Vasanth J. Santosham
BIO
Welcome to the world of Vasanth J. Santosham, an accomplished actor, director, and educator whose artistic journey bridges Russian theatrical tradition with contemporary American performance. An independent artist with over fifteen years of experience in theatre, film, and actor training, Vasanth is dedicated to ensemble-based creation, empathy, and the ever-evolving Stanislavsky System. A graduate of the Moscow Art Theatre School, he has performed extensively across Russia, India, and the United States, appearing as a lead actor in Gorod.OK with Vladimir Pankov’s SounDrama Studio and …the itsy bitsy spider… with Alexander Marine. His film credits include performances opposite Martin Sheen in Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain and in acclaimed independent filmmaker *Sudhish Kamath’s Good Night Good Morning. As a director, Vasanth has helmed productions of Our Town, Too Clever By Half (New York International Fringe Festival), and Winter, each exploring humanity through ensemble and imagination. Through his teaching and creative collaborations, he continues to inspire authenticity, curiosity, and a shared sense of discovery—illuminating the timeless connection between craft and the human spirit.
The American Class
The American Class: When Art Met Freedom
It was a remarkable convergence of cultures, artistry, and ideals—a moment that we fear may never come again. The American Class of the Moscow Art Theater School stands as the first and only group of Americans to complete the school’s full four-year conservatory training, studying under legendary masters including Oleg Tabakov, Anatoly Smeliansky, and Mikhail Lobanov. Immersed in the precision, discipline, and profound humanity of Russian theatre, these artists experienced a once-in-a-lifetime exchange where technique met transformation and artistic rigor gave way to freedom. Their journey culminated in celebrated performances on Moscow stages, including Our Town on the New Stage of the Moscow Art Theater. From this extraordinary experience emerged Studio Six Theater Company, a collective born of two artistic worlds—where the disciplined passion of Russian training met the fearless imagination of American artists.
The original American Class on the steps of the Moscow Art Theater School-Studio
The Good Old Days
Some fun pictures from my younger years.
Star Magazine
Chennai, India
A fun publicity profile prior to release of Bhopal A Prayer for Rain
Sliding Lucy
Artsland Festival 2005
A collaboration with Lithuanian director Oskar Karsunovis
Red Carpet
Mumbai International Film Festival
Attending premiere of Good Night Good Morning groundbreaking independant film directed by Sudhish Kamath.
Bhopal A Prayer For Rain
Feature Film 2010
A scene with Martin Sheen