Introducing…the A.R.T./MXAT Institute Class of 2013

Last week, we welcomed the newest class of actors, dramaturgs and voice students to the A.R.T./MXAT Institute for Advanced Theater Training:

Acting
David Abrams
Elizabeth Bates
Kristen Browne
Samantha Eggers
Marisa Fratto
Elijah Guo
Megan Hopp
Amen Igbinosun
Rushi Kota
Sarah Beth Roberts
Adeola Role
Henry Shikongo
Dereks Thomas
Robert Torres
Katherine Vos
Jing Xu
Dara Yazdani

Dramaturgy
Kenneth Molloy
Liana Stillman

Voice
Ronald Carlos

The Class of 2013 jumped right into an intense summer session: acting class six days a week taught by master teachers from the Moscow Art Theatre School, plus movement, voice, Russian language and theater history. Kind of like theater boot camp.

As they continue their training into the fall, the ensemble will start to develop an original piece of theater, which they will premiere on the Moscow Art Theatre student stage in the spring of 2012. The class will actually spend three months (!) in residence at the legendary Moscow Art Theatre (the original stomping grounds of Chekhov, Stanislavski and Meyerhold— a.k.a. the holy trinity of 20th century drama), performing the only English-language show in town while training with Russian theater masters. Seriously. Masters.

This year marks the 13th anniversary of this most excellent transatlantic partnership, between the A.R.T. and the Moscow Art Theatre School. Lucky!

The A.R.T. Institute itself has been around since 1987. An integral part of founding Artistic Director Robert Brustein’s vision— to expand the boundaries of theater— was the creation of a world-class training program, through which young artists could hone their craft under the guidance of the ultimate master teacher: an active, envelope-pushing, major regional theater. 25 years later, the Institute remains deeply intertwined with the professional life of the American Repertory Theater. Not only will you see Institute students performing in several A.R.T. season shows, but you’ll also find them leading talkbacks, running workshops for local high school students, and assistant-teaching Harvard classes.

We couldn’t be happier to welcome another amazingly talented group of young artists to the A.R.T. family. If you see any of ’em around the Square, say hi!

The Institute Class of 2012 returns to Cambridge in September…get ready for an awesome Institute season…

Stay tuned for more Institute updates on the A.R.T. blog!

Author:  Brendan Shea

Publication date: July 12, 2011

Featured Comment: Last week, we welcomed the newest members of the A.R.T. family, the Institute Class of 2013! Come say hello.