Schreiber, Seldes, Etc. Set for ATW Summer Actor Intensive

The American Theatre Wing's SpringboardNYC, an intensive summer boot camp for actors, is now underway, featuring authentic audition workshops, backstage tours, and discussions with renowned Broadway performers, industry VIPs and 2007 Tony Award® nominees. Participants include Liev Schreiber, Marian Seldes, Martha Plimpton, Jonathan Groff, Michael Arden, Jerry Mitchell, John Rando, Leigh Silverman, and Jeff Blumenkrantz, among others.

A concentrated pre-professional training course for college students planning careers in the theatre, SpringboardNYC provides the job-seeking skills, insight into the business of theatre, and the urban survival tools necessary to translate academic training into a productive career.

The program is limited to 35 participants. For the first time, the American Theatre Wing awarded multiple scholarships to accepted students in need. 

"We are hopeful that with the introduction of a need-based scholarship program for SpringboardNYC, that we will be able to bring more of the best, brightest, most passionate, focused and talented aspiring theatre artists to New York and introduce them to the community", said Howard Sherman, executive director of the American Theatre Wing.

Now in its sixth year, SpringboardNYC's innovative programming supports early career professionals who come from around the country to immerse themselves in this college-to-career transition program. Information packages have been sent to university theatre programs and career development centers nationwide; last year alone, two dozen universities and colleges from 17 states across the country were represented.

The rigorous curriculum includes a series of workshops, seminars, master classes and field trips that place participants in the center of New York's theatrical community and provide access to influential working artists. Workshop subjects include resume development, interview technique, audition technique (monologue, cold reading, and on-camera), and a mock open call, authentically replicating the process of a high-pressure audition. Accompanied by real-life evaluations by working professionals, these workshops give participants a competitive edge as they launch their own careers.

Informational sessions are held with a variety of key "behind the scenes" players. General managers, press agents, company managers, and those in all aspects of commercial and non-profit theatre, give participants a working vocabulary and understanding of the world into which they're entering.

Participating mentors and speakers have included actors Cynthia Nixon (Rabbit Hole), Raul Esparza (Company), Paul Rudd (Three Days of Rain), Neil Patrick Harris (Assassins), Michael Emerson (Lost, Gross Indecency); directors Lonny Price ("Master Harold"... and the boys), John Rando (The Wedding Singer, Urinetown), and Leigh Silverman (Well); composers Jason Robert Brown (Last Five Years, Parade) and Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (Avenue Q); and musical directors Seth Rudetsky (BC/EFA Concerts Dreamgirls, Hair), Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Company, Sweeney Todd) and Kimberly Grigsby (The Light in the Piazza, Caroline, or Change); choreographers/dancers Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Wedding Singer) and Suzie Misner (Chicago) and producers Jordan Roth (Jujamcyn) and Bernard Gersten (LCT).

SpringboardNYC is led by Randy Ellen Lutterman, who founded the program at Musical Theatre Works.

Complete information is online at www.americantheatrewing.org.

Photo of Liev Schreiber by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.