faculty
The principles of great performance don’t change, but the realities of the business do—constantly. Our faculty are working professionals who bring current, real-world experience to every class they teach.
Sara Buffamanti
Artistic Director
Sara Buffamanti is thrilled to return to NYCDA as our Artistic Director. Sara previously served NYCDA as the Associate Director of Education and Full-Time Faculty Member from 2009-2019. Sara received her MFA in Acting from Columbia University and her BFA in Acting from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She also participated in three years extensive training to earn her Designated Linklater Teacher Certification as a culminating degree in vocal pedagogy practice. From 2019-2022 Sara was a Full-Time Faculty member at the LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and the Performing Arts. Additionally, her post-secondary teaching credits include the MFA Acting Program at Columbia University’s SOA, St. Francis College and Barnard College.
Sara’s professional practice includes vocal and movement coaching at Barnard College, Springfield Shakespeare Festival, Tokyo University and Queens Theater. Additionally, she serves as a consultant for the Yale School of Drama and other educational and theatrical institutions with a desire to integrate inclusive practices into their existing training programs and infrastructures. Sara is also the Head of Education and Applied Practice for The Apothetae, a theatre company dedicated to illuminating the disabled experience.
As an artist and performer, Sara was a long-time company member of Performing Lab 115. Sara’s work has been seen at the Metropolitan Opera, New York Theater Workshop, The Public, BAM, PS 122, HERE Arts Center, Dixon Place, the Bushwick Starr, Target Margin, the Incubator Arts Project, Noor Theater and Queens Theater. She has performed internationally in Europe, Japan, Korea, and throughout Southeast Asia.
Naima Moffett-Warden
Director of Education
Jay R. Goldenberg
Director of Education Emeritus/Faculty Member
Jay Goldenberg is an actor, director and teacher, and has coached actors on the sets of feature films, including: Say Anything; miniseries: Elvis and Me; sitcoms: Moonlighting; and daytime dramas: General Hospital. His private client roster has included Salma Hayek, Cybill Shepherd, Alicia Silverstone, Estelle Getty, Michael Chiklis, Charles Kimbrough, Beth Howland, Ione Skye, Mary Wilson, Eric Close, Allyce Beasley, and Nicollette Sheridan, to name a few. Jay holds an MFA from New York University School of the Arts.
Becky London
Academic Affairs Liaison
Teaches Actors Lab I and II
Becky’s television credits include Inside Amy Schumer, Blue Bloods, Law & Order, Third Watch and Quantum Leap. She has appeared in numerous films including Nasty Baby, El Camino, United 93, Changing Lanes, and A Very Serious Person. Becky’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include Marlene, Ubu, Isn’t It Romantic, Othello, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and Jewtopia. Becky directed Separating the Men from the Bulls in the Unofficial New York Yale Cabaret’s award-winning first season. She earned her BA in English from Yale University, and her MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama.
Kyle C. Norris
Associate Program Director for Musical Theater
Teaches Voice Technique and Private Voice.
Kyle’s Broadway credits include School of Rock, Rocky (w/Andy Karl), Pippin (w/John Rubinstein, Annie Potts), First Date (w/Zachary Levi, Krysta Rodriguez), and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (w/Ashley Judd, Jason Patric). He’s conducted the Broadway first national tours of If/Then (w/Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, LaChanze), Legally Blonde (w/Michael Rupert), and West Side Story (w/Grant Gustin). His Las Vegas credits include Spamalot (w/John O’Hurley), Hairspray (w/ Harvey Fierstein), Avenue Q (w/ John Tartaglia), and Mamma Mia. He’s remained active in educational theatre working with such institutions as NYU, Marymount Manhattan, UNLV, West Texas A&M, The University of Alabama, Stillman College, and Shelton State. He’s also an active composer with a Master’s degree in Film Scoring from Berklee Online. He currently has a new musical in development and is scoring a documentary to be released in 2024.
Alan Rackham
Teaches: Introduction to Camera for Actors, Process for the Camera
Alan Rackham earned his BA in history from Columbia University and his MFA in directing at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. He has worked as an actor in both New York and Europe. His short films have won awards from film festivals all over the world.
Sara Antkowiak
Teaches: Ballet, Jazz, Theatre Dance, Movement for the Actor (Dance)
Training: BA Theatre and Dance, University of New Hampshire (Presidential, Honors, and Theatre and Dance Scholar), Minor Business Administration
Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA, AEA
Sara recently starred in the World Premiere of the two-hander Your Name Means Dream at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival as Stacy, the role written for her by José Rivera (Oscar-nominated writer of “The Motorcycle Diaries”). Broadway World and DC Theater Arts review highlights: “Intensely psychological star vehicle … delivers a performance as Stacy that is as stunning as it is unforgettable… breathtakingly acted, flawless execution… one of the most stunning displays of chaotic virtuosity I’ve ever seen… marvelous physical acting journey… gives a master class on what a dynamic and emotionally intimate scene-partner relationship means to a play’s success.” Sara developed the play at CATF, Sundance, New York Theatre Workshop, Rattlestick, and Goodman (opposite 2-time Tony nominee Amy Morton). She plays ‘the girl in the music video,’ dancing in legendary Steve Conte’s solo hit “Flying”; and is a producer and sole performer in both multi award-winning films “The Civet” (by Jose Rivera) and “Reverie: a Dream” (dance film). Other recent projects: Signature Theatre with Theatre For One; McCarter Theatre and Paula Vogel’s Bard At The Gate; Red Bull Theater; the lead in Rivera’s Lovesong (Imperfect); The Actors Studio with Chazz Palminteri; HBO’s “The Undoing”; and producer/lead actor in the award-winning short “The Fall of a Sparrow”. At The Metropolitan Opera — where she performed as a classical dancer in multiple world premieres– she worked with directors Bart Sher, Mary Zimmerman, and Robert LePage. She worked with Steven Schwartz as the aerial soloist in Goodspeed’s tour of Pippin and danced at Lincoln Center in both Peter And The Wolf and Cinderella. She recently directed and starred in an exciting new dance film. Sara is an accomplished choreographer for film and theatre and has been a dance educator for students from all over the world, including masterclasses/workshops/choreographing at Duke University, HB Studios, Boston Conservatory, UNH, and Phillips Exeter Academy.
Christian Avila
Teaches: Movement
Christian Ávila (he/him) is a theatre-maker, teaching artist, activist, and a 2021 Drama League Fellow. Ávila works as a teaching artist and Associate Director with The Public and is currently curating two eco-festivals at The Tank. Recent credits include: Twelfth Night at New York Live Arts, and The Sun Serpent and Elephant & Piggie’s “We are in a Play!” at the Hangar Theatre. He produced, wrote, and co-directed Masseur and produced, wrote, and directed Daddy’s Boy at Theatre for the New City. He has collaborated with Theatre in Asylum co-creating and performing in Debates 2020, a live-zoom hybrid production, Electability Cabaret, and Debates 2018. Ávila collaborated with Christian Bakalov on Pure for Drama League’s Director Fest 2020, and with Richard Schechner on Dark Yes. Christian is a founding member of Back to Work Collective co-creating and performing Feminist Flashmob at the Women’s March in D.C. Ávila holds a BA from UC Berkeley, an MA from LIU Post and has studied under the tutelage of Stan Lai, Anne Bogart, and SITI Company.
Shirine Babb
Teaches: Actor's Lab I and II
Training: BFA in Musical Theatre from SUNY Fredonia, MA from East 15 Conservatory in the UK, MFA from the Old Globe/USD PTAP in San Diego
Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA, AEA
Shirine is an award-winning classical actress who has been working as an actor for more than 20 years. As a native New Yorker, she began honing her skills at the Black Spectrum Theatre and City Kids. She has been fortunate to learn from some great mentors, such as Maggie Flannigan, Terry Schreiber, Bob Krakower and Tina Packer. Her Television credits include national commercials, Extrapolations (Apple+), Iron Fist (Netflix), Blue Bloods (CBS), and Madam Secretary (CBS). Shirine has performed on both Broadway and Off-Broadway as well as Regional Theatre. She can currently be seen in A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical on Broadway. Other Broadway shows include: The Piano Lesson opposite Samuel Jackson, the original cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Lincoln Center’s production of Macbeth starring Ethan Hawke. Her most recent Off-Broadway show was King Lear opposite Patrick Paige .
Joe Barros
Teaches: History and Styles of Musical Theatre I and II, performance Project I, Musical Theatre Audition Seminar I and II
Training: BFA, Music Theatre, The Hartt School (University of Hartford)
Affiliations: Member Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
Joe Barros (he/him) is an award-winning queer director, choreographer and writer working on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally, internationally, and in film. Artistic Director: New York Theatre Barn, an inclusive home for original culture-shifting musicals during incubation currently in its 16th season. Broadway: Gigi (associate director). Off-Broadway/NYC: Cagney (associate director), The Evolution of Mann (cast album), Bastard Jones, Urinetown (FIPAP). National Tours/Regional/International: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlotte’s Web (TheaterWorksUSA), Beaches (Chicago’s Drury Lane, associate director), Aida (Singapore), Breathe (with Matt Doyle and Max Clayton, cast album), plus Goodspeed, DC’s Signature Theatre, Broadway in Chicago, The Phoenix Theatre Company (Keynote Speaker, 2022 Festival of New American Theatre), Bucks County Playhouse, Kaixinmahua (Shanghai). Recent Film: The Girl Who Left Home with Paolo Montalban. Teaching: Michigan State University, LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore), Five Towns College, CAP 21/Molloy College, Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute, Broadway For All, Inside Broadway, and Music Academy International (Italy). Barros recently directed readings of Tony nominee Larry Kirwan’s Iraqi Rose and McGuire & Simon’s The Bubble (based on the film) and co-wrote the musical Winner with Nico Juber (recent London workshop). www.joebarros.com @bisforbarros
Rob Baumgartner, Jr.
Teaches: Music Theory
Rob’s original musicals include: The Jungle, Adam Lives, Date of a Lifetime, Alone World, What the Moon Saw, Under Construction, The Hole, Radiant Ruby and Lullabies. Rob has served as an assistant to composers Galt MacDermot, Debra Barsha, and Rob Reale. He was lucky enough to work beside Mr. MacDermot on the 2008 Broadway revival of his musical Hair. Rob is musical director and orchestrator for the upcoming revival of Inner City. Rob is a graduate of the Musical Theater Writing MFA program at Tisch School of the Arts.
Eve Bianco
Teaches: Actors LAB I, II & III, Camera Performance
Training: Studied Acting and Dance, Ohio University, The Juilliard School’s Drama Division graduated as a member of Group 23
Affiliations: AEA, SAG-AFTRA
Eve has performed in New York and across the United States in plays including The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Immigrant, All in The Timing, A MidSummer Night’s Dream, The Dybbuk, Bedroom Farce and The Marriage of Bette and Boo and worked with such notable directors as Daniel Fish, Michael Mayer, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Jenn Thompson, Josie Abady and Michael Kahn. Eve has appeared in and voiced numerous national commercials for products from fertility health to telephone companies and has narrated over 60 recorded books. In addition, Eve works as a private acting and dialect coach.
Lane Binkley
Teaches: Commercial/Voice-over
Training: BA Hunter College/ Sarah Lawrence College, studied with Wynn Handman, Michael Howard, Julie Bovasso, Harold Guskin, Lee Strasberg, Bobby Lewis
Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA
Lane has worked extensively on television, notably as a co-star in Roots and as a guest star on Law and Order, Archie Bunker’s Place, One Day at a Time and Family, to name just a few. She appeared opposite Mickey Rourke in the ABC movie City in Fear and starred in three network pilots. She co-starred in the PBS film Bernice Bobs Her Hair (with Shelley Duvall). Onstage credits include Yanks 3- Detroit 0 Top of the Seventh, directed by Alan Arkin. She starred with Sada Thompson on tour in The Vinegar Tree. As a member of the improv group Raw Material, she performed for three years in and around Los Angeles. She has appeared in numerous on-camera and radio commercials and is an Emmy winner for her work as an associate producer for Theater Talk, a nationally syndicated show on PBS.
Kevin Breznahan
Teaches: Scene Study for Film and Television I and II
Kevin Breznahan holds a BA in Communications from Rutgers University and trained extensively with renowned teachers Wynn Handman and Fred Kareman. Some notable acting credits include, Winter’s Bone, Superbad, Alive, Magnolia, SLC Punk!, Adventureland, The Cobbler, along with Television’s Billions, The Deuce, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Las Vegas, At Home With Amy Sedaris, and The Heart She Holler. Additionally, his vast theater credits include Broadway’s The Young Man from Atlanta.
David Brouillard
Teaches: Conditioning and Strengthening, Musical Theater History
David served as the Artistic Director of the famed Zipper Factory Theater, creating a cultural Mecca in the heart of Manhattan. The Zipper offered legitimate Off-Broadway repertoire and served as a creative performance home to Broadway and downtown artists like Justin Vivian Bond, Tony Award winner Victoria Clark, burlesque sensations Murray Hill and Dirty Martini, composers Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael John LaChiusa, and many others. At The Zipper, he produced stars Margaret Cho, Bebe Neuwirth, Kathie Lee Gifford, Rosie O’Donnell, Megan Mullally, Joy Behar, Ute Lemper, Henry Rollins, and more. He also runs both the multi-million dollar non-profit Bowery Arts, and a burlesque supper club, Duane Park, where live music and performance are a part of every evening. David has BFA from Wright State University in Musical Theater.
Katya Campbell
Teaches: Meisner I and II, Audition Technique I and II
Training: MFA Rutgers University. Studied with William Esper and Deborah Hedwall
Affiliations: SAG/AFTRA, AEA
Katya has taught Meisner technique and Audition technique at NYCDA for more than five years, and before that at Pace, Rutgers, Barnard and for the Oxbridge Program and James Franco’s Studio 4. She was a founding member of Colt Coeur theatre company, has originated many roles in new plays Off Broadway and was most recently see on Broadway in The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window. Other theatre credits include BAM, Cherry Lane, Rattlestick, Barrington Stage, Roundabout, MTC. TV/Film credits include Settle, Aya, Girl On The Fridge, Archaeology Of A Woman, Law And Order, Blindspot. www.katyacampbell.co
Dawn Cantwell
Teaches: Private Voice, Research and Performance Projects, Musical Theater Program
Dawn has been honored as a finalist in the Music Center of Los Angeles Spotlight Awards in vocal performance, and was the recipient of the 2011 New York Music Theatre Festival’s “Next Broadway Sensation Award.” As an actress, she recently concluded a year and a half run as Nessarose in the hit Broadway musical, Wicked. She made her Broadway debut originating the role of Young Meg in Sting’s Broadway musical The Last Ship. Dawn can be seen on screen opposite academy award winner Eli Wallach in The Train. She has played such venues as Radio City Music Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and The Kennedy Center.
Zoe Chen
Teaches: Voice and Speech I and II
Training: Designated Linklater Teacher. MFA in Acting with a Citizen Artist Concentration from the American Conservatory Theatre. BA in Theater & English from Pomona College. Studied Linklater Voice under Christine Adaire, Andrea Haring, Judith Shahn.
Affiliations: AEA
Zoe Chen (she/her/hers) is a multi-disciplinary actor, writer, educator, and activist dedicated to pursuing social justice through theater. Zoe is a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher who has been researching gender-affirming voice for transgender performers for the last 4 years. As an actor and writer, Zoe strives to tell stories about the wide and expansive experiences of transgender people of color.
Ka-Ling Cheung
Teaches: actors lab
Ka-Ling’s acting credits include the Broadway tour of War Horse and the National Tour of The King and I. Regional credits include: American Conservatory Theater, American Repertory Theater, The Rep at St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Long Wharf Theatre, San Jose Rep, Portland Center Stage, Pittsburgh Public, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Artists Repertory Theatre, Weston Stage, Berkshire Playwrights Lab and others. She was in the world premier of Wild Swans at the Young Vic in London. TV credits include: Bull, Law & Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, Limitless, Elementary, and Crashing. She received her MFA from the American Conservatory Theater. She is the proud recipient of the 2018 Lloyd Richards Teaching Fellowship through the National Alliance of Acting Teachers.
Nick Cianfrogna
Teaches: voice & Speech, dialects
Nick is a New York-based actor and teaching artist specializing in speech, accents, and voice production. He is a graduate of NYU with a BFA in Drama as well as the Kristin Linklater Voice Center where he became designated as a Linklater Teacher. Nick has worked privately in coaching actors across many projects and parts of the country. His most notable dialect work was with Emmy Winner Ann Dowd for her Boston accent in HBO’s The Leftovers, and with Jimmy Biberi for his Israeli Accent in Ocean’s 8. Nick is also a voiceover artist and the creator and host of Fantasy Food Show on YouTube.
Daniel Cohen
Teaches: Movement (Suzuki, Viewpoints), Actors Lab I and II, Physical and Vocal Dynamics.
Training: MFA in Directing, University of Washington, BA in Acting, San Francisco State University
Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA, Directors’ Lab West
Dan has decades of experience in Suzuki and Viewpoints movement techniques under the training of SITI Company and P3/East and served a two-year internship with The Wooster Group. He previously taught at Cal State, Long Beach, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, the University of Washington and Marymount Manhattan College. His work as a theatre director and actor has been seen around the country, including at the Blue Heron Arts Center, Pearl Theatre Company, HERE Arts Center, The Theatorium, the Performing Garage, The Marsh in San Francisco, X Rep in LA, Barrington Stage Company in the Berkshires and Seattle’s Intiman Theatre where he was assistant director for Jon Jory’s production of Heartbreak House. Other assistant directing work includes King Lear (Anteaus Theatre, Bart DeLorenzo – dir). For NYCDA he recently co-directed 8 Pieces, an original theatre piece created in partnership with playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter, Jose Rivera. Other world premieres as director include Catullus Live, Juliet, Teresa, and Back to One. Additional directing credits: The Tempest, In the Blood, Durang Durang, Language of Angels, and Freud’s Last Session among others. For years, Dan was a member of NYC’s Cannon Company under the direction of Richard Kimmel (co-founder The Box, NYC/London), performing in their innovative productions of Witch’s Macbeth, Three Sisters and Puss. Other NYC acting credits include Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Tony Award winner, Dan Fogler. Dan also served as Assistant to the Artistic Director, Julianne Boyd, at Barrington Stage Company, where he worked on all aspects of production, including the Musical Theatre Lab for new musicals curated by Tony Award winning writer and composer, William Finn.
Eileen Connolly
Teaches: Voice and Speech I and II
Eileen is the founder and Artistic Director of Wallis Knot Theatre, where she creates, designs and directs original multimedia productions, including Late to the Republique (NYCDA), Dance with Me, Harker (New York International Fringe Festival) and Seeing Andre Gide (New Actors Workshop). As an actress, she has worked Off-Broadway and at the Meadow Brook and Birmingham theatres in Detroit, the Royal George in Chicago and the Walnut Street Theatre and Painted Bride Art Center in Philadelphia. She recently created the movement and combat for Irish Repertory Theatre’s production of Beowulf. Eileen holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Minnesota, and a BA in Theatre and Dance from DeSales University.
Christian Coulson
Teaches: Film Genre & History
Christian’s work on stage includes: ‘Richard II’ (Pennsylvania Shakespeare), Constellations (The Old Globe), The Changeling (Red Bull), Travesties (McCarter), Everything You Touch (Rattlestick), Ghosts (The Gate, London), Journey’s End (West End); on TV: The Equalizer, High Fidelity, Blue Bloods, Nashville, Mozart in the Jungle, Nurse Jackie, the Good Wife, Charles II, Little Britain. Recent audiobooks include: Dark Rises, The Stars We Share, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. Movies include: Bite Me, Love is Strange, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, The Hours. Directing includes: numerous shows with Cole Escola; Off Broadway: Dying City (associate director), the Effect (assistant director), Man From Nebraska (assistant director). He is based in NYC.
Jeremiah Craft
Teaches: Intro to Camera
Musically inclined from a young age, and a devout fanboy, Jeremiah Richard Craft introduced himself to millions alongside Kid Cudi & Keanu Reeves in Bill & Ted: Face The Music. Back in the rhythm of music related projects – he’s busy reviving 90’s pop band “Girls5eva” as rap superstar Lil Stinker on the Emmy nominated Peacock series of the same name. Although best known for playing Luke Cage’s tech savvy sidekick, DW., His mother (Sally-Ann Roberts of WWL-TV fame) helped foster a love of all the arts early on at Anthony Bean Community Theater. Craft spent years on stage with icons of his hometown in New Orleans, including Grammy winner Irma Thomas, who helped him hone his voice. Soon after, Jeremiah flew to New York City on a unique merit-based scholarship to The New School. While In college, Jeremiah became a pupil of Michael “Wolf” Diaz, who’s crew of incredible dancers are said to have once given Omarion a run for his money. Jeremiah is passionate about every facet of comic fandom, which make trendy, anime inspired singles like “Nani,” feel like icing on the cake. With the lofty goal of one day becoming the “Hokage of Hollywood”, it’s hard not to stay on the edge of your seat for what happens next.
Joe DeGise II
Teaches: Improvisation, Actors Comedy Workshop
Training: Theater at Hofstra University; Studied with Paul Sills
Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA
Joe has performed comedy and improv for over 25 years. He was a main stage player and director of New York City’s longest-running comedy review, Chicago City Limits. He’s been featured at both the Aspen and Toyota Comedy Festivals and has written for, directed, and starred in the sketch comedy groups Bitter Harmless People and Rent This Space. His film and television appearances include “Hacks” (with Jim Gaffigan), “Law & Order,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Blacklist,” and dozens of commercials. As a dramatic actor, he played the lead role of an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse in the acclaimed play, Lemon Meringue. Joe has also performed on film and stage for countless industrial clients including Intel, AT&T, Toyota, and American Express.
Michael A. Ferrara
Teaches: Music Director for History & Styles of Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre Audition Seminar
Originally from Palm City, Florida, Michael A. Ferrara is a versatile and eclectic musician, equally at home in such diverse roles as conducting symphonic repertoire and performing in musical theatre and opera pit orchestras. Having studied trumpet performance at Interlochen Arts Academy, Ferrara went on to study piano with Leon Fleisher student, Suzanne Newcomb, at Otterbein University in Ohio—where he also served as the founder of the school’s new music ensemble, Red Noise, and produced, conducted and performed several multimedia events. He went on to complete a M.M. in Orchestral Conducting at Bard College-Conservatory of Music, where he studied with faculty such as Harold Farberman, Joan Tower, and Dawn Upshaw to name a few. As both an orchestral and choral member, Ferrara has had the pleasure to work under conductors such as Leon Botstein, Jeffrey Malarsky, Adam Fischer, and James Bagwell spanning a wide range of orchestral literature. Ferrara currently resides in New York City. Hailed as “impressive” [Cabaret Scenes], his recent credits include: “The Music Man” (Broadway), “Flying Over Sunset” (Broadway), “Wicked” (Broadway), “Rock of Ages” (New World Stages), Music Director and Conductor: Bernstein’s “Peter Pan” at Bard’s Summerscape Festival, Conductor: “Grease” Royal Caribbean, and Associate Music Director (JERSEY BOYS, Ogunquit Playhouse). Ferrara can also be seen teaching at CAP21 (Molloy College’s Musical Theatre program) as well as Pace University and New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts. Ferrara has been working closely alongside Philip Glass to present a new theatrical work internationally.
Gabriel Frye-Behar
Teaches: Content Creation, Social Media, New Media Literacy
Training: BFA Film and TV Production and History NYU/Tisch, MFA Creative Writing The New School.
Gabriel Frye-Behar is a Cuban-American, Brooklyn-based filmmaker, writer and photographer. Gabriel has worked in both narrative and commercial film/tv/video production in a broad range of roles, including director, director of photography, editor and screenwriter. He has also had the opportunity to serve as the DP for two indie feature films. He has created short films that have played at film festivals around the country, and directed web content that has gained substantial online viewership. Gabriel has worked as a photographer across many settings. His commercial photography has appeared in major publications. He also has extensive experience with headshot and portrait photography. Gabriel is also excited to begin a new chapter of his writing journey as the co-author of a forthcoming picture book, Pepita Meets Bebita, which will be published simultaneously in English and Spanish by Knopf/Penguin Random House. Gabriel is a passionate teacher, and currently a faculty instructor at Stonestreet Studios, NYU/Tisch Drama’s advanced conservatory for screen acting.
Jordan Gelber
Teaches: Actors Lab I, II, III, and IV, Musical Theatre Audition Seminar, Inro to Camera
Training: BA Drama, BA Communication Stanford University, MFA Acting NYU Tisch Graduate Acting
Affiliations: AEA, SAG/AFTRA
Broadway: Mr. Saturday Night, Sunday in the Park with George, Buddy in Elf the Musical, All My Sons, Avenue Q (original cast, special Outer Critics Circle Award). Off-Broadway: John Guare’s Nantucket Sleigh Ride (LCT), Mike Leigh’s 2000 Years; Avenue Q; The Joke; Birth and After Birth. TV: recurring on Elementary, Mr. Robot, Mindhunter, Insatiable, Boardwalk Empire, Nurse Jackie, The Good Wife, Rescue Me, Ugly Betty, first three Law & Order series (recurring on SVU), The Sopranos, 100 Centre Street. Film: upcoming The Kitchen, Bleed For This, Dark Horse, . . .Pelham 1 2 3, Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead, Everyday People (IFP/Gotham Award nominee for Breakthrough Acting), Riding in Cars With Boys, Changing Lanes. BA, Stanford University; MFA, NYU Tisch Graduate Acting (2000 Laura Pels Award). www.JordanGelber.com. Mr. Gelber has also served as private coach to many successful actors, and as Adjunct Professor of Acting at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and NYU’s CAP 21 Studio, specializing in monologue preparation and audition technique as applied to work ranging from Shakespeare to Sondheim, from stage to screen, and from college to life as a working actor.
Maury Ginsberg
Teaches: Scene Study for Film and Television I and II, Actors Lab III
Training: Graduate of the Drama and Dance department of Bard College. Studied with the late Sanford Meisner and Larry Moss.
Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA, AEA
Maury has been teaching acting for over 25 years. He has been a core faculty member at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts for the last 15 years teaching in the Film and Television program. Professionally, he has been seen on both stage and screen for over 30 years. Recent film and television work includes recurring roles on the series Saint X, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (with Samuel Jackson), Manifest, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, and American Horror Stories to name a few. Other television work includes What We Do in the Shadows, Scenes from a Marriage, New Amsterdam, Blue Bloods, Elementary, Madam Secretary, House of Cards, Damages, The Good Wife and iconic classics such as Friends and Star Trek-Voyager, among others. Film work includes The Week Of with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, 5 Flights Up with Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton, Rocket Science (Sundance winner), Lansky with Richard Dreyfuss, The Girl in the Park with Sigourney Weaver, The Ring with Naomi Watts, Big Miracle with Drew Barrymore, and According to Greta with Hilary Duff and Ellen Burstyn. Maury has appeared Off-Broadway and regionally. Other venues have included the Cherry Lane Theatre, The Geffen Playhouse, The Old Globe Theatre, South Coast Rep, Great Lakes Theater, Arizona Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Geva Theatre Center, Cincinnati Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pasadena Playhouse and many others. He enjoyed a number of seasons at the Williamstown Theatre Festival as well as a 30-year working relationship with the late Olympia Dukakis. Memorable shows with Mrs. Dukakis included productions of Chekov, Brecht, Shakespeare at Williamstown and across the country regionally.
Colleen Gleason
Teaches: Voice and Speech I & II, Dialects
Ian Gould
Teaches: Actors Lab I-IV
Training: MFA, Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy at the George Washington University; BFA, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University
Affiliations: Actors Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA
Ian Gould is an actor and director who has toured across the U.S. and Europe and appeared off-Broadway and at regional theaters nationwide. Off-Broadway credits include seasons with The Acting Company, Peccadillo Theater Company, and New York Classical Theatre, where he is an Artistic Associate. Regional credits include appearances at the Guthrie Theater, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Baltimore Centerstage, Shakespeare on the Sound, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Luna Stage, Theatre Konstanz, TAK Liechtenstein, and many seasons in rep with Great Lakes Theater and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Directing credits include The Comedy of Errors for Gallery Players, Undocumented at Teatro LATEA and The Winter’s Tale at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
Chris Griggs
Teaches: Improv
Training: BA in Communications, minor in Music, Union University, Graduated programs at Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade and The People’s Improv Theater. Studied with Matt Walsh, Jack MacBrayer, and Ali Farahnakian
Affiliations: SAG/AFTRA
Chris Griggs was a regular host for TV Land’s Prime Movies and has made appearances on NBC’s Blacklist, Bravo, IFC, E Television, Hulu, Netflix, Starz and The Discovery Channel. He also was selected to represent New York on the TV show World Cup Comedy produced by Kelsey Grammar. Chris has been featured in the films The Co-Exist Comedy tour, Twenty Million People, The Best Man and Generation Iron 2. He’s also a regular standup around New York. Chris has taught improvisation at The People’s Improv Theatre for over 13 years and is a founding member of the Pit’s longest running improv team, The Baldwins.
Devin Ilaw
Teaches: Private Voice
Vincent Lane
Teaches: Stage Combat, Combat for the Camera
Training: BA in Theatre and Performance at The State University of New York at Purchase
Vincent is an unarmed and sabre instructor under Jared Kirby and has been performing in stage and screen combat for over a decade. Vincent has studied several different styles of martial arts for over two decades and earned a first-degree black belt by the age of fourteen in several eastern martial arts (shaolin kempo, brazillian jiu jitsu, muay thai, kobudo, and iaido.) Recent acting credits include Number 4-Brigands Inc, Edmund- New York Renaissance Faire, Max- The Hunted NYCSS, Lead Thug- Laila. Recent Fight Directing credits include Uncle Vanya– Staten Island Shakespearean Theater, She Kills Monsters-Staten Island Shakespearean Theater, Richard II– Hudson Classical Theatre Company, Hamlet-Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre, Romeo and Juliet -Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre, Sense and Sensibility -Hudson Warehouse, Richard III-Staten Island Shakespearean Theater, and The Man in The Iron Mask -Hudson Warehouse.
James LaRosa
Teaches: Private voice
Training: Graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, The CCM Institute, and the High School for Performing Arts.
Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA, AEA
James LaRosa is an award-winning actor, singer, and voice-over artist with television credits including Law & Order, Saturday Night Live!, Fugitive Chronicles, and What Would You Do? On stage, James has performed in NY and throughout the country in such iconic roles as Leo Bloom in The Producers, Mark Cohen in RENT, and Cosmo Brown in Singin’ In The Rain. He has voiced characters for Nickelodeon, Rockstar Games, TRW, and Broadway Licensing. James has taught for NYCDA, NYFA, CAP21, and provided vocal coaching for The Vineyard Theatre and The Barter Theater.
Jason Liebman
Teaches: Audition Technique I and II, Film and TV Scene Study
Training: Master’s degree from NYU, a Bachelor’s (Honors) in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario and a health sciences degree from Marianopolis College back home in Montreal.
Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA, AEA
Jason Liebman has worked on stage with the Ensemble Studio Theatre, Atlantic, Ars Nova, Women’s Project, The Lark, Cherry Lane, O’Neill, The Brick and Vampire Cowboys. His TV credits include Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, Plot Against America, Gossip Girl, Bull, FBI, Shades of Blue, Blacklist, Lincoln Rhyme, Madam Secretary and others. He has done sketches on Jimmy Kimmel, The Daily Show, Mostly 4 Millennials, Conan and Letterman. Films include Zoo, Bi-Parenting, Arranged, Motion Sickness, Iris and more.
Jason Marquette
Teaches: Tap, Jazz, Theatre Dance
Jason Marquette graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Performance credits include the original cast of the 1st National Tour of the revival of 42nd Street, The Musical, theme parks and regional theaters all across the country. In 2008 he mounted his self-produced NYC production The Next Step. His direction and choreography have also been seen in the SUNY New Paltz Production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, Wittenberg University’s Fall Dance Concert, Working Mother Media’s annual NYC Worklife Congress Gala as well as music videos, corporate events and various showcases in New York and around the world. He is the owner of Marquette Productions – The Dancer’s Music Source (www.marquetteproductions.com) and MPower Dance Workshops – Master Classes and Workshops that Mpassion, Mpower and Motivate (www.mpowerdance.com). Mr. Marquette is also on the judging and teaching faculty with Spotlight Dance Cup and GuiDANCE Experience. He has been teaching for over 25 years in cities all across the country and internationally in Helsinki, Finland; Guayaquil, Ecuador, Guatemala City as well as multiple cities in Alberta, Canada. He has taught at the DanceTeacherWeb Live Conference and Expo in Las Vegas for 7 years and appears on their website offering tutorials in Tap. In 2014, Jason taught at the first annual SoFlo Tap Festival in Lake Worth, FL and was on the faculty of Resonance, a northeastern US based travelling tap festival. He was on faculty at various studios in New York City including New Dance Group, The Peridance Capezio Center and Broadway Dance Center for 6 years teaching Tap and Theatre Dance and has taught at the Alvin Ailey School. He is currently on faculty teaching tap at the New York Film Academy, New York City campus; Jazz and Tap at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts as well as several other studios in the metro area. Jason lives with his wife, Pamela, and their beautiful daughter Zoe in Queens, NY and is blessed to be able to continue travelling to teach, adjudicate and choreograph all over the country. “When we see who we really are, we can choose who we are to become.” – Jason Marquette
Donnie Mather
Teaches: Movement for Actors I: Suzuki, Movement for Actors II: Viewpoints
Donnie has performed in Macbeth, Nicholas & Alexandra, Seven Deadly Sins, Lilith (SITI Company); I, Claudius (Theatre Askew); Anthony & Cleopatra, Comedy of Errors, Merchant of Venice, and Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey). Donnie created A Show of Force . He has taught at the NYU, Columbia University, Bard College, Fordham University, the New School, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and more. He holds a BFA in Theatre with minor in Dance from Western Kentucky University.
Christopher McGovern
Teaches: Studio Performance I and II, Musical Theatre Scene Study I and II, Performance Project II, Private Voice
Training: BM Vocal Performance, concentrations in piano and composition (magna cum laude), Temple University
Affiliations: AFM Local 802
Christopher McGovern is an award-winning composer, lyricist and Musical Director. His writing credits include music, lyrics and arrangements for the hit Off Broadway musical Top Of The World: The James Cagney Musical, a Drama Desk, Off Broadway Alliance and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee and Astaire Award winner. The pre-Broadway workshop was choreographed by Emmy winner and Tony nominee Joshua Bergasse. Other writing credits include Backwards In High Heels (directed by Tony nominee Scott Schwartz), Lizzie Borden (starring Tony nominees Christiane Noll and Alison Fraser), Dr. Radio, Visit To Roswell, The Ugly Duck (Theatreworks/USA) and five musicals for children written for Stages Of Imagination. He has produced albums and contributed songs for Tony nominated Broadway stars Susan Egan (Winter Tracks, Live and Coffee House), Alison Fraser (Men In My Life) and the late Rebecca Luker (Leaving Home). His compositions for Disney Worldwide Entertainment include the original debut castle projection show “Let The Memories Begin”, “Once Upon A Time” (US and Tokyo) and the theme song for Tokyo/Disney Sea’s “Crystal Wishes Journey” and he arranged Festival Of The Lion King for the debut show at Hong Kong Disneyland. As the resident Music Director for Broadway Belts starring Tony winner Julie Halston, he has conducted for such Broadway stars as Kate Baldwin, Julie Benko, Stephanie MIlls, Mario Cantone, Ann Harada, Arielle Jacobs, Jason Gotay, Sierra Boggess and Mary Testa among others and several Tony Award winners including Beth Leavel, Randy Graff, Cady Huffman, Santino Fontana, Annaleigh Ashford and Lillias White as well as Oscar winner Ariana DeBose. He also accompanied Tony winner Heather Headley in concert for the christening of the Disney Fantasy. He was the Music Director and pianist for the revivals of Dear World starring Tony and Emmy winner Tyne Daly, and Tony nominee Erika Henningsen as well as Two By Two starring Tony and Emmy winners Jason Alexander and Tovah Feldshuh directed by the late Martin Charnin, lyricist of Annie. He is the long-time pianist and arranger for Tony nominee Susan Egan, the original Belle in Beauty & The Beast on Broadway and the voices of Megara in the Disney film Hercules and Rose Quartz in Steven Universe. He has given master classes in musical theatre, audition technique and voice all over the world, and appeared in national commercials.
Ruth Nerken
Teaches: Actors Lab I and II
Training: BA Theater Yale University. Studied with William Esper and the American Conservatory Theatre.
Ruth Nerken has guest starred on Law & Order, Kate & Allie, and Too Close for Comfort, and performed in regional theater, Off-Broadway, and in the national touring company of Grease. Ruth has also appeared in more than 200 television commercials, and been a guest speaker at events for AFTRA, SAG, and Yale University.
Matthew J. Nichols
Teaches: Meisner I and II
Training: MFA Acting, Brandeis University. BA in Theatre and Vocal Performance, Rollins College. 2 Year Meisner Training Program with The Acting Studio, NY (James Price, protege of Sanford Meisner).
Affiliations: AEA
Matthew J. Nichols has an MFA in Acting from Brandeis University, and graduated magna cum laude from Rollins College with a BA in Theatre. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and has acted in regional theater and in film. Matthew also co-founded and served as Artistic Director for Zootopia Theatre Company for several years, where he produced, directed and acted in plays that were reviewed in The New York Times and received multiple New York Innovative Theatre Award nominations. Matthew has acted, directed and produced for Chelsea Repertory Company.
Mollie O'Mara
Teaches: Meisner I & II
Mollie O’Mara is a longtime NYC actress, director, teacher and coach. She appeared on ABC’s All My Children for over 17 years and held lead roles in many independent films, TV, commercials and voice- overs. Mollie was a founding member for over twenty years with the critically acclaimed Cucaracha Theatre, where she acted in over 35 world premier plays with many different ensembles and directors. She curated and coordinated a reading series More Plays on Mondays and was a continuing player in the weekly The Cucaracha Soap. Off-Broadway her most notable productions were Crowbar by Mac Wellman at The Old Victory Theatre (NY Outer Critics Circle Award and OBIE Award), Rodents and Radios (Best New Plays of the Year by The NY Times) and Homo Sapien Shuffle at The Public Theatre under Joanne Akalaitis. As a director her work has been seen at The Vineyard, Classic Stage, HERE, Cucaracha Theatre, The Schoolhouse Theatre, Westbeth, Urban Stages, and many more. Mollie studied extensively in Meisner with Fred Kareman and holds a BFA in drama from The Catholic University of America. She is currently working towards a MS in Theatre Education at The City University of New York.
Ramone Owens
Teaches: Jazz, Contemporary Dance, Audition Seminar
Most recently, Ramone was seen in the original Broadway company of Beetlejuice the Musical, where he performed on the 73rd annual Tony Awards, The View, the Today Show and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He performed in the 1st and 2nd national tours of Motown the Musical, where he served as dance captain and made his Broadway debut. He has been a coach with The Broadway Collective for the past five years, and has been a guest artist and choreographer at New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology, as well as Boston Conservatory’s MTDI. He has served as associate choreographer at The University of Michigan, Pace University and North Carolina Theatre. He studied at the Hamilton Music Academy in West Los Angeles, CA and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre, Dance emphasis from The Boston Conservatory.
Deena Parrilla
TEACHES: JAZZ, MOVEMENT FOR ACTORS, HIP HOP AND CONTEMPORARY
Deena is a Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer, and Actress who holds a BFA in Dance from Long Island University. She has been professionally teaching, choreographing, and performing nationally for 15+ years. Most recently featured as a Dancer in Sweater (TriBeCa Film Festival), as well as a background dancer for indie music artists, and Dance Cardio Fitness talent for Elite Fitness Studios streamed On Demand and across social media platforms. Deena has also studied, performed, and presented work at various theaters including, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, Symphony Space, Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Boulton Center, Salvation Army Centennial Memorial Theater, PMT Dance Studio’s Performance Space, and Anna-Maria Kellen Concert Hall.
Steve Perlmutter
Teaches: Meisner Technique I and II
Training: BS Theater, Northwestern University. Studied with master acting teachers Larry Moss and Fred Kareman.
Affiliations: AEA, SAG/AFTRA
Steve was born in New York City, raised in Northern New Jersey, and graduated from the prestigious theater department at Northwestern University. As an actor Steve has performed at regional theaters throughout the country, including Philadelphia’s famed Walnut Street Theatre. He has also appeared in numerous radio and television commercials for products such as, Nestea, Jell-O, Volvo, Norwest Bank, Bell South, Tony Roma’s Restaurant, and Staples. In addition to NYCDA, Steve teaches at Rutgers University as well as his own private classes.
Sean Quinn
Teaches: Tap, Jazz, and Theatre Dance
Sean Quinn: Sean’s most recent work includes serving as Assistant choreographer to his long-time mentor, four-time Tony Nominee, Randy Skinner on the Off-Broadway production of, “Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood” at the York Theatre where he also performed as the principal standby. Sean has assisted Mr. Skinner multiple times including for the new musical, “Perfect Picture” starring Tony Winner Lillias White, and touring company of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas where he also performed as the Dance Captain and Swing. Over its many seasons, he got the chance to work with such performers as Tony Winner Karen Ziemba, Pamela Myers and Lorna Luft. Regionally and in New York, Sean worked with Tony Nominee Denis Jones at Papermill Playhouse as well as the workshop of Sugar Babies: Back on Broadway starring Tony Winner Beth Leavel. Previously, Sean performed on the national tours of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat. He was also a cast member of the International tour of Cinderella starring Tony Winner Lea Salonga and is featured on the cast album. He holds a BA in Theatre from the University of New Hampshire.
Brett Radke
Teaches: voice &speech
Brett is a graduate of the Columbia University MFA Acting program where he was the recipient of the Bob Hope Fellowship. Select New York credits include The Comedy of Errors (Balthazar) at Classic Stage Company, A Dollzes House (The Minion) at the Signature Center, and Everyday Afroplay (Man) at The Bushwick Starr. Brett has performed internationally in Greece and Ukraine, and apprenticed with Jeff Daniels’ acclaimed Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan. Brett is currently on the path to becoming a Designated Linklater Teacher, as well as a Certified Michael Chekhov Instructor.
Barnaby Reiter
Teaches: Voice & Speech, Dialects
Training: BFA Music Theatre University of Melbourne V.C.A
Affiliations: AEA, MEAA
Barnaby Reiter is a working Actor and Singer with over 15 years of experience in vocal health, technique, and anatomy. Performance credits: Jersey Boys, US National Tour; Grease, Hairspray, Australian National Tour; The Wizard of Oz, Geva Theatre Center; just to name a few.
Barnaby is a highly sought after voice teacher worldwide. Specializing in professionals and aspiring professionals. He offers a unique, tailored approach to each student. Drawing from extensive music training and expertise in anatomy, vocal health, extrinsic vocal unloading, Alexander Technique, and acting through song, Barnaby has refined a teaching style that caters to individual needs. With a deep understanding of psychology, neuroscience and neurology-based approaches, he establishes effective connections with students, unlocking their full potential and guiding them towards their goals. Most importantly, Barnaby equips his students with the tools and knowledge to continue their progress and results outside of the studio. Barnaby’s students can be found in major musicals, film, TV, recording work, and sought after for consulting projects. As a member of Andrew Byrnes’ inaugural “The Singing Athlete” Teacher Training certification, Barnaby takes great pride in this esteemed recognition. Learn more about Barnaby on stage and off at www.barnabyreiter.com
Chris Roberson
Teaches: Web Video for Actors
Chris has been teaching cinematography and editing at Tisch School of the Arts since 1999, and served as NYU’s Executive Director of Post Production for over two years. As an editor, he has worked with Sting, Billy Eichner, Nick Kroll and Christian McBride. Currently he edits for the YouTube channel’s The Things and produces content for Kung Fu Tea and the New York Historical Society. In 2006, Chris won a Telly Award for his editing work with Robert Small Entertainment, where he edited for Comedy Central, Nick at Nite and The Biography Channel. From 2012 through July 2014, Chris worked at YouTube, helping emerging partners devise channel strategy, increase production value, and develop their brand. He holds a BFA in Film and Television from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Ashley Robinson
Teaches: Actors Lab III: Script Analysis, Audition Seminar II, Master Class
Training: BFA Acting University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Studied with Gerald Freedman
Affiliations: AEA, UCROSS FOUNDATION 2019 writing resident.
Ashley is an actor, writer, and teacher. Acting credits: Theatre: Floyd Collins (Floyd—West End, London), A Clockwork Orange (Minister/ Old Woman/Mum—New World Stages), Casa Valentina (Gloria—West End, London Premiere), Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory (Capote – New York Premiere/ 2015 Outer Critics Award Nom), Little Rock (Mike Wallace – Sheen Center Off Broadway), Steve Martin’s Bright Star (Norquist – World Premiere at The Old Globe), Merrily We Roll Along (Tyler – Menier Chocolate Factory and West End). Originated the role of Jett Rink in the World Premiere of Giant (Helen Hayes Award nomination, Best Actor), as well as Tybalt in The Last Goodbye (the Jeff Buckley/ Romeo and Juliet musical) at Williamstown Theatre Festival. Other theatre includes Shakespeare’s R&J (Juliet/Benvolio – Theaterworks Hartford), Take Me Along (Richard – Irish Repertory Theatre, NYC), Meet Me In St. Louis (Lon – Irish Rep, NYC), Wicked (Original Chicago Cast- Fiyero u/s), A Child’s Christmas In Wales (Dylan Thomas – Irish Rep, NYC), Hair (Claude – Prince Music Theatre), Stud’s Terkel’s The Good War (World Premiere, Maltz Jupiter), The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (Roundabout, dir. Joe Mantello), Concerts: How To Succeed… (Bud Frump-Royal Festival Hall), Adam Guettel with Maria Friedman (West End), Sweeney Todd (ENO and NY Philharmonic Lincoln Center). FILM/TV: Stan and Ollie (BBC Films, Sony), Merrily We Roll Along, Hate (with Marcia Gay Harden), Fallen Souls, The Accident.
Writing Credits: Penned the play adaptation of Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain, had its World Premiere on the West End in London in May 2023 starring Mike Faist and Lucas Hedges. Proulx says of the adaptation: “Brokeback Mountain has been recreated in several different forms, each with its own distinctive moods and impact. Ashley’s script is fresh and deeply moving, opening sight lines not visible in the original nor successive treatments.” Ashley has collaborated on several projects with two-time Tony nominee composer Jason Carr, including their original Southern Gothic musical Lockhart, which just received an industry reading in London. He is also collaborating with Joseph Thalken (Harold And Maude) and Tony nominee Ellen Fitzhugh (Grind, Myths And Hymns) on an original musical, Fall Of ’94, which is being developed at Alabama Shakespeare Festival. He is currently working on a musical adaptation of Come Back To The Five And Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.
Ashley has taught acting, acting through song, voice and speech, workshopped his writing, and directed at conservatories in the US and the UK, including University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Mountview Academy in London, AMTA (both NY and London), SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Coastal Carolina University Acting Conservatory, among others.
Darius-Anthony Robinson
Teaches: Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop
Darius-Anthony Robinson is a 25+ year veteran of the stage and screen and an award-winning Singer/Dancer/Actor/ Choreographer who has traveled the world not just performing but educating in dance and the Performing Arts. Robinson has been featured as a vocalist as well as dancer at Feinstein’s 54 Below, Highline Ballroom, Radio City Music Hall, Rockwood (NYC/LA) and was last seen in the Broadway-bound musical, The Preacher’s Wife (with music and lyrics by Titus Burgess) as well as a Resident Company Member of New York City’s famed, Drunk Musicals. National tours have included Hairspray and In The Heights; Off-Broadway: The 25th Anniversary production of RENT and Re-Designing Women. Theatrical Credits (selected): NYMF; Dallas Theatre Center; Uptown Players; Casa Mañana Theatre; Lees-McRae Summer Theatre; American Repertory Theater; WaterTower Theatre; Garland Summer Musicals; Theatre Three, Divisionary Theatre; LaJolla Playhouse; Midtowne Arts Center; TUTS; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Jazz at Lincoln Center. Robinson studied at Southern Methodist University focused on Dance Education and English with a minor study in Vocal Performance.
Matthew Russell
Teaches: Studio Performance and Musical Theatre Scene Study
Matthew Russell: As a pianist and conductor, Matt has worked such artists as George Hearn, Melissa Manchester, Dale Kristien, Rachel Stern, and Jelani Aladdin. He has worked on productions for the New York Musical Theater Festival as well as numerous regional theaters, cruise lines and cabarets as both a music director and audition pianist. As a dedicated teacher and coach, he runs a private studio and has taught at The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and Lake Michigan College. Matthew holds a BM in Music Education from The Crane School of Music SUNY Potsdam, and an MM in Piano Performance from Western Michigan University
Ben Sander
Teaches: Film Genres and History, Web Video for Actors
Ben Sander is the creator of Brini Maxwell, a domestic guru character featured in her own eponymous television show on the Style network. In addition to developing the character, he also executive produced the show. Ben is a published author and has worked with NPR and made appearances on World News Now, The Conan O’Brien Show, Style, Soap Talk, Tyra Banks and the Oscar and Golden Globe pre-shows on E!, among others. A devotee of mid-century culture and film, he also works as an interior designer and film blogger. Ben holds a BFA in fashion design from FIT.
Rashidra Scott
Teaches: musical theater masterclass series
Rashidra Scott has been seen on Broadway in Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations (original Broadway cast, Grammy Award nomination),Beautiful (original Broadway cast, Grammy Award), Sister Act (original Broadway cast, understudy for Deloris, and Deloris in the first national tour),Hair, Finian’s Rainbow, and Avenue Q (Gary Coleman). Select regional credits: Ain’t Too Proud (Berkeley Rep, Kennedy Center), Anything Goes (Reno at Goodspeed), Dreamgirls (Lorrell at Marriott Theatre), and Hair (Dionne at Arizona Theatre Company). Television: Rescue Me (Sony/FX). Scott occasionally has the honor of singing some of Whitney Houston’s best hits with symphonies nationwide in Windborne’s “Music of Whitney Houston.” She holds a BM in Music Business/Management from Berklee College of Music.
Judith Searcy
Teaches: Improvisation, Actors Comedy Workshop
Judith Searcy has written, directed, and performed sketch comedy and improv for more than two decades, including live and video projects for American Express, ESPN, Mercedes-Benz, British Airways, and many others. She was a principal member of Chicago City Limits, New York’s longest-running comic revue, for 10 years; played the title role in the award-winning comedy short, Marge, and has been featured on PBS, CBS, the Today show, NPR, and Comedy Central. She holds a BA in speech/theater from Appalachian State University and an MFA in Acting from the University of North Carolina. She has continued her studies at NYU, Columbia University, and the University of London.
Tally Sessions
Teaches: Performance Projects and Song Performance
Tally can soon be seen as the Beast in Papermill Playhouse’s Beauty and the Beast. He has performed on Broadway in Anastasia, War Paint, Falsettos, School of Rock, Big Fish, The House of Blue Leaves, and Cirque du Soleil Paramour. National Tour credits include South Pacific, Legally Blonde, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Off-Broadway credits include Giant (Public Theatre), Queen of the Mist (Transport Group), Yank! (York), Anyone Can Whistle (Encores!) and Godspell. Tally has performed at some of the biggest regional theaters in the country. He graduated from University of North Carolina with a BA in Theater.
Jimmy Smagula
Teaches: Audition Seminar & Private Voice
Jimmy Smagula recently appeared as Jacey Squires in The Music Man at The Kennedy Center and will play Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls there in the fall of 2022. He has appeared on Broadway as George in Billy Elliot, Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid, To Be Or Not To Be at Manhattan Theater Club, Rocky in Damn Yankees at Encores, Piangi in Phantom, Man of La Mancha and The Full Monty. Additionally, Jimmy toured North America as Thenardier in Les Miserables and Piangi in Phantom. On television Jimmy has had recurring roles on Doom Patrol and Black Monday and has appeared on Oh Jerome No, Better Things, The Sopranos, Grey’s Anatomy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation, Erase, Corporate, Bones, Community, Rizzoli and Isles, Jessie, Hot in Cleveland, SVU and Law and Order. On film Jimmy appeared opposite Nicholas Hoult in Danny Strong’s Rebel in the Rye and in The Island, directed by Michael Bay, Step Up 3, directed by Jon Chu and The Producers Movie Musical.
Blake Spellacy
Teaches: Tap
Blake Spellacy is a master tap dancer. He’s performed in and out of NYC in various shows including Singin’ in the Rain as Cosmo Brown (SC, TX, PH), Cats as Skimblashanks (IN, NJ), and Anything Goes as The Pursur (NYC, NJ, IN) to name some favorites. He comes from Ohio where he was a competition dancer and the mascot for his high school football team. Now he works for a rooftop gardening company when he’s not working on a tap dance related project!
Felicity Stiverson
Teaches: Tap, Ballet, Jazz
Felicity’s work as a choreographer includes productions of West Side Story (Weston Playhouse, The Harbor Lights Theater Company), The Fantasticks (Weston Playhouse), Turandot (New Orleans Opera), The Barber of Seville (Opera San Antonio), The Flying Dutchman (Virginia Opera), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Geva Theatre), Tenderly (Weston Playhouse), Really Rosie (Weston Playhouse), and Nunsense (The Harbor Lights Theater Company). Performing credits include the musical Hot Feet on Broadway, national and international tours of West Side Story, Grease, Steel Pier, Candide, and My Fair Lady, and numerous regional theater and opera productions. Felicity has danced on Boardwalk Empire (HBO), The Today Show (NBC), and 30 Rock (NBC). Felicity graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English literature from Barnard College, Columbia University.
Steve Tardio
Teaches: Voiceover, Voiceover for Animation
Steve Tardio is a SAG-AFTRA Voiceover Actor whose unique sound brought him into the world of voicing animated characters for animated television shows, feature films, and video games as well as voicing TV commercials, promos, and audiobooks. Steve’s credits include Nickelodeon, Fisher-Price, Dannon, Pepsi, Ford Motor Company, GEO Films/Talisman Studios, ON Animation/DQ Entertainment, Ocon Studios, Animundi/Mondo Television, Harper-Audio, NBA-TV and Vevo.com. Steve has also performed on stage in a few Off-Broadway theatre productions, including the musical comedy, “TRUFFLES” as well as writing and performing on his Musical Improv Sketch Comedy team “MISC. Inc” and “The 29th Street Revue”. Steve has studied long form, short form & musical improv with training from The Second City-Chicago, Upright Citizens Brigade, The Peoples Improv Theatre, Chicago City Limits, and The Magnet Theatre. Steve has an MA from The University of South Carolina where he studied Broadcasting and Television Production and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications / Broadcasting from Rutgers University.
Michael Tisdale
Teaches: Actors Lab I and II, Scene Study I and II
Michael is a Juilliard Drama Division alum with a quarter-century worth of professional acting credits on stage and screen. His award-winning short films have appeared in over forty festivals worldwide, including Sao Paulo, Cleveland International, and Sundance, and feature such notable performers as Bill Irwin, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mercedes Ruehl and Adam Driver. Michael has taught acting and script analysis at Fordham, UIOWA, and New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, and led master classes and workshops in acting and dramatic writing at Cleveland State, Rutgers, Emerson, NYU Tisch, and Yale (Timothy Dwight College.) He holds an MFA in Playwriting from the Iowa Playwrights’ Workshop.
Kristjan Thor
Head of Production Company, Teaches: Physical and Vocal Dynamics
Robert Verlaque
Teaches: Meisner I and II
Training: B.A. Loyola University, Maryland, American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Studied with Wynn Handman, Fred Kareman, Paul Newman, and Joanne Woodward
Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA, AEA, ACTRA, founding member Articulate Theatre Co.; Actors Studio; The Director’s Co.; Primary Stages Co.
Robert was born and raised in Europe, and is a professional actor, writer, director, and producer with extensive credits in theatre, television and film. Recent credits include recurring appearances on Paramount+ FROM, Netflix’s hit series Umbrella Academy and Workin’ Moms, CBS’s Star Trek-Discovery, Murdoch Mysteries for PBS. Other work includes films Indignation directed by Academy Award winner James Schamus, Disney’s The Games Maker, among others. Numerous NY theatre credits include productions at Playwrights Horizons, Primary Stages, The Directors Company, Ensemble Studio, Actors Studio, and several regional productions.
Robert is an award winning playwright and screenwriter, with plays produced in NY, San Diego and Toronto. He was recently recognized with an award from the Canada Shorts International Film Festival for JOB in Purgatory, an original short film he wrote and directed. A founding member of the award winning Articulate Theatre Company, he taught previously at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Ensemble Studio Theatre Institute, Equity Showcase Theatre and Centennial College in Toronto, and is a respected coach and director.
Bill Waldinger
Teaches: Ballet, Jazz and Master Classes in Luigi Technique
Bill’s teaching experience includes The Joffrey Ballet School, Broadway Dance Center, The Manhattan Ballet School (Director of Jazz), the contemporary company Cora Dance (Director of Ballet), and Hamilton Dance (Director of Ballet). Certified by Luigi to teach the Luigi Jazz Technique, Bill was interviewed for the film Uprooted, which chronicles the history of Jazz Dance. Bill travels the country teaching both classical Ballet and Jazz, and has taught in Ireland, Switzerland and Russia. He developed beginner “Dance Classes For Singers” at The Singers’ Forum. As a performer, Bill has appeared in musical theater, concert dance, commercials, music videos, television and industrials. He was a company member of The David Storey Dance Works. He was a featured dancer on the television show Soul Alive and appeared in videos for the Theater Dance Workshop.
Mike Walsh
Teaches: Voice & Speech, Dialects
Training: BA Individualized Study Gallatin School at NYU, concentration in Linguistics, Classics, and Dramatic Literature, MFA Acting Columbia University.
Affiliations: AEA, VASTA
Mike Walsh is a voice, speech, and dialect coach for theater, film, and television. Mike began working with actors on speech and dialects as far back as 2009 and has worked with Hollywood names such as Cameron Monaghan (Gotham, Shameless), Brian Geraghty (1923: Yellowstone, The Hurt Locker), and Genesis Rodriguez (Big Hero 6). Dialect production credits in New York include Little Women, Cabaret, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood, She Stoops To Conquer, and Nine. As an actor: Into The Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince/Stepmother), Ragtime (Younger Brother), Othello (Rodrigo u/s), The Comedy Of Errors (Dr. Pinch u/s), Chess (Anatoly/The Russian), Proof (Hal). Mike is currently on faculty at three conservatories in New York City and contributes to foreignpress.org as a freelance writer in his spare time.
Jeremy Webb
Teaches: Actor’s Lab I & II, Script Analysis, Audition Seminar
Caitlin Wilayto
Teaches: Ballet, Jazz and Tap
Caitlin is a singer, dancer and actress based in New York City. She has been seen in shows at Goodspeed Opera House, Riverside Theater, NSMT, Westchester Broadway Theater, and Coastal Carolina. You can catch her as “Julie” on season two of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She holds a BFA in Musical Theater from the Hartt School.
Thom Woodley
Teaches: Web Video for Actors
In 2006, Thom launched of the first full-length sitcom made for the web, the semi-hipster comedy The Burg. Among his credits are the most recent James Bond 007 mobile game, the creation of the Episode Interactive storytelling platform, and the Dos Equis Most Interesting Man in the World commercials. Currently Thom serves as Creative Director for Electus LLC, where he oversees development of native and branded shows and content for College Humor (the #1 comedy YouTube channel), Dorkly.com, and other projects for both web and television. Thom was a founding member of the International Academy of Web Television, was the first professor of Webseries at the School of Visual Arts. He holds a BA in Theatre Arts and a BA in Film from Penn State.