About
Actor/director specializing in Shakespeare and other complex text, kinesthetic approaches to acting, and audition preparation and coaching. www.aaronmichaelzook.com
Since I began work as a director and casting consultant in 2006, I have taken seriously my role not only as a theatre professional but as an advocate and mentor for young actors. In both the rehearsal studio and the audition room I seek to guide them to choices (and hopefully, lasting habits) that result in fresh, truthful, and sometimes surprising performances, especially when using heightened texts or styles.
While pursuing my Master of Fine Arts in Acting at The Ohio State University, I had the opportunity to teach a variety of undergraduate acting classes ranging from introductory acting to advanced scene study and Shakespeare. I had the good fortune of studying with the Royal Shakespeare Company both in Stratford and in their residency at the University, with topics including voice and speech, textual analysis, movement, and dramatic inquiry by way of the Company’s Stand Up For Shakespeare educational training. This collaboration opened up my lifelong love of Shakespeare and provided me with an array of theatrical tools that I now apply not only to his plays, but to any complex or heightened text.
In pursuit of this crucial balance between collaborative openness and formal rigor, I continued my training with the SITI Company, working intensely with Suzuki and Viewpoints. These disciplines have proven invaluable in my work as an actor-deviser, as well as in my approach to heightened styles and non-realism as a director. I have found Suzuki training in particular to be useful in audition settings, where the combination of time constraints, nerves, and distractions can undo the most talented actors without formal preparation.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Typically I'll ask for an email briefly breaking down the student's experience, previous training, and goals so that we can get to work quickly in the first session. If the aim of the coaching is to develop audition technique, I typically suggest starting with a mock audition to see where they are in the process. At that point I'll share what I observed with a casting director's eye, and we'll dig into their pieces in a fairly granular way. For Shakespeare, I'll ask for prepared text. If they don't have a piece memorized, we'll begin with a bit of text they're familiar with and read. The path forward differs based on the needs and the aptitude of the student.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
MFA in Acting, The Ohio State University. Training in textual analysis and dramatic inquiry with the Royal Shakespeare company; Suzuki, Viewpoints, and Composition with the SITI company; ongoing training in Viewpoints and Composition with Blessed Unrest.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
$50/hr single student.
$70/hr two-person scene study.
$15/hr per person, group classes of six or more.
Discounts offered for referrals.
How did you get started teaching?
My work as Associate Director with Chamber Theatre Productions in Boston involved a great deal of coaching for many of our actors who were unfamiliar with period styles and heightened text. My interest in teaching deepened during my time as a teaching associate in graduate school, where I had the opportunity to instruct undergraduate courses in beginning and intermediate acting as well as Shakespeare.
What types of students have you worked with?
Most of my students have been undergraduates and young actors fresh out of two- or four-year conservatories or degree programs, but I have also worked with more experienced actors who are looking to expand their audition book, explore Shakespeare, or break out of a creative or professional rut.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I had the great pleasure of directing three touring productions of the same show this past fall. It was a delightful challenge to work with very different actors working through the same text in their unique manners, and to adapt my methods accordingly.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find someone who has actually taught; an advanced degree, even from a prestigious institution, doesn't necessarily translate into the ability to pass on what one has learned. Once you find someone, make sure they're a good fit, both in terms of methodology and personality. It's hard to progress with someone you don't click with.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Where do you want to go as an actor? Are you interested in working on camera, on stage, or both? What kind of projects, and what kind of roles attract you? Do you have a sense of your playable range (or as some would have it, "type")? How much time are you willing to devote to improving your craft.