Free Theater Training for Inner City Youth Held at Stella Adler Studio

Over 60 years ago, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting was founded in New York. Today, it is the most prestigious acting studio in the world. As part of its mission to provide art and education to the greater community, the Studio's Outreach Division provides free actor-training to inner city students, which is supported by generous donations to the nonprofit organization.

Now through September 20th, the Stella Adler Outreach Division is seeking low-income New York City teens to participate in the annual Adler Youth theater program for underprivileged New York City youth. The classes will start on September 28th and meet every Tuesday and Thursday for two hours through December 9th, with final performances on December 14th, 16th and 17th.

At a time when city schools are suffering from a lack of resources and cannot provide an adequate education, the Stella Adler Studio provides low-income teens with high-level training and access to a long revered cultural institution. 95% of the most recently accepted group of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, indicating that they are under the national poverty level (or have a household income of $22,050 for a family of four).

Recent video footage of auditions show the need for free theater training and the positive impact it can have on inner city students: http://sharing.theflip.com/session/2636328470ca1ef0658863f9be44acc6/video/18326872

"I used to be shy and hide my true feelings. I wanted to look how I thought people wanted me to look. Now I have more confidence and can say what I feel. I can look people right in the eyes when I speak. I can speak up even when I know people don't want to hear what I have to say," said Martyn, a student in the program. "When something doesn't come out perfect right away, I don't give up. I know that it will get better if I keep working at it. I learned how to be tenacious and believe I can achieve great things if I stick to it and work hard. Stella Adler was one of these great things in my life."

For 61 years, the Stella Adler Studio has taught some of America's finest actors, including the likes of Marlon Brando, Warren Beatty, Robert De Niro, Elaine Stritch and Harvey Keitel. In an effort to nourish young talent and democratize access to the arts, the Stella Adler Studio is creating training opportunities for those who would otherwise never have access.

About The Stella Adler Outreach Division
The Stella Adler Outreach Division was created to provide a model of social engagement for the Studio's students and to give free actor training to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it. The program also addresses disadvantaged and at-risk youth's need to have a safe place to learn how to find and express their voices artistically and creatively and to be educated about the craft of acting. The Stella Adler Outreach Division provides free, year-long actor training to these aspiring artists with the same intensity and integrity of all the Studio's other learning tracks. http://www.stellaadler.com/outreach

About The Stella Adler Studio of Acting
Established in 1949 by Stella Adler, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting was founded upon Adler's belief in the supreme seriousness of her art, and has, for the last five decades, enriched every part of the American theater and film arts. Adler's philosophies kept many well-known members of the theater coming back for her intelligent and passionate advice and the school has since trained many of the brilliant actors of our time, including Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, Elaine Stritch, Benicio del Toro and Salma Hayek. The Stella Adler Studio of Acting is a nonprofit organization, which trains over 500 actors annually and also presents world-class lectures, poetry readings, jazz, classical music, theater, and dance theater events. www.stellaadler.com