Children's Acting Academy Presents NEW ROCHELLE ArtsFest 2011

The Children's Acting Academy, widely regarded as one of the best children's acting schools in the nation, is offering two FREE workshops for youngsters, aged 4 to 18, on Sunday, September 25, 2011, an acting workshop and one in musical theater, ala "Glee," as part of "New Rochelle ArtsFest 2011," it was announced by Mimi Stuart, Artistic Director and owner of the renowned New York-based children's theater school and Acting Company. There will be an Acting Workshop from 1:00 to 3:00 PM followed by a "Glee" Workshop from 3:30 - 5:00 PM. The workshops will be held at Westchester Yoga Arts, 82 Center Avenue, in New Rochelle, the new Westchester branch of The Children's Acting Academy, whose home base is in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. All youngsters interested acting are invited to take part in these sessions without cost. Current and former students are also invited to drop by and participate in these workshops.

"It will be a fun experience for all," says Ms. Stuart. "The new kids will get a taste of what we do and how we operate, and they will get a chance to meet and talk with some of our current and former students who plan on stopping by. It is an opportunity for the new kids to see what we do and how we do it. Hopefully some of the new kids that stop by will want to become part of our academy. All kids can benefit by taking classes with us whether they are interested in pursuing acting as a possible career choice or if they just want to help build self-confidence in themselves and their abilities."

The Children's Acting Academy, founded in 1972, was created for talented youngsters who are interested in learning how to act, sing and dance from industry professionals and who wish to build self confidence in their abilities to succeed in life. The academy utilizes the Stanislavski, Strassberg and Meisner methods to teach acting. Students learn to behave logically and naturally. Concentration and relaxation are emphasized through sensory exercises, scene work and improvisation. Proper speech and voice are emphasized during every class session.

While acting and singing classes are done in groups, there are opportunities for one-on-one instruction. Acting classes feature instruction, observation and performance taught by professionals working on Broadway, TV and film. Students also experience the business of show business by meeting with agents and personal managers, touring TV studios and studying auditioning with theatre veterans.

While the United Nations General Assembly met in New York City in September 2010, four talented 12-year old members of The Children's Acting Company division of New York's Children's Acting Academy - Nicholas Cacciola, Jonathan Rockhill, Bella Scarselli and Brooke Strutin -- traveled to London, England, to represent the United States in the first ever international children's theatre exchange which took place September 17 - 27, 2010. The event was produced by Theatretrain, a nation-wide British performing arts company for children which was established in 1992, and co-presented with the German-based international children's charity Arts by Children. The climax of the event was a live musical performance featuring 1,000+ student performers from more than 20 nations on the stage of a sold-out Royal Albert Hall.

Mimi Stuart started teaching and directing at the Academy in 2000 and became its Artistic Director and owner shortly thereafter. She has been acting and entertaining audiences since she was ten years old and professionally since she was 15. She has performed Off Broadway as a lead in The Mandela and Guilty Innocence, and has performed in summer stock as Dolly Levi in The Matchmaker as well as in other leading roles. She has toured the US and Canada in such musicals as My Fair Lady, Godspell, Cinderella and Pajama Game. And has appeared on daytime TV in All My Children and on primetime television as the lead in Ghost Stories. Mimi has appeared in more than 20 feature films and has done voice-overs for numerous commercials and industrial films.

Ms. Stuart has much experience working with child actors, having served as Artistic Director at Saginaw Overnight Camp, directing two shows a summer and teaching drama and improv classes. She has taught acting at Kean University and voice and speech at NYU and Weist-Barron. She was the originator of The Children and Teen Musical Theatre, and Voice and Speech Program at HB Studio. For the past three years, she has taught a Directing Children on Film class as part of the MFA film program at Columbia University.

The Children's Acting Academy has three branches, one on the upper West Side of Manhattan at 131 West 72nd Street, one in New Rochelle at Westchester Yoga Arts, 82 Centre Avenue, and one in Mamaroneck at 715 Mamaroneck Avenue. For more information about The Children's Acting Academy and its programs, call 212/860-7101, or visit www.childrensactingacademy.com.

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