A group of theater students will have an opportunity to talk about the business with award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis before she kicks off TheatreFest's new Conversations Series on Friday, Nov. 7.

The Conversations Series is open to the public and begins at 7 p.m. in the L. Howard Fox Studio Theatre.

The masterclass will take place earlier in the day and students are anxiously awaiting to hear what the veteran actor has to say.

"I think it's incredible," said junior acting major Paul Reisman. "This is a great opportunity for us to learn from someone so accomplished. I'm looking foward to hearing about her professional experience and getting the real dirt about what it's like out there."

John Wooten, producing artistic director of TheatreFest, said the masterclass is one example of how TheatreFest strives to unite working professionals with students. "We want to deliver a real-world perspective on both the craft and the overall experience of a working professional," he said. "Our students will have a rare opportunity to go one-on-one with an Academy Award winner and learn from a seasoned veteran about professional theater, including the ins and outs of the business."

Reisman said programs like this enhance an already strong academic program."I have friends at other schools who have talked about opportunites like this, now we have one at Montclair State," he said.

Junior Rob McClure, a theater studies major who has acted professionally including on Broadway in "I'm Not Rappaport," said the knowledge students will gain from the masterclass can't come from a textbook. "We have our formal training," he said."But this will give us an insight into the business aspect of it. Acting is a field where nothing is guaranteed. There are many uncertain aspects of this career. How do we fill the holes? I am looking forward to hearing the story of how she made it. Like all of us, she, too, was at the bottom at one time. I want to pick her brain as to where we should go from here."

A former Montclair resident, Dukakis is no stranger to TheatreFest. In 1999 she directed a production of the comedy "Do Not Disturb." She received an Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actress cateogry, the New York Film Critics Award, the Los Angeles Film Critics Award and the Golden Globe Award for her role in "Moonstruck." (Click here to read more about Dukakis's career.)

"We are thrilled to have Olympia back to kick off the new TheatreFest Conversations Series," Wooten said. "She's had a tremendous impact on New Jersey theater, particularly right here in Montclair."

Dukakis, who also is a director, producer, teacher, activist and founding member and producing artistic director of the Whole Theater in Montclair, will talk about her best-selling memoir, Ask Me Again Tomorrow and her upcoming movie and New York theater project with husband Louis Zorich.

A book signing and question-and-answer session will follow her talk.

The Conversations Series inaugurates year-round programming for TheatreFest, the Equity theater-in-residence at Montclair State, which until this year had been a summer-only program. In addition to the Conversations Series, TheatreFest hosts a Regional Playwriting Festival and TheatreFest for Kids. A full schedule of events will be announced later this month.

"We're excited we can expand TheatreFest events in preparation for the new Alexander Kasser Theater," said Geoffrey Newman, dean of the School of the Arts.

Tickets for the Conversations Series with Dukakis are $30 and seating is limited. For more information, call the Box Office at 973-655-5112.