Sunday May 2, 1:00 to 5:00 (check-in at 12:45) - eastern time
A virtual workshop on Zoom. Register to be sent the Zoom link.
FREE for all actors who apply to the TRU Audition, $30 for all others (fee can be applied to Audition registration)
NOTE: IF YOU DON'T RESERVE BY 12:30PM SUNDAY, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SEND YOU THE ZOOM LINK.
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 pieces. 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! Monolog and music coaches, plus accompanists, will tell you about their methods, then you'll have the opportunity to meet each in a one-on-one conversation. So you'll get the "vibe" and a better sense of how well you'll work together.
All actors are welcome and STRONGLY encouraged to attend. 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
3:00-5:00: Meet the Coaches one-on-one in Zoom breakout rooms
Reservation required: purchase your spot using our red ticketing block above left (or scroll way way down on your devices). Or email TRUActors@gmail.com with questions.
CONFIRMED COACHES:
Monologue/Audition Coaches:
- Valerie Adami & Bob Kale (also musical)
- Glenn Alterman
- Gillien Goll
- Stephanie Pope Lofgren (also musical)
- Marishka S Phillips
Vocal/Musical Performance Coaches and Accompanists:
- Benjamin Doyle (accompanist/coach)
- Anessa Marie (accompanist/coach)
- Zach Miller
- Alyssa Orapallo
- Tracy Stark (accompanist/coach)
- Natalie Wilson
Headshot Photographer:
Free for actors registered for the TRU Audition.
$30 for actors not registered (will be applied to audition fee)
I am always thrilled to see what a positive successful experience it turns out to be when I do something with TRU. I really appreciate your values and substance in the way that things take place. It was such a pleasure and a great day with the students and hearing and speaking with the other coaches! ~Shira Flam, vocal coach
I learned so much and spoke with so many wonderful and talented professionals. I am so glad to be a part of this! ~Gloria Bangiola, actor
Thanks again for including Ryan and myself (MCS) on the panel of meet the coaches. We met great people and it was good to hear what the other coaches had to say. ~Matthew Corozine, monolog coach
This was a wonderful event today - so well organized and run, and the caliber of the coaches was terrific - thanks for including me! ~Gillien Goll, monolog coach
Everyone was so nice. I really enjoyed meeting the coaches. I feel like I got a lot from yesterday. I am going to work with Valerie and Bob on my monologues. I am so excited! ~Maggie Davern
Faculty
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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.
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JAMES EDWARD ALEXANDER
is a New York based photographer who is conveniently located in the heart of New York's theater district. I've spent many years traveling the globe as an accomplished entertainer, (www.JamesEdwardAlexander.com). I'm a proud member of Actors Equity Association and Sag-Aftra. A recipient of the Connecticut Critic Circle award and a 2013 Helen Hayes award nominee with over 35 years in the entertainment industry, my experiences on the stage and in front of the camera have given me a unique gift of insight now that I stand BEHIND the lens. IT TAKES A SECOND TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION. The eyes are the window to the soul and a working headshot is all about great energy. Your essence. A relaxed, grounded, personable YOU. My sessions are a collaborative process between photographer and subject. The final image evolves organically as the subject (You) relates to the photographer (Me) and the camera (Our friend). I’m responsible for some of the best Actor Headshots currently seen in the New York showbiz community. But my abilities don't end there. I have captured the famous and the infamous; the very young and the very mature; the modest and the glamorous. My creative eye and natural ability to bring the very best out in you will leave you with some of the most memorable images with that "special" something that sets YOU apart from the rest, your essence and personality coming through, the best YOU.
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GLENN ALTERMAN
(monolog/audition coach) was voted “Best Monologue/Audition Coach” by the readers of Backstage Magazine, and The Best Monologue/Audition Coach in the Tri-state area” by Theater Resources Magazine. Author of 30 best selling, theater related books (including 10 books of original monologues). His books “The Perfect Audition Monologue” and “An Actors Guide- Making It In New York City ” are included in the curriculum of many college theater arts departments and required reading in acting schools in the U.S. and Europe. He is listed at RecordSetter.com and The Guinness Book of World Records as the “Author of the Most Published Original Monologues For Actors”. Glenn has taught at such diverse places as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (London) The Governors School For The Arts (Old Dominion University), The School for Film and Television, The Edward Albee Theater Conference (Valdez, Alaska), Southampton College, The Screen Actors Guild, The Dramatists Guild, Western Connecticut State College, and at many acting schools in the U.S. and Europe, as well as privately coaching and consulting with thousands of students. He is an award winning playwright, and the recipient of a 2017 French Arts Grant, the Julio T. Nunez Artist’s Grant, The Arts and Letters Award in Drama, the Bloomington Playwrights (Reva Shiner Award) and has won over 60 playwriting awards, including being a finalist at The Actor’s Theater of Louisville five times. The Glenn Alterman Studio recently celebrated it’s 25th year. Presently we have nearly 5000 exciting, not over-used and fun to work on monologues. Glenn works with actors at all levels of training and experience and tries to create a supportive, fun, and safe environment to work on monologues for auditions as well as last minute audition material. http://www.glennalterman.com
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BENJAMIN DOYLE
is a Connecticut-based artist. Most of his work revolves around music direction for theater - recent projects include TRUSpeaks’ Virtual Happy Hour, as well as the new musicals You Ain’t Heard Nothing Yet and The Book of Names.
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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
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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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ANESSA MARIE
is a singer/songwriter, composer/lyricist for musical theater, music director, pianist, and orchestrator based in Manhattan. In 2019, Anessa’s song cycle Finding Beautiful premiered at NYMF. She is currently developing Reign, a rock opera based on Christopher Marlowe's Edward II with Will Shishmanian. “A New York Renaissance,” a 6-movement piece for symphony orchestra and solo piano, will premiere in New York City in 2022. Her debut album will also be released in 2022. She has performed at venues such as Signature Theatre, 54 Below, Joe's Pub, The Green Room 42, and Carnegie Hall. She regularly music directs concerts in the NYC cabaret circuit, and serves as Resident Music Director for Trans Voices Trans Cabaret (TVTC), a bi-monthly cabaret featuring an all-TGNC identifying cast. She also works as a gender consultant in theatre, film, and TV. She is the founder and director of the Phoenix Trans Chorus of NYC. Passionate about arts education, Anessa is a Broadway ambassador with Broadway for Arts Education (BAE), volunteers with the Youth Pride Chorus, and regularly works with LGBTQIA+ youth as a musician and teaching artist.
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ZACH MILLER
is a professional actor and voice teacher currently living in Jersey City. He holds a B.F.A. in musical theatre from Penn State University, where he also studied in Bel Canto/Can Belto, a cross-training technique for singing in musical theatre and pop/rock styles. As an actor, Zach has worked for various regional theatres, Broadway National Tours, and with Celebrity Cruises. He is a proud member of the performing groups “The Fly Boys” and “NYC 3” where he tours the country, on land and sea, singing a wide variety of pop/rock music. Zach is a proud member of AEA, NATS, and The Voice Foundation. In addition to his private studio, Zach is currently on the voice faculty at Molloy University/CAP21 and a vocal technique teacher for MT College Auditions, a team of actively-working theatre professionals who are also passionate and experienced guides for all aspects of the college audition process. In his studio, Zach loves to make geeky vocal technique talk fun and easy to digest. His goal is to inspire his students to reach beyond having a basic understanding of physiological vocabulary (i.e. resonance, register balance, breathing) and, instead, discover how this terminology is applied to their unique voice and can help them conquer vocal faults. As someone who comes from a performing background, he finds it helpful to meet acting intentions with technical exercises. He encourages honest moment to moment song performance and believes the ability to use one’s voice is a powerful tool to serve storytelling and tactics. www.zachmillervoicestudio.com
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ALYSSA ORAPELLO
is a New York City based singer, actor, musician and educator. She has been on the Voice Faculty at CAP21/Molloy College since 2016. At CAP21 she maintains a private studio and teaches a year-long course on Vocal Technique in Musical Theater. She is extremely passionate about training her students to develop a true understanding of all of the sounds that are demanded of today’s musical theater actor: everything from Legit Musical Theater to Pop/Rock and of course, her personal favorite, the many colors of a true Musical Theater Belt. She has quickly become a highly requested teacher at CAP21. A rising Senior in her studio (Nichelle Lewis) recently took first place in the CS Vocal Competition in the Musical Theater Category, beating out contestants from across the country with her stunning rendition of “Home” from The Wiz. Alyssa’s favorite aspect of teaching is the moment when a student discovers a sound they never thought they were capable of making-the moment a legit soprano belts for the first time, it’s as if a whole new genre of music becomes accessible to them.
Some of Alyssa’s favorite credits include: Mazeppa in Gypsy, Maria in My Big Gay Italian Wedding and Marcy in Dogfight. She is a graduate of Temple University (Bachelor of Music Education/Classical Flute) and The CAP21 Professional Musical Theater Program.
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MARISHKA PHILLIPS
was born into the entertainment business. Her mother, Sandra Reaves-Phillips is an award-winning actress, in addition to being a writer and a singer. Marishka grew up immersed in theater, film and television, so it was not surprising that she would follow in her mother’s footsteps. Ms. Phillips had been honing her skills as a dancer, taking classes at Alvin Ailey School of Dance and Broadway Dance Center, and had begun performing at a very early age. Her career path has been anything but traditional, though it started off that way. She landed on Broadway, cast as part of the ensemble, in the musical Uptown: It’s Hot starring Maurice Hines, in which she also understudied for the female lead. She continued amassing credits appearing in Bubblin’ Brown Sugar, Fame: The Musical, The Wiz and The Me Nobody Knows. On television, she had re-occurring roles in the last two seasons of The Cosby Show spin-off – A Different World. Today, in addition to being known as a working actor, Marishka is also a writer and director whose credits continue to grow. Her short film, Melinda: The Movie starring Tony Award-winning performers, LaChanze and Lillias White won numerous awards on the short film circuit. Ms. Phillips directed the one woman play, Down To Eartha, written and starring Dierdra McDowell, which was a tribute to the invincible entertainer/civil rights and social justice activist, Eartha Kitt. Coaching other actors has become a central part of Ms. Phillips career development. She has been an instrumental force in helping actors such as Kerry Washington (For Colored Girls…), Nicole Beharie (Miss Juneteenth) and Celia Rose Gooding (Jagged Little Pill), achieve some of their best performances, and has received credit for doing that, as a result, she has become a much in demand acting coach.
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STEPHANIE POPE LOFGREN
is a writer, director, voice artist, emerging producer, wife, mother and a Broadway musical theater veteran with a career spanning over 35 years.
Stephanie currently is a Board Member of New City Music Theatre, whose mission is to harness the power of the performing arts to challenge the status quo and to respond to the pulse of a contemporary generation through engaging, informed and inclusive experiences on and off the stage.
www.newcitymusictheatre.org
As a performer, Broadway and touring credits include the revival of Pippin, (Astaire Award nomination, ACCA Award and the beloved Legacy Robe), Chicago (Velma Kelly), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Muzzy Van Hossmere), Fosse (Leading Player), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Brenda), A Funny Thing... Forum (Gymnasia), Kiss of The Spider Woman (Stand-by for Ms. Chita Rivera), Jelly’s Last Jam (The Hunnies) and The Will Rogers Follies...just to name a few.
She has the honor of having been hand-picked by the legendary director - choreographer, Bob Fosse, along with his wife, Gwen Verdon, for her first two Broadway shows, the revival of Sweet Charity starring Debbie Allen and Bebe Neuwirth and Bob Fosse’s Big Deal and she is one of a handful of performers who teach Fosse Master Classes on behalf of The Fosse Estate and The Verdon Fosse Legacy LLC.
As a writer and emerging producer, Ms. Pope has several projects in development for stage, screen and television. She has completed the TRU PDMP and Producer Master Class and has been a contributing producer for several TRU play reading series events. www.stephaniepope.com
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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
