Stella Adler Studio of Acting Launches School in Japan

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting is proud to announce a new acting school in Tokyo, Japan -- The Stella Adler Center for International Theater Studies and Exchange -- otherwise known as the I-Center. The first collaborative production is a film documenting the days after the devastating earthquake on March 11, 2011.

The I-Center brings the Stella Adler Studio of Acting to a fourth country. Schools have already opened in India, the Philippines and Mexico. The New York studio has trained legendary artists such as Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, Benicio del Toro, Warren Beatty and Salma Hayek among many others. This past year Stella Adler Studio of Acting celebrated its 65th anniversary and its flagship school in New York City trains more than 500 actors every year.

"While the I-Center is currently in four different countries, our partnership with Japan is by far the most important, rewarding, exciting and creative," said Tom Oppenheim, President & Artistic Director of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. "The reason for this can be summed up in a single name: Toshi Shioya."

Toshi Shioya opened his own acting school, the Actors Clinic, in Japan in 1994 and has produced eight feature films there. Shioya, a renowned Japanese filmmaker and actor, will oversee the center in Tokyo. He proposed the new center to Oppenheim around three distinct projects.

First, Shioya developed a plan to stream live, interactive classes over the internet with Japanese students and master acting technique teacher Ron Burrus, who works at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting New York City.

Shioya also proposed two international productions, "Hikobae" and "Is It Already Dusk?". The first tells the story of the medical staff that risked their lives in Soma City, Fukushima after the March 11, 2011 earthquake.

"While discussing with Tom what kind of first projects to do with The Stella Adler Studio of Acting, eastern Japan was struck by an unprecedented earthquake," Shioya said. "Two weeks after the disaster, Soma City Mayor Hidekiyo Tachiya requested that we film the endless struggle in the city. The explosion at the Fukushima nuclear power plant happened two days after. Tom Oppenheim suggested a theatrical play commemorating the earthquake as our premiere production."

The second production was conceived by Stella Adler Studio of Acting master movement instructor Joan Evans. The production is based on the life of Takashi Tanemori, who was eight years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Tanemori lived on the streets of post war Japan before immigrating to the US at age 18. He spent much of his life seeking revenge against America until a spiritual awakening that allowed him to convert his revenge into forgiveness.

"I've seen two of Mr. Shioya's films, 'Swing Me Again' and 'Winds From Zero,' both of which are deeply moving portrayals of human beings confronted with social circumstances and injustices fighting for their own dignity and humanity," Oppenheim said. "As such they are in perfect harmony with the tradition of the Stella Adler Studio."

Shioya and Oppenheim will unveil the I-Center on Monday, Aug. 1 at 3PM during a press conference in Tokyo. Featured speakers at the conference will be Toshi Shioya, Tom Oppenheim, Hidekiyo Tachiya, and Shuri, a well-known actress. If you are interested in attending or for more information regarding the school, please contact The TASC Group at 646-723-4344 or sam@thetascgroup.com.

Toshi Shioya is an actor who has worked in American, Australian, British and Japanese films. He has worked as a producer, a director and is the founder of the Actors Clinic in Tokyo and Osaka, where he teaches his students on most weeks. Shioya has been involved with many movies, including critically acclaimed "Swing me Again" and "Winds from Zero".

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 DeNiro, 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.

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