OVATION ANNOUNCES DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL "THE ACTORS STUDIO MASTERING THE ART FORM"

Half-Hour Special to Air on Friday, November 8th

Los Angeles, CA - October 31, 2019 Ovation TV, America's only arts network, has announced a half-hour documentary special about the history of The Actors Studio in support of the new season of Inside the Actors Studio. Featuring exclusive interviews with prominent members of The Actors Studio, The Actors Studio Mastering the Art Form will air on Ovation on Friday, November 8th at 12pm ET.

This Ovation original documentary special delves into the formation and seven-decade history of The Actors Studio, revealing how this one-of-a-kind institution keeps the membership of actors, directors and writers in top form and how this esteemed studio gave rise to The Actors Studio Drama School and the long-running hit series Inside the Actors Studio, now airing on Ovation.

The Actors Studio Mastering the Art Form features exclusive interviews with Oscar-winning actress Ellen Burstyn (Co-President, The Actors Studio); actor Stephen Lang (Avatar, The Actors Studio Board Member); Oscar-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri (The Actors Studio Member and a Playwright/Directors Unit Moderator); Pulitzer Prize winning writer Michael Cristofer (The Actors Studio Member); Broadway actress JoAnna Rhinehart ("My Fair Lady," The Actors Studio Member); actress Katherine Wallach (The Actors Studio Board Member); actor Justin Marcel McManus (The Actors Studio Member); actress Dena Tyler (The Actors Studio Member); Beau Gravitte (Artistic Director, The Actors Studio); Andreas Manolikakis (Chair, The Actors Studio Drama School); and Kate Billingsley (Acting Faculty, The Actors Studio Drama School).

"Both Ovation and The Actors Studio have similar missions celebrating and honoring the art and the craft of acting," stated Scott Woodward, EVP of Programming and Production, Ovation. "As America's only arts network, Ovation supports Art in all its forms. Because we are dedicated to maintaining the legacy of the storied Inside the Actors Studio, we are proud to produce and broadcast this documentary exploring the invaluable theatre workshop that is The Actors Studio."

The special will also be available on demand and on the Ovation NOW app.

More information on Inside the Actors Studio here: http://www.ovationtv.com/inside-the-actors-studio

About OVATION TV America's Only Arts Network

Art has the power to inspire us, elevate our thinking, and awaken our senses. As an independent television, production and digital media company, OVATION has an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture and captivating entertainment. Showcasing a lineup of critically-acclaimed premium dramas, arts-related specials and documentaries, and iconic films, OVATION salutes innovative storytelling and applauds art in unexpected places. OVATION is available to nearly 50M subscribers via cable, satellite and telco systems including Comcast Cable/Xfinity, DIRECTV/AT&T U-verse, SPECTRUM, Verizon FiOS, as well as on VOD. Through THE OVATION FOUNDATION, the company is committed to advocating for the arts, nationally and locally, and has provided more than $15M in contributions and in kind support to arts institutions and arts education. You can follow OVATION on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, OvationTV.com, and through our App, OVATION NOW.

About The Actors Studio

Founded in 1947 by Elia Kazan, Cheryl Crawford and Robert Lewis, The Actors Studio thrives today as a unique theatre workshop where professional actors, playwrights and directors gather together to work on their craft in private. Through moderated sessions, workshops and readings, The Actors Studio offers its members a dynamic, creative atmosphere, as well as a safe haven away from commercial pressures. In 1994, then president Paul Newman led the creation of a new, separate 3-year MFA Program that teaches the work done at The Actors Studio based upon exercises and techniques developed earlier by Lee Strasberg. James Lipton became the academic Dean of this program. Lipton then created the seminar for the MFA students and called it INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO. For more information please go to our website: www.theactorsstudio.org