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ABOUT US
C. Robin Rudnikoff, Founder and CEO
is not an Actor, but she loves Actors and acting. Her commitment to The Actors Group
comes from a love of performance and personal growth that she sees happening hand-in-hand
for Actors. She steers the development of services at The Actors Group with an eye
toward how Actors need to arm themselves to succeed in the fiercely competitive
TV and Film industry especially with the evolution of the web environment. Her particular
focus internationally is to make The Actors Group a safe environment in which Actors
from other countries can be safe to grow and learn. She has an extensive background
in marketing and in providing education and services for mental health. She is married
to a preeminent psychiatrist who also consults in this industry. Most recently,
she co-wrote with him and produced film for a groundbreaking treatment program for
specialized Internet delivery. She is currently reviewing a music/social issues
documentary for production and continues to write as well as review projects in
addition to her hands-on participation in all activities at The Actors Group.
Penny L. Moore, Founder of The Actors Repertory Theatre Company
Penny has been an invaluable presence in everything that is done at The Actors Group
from Producing and Directing productions to their set design and construction as
well as Industry Professional Guest Relations for workshops since The Actors Group
opened. She fell in love with the theatre at age 7 when she toured with a children's
repertory company in Kentucky under the direction of Ken Jenkins (Scrubs) and Patrick
Tovitt (As The World Turns). Since moving to Los Angeles over 16 years ago, she
has been fortunate enough to study with some of the best Actors and teachers in
Los Angeles such as Michael Holmes, Kerrie Keane and the remarkable Gene and Toni
Bull Bua. Her love for directing was enhanced by watching Gene and Toni work with
their brilliant students. Watching and studying and learning and growing have brought
her here to The Actors Group where she founded The Actors Repertory Theater Company.
Her directing credits include, Women of Manhattan, Crimes of the Heart, Steel Magnolias,
Bell Book and Candle, Two Rooms and the critically acclaimed Mastergate. As an actress
Penny's credits on television include "Santa Barbara", and "Sunset Beach" and most
recently the especially critically acclaimed scene in the Oscar-Nominated Ron Howard
film "Frost Nixon".
STAFF
Staff at The Actors Group are entirely voluntary. Staff members are there to enhance
the experience of each workshop and theatre production for the Industry Professional
Guests and every member in attendance as well as themselves. The Actors Group Staff
prepares the Green Room and the Theatre, greets the Industry Professional Guest,
facilitates payments, begins each workshop with a brief introduction; and cleans
and closes everything after each event. Each staff member contributes to specific
things, but each can rely on the others to make sure all is ready and done in a
friendly and efficient manner for each event. Staff members at The Actors Group
are representative of all it is and does. Staff members are friendly, smiling, attentive
and helpful to each and every member attending workshops as well as the Industry
Professional Guest for the workshop. Their voluntary assistance is invaluable and
truly appreciated. Penny Moore is leads this team extraordinarily! When space is
available, staff participates in workshops and is admitted to theatrical productions
without charge to keep them current with all events at The Actors Group. Current
staff includes:
Penny L. Moore (see above)
Goreti daSilva...
is a talented and an extraordinarily generous person. She is a native Canadian who
became an American citizen in the summer of 2005. She came to Los Angeles from Toronto
in 1995 to pursue a career in acting. She is also very active in volunteer work
other than at The Actors Group particularly with InsideOut, a teen program utilizing
theatre activity as a vehicle to redirecting misguided expression into open and
positive dialogue and behaviors, interests and goals.
Goreti developed and performs her own one-woman comedic show, "Who Are You?",
and has played various roles in many Actors Repertory Theatre Company productions
at The Actors Group. She has been an invaluable member of The Actors Group staff
nearly since it began.
Anne Faulkner...
is a self-proclaimed L8blmr (late bloomer). Anne came to Los Angeles in
1986 after "raising 2 sons and a husband, all who finally flew the nest!!!" She
came from Cincinnati, Ohio where as Vice President and Business Manager, she was
the first female VP of Metromedia TV, WXIX-TV. As an Actor, writer and director
in Community Theatre, Anne knew coming to LA would finally fulfill her lifelong
dream. "I didn't want to go out of this world wishing I had done something!" Upon
arrival in LA, she took a film acting class. Adapting from the stage to the camera
was frightening... "The first time I saw myself on film in that class, I threatened
to go back home because I was sure, maybe I didn't belong here".
Anne became member of The Actors Group when she played Queezer in "Steel Magnolias"
at The Actors Group Theatre, which was written by a friend of hers, Robert Harling.
On TV she has had numerous guest starring roles, which include a recurring role
on "Knots Landing", and two seasons in the role of Sylvia on "Roseanne". Anne also
did Dwight Yoakam's music video "Intentional Heartache" as 'Momma', and of course,
usually can be found participating in some capacity at The Actors Group … valuable
great Staff Member!
Tom McCauley...
began his training with theatre legend Eva La Galliene at the renowned Hedgerow
Theatre, where he later became a resident company member and a teacher. Tom went
on to be cast in "Camino Real" directed by its playwright Tennessee Williams
and has had the great fortune to work directly with Leonard Bernstein, Edward Albee
and Andy Warhol.
On Broadway in "Da", Tom played the son of Tony winner Barnard Hughes.
He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and studied in New York
with Uta Hagen, Stella Adler, Sandy Dennis and Wynn Handman of the American Place
Theatre. He was an Irene Ryan Award nominee in 1990 portraying Von Muenstrauss in
the futuristic children's show, "The Swords of Zanadavia". He has performed
in regional theatres all over America and in England and appeared in recurring roles
on the TV soaps "Search for Tomorrow", "Another World" and "Ryan’s
Hope".
Tom returned to study at the University of California in Davis, where he taught
acting to undergraduates and received an MFA in theatre. He also received rave reviews
for his performance as Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman" at the Mondavi
Center, directed by Kent Nicholson of Theatreworks regional theatre and played Dennis
Shepard in "Laramie Project", directed by Peter Lichtenfels of England's
National Theatre. In LA, he has performed at the American Film Institute and in
an independent film "Jihad vs. Jihad". He also played Dr. Lewis on the
daytime drama Days of Our Lives.
Tom came to The Actors Group in January 2007 and now calls it his second home. He
appreciates The Actors Group for its high standards in every discipline and the
special camaraderie of all involved. He's glad to have become a member of this unique
family.
David Trice...
is an engaging character Actor who has appeared on numerous television shows including
"Medium", "Passions" (as a floating head!), "Malcolm in the Middle," "The Gilmore
Girls", "Boston Legal", "Pushing Daisies", "Life" "Eli Stone" and more. Look for
him this year on the hit shows as well as new shows slated for fall. He is a favorite
of the casting community for his versatility and terrific outstanding talent and
ability. David also has referred many "working actors" to The Actors Group reporting
it as key to his working activity. He is an integral member of The Actors Group
Staff, monitoring what workshops members sign up for and is a well-known presence
at many workshops.
René Peña...
is a native of New Mexico, and started acting at the University of N.M. where she
earned a Theater Arts Scholarship. She has performed in several dinner theatre productions,
toured America as one of Cinderella's nasty stepsisters, appeared at the Kennedy
Center in Washington, D.C., and entertained audiences in Germany and Italy where
she won a Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in "The Diary of Anne
Frank". René worked alongside President Clinton and John Ritter
in a CBS movie of the week, "A Child’s Wish", which was filmed in the Oval
Office, and which can still be seen on the Lifetime channel. She and her husband,
Steve have been married for over 20 years and have lived all over the world.
Polly Humphreys...
Was born in LA, but left as quickly as possible, growing up first in Northern California
and then on the East Coast. Since she knew as an infant that she was destined to
be an actress and would end up back in LA, she wanted to spend her formative years
honing her craft elsewhere. She spent much of her early childhood writing, directing
and starring in her own extravagant spectaculars which were initially well attended
by parents, unwitting dinner guests, dogs, and goldfish, but ultimately failed to
move her career forward, After majoring in theatre at Vassar College, she headed
to New York where she spent many years acting up a storm. Finally, conceding to
the inevitable, she put on her sunglasses and returned to LA.
Recent films include Sundance winner "Big Fan" with Patton Oswalt, "Squeeze
Play", HBO's "Everyday People", "Our Italian Husband"
with Brooke Shields, and "24 Nights". New York stage appearances include
"The Rats Are Getting Bigger", "Chicks With Dicks", "Slag Heap",
and "Marriage". She is a founding member of the original Happy Accident
Theatre Company in New York, and would like to thank Robin Rudnikoff for getting
her off the bus!
Ebb Miller...
At age six, he was in a play and sang "Apple for the Teacher" in his East Texas
grade school assembly. It "went over". He was then asked to sing this song in two
small towns nearby. One place gave him $5.00. He says he's been trying to get another
$5.00 ever since; That it's hard… but, it's fun! Ebb attended American Theatre Wing
in New York. Some of the New York productions on his resume are: "Leave It To Jane",
"Little Mary Sunshine", "Guys and Dolls", "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The
Forum", plus lots of children's theatre.
Amy Patrice Golden...
Jennifer Lutheran...
To know more about volunteering as a staff member click here.
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