The New World Acting Workshop represents something very personal to Joshua Spafford; a return home.

“I was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. When I was 10 years old I saw Richard Burton perform as King Arthur in Camelot. There’s a scene at the very end between Arthur and a little boy and I said to myself: I can do that. The next day I asked to be taken to the theater and I asked to join. I was given a laugh and a broom to sweep up from a light-hearted stage hand but I was rewarded by a nod from Mr. Burton himself.

I was to leave Florida shortly after and not to return for almost twenty years of travel (60 countries), study, and touring productions; but my heart has been nagging me to come home to Florida and share what I learned in the vocation of my choice from around the world.”

The New York Times has said of Joshua Spafford that he “brings his roles a mania, merriment and mordancy unseen since the death of Raul Julia.” Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Joshua’s career has taken him all over the world, playing Macbeth and Oedipus for the British Council, as well as performing throughout the Far East, Europe and the United States. In New York City, Josh has played the title roles in Richard III (Gorilla Rep) and Othello (for both the National Asian American Theater Company and the Culture Project). He has also been seen as Mercutio (on crutches), Benedick, The Bastard in King John (at the Present Theater), and Rosencrantz at the Classic Stage Company.

Josh consistently originates roles in modern verse plays by such playwrights as Pulitzer Prize Winner Yusef Komunyakaa, Glyn Maxwell, and Kirk Wood Bromley (with whom he co-founded Inverse Theater, named Best Downtown Theater Company by the NY Press, 2002). Awards include a nomination for NY IT Awards Outstanding Featured Actor, The Creative Field Award for Best Commercial Actor, and the Philippine Free Press Award for Best Actor for his Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew. He was recently the Director of Events for The New Globe Theater (Whose board includes Oscar Winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, Al Pacino and Kevin Kline) and acted at their recent gala on a bill with Ethan Hawke.

Joshua is also a photographer. He resides in NYC with his puppy, Troilus.