For actress and educator Tonea Stewart, the creation of The American Theatre of BEing is not only a way to offer expert training to young and adult aspiring actors in her hometown of Montgomery, Alabama, it is a way to honor the venerable late actor, Frank Silvera who was not only a respected actor of stage and screen during the 50's and 60's, but was an accomplished acting coach who started the Theatre of Being in 1965.
Frank Silvera (1914–1970) was a distinguished Jamaican-American actor, director, and advocate for Black artists in the performing arts. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Massachusetts, Silvera built a versatile career in film, television, and theater, often cast in a wide range of ethnic roles due to his racially ambiguous features.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he appeared in notable films such as Viva Zapata! (1952), Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), and The Appaloosa (1966), sharing the screen with stars like Marlon Brando. He also made frequent TV appearances on shows like Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, and Bonanza. While his talent was widely recognized, the industry's racial barriers often limited the kinds of roles available to him and other Black actors.
In 1964, Silvera co-founded the Theater of Being in Los Angeles, a pioneering Black theater company dedicated to showcasing the talents of African American performers and presenting stories relevant to the Black experience. The theater offered opportunities for serious dramatic training and performance, helping to elevate the visibility and professionalism of Black actors in American theater. One of its most celebrated productions was James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner, which drew significant attention and acclaim.
Frank Silvera's legacy lives on through his artistic contributions and his work in creating pathways for Black actors in Hollywood and theater. His efforts are commemorated by the Frank Silvera Writers' Workshop, established in his honor to support emerging Black playwrights.
Tonea Stewart was among the last pupils of Frank Silvera before his sudden passing in 1970. Trained in his groundbreaking American Theatre of Being technique, she received guidance not only from Silvera but also from Beah Richards, his first star-student. The American Theatre of BEing is the continuation of Silvera's teachings and Stewart has launched the training aspect of the organization starting in earnest the Summer of 2025, to extend the scope of the company to include technical training for behind the scene work on Film and TV series; and to also attract 'Hollywood' to utilize those students trained and certified at the company to work in both front end and on crew teams. Something Stewart is hopeful will attract more film and television production to the state of Alabama.During Stewart's time at Alabama State University as the Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, she preserved and expanded Silvera’s methodology by hosting the annual “American Theatre of Being Acting Summit”, a two-day intensive in Montgomery, dedicated to developing actors using Silvera’s original principles, and teaching the Theatre of Being approach—focused on authenticity and eradicating racial stereotypes—ensuring actors continue to hone deep emotional truth in performance.
Dr. Stewart isn’t just inspired by Silvera—she’s his heir in preserving and expanding his American Theatre of Being. As his last student, she carries forward his transformative technique, nurturing generations of actors and ensuring Silvera’s revolutionary ethos endures.“Both Silvera and Beah Richards passed the ‘Being’ techniques torch on to me”, says Stewart, "and so this work is a living homage celebrating Silvera’s vision—training actors in the craft he founded and loved."
For more on The American Theatre of BEing, log on at:
Home | The American Theatre
For more on the life and times of the late Frank Silvera, go to:
Frank Silvera (1914-1970) | BlackPast.org