Profile in the Oswego Review, July 25, 2015
The Lake Oswego-based [Acting] Club has been around since 2001, and founder Bernie Duffy and his son still are bringing drama — the stage-based kind — to schools throughout the Portland metro area. The club kicked off about 20 years ago in New Jersey and came to town when Duffy moved here.
Duffy is well qualified to run The Acting Club, having performed on Broadway in “The Cherry Orchard” alongside Diane Lane and Raul Julia in 1977. In 1981, Duffy was in a play called “The Connection” with Morgan Freeman, sharing a mirror with him offstage.
“It was so long ago, I had a bigger part than Morgan Freeman,” Duffy said….
Bernie Duffy’s son, John Duffy, works alongside him, teaching budding actors and directing or co-directing, depending on the play. He said that the summer camp — with five-day sessions through the week of Aug. 12 to 16 — offers something for all kids, including those who may not fit in elsewhere.
“It’s a collection of different types of kids, different levels of adjustment, but all creative,” said John Duffy, who is professionally trained in theater and filmmaking.
He added that theater helps students gain confidence, social skills and public speaking skills.
“It is important for kids to understand that you can be proud of your emotions, and all of your emotions — even the negative ones can be positive if you use them to project to an audience,” John Duffy said.
Summer camp students are broken into two groups, kindergarten to fifth grade and sixth to 12th grade.
“We’re just part of the theater community here, and we just love watching these kids grow,” Bernie Duffy said.
Camp participants hold free performances every Friday.
“We don’t want money to ever get in the way of people wanting to see theater, and we like full audience,” he said. “That’s good for the kids.”
| Credit Type | Production | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | The Connection | 1980-81 Season |