Info

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 of world, regional or city premieres run on AE's mainstage for six to ten 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, and are guaranteed at least one public performance of each production. AE's Dark Night programming - This series allows for younger companies and artists to showcase their work. Actor's Express provides the use of our space for very little or no fee, and individual artists and companies have the opportunity to be mentored by the Express' more experienced staff in all areas of play production. AE's 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. In 2006-2007, AE is launching a wrold premiere touring production, The History of (And Everything Cool About) Science Right Here in Front of You, in a unique format that will combine science education and theatre arts. The School at Actor's Express - Serving approximately 100 students and teachers each season, courses are offered to the public year-round in Meisner Technique, Chekov Technique, Comedic Scene Study, Voice Class, Audition Technique, Text Analysis, Acting for the Camera, etc. Corollary Programming - This series accompanies many of our mainstage productions and provides a forum for dialogue about issues raised in these productions. Previous programming has included film screenings, talk-back sessions, readings, and panel discussions.