Classic Stage Company Announces 2015 Tichler Grant Recipient

Classic Stage Company has announced that Marcel Spears is this year's recipient of the Rosemarie Tichler Fund grant. The fund was established in 2010 with the mission to assist young actors who have appeared at CSC and who have recently made the transition from their training into the profession. The $3,000 grant can be used by the young artist to continue training or to offset loans they may have incurred while studying their craft. With the grant, CSC hopes to make a difference in the lives of young actors at the start of their careers as well as to heighten awareness in the community to the specific needs of actors. The recipient was selected by a panel of judges, which included Rosemarie Tichler, CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick, and CSC Casting Director James Calleri.

Spears made his CSC debut in the Young Company's 2015 Production of A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by Tyne Rafaeli, where he took on the role of Nick Bottom.

Rosemarie Tichler has a long legacy of identifying and nurturing new generations of young actors and is committed to their future well-being. Tichler was the artistic producer of The New York Shakespeare Festival/The Public Theater from 1991 to September 2001 where she worked on over 40 productions including The Skriker by Caryl Churchill, Simpatico by Sam Shepard, Venus by Suzan-Lori Parks, and George Wolfe's production of The Tempest at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

Originally from New Orleans, Spears is a New York-based actor and writer. He has also appeared on the New York stage in Light, Othello, The Threepenny Opera, The Emperor Jones, and The Maids.