ACTORS' THEATRE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Highlights of our history
ATSC is one of the few professional theatres in our state and was founded ten years ago by theatre, film and television veterans, Clarence Felder and Chris Weatherhead. Mr. Felder is originally from South Carolina.
Included in their 53 successful productions since 1995, are "2: Goering At Nuremberg" by Romulus Linney, "Southern Men" by Boo Sheppard & Chris Weatherhead and "Whispers and Dreams: Voices of Carolina Slave Children" which were all chosen to perform at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston (1997, 1998 & 2002).
Ms. Weatherhead's play, "Mary Chesnut's War for Independence!" has gained great acclaim in numerous cities between Charleston and Atlanta.
ATSC trains actors and directors in a summer/winter conservatory and has joined with the City of Folly Beach and Charleston County to create the new Folly Beach Community Center, which includes a theatre and art gallery to open in 2007.
The new film division has created an annual film festival as well as a SAG Independent feature film, "For Liberty", directed by British director/actor/author Nick Smith and starring Mr. Felder.
"creating great memories"
MISSION STATEMENT
ATSC is a professional theatre dedicated to...
the pursuit of excellence in professional theatre arts and trainingproducing fine literature; especially plays which educate and offer hope or illuminaton
encourage new works by South Carolinians
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR SUCCESS
ATSC has received grants from The SC Arts Commission, The SC Humanities Council, SCANA, Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company/UNUM, Bell South, Wachovia Bank, Charleston Copier & Fax, Xerox Corporation and many others.
A WORLD KICKED TO PIECES: MARY BOYKIN CHESNUT ON LOVE & WAR by Kenneth Graham, starring Chris Weatherhead (Producing Diretor) premiered in 1996 at The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County and played to rave reviews, standing ovations and full houses in 20 other cities in South Carolina as well as a sold-out run at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and The Southern Festival in Madison, Georgia. It also toured five other states in its
three year run.
2: GOERING AT NUREMBERG by Romulus Linney, about Adolph Hitler's number two man, Hermann Goering, starred artistic director, Clarence Felder, who starred in highly acclaimed productions Off-Broadway in New York as well as North Carolina and Georgia. South Carolina critics and audiences raved about it and it was chosen for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in 1998 and in the fall of 2001, returned to Charleston's Historic Garden Theatre receiving more praise.
FOUNDERS
Theatre
BROADWAY: Co-Starred in ten productions including QUEEN & THE REBELS (Colleen Dewhurst), THE SUICIDE, HENRY V & MEMORY OF TWO MONDAYS (Meryl Streep), LOVE FOR LOVE (Glenn Close), TEANECK TANZI, MACBETH (Christopher Walken).
OFF-BROADWAY: NY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL (numerous roles) N.Y. PUBLIC THEATRE (numerous roles),GOLDEN BOY, THE ROOM, etc. Regional: leading actor in over 100 plays in major theatres in U.S.
Received numerous rave reviews for the role of Hermann Goering in 2: GOERING AT NUREMBERG by Romulus Linney in highly successful runs OFF-BWY, in North Carolina and at The Actors' Theatre of SC in Camden, Piccolo Spoleto, and in Madison, Georgia.
Mr. Felder recently starred as King Lear in ATSC's Shakespeare Festival in Charleston.
Film
Co-Star: THE LAST BOY SCOUT, RUTHLESS PEOPLE, THE HIDDEN, AFTER HOURS, AMAZING GRACE & CHUCK, NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST. (PT 5), etc. Television: PLAYING FOR TIME, BLOOD & ORCHIDS, THE DANE CURSE, THE KILLING FLOOR, THE SCARLET LETTER, MYSTERY OF THE MORROW CASTLE, etc.
Prime-time Series: Co-starred 2 years HOOPERMAN (John Ritter) also LA LAW, CRIME STORY, NYPD BLUE, KOJAK, MATLOCK, DALLAS, HILL ST. BLUES, ISLAND SON, ALIEN NATION, BAYWATCH, etc.
CHRIS WEATHERHEAD: Co-Founder, Producing Director
Leading lady in theatre, film and television for twenty-five years in New York, Los Angeles and around the U.S.
Trained with Brewster Mason of the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, the American Rep Theatre (NYC) and American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco.
Film
STARRED in the feature film WHATEVER IT TAKES, co-star TOUCHED, EYE OF THE STORM, TONYA HARDING STORY
INDIE FILMS: star, FOR LIBERTY, THE LETTER, TACTICS, GREAT HARRY & JANE
Primetime TV series
SINATRA, DALLAS, EQUAL JUSTICE, MOONLIGHTING, SINATRA, HOMEFRONT, NIGHT COURT, OUR FAMILY HONOR, ROBERT GUILLAUME SHOW, BABY BOOM, SCARECROW & MRS. KING, etc.
DAYTIME TELEVISION: Starred for 2 years as Alicia Van Dine on THE EDGE OF NIGHT, co-starred on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, GUIDING LIGHT, THE DOCTORS, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, etc.
VIDEO PRODUCER: Various projects over 8 years in Los Angeles.
Theatre
OFF-BROADWAY: Created the role of The Wife in James Lapine’s smash hit, TABLE SETTINGS for she garnered rave reviews (ran over two years), also ORPHEUS DESCENDING, POINT OF ORIGIN, DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, TOP GIRLS, FROM HERE INSIDE MY HEAD, BELLE FEMME, LIFE UPON THE WICKED STAGE and REPORT TO THE STOCKHOLDERS, etc.
Co-Founded the Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina with husband, Clarence Felder, starring in 32 productions including creating Mary Chesnut in A WORLD KICKED TO PIECES: MARY BOYKIN CHESNUT ON LOVE & WAR by Kenneth Graham, which received rave reviews and ran 3 years in six states.
Currently touring in MARY CHESNUT’S WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE!
Three of Ms. Weatherhead’s productions have been chosen to go to Charleston’s Piccolo Spoleto International Festival and to The Madison Morgan Theatre Festival in Georgia, to rave reviews.
REGIONAL PROFESSIONAL THEATRE: Performed major roles across the US, including Pheobe in AsYou Like It (Detroit), Imogin in Cymbeline and Elmire in Moliere’s, Tartuffe (N.J. Shakespeare Festival), Masha in The Three Sisters (SanFrancisco), Babakina in Ivanov (W/ Christopher Walken & Diane Weist @ Williamstown Theatre Festival in Mass.), Hypatia in G.B. Shaw’s Misalliance w/ Bill Pullman, Medea (Westbeth, NYC), , Curley’s Wife in Of Mice & Men w/ Tom Poston (Buck C. Playhouse), Jane in Absurd Person Singular and numerous others.
DIRECTOR: 2:GOERING AT NUREMBERG, DEAR LIAR, THE CAINE MUTINY COURTMARTIAL, JANE AUSTEN’S NOT SO POLITE SOCIETY, THE BOYFRIEND, ISN’T IT LOVELY?, THE GIFT OF THE MAGI, WHISPERS & DREAMS: VOICES OF CAROLINA SLAVE CHILDREN, THE LIGHTED WINDOWS, ADVENTURES IN THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA
Acting Teacher
Taught Advanced Acting in New York City for 6 years and in Master Classes in various universities around the nation. Taught Advanced Acting in Los Angeles for 10 years 5 years in the MIdlands of SC and is currently teaching in Charleston.
Screenwriter/Playwright/Novelist
Five screenplays (includes produced films, FOR LIBERTY & WHATEVER IT TAKES and 8 plays which have been produced. One novel, KUMAKANI, based on one of her screenplays.
MEMBER: S.A.G, AFTRA & Actor’s Equity Association
