Actors Connection,
630 Ninth Avenue, 14th floor,
NYC, NY 10036

We want all actors to do their best at our audition, and all auditions. And we firmly believe that even the most experienced actor needs an outside eye to help shape their audition piece. Trust us - the room can tell who has been coached and who hasn't. It makes a huge difference. That's why we offer this annual opportunity for you to meet a lineup of recommended coaches who want nothing more than to make you shine!

Of course we give priority spots to anyone registered for the TRU Audition (even if you haven't been passed in officially), but all actors are welcome to Meet the Coaches. Here's the schedule:

12:45: Check-in
1:00-1:45: Audition Orientation and Q&A with executive director Bob Ost
1:45-2:45: 4-minute presentations from 10-12 coaches and resources
2:45-4:30: Meet the Coaches one-on-one in a catered meet-and-greet with food and wine

Reservation required: purchase your spot using our red ticketing block above left (or scroll way way down on your devices). Or email TRUStaff1@gmail.com. Can't make April 15th? Come learn about the TRU Audition in a Q&A on May 6th, and get audition tips & techniques from agent Valerie Adami and casting director Bob Kale - click here for details and to register.

Confirmed Coaches:

Monologue/Audition Coaches:

• Valerie Adami & Bob Kale
• Matthew Corozine
• Gillien Goll
• Pete Jensen
• Ryan Tofil (Matthew Corozine Studio)

Vocal/Musical Performance Coaches:

• Dan Manjovi
• Anessa Marie
• Sally Morgan
• Natalie Wilson

Career Coach:

• David J. Diamond

Other Services:

• Todd Estrin, headshot photographer
• Dan Lane Williams, headshot photographer

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  VALERIE ADAMI

  (audition coach) A native New Yorker, Ms. Adami has worked in every area of show business including opera and musical theatre, She moved on to work in voice-overs and industrial narration as well as dayplayers on NY Soaps.  For over twenty-five years she was Director of the Weist-Barron Film & TV School, guiding actors and directing showcase programs.  As an independent Casting Director she specialized in Commercial and Industrial projects for clients such as Sony, AT&T, Franklin Speir Publishing, Hamilton Standard, Virginia Lottery, Riuniti Wines and Parliament Cigarettes (Japan).  She was an original member of the Industry performers group “LABORS OF LOVE” that produced fundraisers benefiting BCEFA.  Currently, coming full circle Valerie was invited to join SWArtists Agency to develop their youth department preparing young actors to successfully pursue their goals.  Her clients have worked on ‘7 Seconds, Billions and Blacklist, numerous independent films and commercials. 
• 

  MATTHEW COROZINE

  is a multi-hyphenated creative rockstar. Not only an actor, director, producer, and teacher, Matthew is also the founding artistic director and creator of Matthew Corozine Studio (MCS), which just celebrated its  22nd anniversary.  Matthew has spent his years in the industry with his vision for a collaborative, expansive, and supportive artistic community for artists to build their craft with honor and integrity.  He is now one of New York City’s leading Meisner-based acting coaches, teaching and creating opportunities  for students to “get outta your head” in order to build a meaningful life with art.  Already with an established student base in NYC and Washington DC (in person) and internationally (via online coaching), MCS has expanded to sold out classes in and Matthew now brings this transformational work to corporations and ongoing Master Classes with SOHO House and The Standard. Over the years, Matthew has coached actors and performers on Broadway, TV, Film, including  platinum-selling America’s Got Talent finalist, Jackie Evancho. Most recently, Matthew directed Nick Payne’s play “Constellations,” at MCS produced under the AEA mini contract. Also, Matthew directed the original show “Going Through Life With No Direction” at 54 Below (NYC), produced by Alicia Keys. Matthew just authored his first book: If You Survived 7th Grade, You Can Be An Actor (Applying the Meisner Technique To Get Outta Your Head In Acting and In Life) www.matthewcorozinestuido.com

   
• 

  DAVID J. DIAMOND

  heads Career Coaching for Artists which presents workshops for professionals on career development, leadership and creativity and provides resources for navigating a career for theatre students and professionals. He regularly conducts workshops at Columbia University, Yale School of Drama, DePaul University, University of New Mexico and many others. David curates the La MaMa Umbria International Symposia, which bring renowned artists together each Summer for workshops, residencies and performances in Spoleto, Italy. He serves on the Steering Committee for Theatre Without Borders, producing conferences including Socially Engaged Performance: A Global Conversation. He is a Founder/Trustee of the Barrow Group Theatre in New York. He is an author, community activist, and Facilitator (“joker”) of Forum Theatre working with Theatre of the Oppressed NYC. As a Fulbright Specialist in Theatre, he recently did a residency with Dah Teatar in Belgrade, Serbia. He received the CEC ArtLink Residency in St. Petersburg, Russia last year, meeting artistic directors and freelance directors. His recent publications include an essay on Russian theatre on HowlRound, the Preface to the La MaMa Umbria Cookbook and a chapter in Dah Teatar: A Sourcesbook. More information: www.davidjdiamond.com.
• 

  GILLIEN GOLL

  is an Acting Teacher & Coach, Director, and Artistic Director with a background in Casting, having worked in casting for TV pilots, indie film, and web series. As she has been on the other side of the table, she knows what does and doesn’t work. Her clients appear in every medium: Broadway, films, TV, webisodes. As a teacher and coach, she can help you connect emotionally & truthfully to your role. and guide you to an audition that is truly exceptional and unique in showcasing your strengths and talents. With an additional background in coaching presentation techniques, she can help you overcome stage fright and nerves. Gillien is also a produced playwright and is adept at cutting & pasting dialogue together to create original monologues. She has taught courses in monologues, acting technique, scene study & on-camera acting, and has taught and/or lectured at Fordham University, Barnard College, Wellesley College, and for ACTRA (the Canadian Actors Union), among others. She has been teaching at AMDA since 2001, and there has seen thousands of hours of actors’ presentations. An actor herself, she is best recognized for crying in the Self-Help Aisle in “Sex & the City.”  You can check out her other credits at her website, www.gilliengoll.com
• PETE JENSEN

  is an award-winning screenwriter and TV writer, director, teacher, and acting coach. He holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University, where he studied theater with Anne Bogart. As an acting coach, he has helped actors and comedians book roles on TV shows such as Suburgatory, Law & Order, Gossip Girl, Party Down, and many others, as well as several independent films. He's currently in development with a TV pilot for cable TV. At Actors Connection, Pete teaches our Acting 101 and 102 classes as well as individually coaches our advanced actors.
• 

  BOB KALE

  A partial list of the projects Bob has worked on as a casting director would include: Broadway— Souvenir, King Hedley II (August Wilson), An Inspector Calls, A Tale Of Two Cities, Little Women-The Musical, The Who's Tommy, Titanic-The Musical, The Life, Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel.  Off-Broadway includes—Frank McGuinness' Gates Of Gold, Dracula, Dietrich & Chevalier, Over the River and Through the Woods, Avow, The Deep Throat Sex Scandal, Tap Dogs. Tours include—The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas starring Ann-Margret, Barry Manilow's Copacabana, Nunsense (25th Anniversary Tour), Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk starring Savion Glover; Television—HBO's Scarred City, Due South, Elmo’s World: Happy Holidays!, PBS Sesame Street, Cosby Mysteries, As The World Turns, and the miniseries Sally Hemmings (NY Casting). Feature Film includes—Jack & Jill (additional NY Casting), You Don't Mess With The Zohan (additional NY casting), I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (additional NY casting), Beavis and Butthead Do America (NY Voice Casting), The Quest for Camelot (NY Voice Casting), Looney Tunes: Back in Action (NY Voice Casting), Big Daddy (NY Casting), Little Nicky (NY Casting). See www.bobkaleonline.com for more information.
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  DAN MANJOVI

  Amazingly, most voice teachers can’t play piano. Nor do they perform, or compose, arrange, write or produce. Which is why there is no voice teacher like Dan Manjovi. With a song in an Oscar award winning movie on his shelf, an Off Broadway musical, and numerous recordings to his credit, there is nothing musically Dan can’t do. More than a voice coach (who simply takes a singer as is, selects songs and works with the voice the singer has), Dan understands the anatomy of voice. He knows how to strengthen your vocal instrument for performance; that a “dramatic” voice requires more strength than a “lyrical” one. From finding your key and transposing instantly to selecting and refining material that best suits your voice, Dan’s unique teaching philosophy combines the physiology of singing with the theory of music be it show tune, pop, jazz or opera. With an incomparable level of experience and expertise, Dan can help you reach potential you didn’t know you had.  https://www.djm-studio.com   https://www.danmanjovi.com  www.djm-studio.com www.danmanjovi.com
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  ANESSA MARIE (she/her)

  is a composer/lyricist, conductor, music director, pianist, and orchestrator based in NYC. Her song cycle, Finding Beautiful (written with Danny Bristoll), debuted at NYMF in 2019. Musicals currently in development include: A First Glimpse of Light, Reign, Society, Untouchable. Broadway: Moulin Rouge (K1/Conductor Sub), Chicago (K2/Accordion Sub), Aladdin (K1 Sub). Regional/Off-Broadway include: White Girl in Danger (K1/Conductor/MD), Wizard of Oz (Orchestrations, Geva), The Griswold’s Broadway Vacation (AMD/Rehearsal Pianist), Joy (AMD/Rehearsal Pianist), Wonderboy (Orchestrations, 5th Ave), The Golden Record (Arranger/Orchestrator), Into the Woods (MD, OOTB), The Gunfighter Meets His Match (Goodspeed Musicals, MD/Vocal Arrangements), Miss Step (5th Ave- Reading, MD), ​Queering the Canon (Joe's Pub, MD),​ Interstate (NAMT, MD), The Office Musical Parody (Jerry Orbach, MD), Finding Beautiful (NYMF, Signature Center). Anessa also has a passion for education and ensuring the arts live on, and has served as a guest artist with NYU, Pace University, Fordham University, CAP21, LIU-Post, Broadway for Arts Education, The International College of Musical Theatre, The Growing Studio, Musical Theatre Factory, etc.
• 

  SALLY MORGAN

  wrote the book on contemporary voice technique – literally – Sing Like You Speak™. SLYS™ is specifically designed to restore the effortless singing that is natural-making your singing powerful, joyful and free. Singing so simple it feels like talking to your best friend without sounding trained. Sally has been successfully training singers for more than 35 years. Most voice trainers tell you to “sing like you speak” and Sally has developed the techniques to do just that. This new standard of vocal production assures a consistent vocal flexibility with the strength and vulnerability to bond with the audience. Sing Like You Speak removes physical tension and all pre-conceived ideas about singing so your perfectly crafted, brilliant instrument can function simply and naturally. She is a master at helping singers bridge that gap between someone who sings and a true vocal artist. An innovator in the field of vocal training she has made the vocal arts accessible to all who seek her help. She has helped her clients heal vocal damage, expand vocal range, land a Broadway show, record their own music and tour internationally without vocal fatigue or strain. You’re going to love your voice! She is a frequent presenter at national theater and voice trainer associations such as SXSW, AFTRA, ATHE, VASTA, MTEA, NYSTA, the Voice Foundation and many music conferences. You can see and hear some of her clients on Broadway stages, Off-Broadway, in Regional Theater, on Major Label Recordings, the Conan O’Brian show, A Prairie Home Companion and in Federal Courts, the PA House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate.
• 

  RYAN TOFIL

  has trained and has been working with MCS since 2001. He has assisted on many MCS studio projects and shows and eventually started teaching the MCS’ Meisner method in 2003. Former classes taught at MCS include a preteen class as well as a writer’s workshop. Ryan has also taught and directed preteens at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) and also teaches Special Education in the NYC public school system. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre at the New School University, with an additional focus on creative writing. He co-wrote and performed in the critically acclaimed Miss Kim, the play which was produced at fringeNYC in 2010 and was reprised in 2012 at 45th Theatre. He completed his Master’s in Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir at CUNY’s Graduate Center.
• 

  NATALIE WILSON

  Natalie's professional voice students perform on Broadway, Off-Broadway, on national tours, and with regional theaters across the country. And now with zoom lessons, she has students studying with her from as far away as California, Puerto Rico, and the UK. A former opera singer herself, Natalie melds traditional bel canto technique with modern voice science. Her students develop strong, flexible voices that can meet the demands of a professional musical theater career without strain or fatigue. Natalie also enjoys working with amateurs and young singers and has successfully prepared numerous youngsters for acceptance into the Professional Performing Arts School and LaGuardia High School. In addition to her private studio, she is currently on faculty at Circle in the Square Theater School and at CAP 21/Molloy College. Natalie holds a Masters Degree in Voice Performance and Pedagogy, and her performing career included such diverse roles as the title role in Carmen, Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito, and Desiree in A Little Night Music. In 25 years of teaching, Natalie has taught vocal technique, sight-singing and music theory, and music history. Also now a writer for both stage and screen, Natalie knows the performing arts business from many sides. www.nataliewilson.com