In conjunction with Disability Pride Month, Queens Theatre has launched a campaign to continue its Theatre for All professional actor training program, which provides professional training for Deaf and Disabled actors, free of cost for the participants.

The Theatre For All Actor Training program was launched in 2018 to address the need for accessible and inclusive actor training and network-building opportunities for emerging actors who identify as Disabled or Deaf.

Actor Vincent D’Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Men in Black) has been an early champion of Queens Theatre's Theatre for All programming, and one of its instructors - teaching method acting. D’Onofrio has pledged to match the first $15,000 raised to support the fifth installment of the program this fall.

Workshops and panels are lead by Disabled and non-Disabled theatre/film industry professionals, and include auditioning, acting, improvisation, musical theatre, voice, and movement. The program is for individuals who identify as Disabled or Deaf and includes three training tracks for actors with varying levels of of experience: Beginner, Early-Career, and Working Actor. The program culminates with an industry showcase performance for the Early Career-level and Working Actor-level students.

Due to the pandemic, the program has been offered online. This fall, it will be offered both onsite at Queens Theatre, and online.

Students are selected through an application process. The application process for the fall program will be announced later this summer. All information will be available online at www.queenstheatre.org.