2012 Master Teacher: Joel Grey
“I look forward to examining in depth some of the great iconic musical theatre roles. The focus will be on how, together, we can bring our imaginations to bear on fully realizing the rich characters of the American Musical Theatre.” - Joel Grey, 2012 Master Teacher
The 2012 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Class focused on American Musical Theatre.
Master Teachers (2009-2011)
Every year, Ten Chimneys selects and collaborates with a Master Teacher for the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program — a luminary stage actor whose talent, generosity, ability to teach, and dedication to mentoring are deeply admired by stage actors and the entire theatre community. The Master Teacher for each year is a key collaborator in the program, working with Ten Chimneys staff to develop the curriculum, content, and focus of the artistic elements of the experience. During the first two years of the program, the top regional theatre actors in the U.S. spent the artistic portion of their Ten Chimneys immersion delving into Shakespeare — with the late actress Lynn Redgrave in 2009 and renowned Shakespearean Barry Edelstein in 2010. In 2011, Olympia Dukakis led the Fellows in an exploration of the works of Chekhov.
About Joel Grey
Joel Grey is widely acclaimed as a one of the true greats in the history of musical theatre, with a prolific career as an actor, singer, and dancer – on stage and screen. He has won the Academy Award, Tony Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA, among countless other honors. Mr. Grey originated the role of the Master of Ceremonies in the Broadway musical Cabaret, and recreated the role for the film — directed by Bob Fosse and co-starring Liza Minnelli and Michael York. He’s had a career full of Broadway triumphs, including: Chicago, George M!, Stop the World, I Want to Get Off, Goodtime Charley, and The Grand Tour. Most recently, he originated the role of The Wizard in the blockbuster hit musical Wicked — and is currently on Broadway in the critically-acclaimed revival of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes, delighting sold-out houses as Moonface Martin. Earlier this year, Mr. Grey directed the Tony-Award-Winning Best Revival of The Normal Heart. Mr. Grey has appeared in scores of films and television shows over the last 50 years. Just a few examples include: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, Kafka, A Christmas Carol, The Fantasticks, Dancer in the Dark, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Oz, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Alias, Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy, and House. In addition to his work as a performer, Mr. Grey is also an accomplished photographer and has had three books of his photographs published. In April, 2012, the Museum of the City of New York curated an exhibition of his work, Joel Grey/A New York Life.