Tom Oppenheim Discusses the Stella Adler Studio's Off-Broadway Debut

After 62 years, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting is making its Off-Broadway debut. The studio's artistic director Tom Oppenheim, Adler's grandson, took over the school 15 years ago with a mission to bring vibrant, professional-level theater to the studio. With the creation of the Harold Clurman Laboratory Theater in 2001, the studio began producing professional shows internally.One of 2010's works, Israel Horovitz's "Lebensraum," received funding from an independent donor, and now the studio is bringing the Holocaust-themed show Off-Broadway. Oppenheim spoke with "Back Stage" about what producing theater Off-Broadway means for the studio and Adler's legacy.Back Stage: Why did you decide to present a show Off-Broadway now? Tom Oppenheim: The Harold Clurman Laboratory Theater has been productive for five years, doing 3 shows a year here. Really it has to do with opportunity. We've been champing at the bit to build this theater company and present ourselves to the bigger community for some time. And we did this show last year, and we happened to get funding to move it.Back Stage: How did you choose this show? Oppenheim: We did it in the Harold Clurman Festival of the Arts in 2010. [Stella Adler's second husband] Harold Clurman was a co-founder of The Group Theatre. A lot of the work has to do with a sense of being socially engaged, being connected to the world in terms of issues of the day. For example, the way the Group Theatre did theater. A cast member, Aidan Koehler, who is a [Harold Clurman Lab] company member, gave me the play. It has enormous social relevance. It's also an extraordinary theatrical production. Three actors play 50 different characters. It's essentially about war and peace, peace and reconciliation, and the effort to achieve reconcilliation. The deep question at the heart of it is: What might actors do in the face of atrocity and injustice? Back Stage: How has the production changed from its festival presentation? Oppenheim: Not much. We're really able to replicate the set in the Abingdon. There's some more technical abilities that we have in the Abingdon that we didn't have in our little black box theater. You want to stay alive in the new space. In spirit, it's grows out of its original incarnation.Back Stage: Was anything keeping you from bringing your Lab productions Off-Broadway before? Oppenheim: Just funding. We would have moved anything that we had Off-Broadway, and we feel consistently that the work we do is worthy of an Off-Broadway house. Back Stage: Do you hope to continue bringing your shows Off-Broadway? Oppenheim: Absolutely. Now that we've done this, we want to continue to try to fund our shows and do them Off-Broadway. We want to present ourselves as a bona fide, vital, relevant, active theater company and take our place alongside other such companies. We have another theater company called the Harold Clurman Center for New Works in Movement and Dance Theater (MAD). We have a piece that we're hoping to raise funds for and put it Off-Broadway immediately. We're intent on moving our professional work out of the school and into an Off-Broadway setting. Back Stage: Who is typically involved in the studio's professional shows? Oppenheim: It's alumni, staff, faculty, and outsiders. The piece that we're doing right now has Adam Gerber and Aidan Koehler, who are two former students, and Mickey Ryan, who has never studied with us but who we auditioned and is just absolutely terrific.When I took over the studio 15 years ago, I wanted to make sure the studio didn't degenerate into a wax museum devoted to Stella's memory. I wanted it to be a living, breathing extension of her spirit. The question that I posed to myself was: What does it mean to be the Stella Adler Studio of Acting today? The first thing I did was relinquish dogma. I didn't make having studied with Stella a requirement for teaching here. And then I identified what we would use as our guidepost for the future. What guides us in terms of how we move forward? The spirit of her work. For me it's summed up in the insight that growth as an actor and growth as a human being are synonymous. That vitalized us enormously. Back Stage: What sorts of plays do you want to produce? Oppenheim: We want to do plays that are reflected in our curriculum. We want to do classical plays, and we want to do realistic plays. We've done Shakespeare. We've done Thornton Wilder. We also have something called the Harold Clurman Playwrights Division. That playwriting division has a resident playwright, and part of the residency includes that we do a Harold Clurman Lab production of a script of a resident playwright's choice. With MAD, that's avant-garde, movement-oriented theater. We have a great emphasis on movement and conceived work in our curriculum. Back Stage: How do you think it enriches the training curriculum to produce professional theater? Oppenheim: It produces a sense of the next step after training. The mission of the studio is to create an environment that nurtures theater artists, and I think it contributes to that environment to be around productions and to be around the passion to produce theater. Back Stage: Do you think producing theater Off-Broadway is something Stella would have wanted to do? Oppenheim: Absolutely. She several efforts in her lifetime, and I think there was always in the back of her mind a sense that producing professional theater would be an important extension of her work. She did a famous, well-produced "Johnny Johnson" with her students .She did a really important "Alice in Wonderland" adaptation. I think this is something she would be absolutely delighted by.Really the Adler family, we're known for acting. But really we could also be known for building. We've been building theater and building theaters from all the way back in the 1880s in Odessa, in England, and the lower east side of Manhattan. I'm proud and pleased to be able to continue that particular part of the legacy. "Lebensraum" is slated to run at the Abingdon Theatre Complex's June Havoc Theater, 312 W. 36th St., from Oct. 29-Nov. 20. (212) 868-4444. www.smarttix.com. READ MORE ON BLOG STAGE

Moviefone Exclusive: Gorgeous New Poster for 'My Week With Marilyn' Features Michelle Williams Taken photos of by Brigitte Lacombe

French digital digital photographer Brigitte Lacombe has already established portraits of famous faces different from Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson to Barack and Michelle Obama (and almost everyone between). One mega-star she did not possess the chance to photograph? The late Marilyn Monroe. Due to the miracle of Hollywood, however, Lacombe arrived at perform the following best factor: immortalize Michelle Williams's Oscar-worthy performance since the blonde bombshell in this new and exclusive poster for 'My Week With Marilyn.' [Click for bigger] Good journals of Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), another assistant director round the number of 'The Prince as well as the Showgirl' in 1957 with Monroe (Williams) and Mister Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh), 'My Week With Marilyn' opens in limited release on November. 23. Go back to Moviefone for further round the Simon Curtis-directed film inside the future. [Top Photo: The Weinstein Co.] 'My Week With Marilyn' Photos Michelle Williams as Marilyn MonroeEddie Redmayne as Colin ClarkKenneth Branagh as Mister Laurence OlivierEmma Watson and Eddie Redmayne as Lucy and Colin Clark See All Moviefone Galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Hollywood Democrats Rally Behind U.S. Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren

This article originally appeared in the Nov. 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter.our editor recommends10 Hollywood Players That Will Make a Difference in the 2012 Elections Every political season, Hollywood Democrats rally behind at least one fresh face. In 2010, it was Kamala Harris, who raked in thousands of dollars from the industry in becoming California's first female attorney general. Before that, it was Alan Khazei, who sought Ted Kennedy's Senate seat that eventually went to Tea Party candidate Scott Brown. PHOTOS: Box Office Politics: The Movies and Stars Dems vs. GOPers Love (and Love to Hate) This year's rising star is ex-Harvard Law professor Elizabeth Warren, who likely will face Brown in November 2012. Warren, 62, came to Hollywood's attention when President Barack Obama asked her to chair the panel overseeing the Troubled Asset Relief Program and she became an advocate for financial regulation reform. At about that time, film composer Hans Zimmer came across a speech on YouTube that Warren had given at UC Berkeley. Zimmer contacted her to discuss ways Hollywood might aid middle-class Americans and also got in touch with Ron Howard, who introduced Warren to Adam McKay, Will Ferrell's producing partner. Ferrell, Jim Carrey and others were enlisted to star in a Funny or Die video urging Obama to back consumer financial reform. Warren received a mention in the credits, and the video became a viral sensation. PHOTOS: 10 Hollywood Players That Will Make a Difference in the 2012 Elections Now, Norman and Lyn Lear are set to host a $1,000-to-$5,000-a-plate fund-raiser Nov. 1 for Warren, with co-hosts including Barbra Streisand, Steve Bing and Lorraine and Sid Sheinberg. Warren has raised $3.15 million, and she'll need more if she wants to beat Brown, who has $12 million banked. But taking Hollywood money has drawbacks. Harold Ford Jr. visited Beverly Hills so often for his 2006 Senate run in Tennessee that his opponent portrayed him as a Hollywood party boy. Ford lost. Still, Warren is expected to be a frequent Westside visitor. Says Zimmer, "She will be that strong and principled voice we need in Congress." 3 OTHER CANDIDATES SHOWBIZ LOVES: Kirsten Gillibrand,NY Senator:The incumbent has raised more than $200,000 from industry sources, most of them supporters of Hillary Clinton, who previously held the seat. CAA's Kevin Huvane hosted an Oct. 23 fund-raiser for Gillibrandat his Beverly Hills home. Patrick Murphy,Former Congressman:He's running for Pennsylvania attorney general, but the West Point graduate helped persuade moderate Democrats to support the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell." Expect Rob Reiner and others to pledge cash. Dan Roberti,Running for Congress in Connecticut:The first-time candidate has raised $50,000-plus from Hollywood. How? While working on a graduate degree in New Orleans, Roberti met James Carville, who is helping him with industry introductions. Related Topics Barbra Streisand Ron Howard Steve Bing Politics

X-Men: First Class Extended Scene

See Banshee fly!Matthew Vaughn's X-Men:First Class hits DVD next Monday (October 31), but just ahead of that release we have a tiny sneak preview of the disc's extras for you, in the shape of this extensively extended scene showing Banshee's training regime.The film, as any fool knows, is the story of Marvel's mutants' early years, trying to make their super-powered way through a hostile (but kinda cool, James Bond-ian) world. James McAvoy plays the young Professor X; Michael Fassbender is Erik Lehnssher / Magneto; the cast is rounded out by the likes of Caleb Landry Jones (seen here as Banshee), Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Bacon, January Jones, Oliver Platt, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence, Jason Flemyng, Zoe Kravitz and Alex Gonzalez.Check out this fun, lengthier version of the scene and see what you think. Any way you look at it, we're looking forward to seeing this again at home, and catching up on the Fassavoy bromance. Roll on Halloween!

American Pie's Thomas Ian Nicholas Welcomes Selecting

Thomas Ian Nicholas Thomas Ian Nicholas has welcomed a baby boy to his family, People reviews. The American Cake star's wife, Collette, gave birth Thursday for his or her first child, Nolan River, who considered in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces. See the relaxation of current day news "The initial component that Nolan did when he became a member of the earth was grab one of the doctor's tools from his hands," Nicholas mentioned. "We might only have the following physician inside our midst." Nicholas will reunite while using Cake gang for 2012's American Reunion.

Bin Laden Film Moving After 2012 Election?

No decision has been manufactured yet. But studio sources say it “looks likely” that The new sony Pictures which in fact had scheduled its search-for-Bin Laden film for release October twelfth is moving it to later in 2012 or into 2013. That puts it following the 2012 election and guarantees the film won’t be a so-known as “October surprise” and boost Leader Obama’s re-election chances by telling voters his administration caught and wiped out the Al-Qaeda leader. Doubtful this can quiet all thepartisan political talk in Washington and Hollywood aboutthe Mark Boal-Kathryn Bigelow film.

The Vampire Diaries' Candice Accola: Tyler and Caroline Are Teammates

Candice Accola, Michael Trevino School's finally in session round the Vampire Journals. "You'll probably begin to see these figures within our prime school atmosphere and a little more inside their age-bracket element," Candice Accola notifies TVGuide.com. VIDEO: Is Vampire Diaries' Bonnie a goner? Watch our Season 3 predictions On Thursday's episode, "The Reckoning," Caroline (Accola) gathers Elena (Nina Dobrev), Bonnie (Kat Graham), Matt (Zach Roerig) and Tyler (Michael Trevino) for Senior Prank Evening to begin the Mystic Falls school year. Clearly, you will discover some problems in route. "Sometimes you would like around the prank going one way, nevertheless the rug is attracted from underneath you together with goes completely the choice,In . she hints. Caroline just desires to have a bit of fun ultimately she's experienced. Between turning to be considered a vampire, helping her friend transition in to a werewolf and looking to be able to save another friend within the most evil Original vampire in the world, Accola states, "She will get a recently found responsibility to guard individuals round her. Which has been one of the qualities that have really grown within Caroline from her transition into as being a vampire." The Vampire Journals Bite: Will Jeremy come clean to Bonnie? Caroline has furthermore found a handsome shoulder to depend on in friend switched friend-with-benefits Tyler Lockwood. "A Few Things I love in regards to the Tyler-Caroline [relationship] could it be develops from a location of friendship and perception of, 'I have your back plus you've got mine.' They're teammates in by doing this,Inch she states, adding: "Even though they've required to psychologically evolve, they're still in secondary school, you never know how extended the bond lasts?In . Since both Sheriff Forbes and Mayor Lockwood realize that their kids are not only found opposing supernatural species, but hooking up up, do they really make an effort to stop them? "There's definite chance for your Council to skyrocket as well as the pot being stirred within the parental perspective, yes, but they are we looked into that at this time around? No," she states. And speaking about parental figures, audiences recently met Caroline's disapproving father. Although a lot of people question if his hate for vampires of the underworld from the underworld originates from rapport for the lately introduced vampire hunter (carried out by Sebastian Roche), Accola shoots lower that theory. "That's reaching pretty far. You never know ... but at this time around this can be a pretty far achieve," she states. Still, last week's episode is most likely not the conclusion of his arc. "We will probably see really Caroline's father," she states. "When which will happen I have not a clue, however don't think that's all the Father Forbes." The Vampire Journals airs Thursdays at 8/7c round the CW.

Hacker Who Stole Photos, Info From Scarlett Johansson And Mila Kunis Didnt Take Action To Earn Money, FBI States

The hacker who broke into the email options of Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera, Mila Kunis and a lot of other stars remains recognized becoming an apparently unemployed 35-year-some guy dwelling within the town of the city of jacksonville, Fla., who the FBI mentioned didn’t possess the signs and symptoms of attempted it your money can buy even though several allegedly pilfered images wound up on celebrity websites. From his pc, the L.A. Occasions reported, Christopher Chaney allegedly looked celebrity magazines, websites and Facebook posts glean emails and password clues within the names of pals, children, siblings and siblings, pets or any apparently innocuous personal data. Beginning in November 2010, the FBI mentioned, Chaney jeopardized around 50 sufferers, many of them from electronic address books. Even if he didn’t sell information or photos or make an effort to blackmail his targets, it’s way creepy, so when billed Chaney faces around 120 years jail time.

Ron Nelson estate sues Capitol Records

Singer-actor Ron Nelson's estate has punished Capitol Records for millions in delinquent royalties, alleging common accounting sleight-of-hands. The knowledge, filed in California Superior Court in L.A. on March. 3, alleges fraud, breach of contract, together with other abuses, and seeks actual and punitive damages being determined at trial. Nelson, who died in the 1985 plane crash, increased to become rock 'n' roll star after he was featured on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," typically the most popular ABC sitcom starring his parents, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. He was signed to Imperial Records in 1957, and totalled up 39 chart singles, including two No. 1 smashes and 15 the best-10 hits, before exiting the label for Decca Records in 1963. Imperial was later agreed to Liberty Records, which subsequently increased to explore Capitol, flagship label of EMI Music. EMI is presently up available by Citigroup, which needed control of the troubled company taken. Action states, "Today, Capitol is crippled and operated having a skeleton crew since it prepares itself being offered off." Suit notes that in May 1992, Capitol informed its "legacy" artists in the '50s, '60s and '70s the new, greater royalty rate, of 10% in the retail list cost for individuals full-cost albums, have been implemented. The Nelson estate audited Capitol's catalog account this year, and alleges the label was accounting improperly, decreasing to provide crucial more knowledge about Nelson's royalties and neglecting the '92 royalty increase. Action claims Capitol is possessing $100 million-$250 million in "unmatched earnings" that cannot be connected with any particular artist, and contains "stonewalled" attempts to determine simply how much the Nelson estate arrives from that cache. Echoing recent suits filed against Universal Group by its legacy functions regarding digital royalties, the Nelson action states that since the singer's agreement did not anticipate digital distribution, it may be "grossly inequitable" to cover the estate good old rates. An EMI representative did not immediately respond to a request comment. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Drive Faces Dumbest Suit Ever, and 5 Other Tales You'll Be Talking About Today

Happy Monday! Also in today’s edition in the Broadsheet: A Pixar alum can get the closest of close reads… Tortured Oscar logic… Perfectly absurd new reality stars… The $24 million Korean humanist marathoner World war ii film you've (or haven’t) been waiting for… plus much more. · Apparently some idiot lady outdoors Detroit is actually suing distributor FilmDistrict for misleading her into watching Drive. Apparently Sarah Deming of Keego Harbor, Mich., saw a clip and expected something “very such as the Fast and Furious, or similar, quantity of movies.” Rather, she alleges, she got mood-driven splatter in addition to “extreme gratuitous defamatory dehumanizing racism directed against people in the Jewish belief.” What? However for your last part I’d have just lined all this around another stroke of genius by FilmDistrict boss and marketing wizard Bob Berney. Anyway, take the time revisit bed mattress your entire day isn’t getting far better. [WDIV via MCN] · It’s presently behind the paywall, however’s NYer profile of Oscar-winning Pixar director Andrew Stanton’s transition to reside in-action for John Carter is forever interesting reading through through. [The NYer] · “Will Marilyn Monroe Finally Win An Oscar Jerk If Michelle Williams Does?” Huh? Anyway, just throwing it available. [Deadline] · Speaking about redoutable, immutable logic, let headhunter Stephen Viscusi reduces the philosophy guiding his new A&E reality series The Job Whisperer: “If they that you just saw on tv will get employment, log off your ass and acquire employment, too.” Sigh. [NY Publish] · I’m unsure the earth is extremely ready for just about any “humanist” movie about Korean and Japanese marathoners going for a detour into World war ii to fight for Japan as well as the Ussr and lastly, as crooks of war, Germany. However, the director promises “visual effects that haven’t been seen before in the war movie,” so hey. Can’t wait? [THR] · “Can I buy cancer from dental sex?” Males particularly might want to brace themselves before searching only at that helpful, terrifying infograph. [The Daily Animal]

Affiliates: Professional shuffles

Nicole Sabatini remains named Style Network's senior veepee of promoting. Sabatini recently offered as veep of ad advertising and marketing for Bravo Media.Entertainment Art galleries has hired Lenny Bart professional veep of research and business development. Bart joins the indie syndie distrib from Debmar-Mercury, where he was professional V . p . and gm.Suejin Yang remains named V . p . of digital media at Bravo Media. Formerly, Yang held the V . p . of product publish for MTV and VH1 digital.ITV Art galleries America has attracted on Jane Yusim as professional director of development. She joins ITV's U.S. branch we now have spent just like a development professional at Zoo Prods. and GRB Entertainment.Liana Huth Farnham remains hired senior veepee of partners and occasions for Fuse. Farnham was veep of promoting, concerts and network integration for Monosodium glutamate Entertainment.Game Show Network has hired Stephen Croncota to professional V . p . and chief marketing officer. Most recently, Croncota was senior V . p . of promoting for E! Entertainment Television.Sucherman Speaking to Group has named Angela Gardner professional V . p . of development. Gardner happen to be Fox Entertainment Group's senior V . p . of talent acquisition. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Exclusive: Criminal Minds Books Charles S. Dutton

Charles Dutton Three-time Emmy winner Charles S. Dutton will guest-star on Criminal Minds later this season, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively.Fall Preview: Get scoop on your favorite returning showsThe actor will play Tony Colt, a Philadelphia boxing trainer who learns that his favorite pupil, whom he's mentored like a son, turns out to be the violent serial killer that brings the BAU to the city. Criminal Minds' A.J. Cook: It makes sense for JJ to become a profilerDutton, 60, won two guest-acting Emmys for his work on The Practice and Without a Trace, and a directing Emmy for the HBO miniseries The Corner. In recent years, he's guest-starred on CSI: NY, Law & Order: Los Angeles and, perhaps most memorably, as Foreman's dad on House.Criminal Minds airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on CBS. Dutton's episode, the 10th of the season, has not been scheduled yet.

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Andy Cohen: All Jersey Housewives Are Returning Next Season

First Published: October 4, 2011 5:51 PM EDT Credit: Getty Premium Caption Teresa Giudice and Jacqueline Laurita attend the 2011 Bravo Upfront at 82 Mercer in NY City on March 30, 2011 LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Fuhgeddaboudit! Those The Real Housewives of New Jersey casting shakeup reports are just rumors Bravos Andy Cohen told Access Hollywood on Tuesday. We have a great finale coming up for the Housewives of New Jersey and an even better reunion, Andy told Access at The Leadership Breakfast Series: Power of the Purse event in NY City. Reports surfaced last week that Jacqueline Laurita, who appears to be in the midst of a Twitter war with co-star Teresa Guidice, was leaving the Bravo series. Andy put those rumors to rest once and for all, saying, The cast is solid and theyre staying there. Everything that youve read has been untrue Theyre all coming back! Adding, Dont believe what you read! As for the recently taped reunion special, which Jacqueline Tweeted that she did not attend, the Bravo guru stayed mum on the drama. Youll have to watch what happens, Andy said with a smile. The season finale of The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs on October 9 at 10 PM on Bravo. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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