (C 1992) is living
in Seattle, WA, where he has done
Shakespeare in the Park, TV pilots
and musical theatre productions.
Eric Szmanda (C 1996) is Greg
Sanders on CBS’s C.S.I. and will be
“in the field” and not stuck in the
crime lab next season.
Xavier Santiago (N 2003) is
performing in Frank Cossa’s The
Queen’s Night at the Sargent Theatre
under the direction of Andre Dion.
Colleen (Wheeler) Summa (N 2002)
completed a feature film A Day Off
with Academy alum Tzahi Moskovitz
(N 1999) and has also worked on
The Vagina Monologues with Love
Creek Productions here in NY.
Charlie Sara (N 1991) has signed on
in a supporting role in the upcoming
feature film Checkmate scheduled
for pre-production in spring 2005.
The film will feature Sam Robards,
Alison Eastwood and Angelica Torn.
Stephen Bogart is slated to be one
of the producers. Mr. Sara can also be
seen in Mattie Fresno and the Holoflux
Universe.
John Savage (N 1969) appears in
the feature films I Believe in America,
Aimee Price, and Iowa.
Hester Schell (N 1974) is currently
working as a puppeteer with the
international touring company
Lunatique Fanatastique which
performed at the San Francisco
Fringe Festival.
Craig Schmidt (N 2001) had guest
appearances on CSI, Scrubs, Deadwood,
Angel and American Dreams.
Oren Schrijver (N 2000) is currently
residing in the Netherlands where he
has been involved in several theatrical
projects including Saturday Night Fever,
Adam Scott (C 1993)
Steven Sendor (N 1995) appeared
on an episode of Law & Order: Special
Victims Unit. He is scheduled to
produce Peter Weller’s Loose Ends at
an Off-Broadway theatre in fall 2005.
Arsen Serobian (C 2005) was the
recipient of the 2004 Outstanding
Achievement in Dance Performance
for a Male at the 14th annual Lester
Horton Dance Awards. Mr. Serobian is
a principal dancer with the Media City
Ballet in Burbank, CA.
Nicole Tocantinins (N 1987) can be
seen as Tess in the feature film Happy
Endings and is also the film’s music
supervisor.
Alexis Trboyevich (N 1999) had a lead
role in the Shivah/Proper production
in the 2004 NYC Fringe Festival.
Jason Troy (C 1980) was seen in
two festival entry films in Vancouver
British Columbia Potato Man and Out
Lisa Seward (N 1983) is the Founder
and Artistic Director of The Yonge
Street Players Theatre in Toronto,
Canada. The school for comedy and
improvisation recently received the
YTV award for Comedy. She also runs
TEAMWORK, a branch of the theatre
that deals with facilitating conflict
resolution on the work place.
Gayle Turner (N 1976) performed
in Constant Star at the Laguana
Playhouse in California and the
Merrimack Theatre in Lowell, Mass.
The cast and production were the
recipients of five “Barrymore Awards”
after performing at the Delaware
Theatre Company.
Josh Ubaldi (N 2003) appeared in
Frank Cossa’s The Queen’s Knight at
the Sargent Theatre under the
direction of Andre Dion.
Scott Valentine (N 1980) appeared
in an episode of CSI: NY.
Achilles Vatrikas (N 1997) lives in
Cambridge, MA., and has performed
in Take Me Out at the Boston Center
for the Arts in spring 2005.
Leo (Torres) Vilar (N 1997) produced
and directed Jose Rivera’s Cloud
Tectonics in his home of Lima, Peru.
He can be seen playing a leading role
in Eva del Eden, a period soap opera,
which is airing on Peruvian television
and is scheduled to be seen on Spanish
television in NYC in the near future.
Andrew Villaverde (C 1997) will work
with the Texas Shakespeare Festival as
their fight choreographer, marking his
4th season with TSF.
M. Emmett Walsh (N 1961) was the
voice of Woodzie in Racing Stripes.
He also starred in the acclaimed
London revival of Buried Child at the
National Theatre along with Elizabeth
Franz (N 1962).
Missy Yager (N 1990) plays Claire
Ellison on Boston Public on FOX TV.
Flynn Welles (C 1990) played the roll
of Ms. Turner a home economics
teacher in Brownish and recently costarred in a Webster University short
film titled, Things Buried. Set in the
early 1800’s outside of Defiance, MO in
the small community that Daniel Boone
established, Flynn writes, “This was one
of the most breathtaking experiences
for me while making a film, as the film
was shot at the Daniel Boone home and
for a short time it was mine.”
Peter Weller (N 1972) completed work
on Man of God with Academy alum
Graham Beckel (N 1972). In 2005 he
will be seen in the TV movie The
Poseidon Adventure and the feature
films The Hard Easy and Undiscovered.
Timm Sharp (N 1999) had several
Guest Starring roles as Andy in the
HBO series Six Feet Under and played
the lead in a pilot television comedy Early
Jay Wilkison (N 2000) appears
regularly as Riley Colson on One Life
to Live.
Timm Sharp (N 1999)
9
SPRING 2005
Morten Ruda (N 1994) had a guest
role on Chez Martin, a Norwegian
sitcom written by Academy Alum Bjarni
Thorsson (N 1994). He has appeared
as Jacob in La Cage aux Folles at Oslo
New Theatre and as Daddy Warbucks in
Annie and Annie Warbucks at Sentrum
Scene in the feature film Neighbours.
Home and Mama Mia! as well as roles
on Daily Series on Dutch National TV.
Black Gay and Proud. He has been a
continuing performer on stage and a
motivational speaker in many countries
around the world.
AMERICADA
Gena Rowlands (N 1952) stars in The
Skeleton Key with Jodi Foster and is
currently filming The Book of Joe and
Paris, je t’aime.
Annabella Sciorra (N 1980)
Bird along with Renee Taylor (N 1952).
He has completed work on the feature
film Friends with Money starring
Jennifer Aniston.
Join Our Cast of Supporters!
The 2004-2005 year has been a successful one for
fundraising at the Academy with nearly 350 individual
donors having contributed over $500,000 to annual,
capital or benefit-related giving. We are grateful for
the support of our alumni, parents and friends who give
so generously each year to help support the Academy’s
endeavors. We particularly appreciate the more than
100 first-time donors to the Academy. Your gift is an
important reinforcement for the faculty and staff who
work hard every day to make the best possible
conservatory program for our students.
AMERICADA
SPRING 2005
10
If you have not made a gift to the Academy, we would
welcome your participation and hope you will consider
becoming a part of an enduring legacy that has
stretched for more than 120 years. If you have given
to the Academy in the past, we continue to count on
your generosity and hope you will take this opportunity
to make renew your support.
2004-2005 Donors to the Academy
This list reflects gifts and pledges received from July 1, 2004 – June 15, 2005.
The Board of Trustees, students, faculty and staff at the Academy would like to
thank all of this year’s donors for their generosity to Capital and Scholarship
Giving, the Annual Appeal, Alumni Reunion Giving and for those who supported
the Gala Tribute to Dina Merrill. A special thanks to our leadership donors
whose gifts are so important to our efforts.
Grossman Family Charitable
Trust-Felix Grossman
Patricia A. Grube Trust
The Spiritus Gladius
Foundation
Dr. & Mrs. Constantine
Tsitsera
Stanley Tulchin
Jehlinger Circle
$10,000-$49,999
Academy Angels
$1,000-4,999
Claudia Faris
Alan A. Fischer
Richard S. Fuld, Jr.
Sam Gores
Joseph Gregory
LCU Foundation
Dina Merrill
Paradigm Talent Agency
Rigler-Deutsch Foundation
Heather Robertson
The Shubert Organization
The Shubert Foundation
Jolyon Fox Stern
H.U. Von derEsch
Allied Irish Bank
Roger S. Berlind
Louis Blumengarten
Chelsea Pictures, Inc.
Gail Coleman
The Maxine Collier
Scholarship Fund
Susan Cullman
Mary deLiagre
Robert E. Duke
Edward B. Dunn
Episcopal Actor’s Guild
Clare Fraser
David M. Gavrin
Gregory Taft Gerard
Eileen Gillespie
Gilman Gonzalez-Falla
Theatre FoundationSondra Gilman
Celso Gonzalez-Falla
Lee Granger
Glenn Gray
Jeffery Gural
Alvilde Hannevold
Julia Hansen
James Herron
James L. Greenwald
Foundation
George Kaufman
Mr. & Mrs. John Kehoe
Koster Insurance Agency
Founder’s Circle
$50,000+
Benefactors
$5,000-$9,999
American Theatre Wing
William Blinn
The Clara Abbott
Foundation
Samuel Davis
The Kirk Douglas
Foundation
Sandra Freeman
Michael S. Gardner
Goldman Charitable
Lead Trust
E. Robert Goodkind
Felix Grossman, Esq.
Gail Lowe Maidman
Nina Rumbough
Saul Kupferberg
Mr. & Mrs. John McWilliams, IV
MJM Global Services
The Nederlander
Organization
Pamela Newman
Michael Nissman
James Perch
Mrs. Milton Petrie
Mrs. Merle Muscal Reskin
Russian Bear Productions
Scorpio Entertainment
James Selfe
Jane Selfe
Margo K. Shoneman
Mr. & Mrs. David Stockman
Treyball Inc.
Urban D.C. Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Joel VanDyk
Mr. & Mrs. Bayard Walker, Jr.
Mr. Robert Wankel
Mr. & Mrs. George C. White
Patrons
$500-$999
A.D. Lubow, Inc.
Bruce Addison
Christopher Brooks
Mr. & Mrs. David Brown
Ellen MacNeille Charles
Jeremy Erdreich
Mrs. Anastassios Fondaras
Forest Laboratories, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Jose Garcia
Arin Goldman
Terese Hayden
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Hillman
The James MacDonald
Foundation
The Jim Henson Company
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Kleinsonge
Jane Lilley
Cassandra Ludington
Laurette Spang McCook
Mr. & Mrs. Robert McFerrin
Ken Miller
James A. Mills
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Pierce
John Pinto
Robert Reddington
Specialty Carpet Service
Dorothy Sprague
Ronald Stair
Hon. Helen Marie Taylor
Theatre Refreshment Co.
of New York
Althea Vickers
M. Emmet Walsh
Anniversary Club
$120-$499
Ashford Office Cleaning
Jane Alpert Bouvier
Sherri Cahill
James Cape
Isabel Carden
John Carlton
Michael Reid Carter
Paul Centrone
Charlie Charalambus
Dr. Joseph C. Ciechalski
Martina D’Alton
Jean Daubenas
Joseph Daubenas
Jeremy Davis
Gloria Cary Dice
Hugh Mack Dill
Frances Evans
Mr. & Mrs. Seamus Gilhooly
Elizabeth Gray
Ave Maria Green
Joan Grove
Jay S. Harris
Reily Hendrickson
Sharon Houlihan
Marylin Hubbard-Herr
Mart Hulswit
International Protection
Service Agency
Edith Jefferson
Rosemary Karjian
Shannon Kelly
Teresa A. Kelsey
Dr. Joseph Kovach
W. Damian Kramer
John Leighton
Marx Myles Inc.
Mrs. Jack Massey
Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Matthews
Timothy McDonald
Madelyn Buzzard Mees
Mr. & Mrs. Duncan Milton
Kimberly Myles
Carol Nadell
Daniel O’ Donnell
Partizan Entertainment
Ursula Pelle
Duane R. Perrelli
Christopher Pfund
Plum Productions
Geoffrey Ramsey
Timothy N. Rowan
Catherine Russell
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Schaeffer
Barret T. Schleicher
John Schneider
Constantine Scopas
Jerry Senter
Eileen Shea
James Simon
James Smeltzer
Bruce Stark
Robert Stone
John Trapini
Wave Films
Diana Douglas Webster
Peter Weller
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffery White
Mark Wyville
Friend of AADA
Up to $119
David Alley
Christian Ambrosini
Neal Arluck
Margaret Beecham
Mr. & Mrs. Maurice Bendahan
Susan Berch
Harry Bugin
Janice Butwell
Mr. & Mrs. Brendan Carruthers
Ralph Chicorel
Louis Ciulla
Alford Clark
Gerry Cornez
Louie B. Cowen
William Damon
Jacqueline David
Nancy Norton Dill
Alisen Down
Michelle Dugan
Vanessa Engel
Belinda Farrell
Harriet FeBland
Mary Ann Feeney
Anne Fizzard
Frank Crystal & Company
John Furlong
Mr. & Mrs. James Gabbe
Luis Galeano
Dr. Audrey Galligen
John Gay
Evelyn King George
Gwynne Gigon
Jane Glick
Serco Supply CompanyRobert Goodman
Bruce Graham
Marlene Greene
June Brandle Griffin
Daniel Gurian
Mervyn V.T. Haines, Jr.
Eric Hanson
Harris Plumbing & Heating
Col & Mrs. Warren Hartman
Ellen Haun
Nevin Hedley
Cecil Hicks, Jr.
Robert Holden
Nina Howes
June Knight Inniss
Issues and Answers Co.
Irwin Jacobs
Anthony Terrence Jensen
Kim Marie Jones
Heather Jorden
Eugene Kaskey
Richard King
David Charles Klein
Theresa M. Klemis
Simcha Kruger
Marietta Lafargue
Bunny Lawson
M&M Sanitation Co.
Anthony J. Marra, Esq.
Ruben Martinez
Robert McGinnis
Larry McGrane
Helen Merber
Deebye Goodman Meyers
Valerie Meyers
Mary E. Morris
Kelly Stacey Mowery
Vasanthi Nelliah
Novella Nelson
Catherine Newman
James O’ Connell
Ben Opbroek
Rosaly Pandolfo
Dr. Perry W. Patterson
Burke Pearson
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Perrault
Margarita Perusquia
Kelly Pino
Valerie Podet
Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Powers
Kristi Reinertsen-Forehand
Jack Rodgerson
Lisa Romain
Joseph Ryan
Samuel French Company
Xavier A. Santiago
Robert C. Schnitzer
Rachelle Sommers Smith
Patricia Solner
Carlos Stafford
Henry M. Steiner
Sterling Supply Co.
Margaret Strom
William Sturgess
Oliver Sullivan
Cynthia Sullo
Arthur Tedesco
Angela Tom-Rimer
Alicia Tronson
Gayle L. Turner
Jill C. VanHee
Wendy VanLandingham
John Ventantonio
Barbara M. Vigliano
Ashley Vrocher
Meagan A. Walsh
Dr. Dena Winokur
Nancy L. Woodcock
Gifts in Honor or
Memoriam
Mrs. Susan Cronyn in
memory of A Cronyn
Martina D’Alton in memory
of Harryetta Peterka
Cecil Hicks, Jr.-Youth
Leadership Omaha
Curriculum Comm.
In memory of Edward
Halloran
John Leighton in memory
of Virginia Downing
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Perrault
in memory of Harryetta
Peterka
Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Powers
in memory of David T.
Powers
Dr. & Mrs. Constantine in
Honor of Constantine Scopas
In-Kind Gifts
Absolute Asia
The Acting Company
The Actors Studio
Acting Without Agony
Actors Fund
Janis Powell
The Public Theater
Ready to Roll LimousineGail Ricketts
Dawn Elane Reed
Rhett Scott Photography
Rubicon Theatre Company
Sardi’s Restaurant
Screen Actors Guild
Foundation
Sea Cloud Cruises
Second Penny Inn
Shubert Organization
The Silver Monger
Spot Vision
Starbucks
Scott Striegel
Voiceovers Unlimited
Wake Robin Inn-Shaffin
Shariff
The Wine Bazzar-Mike
Baskin
Steven Webber
Parents of Students
and Alumni
Staff
Jackie Bartone
Roger Croucher
Michael Donaghy
Burke Pearson
Dr. James Perch
Deborah Picone
Janis Powell
Robert Reddington
Constantine Scopas
James Simon
Oliver Sullivan
Arthur Tedesco
Jill VanHee
Steven Webber
A.D. Lubow, Inc.
Allied Irish Bank
Ashford Office Cleaning
Chelsea Pictures, Inc.
The Clara Abbott
Foundation
The Maxine Collier
Scholarship Fund
Episcopal Actor’s Guild
Forest Laboratories, Inc.
Full Circle Productions
Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla
Theatre Foundation
Goldman Charitable
Unitrust
The James L. Greenwald
Foundation
Grossman Family
Charitable Trust
Harris Plumbing & Heating
The Jim Henson Company
International Protective
Service Agency
Koster Insurance Agency
The LCU Foundation
Los Angeles Video
Productions
M & M Sanitation
Corporation
MJM Global Services
The James Macdonald
Foundation
The Nederlander
Organization
Partizan Entertainment
Plum Productions
Rigler-Deutsch Foundation
Russian Bear Productions, LLC
Samuel French, Inc.
Scorpio Entertainment
Serco Supply Co.
The Shubert Organization
The Shubert Foundation
Specialty Carpet Service
The Spiritus Gladius
Foundation
Sterling Supply Co.
Theatre Refreshment Co.
of New York
Treyball Inc.
Urban D.C. Inc.
Valettes Ltd.
FA C U LT Y & S TA F F
11
Dino Scopas
Thelma Carter
CONSTANTINE SCOPAS APPOINTED DOI-NY
TO SUCCEED THELMA CARTER
Constantine “Dino” Scopas has been appointed Director
of Instruction at our New York campus to succeed
Thelma Carter. Ms. Carter was with the Academy for
over 25 years as an instructor, master teacher, friend
and muse to our students. Mr. Scopas is a graduate of
the Academy in New York and a familiar figure to our
students and alumni as a member of our staff for over
30 years. As he assumes his new position, he has the
best wishes of the Academy community.
WELCOME ACADEMY STAFF!
The following is a list of staff members joining us since the last changes published
in Americada.
HOLLYWOOD CAMPUS
Brian C. Bethel, Alumni Relations
Coordinator; Mary Bleier, Assistant to
the Director of Company; Diana Brown,
Production Manager; Steven Martinez,
Registrar; Lynne Newton, Assistant to
Director of Instruction; Ben Opbroek,
Senior Accountant; Hope Parker,
Administrative Assistant; Jorge Ramirez,
Director of Financial Aid; Susan Sanchez,
Receptionist;
Grube Bequest
THE PATRICIA GRUBE ’48 SCHOLARSHIP
A bequest from the estate of Patricia Grube has established a scholarship at the Academy
in her memory. These funds came along with the sad news that Ms. Grube passed away on
August 1, 2004, in Sarasota, Florida. Originally from South Bend, Indiana, Ms. Grube was
a member of the class of 1948 which included Jason Robards, Jr. and longtime Academy
trustee Conrad Bain. The first Patricia Grube Scholars will be named during this upcoming
2005-2006 academic year.
The Academy continues to be grateful to loyal friends and alumni like Patricia Grube who
recognize the value of supporting scholarships through their estate plans. If you are
interested in providing support for a student at the Academy through an endowed
scholarship fund, an annual gift or by making arrangements for a bequest, please contact
our development office.
NEW YORK CAMPUS
Erin Anne Berry, Costumes Assistant;
Janeica Dudley, Evening School
Security Guard; Kathleen Germann,
Assistant to Director of External
Relations; Chris Jones, Technical
Director; Sonia Quintana, part-time
Assistant to Controller; Jill Van Hee,
Assistant to Director of Development;
Linda Viala, Controller; Joan Zarod,
Associate Director of Admissions
SPRING 2005
Jane Alpert Bouvier
Margaret Beecham
Mr. & Mrs. Jose Garcia
Mr. & Mrs. Seamus Gilhooly
Ellen Haun
Rosemary Karjian
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Kleinsonge
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Kriksciun
Jane Lilley
Ruben Martinez
Mr. & Mrs. Robert B.
Matthews
Mr. & Mrs. Robert McFerrin
Larry McGrane
Mr. & Mrs. Duncan Milton
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffery White
Corporations and
Foundations
AMERICADA
Amadeus Spa and Salon
Nick Amick
Backstage West
Barter Luxury, Inc.
Jackie Bartone
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bernstein
Body Insight Massage
Therapy
Mr. Patrick Buonauito
Café Un, Deux, Trios
Center Theatre Group
Christofle Inc.-Saffa
Hummel
Chris Sowers
Darryl Chu
Roger Croucher
Michael Donaghy
The Dukes Hotel, London
East West Players
The Eliot Hotel, Boston
The Exposure Studios
Mariola Figueroa
Frederic Fekkai Salon
Gemstone Video
The Gigi Café
Sam Gores
Harney & Sons Fine Teas
Dr. Carol Ilson
Indochine Restaurant
Kesslord, Paris
Le Montrose Hotel
Pamela Lewis
L.A. Stage Alliance
Los Angeles Hotel
Los Angeles Zoo
Arthur Lubow
Mad 28 Restaurant
Main Street Restaurant
Partners-Spencer
Rothschild
Mans Chinese Theatre
Bruce Minnix
Michael Maples Photography
Mobil Opticians
Morton’s Steak House
Muse
National Network for Artist
Placement
The NBC Agency
Origins
Outfest Community
Collaboration
The Palace Hotel, NY
Pantages Theatre
Pasadena Playhouse
Post Works
Deborah Picone
The Pierre Hotel, NY
REMEMBERING
Anne Bancroft
Robert J. Baduske (N 1958) was a
lifelong resident of Woodbridge, NJ.
AMERICADA
SPRING 2005
12
Laura Branigan (N 1972) the Grammy
nominated pop singer, best known for
her 1982 platinum hit Gloria, died at 47.
Gloria, a signature song from her debut
album Branigan, stayed atop the pop
charts for 36 weeks and earned her
a Grammy nomination for best female
pop vocalist--the first of four nominations of her career. Branigan
released seven albums after her debut
album including Solitaire, Self Control,
and How am I Supposed to Live Without
You? which was co-written with Michael
Bolton. Her songs also appeared on
soundtracks for the films Flashdance
and Ghost Busters.
J.D. Cannon (N 1942) passed away
June 3, 2005, at his home in Hudson,
New York at the age of 83. His acting
career included frequent guest starring
roles on Law & Order and Murder, She
Wrote as well as a regular on the police
drama McCloud from 1970 to 1977. His
final television role was in an episode of
Law & Order in March of 1991. His film
credits include Cool Hand Luke with
Paul Newman.
Joan Fernandez (C 1978) passed away
after a long battle with MS.
Patricia Grube (N 1948) originally of
South Bend, Indiana passed away August
1, 2004, in Sarasota, FL. A bequest by
Ms. Grube will establish the Patricia
Grube Scholarship at the Academy.
Mary C. Maloof (Driscoll) (N 1932)
passed away April 17, 2005. She
resided in the Merrimack Valley
of Massachusetts where she was
prominently known as a church
organist and director of dramatic
and musical productions.
Mary Diveny Muenzen (N 1945)
passed away August 24, 2004, at 81
years of age. Her early career included
Broadway productions of Life with
Mother, Crime and Punishment, and
Playboy of the Western World. She
traveled throughout Europe and
performed with the USO Theater Group
post WWII. Ms. Muenzen resumed her
acting career after many years and
did guest work on Third Watch, Law &
Order, The Cosby Show, In & Out, and
Little Nicky.
Patricia G. (Hynes) Rolle (N 1946)
passed away on April 2, 2005 at the
age of 81 in Wilton, CT.
Dolores E. Scheele (N 1949) of Wayne,
NJ, formerly of Clifton, died Thursday
September 9, 2004 at the age of 75. She
was an actress at The Meadowbrook,
Verona, NJ.
Jimmy Skaggs (N 1971) died July 6,
2004. He had an extensive acting
career which included roles in theatre,
film, and television. His feature films
included roles in Catch Me if You Can,
Lethal Weapon, and Dragnet. His most
recent work included a recurring role
on televisions ER and a role on Monk,
which he completed only a week prior
to his death.
Ellen Taussig (N 1926) passed away
April 27, 2005, in Cape May, NJ. Her life
as a journalist and news feature writer
is chronicled in her memoir Wings on
my Heels: A Newspaperwoman’s Story.
Manu Tupou (N 1967) a member of
the royal family of Tonga, died June 5,
2004, at age 69. His film credits
include Payback, Hurricane and A Man
Called Horse, in addition to several
roles on the television series Hawaii
5-0. Mr. Tupou began his acting career
on his way to attend college at Oxford,
England. During the layover in New
York, Mr. Tupou read of an audition for
the part of a Hawaiian prince in the
movie Hawaii.
Joanne Waffle (N 1946) passed away
Feb 2, 2005. She played Helen Hayes’
daughter on the recording Victoria
Regina and traveled with the Barter
Theatre with Ernest Borgnine before
heading to Charleston, IL, where she
enrolled in college. She was the mother
of six children including two sets of
twins. Theatre and performing were
her life-long love, and she continued
performing until the age of 75 when
she played Medea and the Medium in
Blithe Spirit in regional theatres.
Catherine Dee Weston (N 1986)
passed away on Oct. 28th after a long
illness. She lived most of her adult life
in New England. In recent years she
wrote, produced and performed Martha,
a one-woman play about the Biblical
character and her own spiritual journey.
She also conducted workshops on
spiritual growth and healing as an
accompaniment to the play, and wrote
and published a book Ten Steps to
Spiritual Healing.
Salvatore Zocchi Jr. (N 1980) artist
and musician.
Anne Bancroft (N 1950) passed
away on June 9, 2005 at the age of
73. Another Academy legend is
gone and Broadway fittingly
dimmed its lights in her honor.
Best known for her role as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate, the
legendary stage and screen actress garnered five Academy Award
Nominations and three Tony Award nominations in her career.
She was born as Anna Italiano in the Bronx in 1931 to Italian
immigrant parents and decided at an early age that she wanted
to become an actress. With her mother’s encouragement she
enrolled at the Academy and embarked upon a career in film,
theatre and television that would span more than six decades.
Found among the Academy’s archival files on Miss Bancroft is a
note dated February 7, 1981, to Academy alumnus Ezra Stone
(N 1935) from Miss Bancroft regarding the death of Francis Fuller,
Academy President,
“Dear Mr. Stone, I can’t thank you enough for making that extra
effort. It is only right for me to know about Fran. She was the
one who ‘discovered’ me while I was rehearsing by myself at the
Academy on my lunch hour. For some reason I didn’t have the
money to get any lunch that day. She sent me on an audition for
Studio One—and that was the beginning.”
In 1964, Miss Bancroft married comedian/director/producer Mel
Brooks, and worked on three of his films, including Silent Movie,
a remake of To Be or Not to Be and Dracula: Dead and Loving It.
She is also credited with encouraging him to make the stage
musical of his movie The Producers. They have one son, TV writer,
Max Brooks.
Miss Bancroft’s films include The Turning Point, Agnes of God,
The Pumpkin Eater and more recently The Elephant Man, GI Jane,
How to Make an American Quilt and Up at the Villa. Her stage
credits include Two for the See Saw for which she earned the Tony
Award and Golda which garnered her yet another nomination.
For her portrayal of Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker she is
one of only eight actors to have won both a Tony and an Oscar for
having played the same roles on stage and screen. Her television
work won her an Emmy Award for her role as Gerry Eileen
Cummins in Deep in My Heart and nominations for Broadway
Bound, Mrs. Cage, Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All,
Haven and The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone.
celebrations
WEDDINGS
Stuart Winslow Campagna (N 1994)
was married to Brecken Ciele Casey on
May 29, 2004 on Hilton Head Island.
BIRTHS
Paula (Carlson) Glen (N 1991) and her
husband Matthew Glen had a baby boy,
Walker Stewart Glen, on October 7,
2004 on Block Island, Rhode Island.
Julianne Morris (N 1990) and her
husband welcomed their son Kristoffer
Caleb Polaha in July 2004. She plays
Princess Greta Von Amburg on the
daytime drama Days of Our Lives.
Tony Nappo (N 1991) is also pleased
to announce that he had his first child,
baby daughter, Ella Ray, with his
partner, film maker Mary Lewis.
NEW AADA.ORG WEBSITE FEATURES: AADA
SHOP ON-LINE AND ROOMATE FINDER
The SAG Foundation
Conversations in New
York continued this year
with the appearances of
award-winning actresses
Phylicia Rashad and Jill
Hennessey, star of Crossing
Jordan. They both shared
their experiences and advice
with SAG members and
Academy students in the
Phylicia Rashad
Mary MacArthur Theatre.
Last year, the SAG Foundation launched their Audition
Workshops series on our Hollywood campus. Due to its
popularity, the series will start on our New York campus
beginning June 27th.
This past year, a secured Roommate Finder feature was
added to our website, www. aada.org, making it easier for
prospective AADA students to find roommates for living
accommodations in New York City and Hollywood. In the
near future, AADA Shop On-Line will be added so that
students and alumni will be able to purchase caps, shirts,
bags and many other items with the Academy logo by
mail order. Plans also include adding student textbooks
for on-line purchase & delivery. Watch for this new feature
of our website service coming soon. Other features under
development in the alumni section of our website are
adding AADA e-mail for students and alumni, alumni
interactive features and career services. We welcome
ideas from all alumni for its development. You may send
your suggestions through our on-line Change of Address
feature in the Alumni section of the website, if you wish
to do so, or by mail to the Academy’s Office of External
Relations in New York.
Following the horrendous events this past December
2004 in South Asia, the Student Council in New York
initiated and raised money this past January for the
tsunami relief effort with a concert held at the Academy,
during which baked goods were sold. In total, the students
raised over $2000 to send to the American Red Cross
and UNICEF to distribute for tsunami aid. Our campus
community was amazed and pleased at how well the event
went, in both the financial success and the wonderful day
it provided for our students.
LA STUDENTS VISIT SET OF WILL & GRACE
Through the professional contact of Donna Pescow
(N 1975) guest director and faculty member at our Hollywood campus, Academy students were invited to visit the
set of the CBS television production of Will & Grace
where they were issued scripts and had the opportunity
to observe the production in this unique educational
field trip. Reportedly, all were impressed with the
professionalism and kindness of the cast and crew.
SPRING 2005
STUDENT COUNCIL IN NEW YORK RAISES
$2,000 FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
BUS ADS & BANNERS
Shown here is the bus advertisement that appeared on
city buses in New York City, Los Angeles and Boston
celebrating the Academy 120th Anniversary and the
achievements of our world-renowned alumni. In Los
Angeles, street banners were displayed that drew
attention to our local campus and are scheduled to be
shown again soon in other neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
ALUMNI as AUTHORS & in CLASSIC DVD RELEASES
Lauren Bacall’s (N 1941) memoir And
Then Some was published by Harper
Collins in February 2005. This is the
sequel to her earlier memoir By Myself.
Playwright Douglas Carter Beane (N
1980) will have a world premiere of a
new work presented at Second Stage
Theater in the 2005-06 Season.
Lauren Bacall
Blake Robbins (N 1993) is the
co-author with Bonnie Gillespie of the
book, Acting Q’s, a book of insights
and thoughts from working actors,
to be released in June 2005.
of Broadway Theatre Archive
Three DVDs of special interest to
Academy alumni and theatre lovers
everywhere are now available from
Broadway Theatre Archive. These
include Eugene O’Neill’s towering
masterpiece The Iceman Cometh with
Jason Robards (N 1948) and Robert
Redford (N 1957) made for television
and directed by Sidney Lumet.
Worthington Miner, Academy Board
Chairman, produced the event and
provided the video introduction. Also
13
AMERICADA
ACADEMY-SAG FOUNDATION CONVERSATIONS
WITH PHYLICIA RASHAD & JILL HENNESSEY
available on DVD are the celebrated
1973 revival of O’Neill’s semiautobiographical drama A Moon for the
Misbegotten with Jason Robards and
Colleen Dewhurst (N 1947) and the
1966 landmark television adaptation by
Arthur Miller of his Pulitzer Prize
winning tragedy Death of a Salesman
starring Lee J. Cobb, Mildred Dunnock,
James Farentino (N 1958) and George
Segal.
EMMY,
TONY
NOMINEES
Hank Azaria (N Sum) was nominated
for a 2005 Tony Award for Best
Performance by a Leading Actor in a
Musical for his performance in Monty
Python’s Spamalot.
Hank Azaria (N Sum)
The late Hume Cronyn (N 1934) was
nominated for an Emmy Award in 2004
for his portrayal of Professor Carmichael
in Showtime’s A Separate Peace. This
presentation marked Mr. Cronyn’s final
performance.
AMERICADA
SPRING 2005
14
Kim Cattrall (N 1974) received an
Emmy Award nomination in 2004 for
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a
Comedy Series for her role as Samantha
Jones in HBO’s Sex and the City.
Eileen Brennan (N 1956) was nominated for a 2004 Emmy Award for
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy
Series for her work as Zandra on
Will & Grace.
Eileen Brennan (N 1956)
Danny DeVito (N 1966) received an
Emmy Award nomination in 2004 for
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy
series for his role on NBC’s Friends.
Kirk Douglas (N 1941) was honored
by the Palm Springs Film Festival with
a life-time achievement award.
Kim Cattrall (1974)
Award-winning playwright, Melissa
James Gibson (N 1984), is the
recipient of the AT&T: OnStage Award
for the Children’s Theatre Company
of Minneapolis for her play, Brooklyn
Bridge. She was one of six recipients
selected from 88 theatres that were
invited to apply.
Dael Orlandersmith (N Eve) has been
named the recipient of the PEN/Laura
Pels Foundation Award for Drama. Her
works include Yellowman and Monster.
Hume Cronyn (N 1934)
Danny DeVito (N 1966)
Robert Redford (N 1959) is presently
lobbying for the Arts Action Fund (AAF)
an organization dedicated to helping
local, state, and federal officials to
adopt policies more friendly to arts
and arts education. Mr. Redford was
the recipient of the Crystal Globe for
Artistic Achievement to be presented
at the 40th Karlovy Vary Film Festival
in Prague.
Mary Jo Slater (N 1968) was nominated for a 2004 Emmy Award for
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries,
Movie, or a Special for her work on
the USA Network’s Traffic.
Michael Douglas and
Kirk Douglas (N 1941)
Robert Redford (N 1959)
Doll’s House - New York
Tracers - Los Angeles
STUNNING RENOVATIONS to AADA Theatres
At the end of 2003, The City of Los Angeles Planning
Department approved the plans to renovate performance
space on the Hollywood campus, bringing it up to zoning
codes as a public theatre. The renovation cost was
approximately $113,000, and $75, 000 of this cost was
offset by a donation of a California-based Trustee of the
Academy, Felix Grossman. The Los Angeles campus now has
its own stunning public theatre for Company and Second
Year performances as well as for classroom training.
In New York, two of our three theatres underwent major
improvements. In the Mary MacArthur Theatre, new
carpeting was added, broken seats replaced, walls painted
and outmoded and unsafe lighting and wiring replaced.
The transformation is astonishing because this space
had not been refurbished for 40 years. In New York’s
proscenium theatre, one of the most attractive spaces
in the Academy’s landmarked Stanford White building,
an unsightly gantry and overhead lighting grid was
removed from the center of the auditorium, new lighting
and wiring installed and the stage repainted. Future
plans call for repairing the seats, painting the interior
and replacing the chandelier to regain the historic beauty
of this grand space. The smallest of our three theatres
on the New York campus is a charming space where
members ran track at the turn of the century when the
building was the Colony Club—the first woman’s club in
New York City. It is also in need of renovations and on
the list of capital projects to be undertaken and funded.
Academy
PLAYS
The Wayside Motor Inn - Los Angeles
15
AMERICADA
Academy Company plays on both coasts
continue to win praise during this past
season for their exceptional quality from
our professional audiences and friends
alike. Among the shows in Los Angeles
were Tracers, A Little Night Music, and
Wayside Motor Inn and in New York, the
productions included Rumors, Doll’s House,
and Scapino. Both Academy Companies
ended their season with well-attended and
successful Showcases.
A Little Night Music Los Angeles
SPRING 2005
Rumors - New York
Scapino - New York
America’s First Drama Conservatory
AADA NY
Founded 1884
120 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
212.686.9244
AADA LA
Founded 1974
1336 N. La Brea Avenue
Hollywood, Ca 90028
323.464.2777
CREDITS
Samuel Davis Chairman of the Board
Roger Croucher Academy President
Marguerite Artura President, AADA-LA Division
Robert Reddington Chief Financial Officer, COO AADA-NY
Madonna Young Director of Instruction, LA
Constantine Scopas Director of Instruction, NY
Elizabeth Lawson Director of External Relations
James Simon Director of Development
Americada is published at AADA New York
and distributed free to alumni, donors, press
and members of the entertainment profession.
Editor Elizabeth “Betty” Lawson
Design 4sight Communications
Editorial Assistant Kathleen Germann
Americada photo credits Luke Moyer, Boyd Bodwell, Mark Wyville,
Lynton Gardiner, Ron Eckstein, N. Rasmus/PMC, Berliner Photo
incomplete
Both campuses are accredited by NAST,
and the New York campus by MSCHE and
the Hollywood campus by WASC/ACCJC.
© AADA 2005
NON PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LANCASTER, PA
PERMIT NO. 299
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Academy of Dramatic Arts
120 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED