New Actors Workshop in New York Announces Noel Wilson as Director for 2009 Story Theatre Production

New York, February 5, 2009: New Actors Workshop Acting School in New York has announced that Noel Wilson will be the guest director for their 2009 Story Theatre Production. Noel is a graduate of the inaugural class at the Workshop and has been a director and a teacher of improvisation since 1992. Mr. Wilson trained for twenty years with Paul Sills at his acting school in New York City and at the Wisconsin Theater Games Center, and is one of a handful of top Spolin player/coaches uniquely informed by Mr. Sills' refinements and insights, as well as an expert in story-form theater. Some of his many directing credits include: The Barrow Group (Drama Desk Award Outstanding Off-Off Broadway Theater Company), Southern Rep/NOLA Project (The Lieutenant of Inishmore, 4 Big Easy awards, including Best Director of a Comedy, 2007), 27 Wagons Full Of Cotton, The Rainmaker, The Diviners, Story Theater and several original adaptations of folk tales and other stories from around the world, as well as works by new emerging writers. He is also an actor Acting credits include: Changing Lanes with Samuel L. Jackson, multiple Law and Order roles, Third Watch, One Life to Live, Onion News Network and numerous Off and Off-Off Broadway productions.

The show (the title of which has not yet been announced) will be performed at New Actors Workshop acting school in New York, Spring 2009 and will be the culminating performance for the 2nd year conservatory students. Though all Story Theater shows are free, there is a suggested donation of $15.00. For reservations, call 212-875-7981.

The spring Story Theater production has been a mainstay at New Actors Workshop Acting School in New York since its inception thanks to the influence of one of its co-founders, Paul Sills. Sills was the son of Viola Spolin and was active in improvisational theater all his life. He was the original director of The Second City (1959-65) and creator of Story Theater, both of which played on- and off-Broadway and in Los Angeles. He was cofounder of the Compass as well as Game Theater and The Second City. He was the foremost exponent of his mother’s work and taught privately for many years until his death in 2008. Mr. Sills’ work continues with his many pupils, especially at New Actors Workshop Acting School in New York and at the Wisconsin Theater Games Center, under the guidance of Carol Sills. Sills directed the Story Theater productions until 2003. Since then, the production has been directed by guest directors including Diane Paulus, Shira Piven, Lester Thomas Shane, and David Turner.

The New Actors Workshop is a two-year acting school in New York City founded by Master Teachers Mike Nichols, George Morrison and Paul Sills in 1988. The school offers a dual-track curriculum combining Stanislavski-based technique with Viola Spolin Theater Games making it one of the more unique acting schools in New York.