The Classical Acting Award is funded through charitable contributions by present and past members of the National Committee of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. This scholarship is made possible by the Williamstown Theatre Festival s Everett Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance for minority applicants to the annual Apprentice Workshop. Located on the campus of Williams College in the Berkshire hills of northwestern Massachusetts, the Williamstown Theatre Festival has acquired a national reputation for the artists it attracts and the gifted young actors, designers and directors it sends out into the world. Over 2,000 individuals have completed the Williamstown Theatre Festival s Apprentice Workshop. Santo Loquasto, Christopher Reeve, Sigourney Weaver and Jennerifer Jason Leigh all started their careers as WTF apprentices.
Apprentices alternate workshop classes and rotating production assignments.
The apprentice will take intensive courses in acting, voice and movement, present scenes in progress and attend special seminars with guest and resident artists in acting, design, directing and playwriting. The apprentices also work in the theater s scenes shop, publicity department, box office, production, administration and costumes. The Mark Twain Comedy Acting Award will be presented to two of the Irene Ryan Acting Award national finalists each spring. Inc. the award has as its primary goal to foster the finest in comic acting on the national level.