Third Annual Harold Clurman Festival of the Arts, Art and Social Activism.

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting will host the third annual Harold Clurman Festival of the Arts, from October 17 to 27, 2008 in New York City. The Harold Clurman Festival brings artists from many disciplines together to expand the cultural horizons of the Studio’s students, faculty and the community. Events include poetry readings, lectures, concerts, panel discussions and theater and dance performances. The theme for the 2008 Harold Clurman Festival is ‘Art and Social Activism.’ Many noted artists and community leaders will participate in this year’s Harold Clurman Festival. The largest events occur on the first and last days of the Festival: OPENING NIGHT: Art and Social Activism: Spotlight on Africa, a symposium discussion with panelists Mira Sorvino, Winter Miller, Melissa Fitzgerald (star of The West Wing), John Prendergast, Nima Elbagir and others, moderated by Jimmie Briggs. CLOSING NIGHT: Art and Educational Justice, a symposium discussion with panelists Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie Perez, Phylicia Rashad, Anna Deavere Smith and others, moderated by Leonard Lopate. Both the opening and closing events will take place at Cooper Union’s Great Hall, a space that has hosted many of the great social activists of the last century. All other events are held at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. For detailed information on events, times and for ticket information, please visit www.stellaadler.com or call (212) 689-0087. All proceeds benefit the Stella Adler Outreach Division which provides free actor training to inner-city youth. The Stella Adler Studio of Acting is an acting school based in New York City. The actress and teacher Stella Adler founded the Studio in 1949. Adler founded the Studio on her belief in the seriousness of her art. Adler and the school have trained many of the brilliant actors of our time, including Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Elaine Stritch, Benicio Del Toro, Mark Ruffalo and Salma Hayek. The Stella Adler Studio of Acting is a nonprofit organization, which trains over 500 actors annually.