Free Street and the Stella Adler Studio in New York have begun to develop an ongoing partnership. Ron Bieganski teaches NYU and Conservatory students each semester and Stella Adler models their new outreach programs on Free Street's structure. Stella Adler's youth group presented an adaptation of Free Street's Mad Joy script.

Tom Copenhagen, President and Director Stella Adler Studio of Acting, NYC

“I first learned about Free Street through an article in American Theater Magazine profiling actor training programs around the country.  The article began with a quote from Ron Bieganski, Free Street's artistic director, which read,  "Developing virtuoso actors doesn't start with acting exercises  -- it starts with virtuoso creative humans".  The implications of this statement together with the rest of the article were so great to me I became an immediate admirer of Free Street, of their methodology and of the mission to train low-income high-risk youth.  As Stella Adler's grandson I recognized, in Free Street's emphasis on an actor's humanity, an important element of my grandmother’s  insight and spirit about acting theater and life.  Having recently begun our own Stella Adler Outreach Program I reached out to Ron Bieganski for guidance and advise which he most willingly and generously gave. He has visited the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and he with the help of a few of his advanced students has taught at virtually every level of our Studio to the great  benefit of our students.  

The world of actor training is infinitely richer, deeper, and more humane with Free Street in it.  Free Street is able to perform with great success the miracle of art education, to humanize through self-expression and craft. The fact that Free Street seeks to give this gift away for free to those who can't otherwise afford it at a time when the federal, state and city budgets for such education are corroding, makes Free Street all the more vital to America and to the world of actor training.” 


Carlos Caldart, Outreach Director Stella Adler Studio of Acting, NYC

[Carlos Caldart visited Free Street after reading the article in American Theatre Magazine because he was beginning an outreach program at Stella Adler. Free Street is now working as an outreach collaborator with Stella Adler Studio.]

“I decided to fly to Chicago and take a look at the group. I was not only surprised but I was amazed. I've never seen such an organization at work. Everything at Free Street spoke about equality. Students are actually treated as artists. The staff at Free Street trusts its students.  I got the feeling that people care so much that they consider their youth part of a team. This is much more than just teaching acting - which they do in high standards. This is, actually, allowing the students to feel that they are fully accepted in this professional environment.

Observing one performance by Free Street I confess I was not amazed to see the naturalness of the kids' performance, the ease in their bodies and voices, the aliveness of everything they presented, and the excellent quality of their imagination and creativity. I was not surprised because of what I had seen in rehearsals. The standards are everywhere in Free Street. Nothing feels phony. There is no 'Do what I say and do not what I do.'

We are proud to have them as collaborators and we collaborate with them the same way they do with their students. Free Street is a source of magic inspiration, of wonderful creativity, and of real equal treatment.”