About
I love helping people find the joy of acting, and experience how fulfilling the whole process can be! Acting has been a life-long passion of mine, and I have been writing and directing plays for 21 years. I graduated from the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York City, and have acted Off-Off Broadway and regionally. I ran my own theater company in Florida and have been teaching acting to children and adults professionally for 13 years. Whether your interest is in classical theater, modern, film, or improv my approach remains the same - learning to connect to the heart of the character. All of the tools I have learned through my conservatory training boil down to one essential point, "If you truly believe it, the audience will too". What people may not realize is that in the search for the essence of a character, they may find the essence of themselves.
I really enjoy watching my students grow. One student of mine had never even attended a play before, and he had a reading disability that affected his scene study. However, he was dedicated, and I knew he had innate talent. By the end of our time together, he was playing a lead role in George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan" and outshining Joan herself! The experience helped him in his personal confidence in life for years to come. The study of acting not only opens up doors for us in our careers and creative pursuits, but it opens up doors within our own psyche that can forever enrich our lives.
Highlights
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Specialties
Musical styles
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
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Reviews
Rachel S.
Nikhil S.
Kayla A.
Radha M.
Jorge D.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
The first step in working with a new student is to get to know them, their experience with acting, their desires around acting and some of their life experience. This allows me to get a sense of how to help them access their inner creativity, emotional core, and how to address any blocks that may come up. Each student is unique, so each approach I take is unique, however in general I like to start with the core of character work, and sense memory, and then move on to things like stage presence, and voice and speech.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a two year conservatory degree from The American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York City. I also have years of experience acting in, directing, and writing plays.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
For one on one classes I charge $25 per hour online, $40 in person. If more students would like to join the individual price goes down. So it pays to bring your friends!
How did you get started teaching?
My first role in a play was a little lamb in "Three Wee Kings" when I was too young to know how to read. I remember the director handing me the script, and I just looked at it blankly ;p
That was the beginning of my life-long passion for acting. When I was 14 years old I began writing my own plays, and directing them with a cast of kids from the local school.
As an adult I took the leap to go to New York City to follow my dreams, and attended a very vigorous conservatory program at the American Musical & Dramatic Academy.
After a few years of acting Off-Off Broadway, I moved to Florida and began teaching children acting. Later I formed my own theater company, the Gainesville Shaw Society and trained adults in acting as well.
What types of students have you worked with?
All ages, 4 years to 65 years