Renowned Japanese Filmmaker Visits Stella Adler Studio of Acting

Renowned Japanese filmmaker Toshi Shioya is in New York this week to meet with teachers from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and discuss their new partnership with The Actors Clinic, a prominent acting school in Tokyo led by Shioya. The coalition is producing an original theater piece, "Hikobae," which follows the story of the medical staff that risked their lives in Soma City, Fukushima after the March 11 earthquake.

"While discussing 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."

Performances of "Hikobae" are scheduled to begin on March 11, 2012, the one year anniversary of the disaster. The play is planning to open in New York later that year.

About Toshi Shioya
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".

About 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 based 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.

To post a comment, you must register and login.