04.02.15 • BACKSTAGE.COM 0402 Cover V03.indd 1 3/31/15 10:20 AM FILM AND TELEVISION @ HOLLYWOOD CENTER STUDIOS PRODUCING THE NEXT GEN OF STORYTELLERS The MFA in Film and Television at Mount Saint Mary’s University is designed for aspiring artists and fi lmmakers. Why is our program for you? two year program weekend classes AVID learning partner RED Arri Canon Blackmagic Media Composer Pro Tools historic studio space green screen stages small class sizes LEARN MORE | MSMU.EDU/BACKSTAGE | 213.477.2800 Untitled-1 1 3/31/15 10:51 AM CONTENTS vol. 56, no. 14 | 04.02.15 NEWS 08 Creating the Magic with NYC students 09 On the scene at the 2015 Miscast Gala 10 Celebrate Shakespeare with Sonnet Slam ADVICE 12 NOTE FROM THE CD What gets you creative? 13 SECRET AGENT MAN It’s time to move to L.A. 14 #IGOTCAST Peter Lawson Jones FEATURES 05 BACKSTAGE 5 WITH…David Giuntoli 11 INSIDE JOB Tony Howell, Creative Social Media Founder 13 SPOTLIGHT ON… Matthew Beard 14 NOW STREAMING “Connected” 20 BACKSTAGE READERS’ CHOICE: ATLANTA WINNERS Coaches Lisa Rosemond and Erik Lingvall were singled out by Atlanta actors for recognition 21 PLAYTIME WITH PUPPETS Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts thrives as one of the most distinct performing arts nonprofits in the country 22 ONE-ACT WONDER COVER STORY For rural high school students in page 16 Georgia, the One-Act Play competition offers a chance to shine 40 MEET THE MAKER: MARIA AITKEN ON THE The director of “The 39 Steps” MOVE CASTING 23 New York Tristate WITH 30 California CAITRIONA 32 National/Regional Caitriona Balfe photographed in L.A. March 12 by BALFE James Hickey. Makeup by Kerrie Urban for Exclusive Artists Management using Kevyn Aucoin. Hair by Gio The “Outlander” star’s fortunes keep Campora at the Wall Group. Styling by Penny Lovell. rising as the Starz drama returns Cover designed by Margaret Ruling. JAMES HICKEY 04.02.15 backstage 1 0402 TOC_MASTHEAD V06.indd 1 3/31/15 1:18 PM Chief Executive Officer President & Chief Financial Officer Chief Technology Officer Corporate Controller Peter Rappaport Chief Operating Officer Michael Felman Mike Mepham Barrett Heacock Joshua Ellstein Vice President, Vice President of Director of Digital Engineering Graphic Designer Accounting Manager David Grossman James G. Reynolds Jeff lilley Scott Wilson EDIT oRIAl ART CASTInG CUSToMER SERvICE Editor-in-Chief Design Director Vice President & Customer Service Manager Mark Peikert Jessica Balaschak National Casting Editor Ron Kagan luke Crowe Digital Editor Art Director Customer Service Associates Rebecca Strassberg Margaret Ruling Managing Casting Editor lindsay Bytof, Melinda loewenstein Danny Camporeale Staff Editor PRoDUCTIon Briana Rodriguez Supervising Casting Editor Production Manager veronika Daddona ADvERTISInG SAlES Staff Writer Mark Stinson Director, Jack Smart Film & TV Casting Editors Integrated Marketing John Berkowitz, Kasey Howe Community Manager Alessandra Rizzotti Britney Fitzgerald Group Sales Director Theater & Performing Allen Buhl Copy Editor Arts Casting Editors Brandy Colbert Michael Coughlin, Senior Manager, Business Development (N.Y.) Contributing Editors Anna Paone Gerry Sankner Tim Grierson Casting Editor Marci liroff Elijah Cornell Account Executive (L.A.) Sean J. Miller lindsay Feinstein Regional Casting Editor Byron Karlevics MARKETInG Casting Specialist Marketing Associate Molly Matthews Ryan Remstad Research Editor & Director of Education Call Sheet Editor and Events Rebecca Welch Tom lapke Backstage was founded in 1960 by Ira Eaker and Allen Zwerdling EDIToRIAl oFFICES CASTInG DEPARTMEnT CUST oMER SERvICE PERMISSIon 770 Broadway, 15th Floor N.Y.: (212) 493-4420 (646) 455-1645 For one-time use of our content, New York, NY 10003 L.A.: (323) 525-2358 [email protected] as a full article, excerpt, or [email protected] production prop, contact 5700 Wilshire Blvd. [email protected] Los Angeles, CA 90036 DISP lAY ADvERTISInG [email protected] [email protected] BACKSTAGE, vol. 56, no. 14 (ISSn#1930-5966 USPS#039-740) IS PUBlISHED WEEKlY (except the first week of July and the fourth week of December) by Backstage LLC, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, $3.99 per copy, $99 per year. Periodicals postage paid at GPO, NY, NY 10001 and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Backstage, 340 S. Lemon Ave. #4234, Walnut, CA 91789. Publication Mail Agreement No. 40031729. ©2015 Backstage LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Backstage LLC: Peter Rappaport, Chief Executive Officer; Joshua Ellstein, President and Chief Operating Officer. 2 backstage 04.02.15 BACKSTAGE.COM 0402 TOC_MASTHEAD V06.indd 2 3/31/15 1:19 PM THEATRE OF ARTS ENROLLING NOW! www.toa.edu FILM+TV+THEATRE Theatre of Arts_1023_FP.indd 1 10/21/14 1:41 PM Untitled-5 1 3/10/15 11:08 AM BACKSTAGE 5 WITH... David Giuntoli By Rebecca Strassberg Currently playing Nick Burkhardt on “Grimm,” David Giuntoli opens up about his worst audition horror story, his acting crushes, and his leading turn on the NBC paranormal drama. Tell us about “Grimm.” but it helped me in that I was We’re in our fourth season really excited to get any role. and we were just picked up for a fifth. It’s a fun show where On whom do you have anything can happen—love an acting crush? potions, people becoming Oh, Mark Rylance—total actor different characters, trans- crush on him; he’s phenom- forming for one episode. It’s enal. I saw him do “Twelfth kind of a dream in that I’m Night” and “Richard III” on really not playing the same Broadway last year. And role for five straight years. then I fell in love with Edie Falco while watching “The What have you learned Sopranos.” My girlfriend and about your acting I started watching it together on this project? last year and I would just Well, it’s rare to be able to smile every time she came be a character for such a on the screen. She was just long span of time, and I think so sweet. I think Tony and one of the upshots of that Carmela are the best depiction is that you get to change of a relationship ever on TV. gradually. It’s a subtle kind of character change, and What is your worst it’s a real gift. Usually with audition horror story? plays or TV shows that don’t I was testing for a network TV go for five seasons, you show prior to “Grimm” and I have to squeeze it all into went through the studio test. an hour or 12 episodes. [At that point] you’re kind of crossing your fingers and What do you wish hoping they call you for the you’d known before network test. So my manager you started acting? calls me and she’s like, “Great I was lucky in that I came news: The casting direc- from the Midwest without tor loves you. The network really knowing anybody has no real notes.... Just go who was an actor—I think home, wash your hair, and knowing so little was actu- come back.” I’m like, What? ally helpful because I didn’t My note was to go home and have any expectations. There wash my hair. I guess I had was no chip on my shoulder too much greasy product in “WHEN whatsoever; I didn’t think there or something, and it was I was wickedly talented, I humiliating. But I did. I went I MOVED didn’t come out of theater to a friend’s nearby, washed school where I’d already my hair, and did the network OUT TO gone through the competi- test. You know, they wanted to L.A. I KNEW tive who’s-gonna-get-what give me the job, I just clearly scenarios. I did finance, and didn’t have anybody in my NOTHING... I was in a stage of my life life at that point to say, “Hey, where I felt the world needed enough with the product. You AND I more me. It was so naive, don’t need that much.” THINK THAT Photographed by Chris Haston/NBC HELPED.” BACKSTAGE.COM 04.02.15 backstage 5 0402 Backstage5 V04.indd 5 3/31/15 10:14 AM STELLAADLER.COM | 212-689-0087 | 31 W 27TH ST, FL 3, NEW YORK, NY 10001 The Stella Adler Studio of Acting/Art of Acting Studio is a 501(c)3 not-for-prot organization and is accredited with the National Association of Schools of Theatre THIS SUMMER TAKE YOUR TRAINING TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH A WORLD-CLASS FACULTY ACTIVATE YOUR MIND SUMMER CONSERVATORY ENGAGE YOUR 10 Weeks, June 1 - August 7 The most popular summer training SPIRIT program in the nation! 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