Vineyard Theatre's VINEYARD MASTERS Continues With Chalfant And Kuhn

Vineyard Theatre continues new VINEYARD MASTERS series with classes by two Tony-nominated actresses Kathleen Chalfant and Judy Kuhn on January 29 and 31, respectively

The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) will continue its new series, VINEYARD MASTERS - master classes with leading Vineyard Theatre artists, which began earlier this month with Susan Blackwell and Hunter Bell's "DIE VAMPIRE, DIE!" - with
classes conducted by two Tony Award-nominated actresses who have graced the Vineyard stage, Kathleen Chalfant with ACTING PRACTICUM on January 29 from 3:30-6:30 and Judy Kuhn with ACTING THE SONG on January 31 from 6-9.

In ACTING PRACTICUM WITH Kathleen Chalfant, an intensive three hour class on Saturday, January 29 with leading American actress Kathleen Chalfant (WIT, ANGELS IN AMERICA), Ms. Chalfant will work with participants on individual monologues or scenes of their choosing, as
well as on techniques to apply beyond any one piece. Participants should come to the class with a monologue on which they wish to work, or groups may sign up together with scenes. To benefit fully from this Master Class, participants should have their pieces memorized. There will also be a Q&A portion with Ms. Chalfant. The class is limited to 12 students.

Kathleen Chalfant is a Tony-nominated actress who has worked in many famed productions on and off Broadway and the West End. She earned much critical acclaim for her unforgettable performance in Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play WIT, winning the Outer Critics, Drama Desk, Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards. Other notable productions include Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA - MILLENIUM APPROACHES on Broadway, RACING DEMON, directed by Richard Eyre, M. BUTTERFLY, and Caryl Churchill's FAR AWAY, directed by Stephen Daldry. She won a second Obie for her performance in Alan Bennett's TALKING HEADS. Ms. Chalfant's many TV and movie credits include: "Kinsey," "Rescue Me," and "Law & Order." Her Vineyard Theatre credits include FAITH HEALER, THE PARTY and TRUE HISTORY AND REAL ADVENTURES.

In ACTING THE SONG - VOCAL PERFORMANCE WITH Judy Kuhn on Monday, January 31, Broadway legend Judy Kuhn will work individually with students on connection to and communication of their song's text as well as relationship with the audience. Students in this class should bring a song with strong lyrics -- an actable text -- and one with which they are very familiar (i.e. know the character, context, the entire musical or piece from which it comes). To fully benefit from
this Master Class, participants should know their song from memory. Class size for ACTING THE SONG is limited to 7 students. Since class size is limited, applicants for whom there is not enough space will be invited to observe for a small fee. An accompanist will be provided.

Judy Kuhn has been nominated for the Tony Award for her performances in the original Broadway production of LES MISERABLES, along with the musical CHESS. Her other Broadway credits include THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, TWO SHAKESPEAREAN ACTORS, SHE LOVES ME and the revival of LES MISERABLES. Her Vineyard credits include the Obie Award-winning ELI'S COMIN' and Tina Landau and Ricky Ian Gordon's DREAM TRUE, and her Off-Broadway and regional theatre credits include the title role in THE BALLAD OF LITTLE JO at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, AS THOUSANDS CHEER, STRIKE UP THE BAND, THE GLASS MENAGERIE and MARTIN GUERRE. She
appeared in the musical SUNSET BOULEVARD in the musical's pre-Broadway tryout in Los Angeles. Ms. Kuhn sang the title role in the animated Disney film "Pocahontas." She has released two solo albums: "Just in Time: Judy Kuhn Sings Jule Styne" and "Serious Playground - The Songs
of Laura Nyro.

Admission to ACTING PRACTICUM and ACTING THE SONG are each $125. To participate, please send a resume, with the name of the master class in the subject line, to literary@vineyardtheatre.org. For ACTING THE SONG, please also include a short statement about what you hope to gain from the class. Class sizes are limited and qualified applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Vineyard Theatre is the recipient of the Tony Award for the musical AVENUE Q and continues as producer of the musical's current production at New World Stages in New York. The Vineyard has also produced the musical [title of show] on Broadway, along with the musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. One of the nation's leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to new plays and musicals and bold programming, The Vineyard debuted the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN and Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE. The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works and developed innovative educational collaborations. Recent productions include Tarell Alvin McCraney's acclaimed WIG OUT!, A BOY
AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo, the world premiere of the musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson, and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, the world premiere of Adam Rapp's THE METAL CHILDREN and (along with Playwrights Horizons) the new musical THE BURNT PART BOYS by Mariana Elder, Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller, directed by Joe Calarco. The Vineyard most recently presented the acclaimed world-premiere of Will Eno's play MIDDLETOWN. Up next at the
Vineyard will be Zach Helm's INTERVIEWING THE AUDIENCE and Christopher Shinn's PICKED.

Douglas Aibel is Artistic Director of Vineyard Theatre; Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell is Executive Director.

For more information on the Vineyard Theatre please visit www.vineyardtheatre.org or call the box office at 212-353-0303.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi