EDUCATION
Cherry Lane School
Cherry Lane School is our low- and no-cost professional performing arts training program.
Cherry Lane School offers students an interactive and inside view of the creative process from masters of the craft, in the intimate and welcoming setting of our theaters. We feature Master Classes throughout the year that range from standing-room-only panel discussions with leading playwrights in our 179-seat Mainstage Theater to hands-on acting workshops limited to 12 participants.
Classes are designed to cater to a wide range of experience among students, who include both working theater professionals seeking exposure to new techniques and styles of instruction as well as first-time students ready to take the plunge in a safe environment. We engage instructors from within Cherry Lane’s unique community with long-won experience who can inspire students and help them to acquire immediately applicable skills to reach their artistic and practical goals.
history of the program
The idea of Cherry Lane School took root in 2000, when Edward Albee engaged in a question-and-answer session about his writing process. The opportunity proved so valuable and inspiring for our community of emerging artists that he returned the following year for an expanded session that included playwrights Alfred Uhry, Craig Lucas, David Henry Hwang, Marsha Norman and A.R. Gurney. Since the program’s inception, Cherry Lane's master classes have engaged the most exciting, legendary and iconic artists working in theater today, from playwrights, actors and directors to producers, designers and specialized theater professionals.
Recent instructors have covered valuable profession-oriented subjects, including: Sam Rudy (HAMILTON) on the Work of a Theater Publicist, Matt Williams ("Roseanne," "Home Improvement") on The DNA of Storytelling, Elizabeth McCann (INDECENT) on Artists Self-Producing, Angelina Firodellisi (Founder, Cherry Lane Theatre) on Acting and The Authenticity of Being, Tonya Pinkins (CAROLINE, OR CHANGE) on Delving Deep into Monologue Work and Kate Murray (Casting Director, The Public Theater) on Preparing for Theater Auditions.
The Master Class series enhances Cherry Lane's mission to serve emerging as well as established talent within Cherry Lane’s community of artists. In our intimate, historic setting, the Master Class participants were able to experience focused contact with distinguished artists in discussions that ranged from the challenges of the artistic process and production, to navigating professional partnerships and moments that inspired their commitment to working in theatre.