Company description::
New York, NY, April 20, 2004: On April 27, Friends of NIDA in America, with Patron Mel Gibson and Chair Anna Murdoch-Mann, pulls back the curtains to start its work in the US.
NIDA is the National Institute for Dramatic Arts in Sydney, Australia, with Oscar-winning graduates Mel Gibson, Cate Blanchett, Judy Davis; Director Baz Luhrmann; Producer Ben Gannon, and a host of other internationally acclaimed talent.
Friends of NIDA in America debuts with Stolen – a portrayal by Aboriginal Australian performing artists telling their stories, and those of their ancestors.
“I want talented artists from many cultures to be able to tell their stories,” explained Gibson. “Bringing Aboriginal artists to a New York City audience is just such a great way to start doing that.
“Australians have a powerful style of expression in drama,” he said. “A lot of it comes from what so many of us learned at NIDA. I think it can help bring different cultures closer together.”
Arts patron Anna Murdoch-Mann, who chairs the Foundation, is equally enthusiastic about the opening event.
“It’s an honor to be able to introduce this event and Friends of NIDA in America to New York,” she said. “There is a special energy, enthusiasm and creativity in Australia, and NIDA is internationally known as the leading training ground for its performing artists. Stolen is a good example of NIDA’s commitment to sharing cultural understandings between Australia and America.”
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About Friends of NIDA in America
Founded by Patron Mel Gibson, the goal of the Friends of NIDA in America Foundation is to encourage ties between Australia and America in the performing arts. As Australia's premiere drama school, NIDA, the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, is recognized globally for the outstanding talent of its graduates, who form the backbone of Australia's entertainment industry. Among those better known in the US are Oscar-winning actors Cate Blanchett, Judy Davis, and Mel Gibson; Director Baz Luhrmann; Producer Ben Gannon, Designer Catherine Martin, and many more. Anna Murdoch-Mann chairs the Foundation.
Mel Gibson
Founding Patron Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson, the recipient of great artistic and popular recognition worldwide, achieved popular acclaim for his starring roles in Mad Max (1979). With his most recent work, The Passion of the Christ (2004), he stepped away from established studios and funded the production himself. His awards include the Australian Film Institute Awards: Best Actor, Tim (1979) and Gallipoli (1981); MTV Movie Award: Best Onscreen Duo, Lethal Weapon 3 (1981); and numerous People's Choice Awards. For Braveheart (1995) alone, his awards included the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award: Best Director; the Golden Globe: Best Director; the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars; the BAFTA Lloyds Bank Award: Favourite Film, and more. Born in Peekskill, NY, USA, he was also raised in Australia. In 1977, he graduated from NIDA, where his sister had sent in an application for him without his knowledge. He and his wife, Robyn, a nurse, married in 1980 and have seven children.
Anna Murdoch-Mann, Chair, Friends of NIDA in America
An author and patron of the arts, Friends of NIDA in America Chair Anna M. Mann serves on the board of the Lincoln Center as well as a number of community-based arts charities in the US and Australia. Her niece is a NIDA graduate.
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