LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF THE PROGRAM

Welcome to our Web site, and thanks for your interest in our program.  It's said that graduate study in any field should offer students a bridge to their intended profession.  The Professional Actor Training Program at UNC Chapel Hill has offered such a bridge to its students for thirty years, and remains one of the most select and respected actor training programs in the country.  

We offer our students a rigorous conservatory training program led by master teachers in excellent facilities, complemented by the opportunity to work and train as core members of PlayMakers Repertory Company, the professional LORT theatre associated with the Department of Dramatic Art at UNC Chapel Hill.  For more on the PlayMakers / PATP connection, please see the message from Joseph Haj, new Producing Artistic Director of PlayMakers.

For fall 2007 we have selected six outstanding early career professionals to join the PATP and PlayMakers.  For fall 2008 we will again be looking for a select group of talented and ambitious early-career professionals who are committed to furthering their training and to making a substantial contribution as members of the PlayMakers company.  What can you expect as a PATP acting student?  Here's a look back at 2006-2007:

      --PATP production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

      --Two-day industry and showcase workshop with Mark Schlegel of Cornerstone Talent Agency (New York) and Janet Foster of Janet Foster Casting (The Light in the Piazza at Lincoln Center)

      --PlayMaker's The Underpants featuring PATP actor Matt Patterson, directed by three-time Tony winner Gene Saks.

      --PlayMakers Tuesdays With Morrie featuring PATP actor Estes Tarver and guest artist Greg Mullavy, directed by Emmy-winner and faculty member Joan Darling.

      --PlayMakers Stones in His Pockets, featuring PATP actor David Friedlander, directed by PATP alum John Feltch.

     --Legendary vocalist Barbara Cook offered a Master Class in our Kenan Theatre.  PATP actors Danika Williams and Wes Schultz sang for Ms. Cook.

      --PlayMaker's The Bluest Eye, adapted from Toni Morrison, featuring PATP actors Allison Reeves, Danika D. Robertson, Heaven Stephens, and Kathryn Hunter-Williams, directed by Tony-winner Trezana Beverley.

      --PlayMakers The Illusion, with five PATP actors in significant roles, directed by Joseph Haj, Producing Artistic Director.  (The July-August edition of American Theatre Magazine features photos and interviews from The Illusion in its "Production Notebook.")

      --PATP production, Kid Simple, by Jordan Harrison, directed by Shelley Butler (South Coast Rep, Hartford Stage, etc.)

      --10 day Viewpoints workshop with Anne Bogart.

      --Industry workshop with Heidi Griffiths of New York's Public Theatre.

      --An eight day residency with Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, our 2007 Hayden Lecturers.

      --Showcase in New York for graduating PATP actors.

     For 2007-2008 PlayMakers will expand to nine productions, beginning with Romeo and Juliet, directed by the brilliant Davis McCallum.  Third-year actor Janie Brookshire is playing Juliet.  See the PlayMakers Web site for full details on the season and the many PATP actors carrying significant professional responsibilities.

    In January 2008 we are mounting a fully-staged reading of Lewis Black's play One Slight Hitch with seven PATP actors, directed by noted New York actor and director Joe Grifasi.  Lewis, a UNC Chapel Hill graduate, will be developing the script based on the production and out PATP actors will share in the process.

    Other visiting professionals helping us build the bridge to the profession during 2007-2008 include Mary Harden of Harden/Curtis Associates and Pat McCorkle of McCorkle Casting in New York.

We invite you to audition next January and February in New York, Chicago, or Chapel Hill.  See "Application" for information on applications and auditions.

Ray Dooley

Head, Professional Actor Training Program