Acting Classes, Acting without the Drama Style!

I’ve been getting a LOT of requests lately from actors wanting me to start my acting classes back up again (thank you for that, by the way… *grin*). I was planning on starting back up in the fall, but hey, why delay? There’s acting to be done!

For those of you that don’t know me or my illustrious history, I’ve been teaching acting for a quite a while. I started teaching in 1998, at the University of San Diego. Since then, I have taught students from all over the globe, in various settings.

I was the Director of the Acting for Film Program at the New York Film Academy at Universal Studios, where I helped develop the first and only Master’s of Fine Arts degree in Acting for Film currently in existence. I have coached acting, dialects and accent reduction on film sets and for production companies. I have taught countless workshops and done private coaching for ages from 5 all the way up to 85.

When I decided to co-found a production company a couple of years ago, I took a break from teaching. I felt like the company needed my full attention as we started out. But things are now moving along nicely, largely due to the unceasing efforts of my brilliant business partner, but most of all, I JUST MISS TEACHING!!

I miss character building. I miss animal imagery. I miss monologues, for cryin’ out loud!

My approach to the craft is basically what you’ve already seen at the top of this blog: Acting without the Drama. We keep the drama onstage and in front of the camera, and out of our personal lives.

I don’t “break down” actors to later build them up.

I don’t subscribe to a dogmatic view of the craft of acting.

I take you from where you are and give you the tools that will not only help you move forward but teach you to move YOURSELF forward.

I give you a practical approach to acting that will allow you to create magic in your performances. Even when you’re not “feelin’ it”.

The internet has given us the gift that I can teach you, no matter where you are in the world. I’m going to be teaching online classes and workshops. We have the technology, people! There’s no reason that I can’t work with you, even if you live in Abu Dhabi.

Depending on what you guys need, I can form classes in accent reduction/Standard American speech, dialects, auditioning technique, on-camera acting and even… Shakespeare (Although, I’m realistic. How many people are really going to be clamoring for that one? #butaguycandream). Beyond these larger workshops, I’m also offering private or semi-private classes for any of those subjects, either in person (for anyone that lives locally in LA) or online.

So, if you’re on Twitter, DM me for the deets (@actingnodrama). You can also email me: actingwithoutthedrama (at) gmail (dot) com.

Finally, leave me your comments, letting me know what you guys need, what you thought of this blog, and how much you’re DYING for a Lady MacBeth workshop. #orawholeseriesofthem!

And just to make this interesting, I’ll be selecting one lucky commenter for a FREE ½ hour private coaching session.

So, what are you waiting for? There’s acting to be done!!