Case Western Reserve University-Cleveland Play House master's program sets the stage for a career in acting

ROGER MASTROIANNI

Two male members of Case Western Reserve University-Cleveland Play House graduate acting ensemble -- Nathan Gurr, left, and Daniel Graham -- do some in-character chatting up with professional actress Chaon Cross during technical rehearsals for the Play House production of "Pride and Prejudice."

PREVIEW
Pride and Prejudice
What: The Cleveland Play House pres ents Jane Austen's novel, adapted by James Maxwell and revised by Alan Stanford; directed by Peter Amster.
When: Opens at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Runs through Sunday, April 13.
Where: Bolton Theatre at the Play House, 8500 Euclid Ave.
Tickets: $10-$62. Call 216-795-7000 or go to Clevelandplayhouse.com.

Theater is often all about the waiting. Waiting in the wings. Waiting for your big break. Only a few days from the official opening Wednesday of "Pride and Prejudice" at the Cleveland Play House, actresses Annie Paul and Melynee Saunders Warren found themselves waiting on the stage of the Bolton Theatre.

They stood in full period costume while the director and a crew member discussed how to maneuver a set change on a large, revolving stage that makes for easier set changes but tricky footwork, especially when you've got a handful of props.

"Some moments in technical rehearsal are boring," said Saunders Warren, 32. "But there is absolutely no way to get around it. You learn to be patient."

In a larger sense, though, Paul and Saunders Warren are at the end of a three-year wait. They are two of eight third-year students in the Play House/Case Western Reserve University graduate acting program who will earn master of fine arts degrees this spring -- and their Actors' Equity Association union cards for doing "Pride and Prejudice," the beloved Jane Austen tale adapted for the stage by James Maxwell.

Then they'll follow the footsteps of graduates who have left the Case-Play House program, which has become one of the leading graduate schools of its size in its relatively short 12-year history, thanks to full-ride scholarships and living stipends.

Alumni are signing with agents and getting jobs in commercials, theater, movies and television.

After graduating in 2004, Rich Sommer quickly got work in several national commercials including ones for AOL, Bud Light beer and Sprint. He went on to play Anne Hathaway's drinking buddy, Doug, in "The Devil Wears Prada" and will soon start shooting the second season of "Madmen" on the AMC cable channel.

"I really lucked out getting into the program," said Sommer, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife, a fellow Case M.F.A. graduate, and brand-new baby daughter.

"I was really rough around the edges. The program made me realize that you do make choices when you are acting. It's not just about learning a line and spitting it out."

'They search us out'
One of the program's turning points occurred two years ago, when all six graduate students were signed by major talent agencies after showcasing their work in New York City.

This year's first-year class was selected through auditions held by Case and the Play House -- another sign of the program's strength.

Before, the graduate program participated in University/Resident Theatre Association auditions, which allow aspiring actors to perform before many colleges at one location.

"We don't have to go through U/RTA anymore. People know us now," said Ron Wilson, director of the program at Case. "They search us out because our reputation is getting better."

That also means the program has become more selective, even in the number of students it accepts for auditions.

The program is not yet on par with those at the Yale School of Drama and the Juilliard School. But it is competitive with other well-regarded graduate theater programs, such as the University of San Diego's and the National Theatre Conservatory acting program at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

The program stands out for its financial commitment: Graduate tuition ($27,000 for the 2007-08 academic year) is waived, and students receive an annual $11,000 stipend. Classes are admitted every other year. A new class won't start until fall 2009.

"It's almost criminal to send young actors into New York City owing $60,000 to $100,000," Wilson said.

The idea is to one day create a large enough endowment -- at least $10 million -- so the program can be self-sustaining. The endowment is currently a bit under $400,000. The majority of the program's cost is now picked up by the university.

Immersed in theater from morning till night
Wilson said future plans include offering M.F.A. degrees in directing, design and theater arts management.

A large part of the program's appeal is its connection with the Play House -- a professional regional theater. Graduate students get to work alongside professional actors and participate in the theater's productions, in addition to student-only ensemble productions.

The unique collaboration is one of a handful in the country, Wilson said. He likens it to a teaching hospital, because the students are immersed in professional theater from morning to evening.

"The students meet and work alongside casts from Chicago and New York," he said. "They interact with directors. That's invaluable."

The experience also allows students to get an opportunity to join Actor's Equity.

"We graduate from here as professional actors," said Daniel Graham, a third-year acting student. "We'll have our union cards. That is not something a lot of schools offer."

Ending her educational experience at Case is bittersweet for Saunders Warren. She is looking forward to moving back to New York but will miss her classmates. She said the program has given her the tools she needs to embark on a successful acting career.

"I'm leaving Case with a solid grasp of how to approach a character," she said. "That is one of the main things I wanted to get out of the graduate program."

Her wait is almost over.