Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie Perez Discuss Art and Social Activism at Clurman Festival

A celebration art and social activism begin on October 17th when the Stella Adler Studio of Acting kicks off its third annual Harold Clurman Festival of the Arts. The Harold Clurman Festival brings artists from many disciplines together with events including poetry readings, concerts, panel discussions and theater and dance performances. The theme for this year's Harold Clurman Festival is 'Art & Social Activism.'

Many noted artists and community leaders will participate in the Harold Clurman Festival. The festival opens with a symposium, Art and Social Activism: Spotlight on Africa, with: Mira Sorvino, Winter Miller, Melissa Fitzgerald (star of The West Wing), John Prendergast, Nima Elbagir and Jimmie Briggs. The next night, dance takes Center Stage with Movement: a Universal Language with Margie Gillis, Bill T. Jones, Irene Dowd and others. On Sunday, Majora Carter, Forrest Gander, James Sherry, Marcella Durand and Jonathan Skinner will participate in readings and discussions in Wherever Green is Worn: Ecology and Antiwar.

Events continue throughout the week and include a reading of All that Fall by Samuel Beckett with Alvin Epstein and What Shall I Give My Children? written by Don K. Williams and directed by Tom Oppenheim. The closing weekend the focus turns to educational justice. Saturday October 26th, there will be a panel discussion with activists Herbert Kohl, Maxine Greene, Francis Lucerna and William Ayers, moderated by Leonard Lopate. Finally, the closing night symposium, Art and Educational Justice, showcases Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie Perez, Phylicia Rashad and Anna Deavere Smith, also moderated by Leonard Lopate.

Festival passes are $250*, which covers the admission to all festival events. Single tickets are available for select events for $25 each. Visit Smarttix.com to purchase. For the full festival schedule, see below.
*Proceeds from the festival will support the Stella Adler Studio's programs including the Outreach Division, which provides free theater education to New York City public school students.

About The Stella Adler Studio of Acting
The Stella Adler Studio of Acting is an acting school based in New York City. The actress and teacher Stella Adler founded the Studio in 1949. Adler founded the Studio on her belief in the seriousness of her art. Adler and the school have trained many of the brilliant actors of our time, including Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, elaine stritch, Benicio Del Toro, Mark Ruffalo and Salma Hayek. The Stella Adler Studio of Acting is a nonprofit organization, which trains over 500 actors annually. The Studio also presents lectures, poetry readings, concerts, theater performances, dance theater events and an annual arts festival.
www.stellaadler.com

Photo by Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.