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ABOUT US
Mission
Actor's Express Theatre offers original voices and new perspectives that reflect Atlanta's diverse and evolving community.
"...by far the gutsiest theatre in the city." Southern Voice
"...the city's most vital theatrical venue." Creative Loafing
Actor's Express is one of the most remarkable and daring theatre companies in the Southeast. Recently cited as "the city's most vital theatrical venue" (Creative Loafing), Actor's Express (AE) has found and filled an important niche in Atlanta's arts community as a place for high quality theatre and theatre education. In all, Actor's Express has received over 100 citations since its inception in 1988 for its artistic excellence including: "Best Director" for Jasson Minadakis (Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Creative Loafing, 2004); "Best Production of 2005" for BUG, (Atlanta Journal-Constitution); and "Best Theatre Company" (Creative Loafing, 2005 and Southern Voice, 2004 & 2005).
We firmly believe the relevance and vitality of the American theater depends upon a continual infusion of new work and the nurturing of new playwrights. New plays are the lifeblood of theatre, and playwrights are the chroniclers, critics, and prophets of our times. These writers bring us important messages about our world, the way we live, love, and sacrifice, and provide new insights into our humanity. Actor's Express is committed to championing the next great American play.
Our primary goals are four-fold: to nurture the next generation of playwrights through workshops, readings, and full productions of new plays; to develop and nurture Atlanta's artistic community through theatre training; to catalyze the dialogue essential to the vitality of our neighborhood and our city; and to enhance Atlanta's reputation nationally as a thriving center for live performance. To reach these goals Actor's Express offers:
- The Actor's Express Mainstage Series - Five to seven mainstage productions (typically world, regional or city premieres) run on AE's mainstage for five weeks.
- Intern Company - In this intense, one-year program, eight to twelve professional interns receive at least ten courses and workshops and are trained in all aspects of theatre production through one-on-one project assignments with full-time staff members. Interns also serve as the understudy and run-crew company for each show on the season and are guaranteed at least one public performance of each production. Additionally, interns collaborate with a playwright and professional director in the creation & rehearsal of a new play for a workshop showcase near the end of season.
- Intern Outreach Program - Launched in the spring of 1998, the tour utilizes the talents of our Intern Company to tour to metro-Atlanta and regional colleges, universities, high-schools, and middle-schools with workshops and company-created performances. AE is currently touring a commissioned production of A Short History of Nearly Everything by Lauren Gunderson, adapted from the book by Bill Bryson. The show is a unique, energetic format that will combine science education and theatre arts.
- In The Works Reading Series - This program, a crucible for new play development, is a chance for Actor's Express to champion the next great American play from its earliest inception. Emerging playwrights are given the opportunity to rehearse and fine tune a script they are currently writing with Atlanta's best actors and directors in a workshop format. Final readings are open to the public and offer moderated dialogue between the writer and an audience.
- Classes at Actor's Express - Courses are offered to the public year-round in a number of disciplines, including: Introductory & Intermediate Acting, Comedic Scene Study, Fitzmaurice Voice Technique, Dramaturgy, New American Plays, Audition Technique, Text Analysis, Acting for the Camera and Physical Theatre.
- Corollary Programming - This series accompanies many of our mainstage productions and provides a forum for dialogue about issues raised in these productions. Examples include talk-backs, panel discussions, film screenings and guest lectures.
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