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On Wednesday, October 5th<\/sup> the SAG-AFTRA Foundation will open the doors to its new screening room and educational space in New York City, named in honor of the late Robin Williams. The debut of the space \u2013the Robin Williams Center<\/strong> for Actors, Broadcasters and Recording Artists \u2013 will be marked by a celebration of Williams\u2019 work, featuring a Conversation with Robin Williams<\/em> that took place at the Foundation in Los Angeles in 2003. Following the screening, a panel of friends and colleagues including Hank Azaria (\u201cThe Birdcage\u201d), Billy Crystal (\u201cComic Relief,\u201d \u201cFather\u2019s Day\u201d),Whoopi Goldberg (\u201cComic Relief\u201d), Bonnie Hunt (\u201cJumanji\u201d) and writer \/ director Barry Levinson (\u201cGood Morning, Vietnam,\u201d \u201cToys,\u201d \u201cMan of the Year\u201d) will discuss collaborating with this genius of stage and film\u00a0and share how Robin\u2019s artistry\u00a0contributed to a legacy that will enlighten and continue to educate future performers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a national organization and we\u2019ve been serving union performers all over the country with our free programs and resources for more than 30 years. However, with the opening of the incredible Robin Williams Center, we now have two permanent and state-of-the-art homes for actors, broadcasters and recording artists on both coasts,\u201d said JoBeth Williams, president of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. \u201cThe opening of this Center is truly the culmination of a dream. The other part of that dream is to be able to name our new home in honor of Robin Williams, a brilliant artist and compassionate man, who represented the very best in all of us as a performer and as a person. \u201d<\/p>\n In the days following the October 5th<\/sup> opening, the Foundation will present a Career Retrospective with legendary broadcaster Tom Brokaw, and will continue to add programming featuring prominent actors, broadcasters and recording artists to the Center\u2019s program calendar. All events will be recorded and posted to the Foundation\u2019s YouTube channel and website (sagaftra.foundation\/video-gallery).<\/p>\n As the newest hub within SAG-AFTRA Foundation\u2019s robust resource arsenal, the Robin Williams Center, located at 247 West 54th<\/sup>Street between 8th<\/sup> Avenue and Broadway, will offer free educational programming to more than 40,000 actors, broadcasters and recording artists in the New York metro area. The Center will not only become the permanent home to the Foundation\u2019s bedrock Conversations<\/em> and The Business <\/em>programs, but it will serve as an extension of the Foundation\u2019s already existing free resources for SAG-AFTRA members \u2013the EIF Voiceover Lab, an on-camera lab, a computer lab and classroom \u2013 housed within their New York office at 1900 Broadway.<\/p>\n The Robin Williams Center comes equipped with state-of-the-art video streaming technology, including 4K HD Christie Digital Cinema projection and surround sound, and fully programmable theatrical lighting, making it a premiere venue to host screening events in the city. It also boasts multi-camera live stream broadcast and recording capabilities, which will allow events to reach audiences beyond the confines of the venue\u2019s 154 seats.<\/p>\n While the 25-foot-wide cinema screen serves as an impressive focal point within the 4,000-square-foot space, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation\u2019s plan for the Center extends far beyond straightforward screening events.\u00a0 As an organization established to support artists, the Foundation is committed to using the space to expand educational and performance programs, catalyze connections between peers, colleagues and mentors, and cultivate an enriching and supportive environment in which performers can hone and enhance their skills. When the Foundation is not programming in the space, the Center will be made available for rental.<\/p>\n