A-list Actor's Academy

The most important aspects for success with an acting class are comfort and respect. Do your best to find a teacher who can put you at ease and who you know will honor you. The business - heck life - is difficult enough. If you are in a negative environment, you are going to achieve negative results.

I do my utmost to establish rapport with my students, and nothing does that better than a healthy dose of respect and commitment to your success. Also, I like to spend time getting to know my students. What does she like about acting? What does he think his type is? Instead of imposing my idea of a scene or character, I'd prefer to have student input because then I will have greater buy-in. There will be time for pushing the envelope. But, I'm all about achieving massive results. 

As an actor, I am a lifelong student. And, I would say my training is quite eclectic. As one of my favorite acting coaches used to say: "For any given scene, you never know when your natural talent to believe might fail you. That's when it's important to have a full and diverse toolbox to draw from." (Okay, she wasn't quite so verbose, lol. I'm a writer too!)

MFA: Playwriting/Screenwriting. (This is great for scene study and character breakdown.)

BFA: Theatre - Acting, Directing, Writing, and Tech Theatre.

American Academy of Dramatic Arts: 2-year Professional Acting Conservatory (NYC)

Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts: Summer Acting Conservatory

LaJolla Playhouse: Summer Acting Conservatory

Actors' Equity Association; SAG/AFTRA.

I went into teaching for the money.

Seriously, though, I'm a giving person. And, I especially love seeing that "aha" moment with a student. The best, however, is having a student long enough where you can see growth - not just in subject matter - but in personal development.

I got my start while I was in Summer Stock. The Playhouse had  a Summer High School Intensive. Since, I've taught 5 years of Theatre/English/Public Speaking at the high school level. 

Long before that, however, I began directing professional actors in Chicago and then on to Manhattan. I've also taught Theatre at the college and graduate level. I even taught and directed Columbia Grad students in a devised theatre piece performed at the United Nations.

I had the distinct pleasure of auditioning for the new Clifford the Big Red Dog live action film. When you see it, look for the vet who first checks Clifford. It isn't me. But, it was so much fun to play with that kind of style. I was cracking up the casting director. 

That's all you can do: have fun. Then forget it. If the director or producer comes around to offer you a part, so much the better!

I answered this above, but it bears repeating:

The most important aspects for success with an acting class are comfort and respect. Do your best to find a teacher who can put you at ease and who you know will honor you. The business - heck life - is difficult enough. If you are in a negative environment, you are going to achieve negative results.

They should definitely think about their goals. What do they want to achieve - both short-term with the class but also long-term. If you throw a squirrel at the broad side of a barn, but you aren't looking at the barn, chances are you're going to miss (which, I suppose, is ultimately the best - for the squirrel at least!)