Ronald Rand is an American stage and film actor,[1][2][3] educator,[4][5] director, playwright, librettist, producer, and newspaper publisher. A U.S. CulturalGoodwill Ambassador,[6][7][8][9][10][11] founder and publisher of the newspaper, The Soul of the American Actor, he is also the author of Create: How Extraordinary People Live to Create and Create to Live,[12] Acting Teachers of America,[13][14] and Solo Transformation on Stage: A Journey into the Organic Process of the Art of Transformation.[15][16][17][18]
Rand's odyssey as Harold Clurman began with his first performance of his play, "Let It Be Art" directed by Gregory Abels, at the Sande Shurin Theatre in New York City in 2001. Rand performed his play in three productions Off-Broadway, first at the Sande Shurin Theatre, at the Century Center Theatre under the play's previous title, Clurman, produced by J.C. Compton, the second wife of Harold Clurman, and then by the Mirror Repertory Company at the ArcLight Theatre. Rand made his New York debut in 1978 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music as a member of the cast of Julius Caesar with Richard Dreyfuss, George Rose, Austin Pendleton, René Auberjonois, and Tom Hulce.
Rand's transformation into a 79-year-old Harold Clurman in his play, Let It Be Art! comes through a two-hour transformation process in his dressing room, based on Konstantin Stanislavski's Method of Physical Actions.[20]
Rand has performed in Let It Be Art! in 26 countries and represented the United States in the 8th Theatre Olympics performing in his solo play at the Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi, and Tagore Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram.[21][22][23] Rand is the first American to perform in a solo play at the International Bafa Arts Festival in Harare, Zimbabwe, Kenya International Theatre Festival at Nairobi's National Theatre, Voices of History International Theatre Festival in Vologda, Russia, MerCoSur Interior Althuapua De Cioppo International Festival in Paysandú, Uruguay, Bareilly International Theatre Festival, India, Baptizer International Theatre Festival in Bangalore, India, San Vicente del Caguán Cultural Arts Center in northern Colombia, Patravadi Theatre in Bangkok, Trade Unions Palace of Culture in Minsk, Belarus, Palace Dar el-Makhzen in the Kasbah, Tangier, Morocco, and Cayman National Cultural Foundation Harquail National Theatre, Grand Cayman in the British West Indies.[24] Rand has performed his solo play in the International Theatre Festival for Peace in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, Kathmandu International Theatre Festival in Nepal, Act Alone Festival in Suðureyri, Iceland, as a Festival judge and performed in the M.E.S.S. International Theatre Festival at the Chamber 55 Theatre, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina,[25]WAAE Global Arts Education Summit Athens 2024[26]Colombo International Theater Festival in Sri Lanka,[27][28] International Winter Festival in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chevolek International Theatre Festival in Chelyabinsk, Russia, Georgia International Theatre Festival in Tbilisi, Georgia, Slavija International Theatre Festival in Belgrade, Serbia, Lithographeion Theatre, Patras, Greece, and in the Inaugural Harold Clurman Festival of Arts in New York City.[29] Rand has completed five goodwill tours across India, performing his solo play and teaching his master acting workshop at universities and festivals including Rangayana Theatre in Mysore,[30][31]Manipal University in Jaipur, at Christ University as a Festival judge and performed in Baptizer International Theatre Festival in Bangalore, AddLife Caring Minds Wellness Centre in Kolkata, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Chilsag Chilies Acting Academy, and R.K. Film and TV Media Academy in New Delhi, Anupam Kher's Actor Prepares Academy in Mumbai, University of Calicut, Pondicherry University, Sri Aurobindo Auditorium in Auroville, and appeared in Great Mind at Work, a play by the India playwright, Sachin Gupta, at L'Alliance française de Delhi, performing in Hindi, a language he does not speak.
In 2013 Rand became the second U.S. director to direct in the 60-year history of the historic Chamber Theatre 55 in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.[61] Rand was invited by the Director of Chamber Theatre 55, Dragan Jovicic, to direct Murray Schisgal's comedy, LUV, translated by Mirjana Jovicic. The cast included Muhamed Hadzovic, Moamer Kasumovic, and Zana Marjanovic. The set and costumes were designed by Vanja Popovic.[62] The production was performed as part of the theatre repertory for eight sold-out years in repertory, and traveled to Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and across Bosnia & Herzegovina, winning awards in state festivals.[63][64][65] Rand became the first American director to direct at the Aras Theatre in Paysandu, Uruguay. He directed an adaptation from the Pulitzer Prize winning play, Our Town by Thornton Wilder translated by Ilse Olivera into Spanish, (a language he does not speak), with actors of Paysandu.[66] Rand conceived and directed a site-specific interactive performance, "Living Roots: Who We Are" with the students of the Department of Theatre Studies at the University of Patras performing in Greek in the lobby of the University of Patras Conference Center. Rand produced and co-translated the American premiere of Spanish playwright, Inigo Ramirez de Haro's most controversial play, "We Couldn't Call It What We Wanted To Call It, So We Called It Holy Crap!!" starring Stephen Mo Hanan at La MaMa, E.T.C. directed by Erica Gould in New York City in 2011.[67] Rand directed and appeared in [[Voices from Chernobyl|A Meltdown from Chernobyl, The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster]] by Svetlana Alexievich, a dramatic adaptation by Spencer Smith with Frances Crowe, Ruth Hooke, Sister Jane Morrissey, and Jean-Claude van Itallie across northern New England at churches and meeting houses.[68][69] Rand created and moderated a Drama Desk Panel Event, The Art of Storytelling, at Sardi's Restaurant in New York City, interviewing Bertie Carvel, Jayne Houdyshell, Kristine Nielsen, and David Hyde-Pierce.[70]
^Staff Reports (September 3, 2024). ""Art of Transformation Workshop" Scheduled for September in Asheville""(website). tribpapers.com. Education: Tribune Papers. Retrieved September 9, 2024. The Center for Spiritual Living Asheville will host an engaging workshop titled "Art of Transformation," led by renowned Goodwill Cultural Ambassador and international performing artist Ronald Rand. Rand's workshop promises to be both inspiring and enjoyable, offering participants a chance to explore their creativity through storytelling improvisation poetry, song, and movement exercises. Central to the experience is the use of Stanislavsky's original "Method of Physical Actions" acting chart which consists of 40 tools designed to help individuals express themselves authentically on stage and in daily life. In a statement about the workshop, Rand shared, "Art teaches us we each carry tools to transform not only in our own lives but to share truths about how to live with those around us. We can shape our joys into creative expressions of storytelling through transformation as long as we're willing to find ways to teach each other a way forward through peace, through love. We each carry within us a deep well we can draw from every day to guide ourselves. Through the power of art, we can inspire each other to come together to live in harmony."
^"Workshop by Rand"(webpage). courierjournal.net. Courier Journal. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
^Ruiz, Edlyn (March 26, 2013). "Let it be Art" (webpage). Cayman 27. Cayman 27.
^Criscitiello, Alexa (July 14, 2021). "Ronald Rand Stars in LET IT BE ART! At Greece's International Festival"(website). www.Broadwayworld.com. Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved August 24, 2021. Goodwill Cultural Ambassador Ronald Rand, during his 20th year touring around the world to 25 countries will perform at the Theatre of Changes' 17th International Festival of Making Theater in his celebrated solo play, LET IT BE ART! as Harold Clurman, "the Elder Statesman of the American Theatre," on August 2nd at Theatre of Change, 19a Tritus Septemuriou Street in Athens, Greece.
^Braun, Phyliss (October 27, 2006). "Renowned Director will be Focus of Play at IT" (newspaper). Arts & Location page: Arizona Jewish Press.
^O'Flaherty, Dennis (November 3, 2006). "Play's Focus is a Legend of the Stage". Arizona Daily Star (newspaper). Accent page.
^"Richard Skipper Celebrates Solo Transformation on Stage with Ronald Rand". blogtalkradio.com. February 22, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022. For the first time ever, world-acclaimed solo performer Ronald Rand and Goodwill Cultural Ambassador in 25 countries reveals how a solo performance is born, takes off, and can change the face of the world. Step inside his extraordinary two-hour transformation becoming 79-year-old theatre director Harold Clurman in his celebrated solo play LET IT BE ART! to discover an organic process creating your own dynamic solo performance on stage using Stanislavski's original acting chart "The Method of Physical Actions" to live completely inside your storytelling.
^Gates, Tory (April 26, 2022). "Ronald Rand, "Solo Transformation On Stage" Author on the Brown Posey Press Show"(Broadcast in Books). www.blogtalkradio.com. Retrieved April 26, 2022. Ronald Rand has performed among, but was also trained by giants of the theatre. An actor known around the world for his portrayal of Harold Clurman in the one-man show "Let It Be Art!" Rand outlines not only his own life and career, but that of many of his peers in "Solo Transformation On Stage: A Journey into the Organic Process of the Art of Transformation," his latest release on Brown Posey Press.
^"Ronald Rand"(webpage). SunburyPress.com. Sunbury Press. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021. RONALD RAND Author – Goodwill Cultural Ambassador – Performing Artist Ronald's inspiring books include "Solo Transformation on Stage: A Journey into the Organic Process of the Art of Transformation," "CREATE! How Extraordinary People Live to Create and Create to Live" and "Acting Teachers of America." Dedicating his work towards the affirmation of humanity as a Goodwill Cultural Ambassador and Performing Artist, Ronald has thrilled audiences over the past twenty years as Harold Clurman, the "Elder Statesman of the American Theatre," in his solo play, LET IT BE ART! in three critically-acclaimed Off-Broadway productions, in 25 countries, across twenty states, at the World Theatre Olympics, and at over fifty universities and colleges.
^Cannon, Louise (April 21, 2022). "Interview with Stage Actor/Author/Goodwill Ambassador – Ronald Rand". Bookmarks and Stages by Lou. Retrieved June 3, 2022. Ronald Rand is an actor, author and Goodwill Ambassador. Ronald Rand has appeared in many theatre plays, his latest is the solo play, Let It Be Art! about the life of Harold Clurman, which he tours worldwide. He is also the Founder of the newspaper – "The Soul of The American Actor." His book is "Solo Transformation On Stage" and is available now to purchase and includes a foreword by Stephen Lang, most recently famous for playing the part of Miles Quaritch in the Avatar movies by James Cameron.
^"Let It Be Art!"(website). Aurovilleradio.org. Auroville Radio. December 24, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2022. In front of our eyes we could see vivid image of 79 years old Harold Clurman, co-founder of the famed Group Theatre of the 1930s in America. Harold Clurman was known as a "True Man of the Theater" who brought a world of new knowledge.Harold Clurman was brought to us on Christmas evening by incomparable Ronald Rand, who truly transformed himself through two hours long preparation into the elder statesman of the American theater.
^Rabinowitz, Chloe (October 3, 2024). [ttps://www.broadwayworld.com/greece/article/Cultural-Ambassador-Ronald-Rand-to-Bring-Harold-Clurman-In-LET-IT-BE-ART-To-Athens-20241003 "Cultural Ambassador Ronald Rand to Bring Harold Clurman In LET IT BE ART! To Athens"] (website). Broadwayworld.com. BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024. International Cultural Ambassador Ronald Rand recently performing at Colombo's Elphinstone Theatre, Nairobi's National Theatre in The Kenya International Theater Festival, and in Iceland, will perform as Harold Clurman, the "Elder Statesman of the American Theatre" in his critically-acclaimed solo play, LET IT BE ART! approaching his 25th year of world tours, on October 19th at the Aula Theatre in Athens, Greece during the Global Arts Education Summit of the World Alliance for Arts in Education (WAAE) at the School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
^H. Janardhanaravaru, Janny (March 1, 2015). "Ronald Rand in his one man show"(website). Rangayana. Home: news: Rangayana, Mysore, Government of Karnataka.
^Hays, Kathy (June 15, 2018). "Rand Portrays Captain Keller in "The Tuscumbia I Know: A Talk by Captain Keller" (Newspaper). Colbert County Reporter. p. 5.
^Tidwell, J.R. (March 25, 2022). "World's A Stage: Author Covers Art of Solo Performance"(newspaper). Colbert County Reporter. Retrieved April 6, 2022. On Thursday, March 17, Rand was a guest at the regular lunch meeting of the Civitan Club of Tuscumbia at the Helen Keller Library. Rand gave an in-depth presentation of his new book, including insight into what went into making the work and why decided to put the book together in the first place. The author and actor will next be performing in Iceland as part of the Act Alone Festival.
^Putnam, Leah (April 5, 2022). "13 Theatre Books to Take to the Park This Spring"(website). playbill.com. Retrieved April 6, 2022. Solo performer Ronald Rand shares a step-by-step guide to creating your solo performance using Stanislavski's original acting chart and his own two-hour transformation into Harold Clurman. Included in the book are interviews with performers of solo plays such as Christopher Plummer and personal experiences with others like Stella Adler.
^Neshat (January 7, 2013). "Ibsen – Opera in Progress"(website). aurovilleradio.com. Auroville Radio. Retrieved April 6, 2022. For theater lovers weekend will bring unique event in many ways. In the interview with director Jill, and actress Heeba Shah we find out why Ibsen, why opera in progress. Libretto was done by Ronald Rand, who visited Auroville last year with his play, and series of workshops, and music is work of Hartmut von Liers, but however it is, for the first time that Ibsen will be in opera, and it is Hartmut's first opera composing, and for Auroville is the first opera performance ever. Audience will confront with Ibsen's passion for self realization.
^Malagic, Medina (November 20, 2013). "'Ljupaf' at Kamerni Theatre". sarajevotimes.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022. The theatre play 'Ljupaf', directed by American actor, director and Professor Ronald Rand, and roles by Zana Marjanović, Muhamed Hadžović and Moamer Kasumović will be performed in Kamerni Theatre on 22 November at 20:00.