This story is featured in Episode 52
Art gives a voice, empowers, returns dignity and changes lives. This is what Anna Rak and the acting school she graduated from in New York believe in. Anna is a Polish actress there who works with inmates – her work has also changed her life. She also aims to give a voice to art communities in New York who have so much to offer and are not heard enough.
Immigrating from Poland, Anna is a Brooklyn based film and theatre actress, director and a producer. Her professional acting training began at Dorota Zieciowska and Zbigniew W. Kaleta Acting Studio in 2007 and followed by Professional Conservatory at Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City, which she graduated in 2016. The latter is the school whose alumni include Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro and Salma Hayek.
Her recent New York credits include: Lucy in ‘Strings’ (The Access Theater), Agnieszka in ‘The Story of Two Poets’ (The Jalopy Theatre); ‘Antigone’ (Theatre Row); Maid from ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’; Flea from ‘The Adventures of The Cheating Flea’ (Kosciuszko Foundation), Stephanie from ‘Ready’ (Alpha Theater NYC).
Anna is also voiceover artist and cooperates with the New York City-based Voice Over and Animation Company Pepsqually.
In 2016, Anna was honored to be a part of the Stella Adler Outreach Division’s ongoing series of theater projects for inmates at New York City’s detention centers where she served as a teaching artist.
Anna is also a Founder and Artist Director of the Eastern Bridge Theatre Troupe, an independent collective of foreign artists based in New York City. In 2017. together with an outstanding EBTT’s team, Anna co-created and produced two original theatrical pieces: ‘The Story of Two Poets’ and ‘STRINGS’.
Work with inmates:
Anna as an actress: