Joseph Donia

Joseph N Donia (born March 28, 1949) is an American Actor, Director and Teacher, best known for teaching theatre philosophy and the ascetics of theatre.
Early life
Doina was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Polish parents and attended school at Edinboro University, where he earned a B.S. in Secondary Ed English, English Theatre in 1971. His work has been influenced by such noted directors as Konstantin Stanislavski, Peter Brook, Jerzy Grotowski. His techniques follow the 'backwards and forwards' theory of acting.
Career
Donia's professional acting career began in the mid 1970's when he became part of a Shakespeare troupe based in Miami. He preformed in a Los Angeles Theatre production of Much Ado About Nothing. He then settled in Thousand Oaks, California and began directing plays using local talent. Before the completion of his own theater building, Donia staged his productions outside using poor theater techniques, often using minimal sets and props. When a Performing Arts Center was completed Donia opened with an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby. The performance was overshadowed by a competing theater's production of The Odd Couple (which Donia in turn would present many years later back to back with Moon Over Buffalo). His plays would later receive critical acclaim when he staged a production of Peter Stone's musical comedy "Curtains." Unfortunately Donia overran his budget and did not recover his expenses.
Documentary
In the early 1990's Donia collaborated with USC filmmaker Michael Steffen in making the short documentary Can I Make It as an Actor. The documentary highlighted the attempts over the years by Donia to make it as a professional stage actor. The film concluded by encouraging young actors to follow their dreams if they wanted, but not to hope for too much.
Professional credits
*The Crucible (2006)
*The Odd Couple (2006)
*Moon Over Buffalo (2007)
*Spoon River Anthology (2007)
*Into the Woods (2008)
*You Can’t Take It with You (2008)
*Working (2009)
* How the Other Half Loves (2009)
*Curtains (2010)
*Wind in the Willows (2010)
*' (In production)

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