Juilliard Quotes

Not even my excellent training at Juilliard prepared me for my first movie role, where I played a transsexual who falls in love with a military guy in Soldier`s Girl. Here I was, this 6`3" 190-pound lanky kid from Chickasha, Oklahoma, not knowing how to begin being a woman. So I saw documentaries about transsexuals, I lost twenty-five pounds, and I put on prosthetic boobs and hips to become that character. There were times I`d look in the mirror and wonder `what am I doing to my life here? My dad is going to kill me!` But the reason I went into acting was to be able to play parts as complicated and important as this one. In playing a transsexual, I got the chance to help change people`s perspective about other people and that is a powerful thing. I`m playing a swashbuckling bandit in my next film, but I`ll always be proud of Soldier`s Girl.

For my audition, I did a monologue from one of my plays. I couldn`t find anything contemporary that they wouldn`t have seen hundreds of times before. I didn`t know what I was doing, but it worked. - On his Juilliard audition.

(on his beginning acting training) I was frustrated at Hofstra (University), so I moved to Manhattan, worked as a waiter and at a fruit-and-vegetable stand. I lived in a cheap railroad flat on East 171st Street, took classes at Juilliard and finally worked my way into Stella Adler`s actors` studio. And that made all the difference. This woman was like getting a flame inside you, she was so inspirational.

Michael Kahn`s extraordinary leadership of our Drama Division has allowed our young actors to acquire the requisite tools they will need as they work in the profession in the time ahead. With intelligence, taste, creativity and a deep understanding of the world of the theater, Michael`s legacy will have a positive impact on the profession for many generations. My colleagues and I are very pleased that Michael will remain as an active member of the Juilliard community through his continuing teaching responsibilities at the School. Juilliard has been one of my artistic homes throughout my theatrical career. I am grateful to the students and faculty for inspiring me and allowing me to grow both as a person and as an artist. Although I have determined that most of my energy and time needs to be concentrated now in Washington, I am more than pleased to remain on the faculty of this extraordinary institution.