Don Stewart*

Conservatory Director - Actor Training

Don Stewart*

(805) 928-7731 ext. 4116

PCPA (since 2011): Actor: Greenway, Elf The Musical; Henry Condell, The Book of Will; Daddy Murphy, Bright Star, Roger, Mother Road; Herr Zeller, The Sound of Music; Jack, Brighton Beach Memoirs; Fennyman, Shakespeare in Love; Reverend Samuel Parris, The Crucible; Paul, You Can’t Take It With You; Stanley, Earl of Derby/Ghost of Henry IV, Richard III; Director: Enemy of the People, Coriolanus, As You Like It (Conservatory Rep); Quack, Sanctuary City (InterPlay Series)

Other Theatres:  ActorTony n’ Tina’s Wedding (Off Broadway, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Las Vegas); Kennedy Center, Shear Madness; STC Studios:  Pericles, Women Beware Women; Art & Work Ensemble, The Changeling; Philadelphia Area Rep: Measure for Measure, Tartuffe, Servant of Two Masters; Attic Theatre, Love!Valour!Compassion!; Ark Theatre; Edward II, Spatter Pattern, Les Liaisons DangereusesDirector: SLO Repertory Theatre, A Christmas Story; Cuesta College, A Servant of Two Masters; Sorcerer Productions, Little Shop of Horrors; NHS: I Hate HamletThe Laramie Project, A Servant of Two Masters; Ark Theatre Company, Unidentified Human RemainsStitching (U.S. Premiere), The Ugly Man (West Coast Premiere), ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore (also adapted), Hamlet ( adapted)

Film:  Shakespeare’s Merchant, Fog, Drive, Bocce

TV:  The Guiding Light, All My Children, Arrest and Trial, Lost On Earth

Training:  Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy, Academy for Classical Acting (Washington DC), American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC), Royal National Theatre Studios (London, England)

Teaches:  Acting 2

Member:  *Actors’ Equity Association; SAG/AFTRA

Teaching Philosophy

A visceral connection to the text and an authentic relationship – with self and others – is the basis of the journeyman work in my classroom. My goal is to instill fundamental skills – creating character; having a sense of dramatic action; being able to recognize and portray conflict; and understanding the power behind dramatic language – in a practical and nurturing environment that gives the artist room and permission to fail.

I was trained in a conservatory environment and relish teaching in that world. I love the opportunity to collaborate with my colleagues in seeking holistic solutions for our students helping them deepen and unleash their art into action.