Donald Carrier Hired as New Associate Director of MFA Acting Program

Cleveland Play House announces the hiring of Donald Carrier as the new Associate Director of the Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Acting Program. Carrier has acted, taught and directed at regional theatres throughout the country, including The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Old Globe, The Shakespeare Theatre, and The Intiman; he also spent 9 years as a company member of Stratford Shakespeare Festival and 2 years at Shaw Festival Theatre.

"Bringing Don Carrier into the CWRU/CPH MFA is a leap forward for an already fine program," said Artistic Director Michael Bloom. "He has a superb conservatory background and extensive teaching and directing experience in the U.S. and Canada. To have an actor of his stature on CPH's staff is a true gift." Bloom has directed Carrier as Oscar Wilde in Gross Indecencies at the Hungtington Theatre Company in Boston and Lincolnesque at CPH. Carrier also appeared in Noises Off at CPH.

"Donald Carrier comes to us with a wealth of professional experience that will be of great benefit to the MFA Program over the coming years," says Ron Wilson, Director of the MFA Acting Program. "We look forward to having him on board."

Since 1996, Cleveland Play House (CPH) has partnered with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) to offer an MFA degree in Acting. In 2003, it became a conservatory program completely housed at Cleveland Play House. As Associate Director, Carrier will serve as the primary liaison to CWRU on matters concerning the MFA Acting Program, in addition to directing MFA productions, assisting with curriculum planning, supervising and evaluating the training of the Graduate Ensemble, as well as serving as a master teacher and advisor.

"What excites me most about what I can bring to this position is the fact that I've worked across the country and have a sense of what is out there and what is really required for a young actor to be successful, or to at least possess the knowledge to be pro-active," comments Carrier.

Carrier's new career in Cleveland theatre won't be strictly limited to the CWRU/CPH MFA program. In the upcoming 2011-12 Mainstage season, he will be in the cast as Alfred Lunt in Ten Chimneys and as Mr. Daldry in In the Next Room. Carrier will join CPH in September.

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