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About
Us
Playhouse West is a training ground for actors,
writers and directors founded by Robert Carnegie and Jeff
Goldblum in 1981. As an adjunct to our on-going acting classes,
we produce plays in repertory at all three of our studios,
using exclusively our current students, which are directed
by Playhouse West staff members and students.
The Playhouse West theatrical production of “Welcome
Home, Soldier” won an award for the Best Play of
1991 and is currently the longest running play in L.A., now
in its 15th year. Modeled upon the Group Theatre of the thirties,
and owing much to its founders, Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler,
Harold Clurman, and Elia Kazan, Playhouse West has been dedicated
to keeping alive and promulgating a passion for realistic
acting and the presentation of ensemble productions that address
the current social moment.
Playhouse West is also intrinsic in the production of film
projects, from feature lengths to shorts, and every year we
present a three day Film Festival
featuring projects our members have played a role in generating
(for information: pwff.net). In 1995, Little Surprises, directed
by Jeff Goldblum and starring an ensemble of Playhouse West
actors along with such notables as Rod Steiger and Julie Harris,
garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Motion Picture
Short. Member Henry Barrial’s Some Body, was one of
sixteen finalists at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001. Another,
the TNT original movie, James Dean starring Playhouse West
member James Franco, received rave reviews nationwide and
a Golden Globe award for James’ performance. In 2003,
Dallas 362, written, directed and starring PW member Scott
Caan, garnered the Critic’s Choice Award for Best Feature
Film at the CineVegas International Film Festival. In 2004,
member Marty Sader’s feature, Most High, took awards
at four major film festivals, winning Best Picture, Best Actor,
Best Director and Screenplay at Chicago’s IndieFest,
the “Golden Starfish Award” for Best Feature Film
at The Hamptons International Film Festival, The Audience
Choice Award at Sundance, and most recently Best Picture at
Atlanta Film Festival. In the last three years alone, past
and present members of Playhouse West have written, directed,
starred or produced over 240 motion pictures. In February
2006, the Disney film, Annapolis, opened in theaters starring
five Playhouse West members, James Franco, Jordanna Brewster,
Roger Fan, Jim Parrack and Katie Hein.
For more information about the Playhouse West Repertory Theater,
explore the theater section
on our website. For information regarding the school,
please visit our auditing information
online or contact Robert Carnegie at (818) 881-6520.
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