Alberto Bonilla – Director of Film and Television: Alberto trained with Maggie Flanigan and William Esper at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts receiving his MFA in Acting. Previously, He studied at The British American Dramatic Academy in Oxford, England and received his BA in Theater from Arizona State University. He has taught at The New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, as well as New York Film Academy. Alberto has Also taught workshops in Film acting and auditioning for the Consortium of Drama Schools (CDS)in London, UK Members of the CDS (LAMDA, RADA, Guild Hall School of Drama, Bristol Old Vic). Selected television credits include Law and Order, Sopranos, All My children. Selected feature film credits include: Cop Out, My Best Friends Girl, Pride and Glory. Alberto is a published Playwright, and Director. He is also a member of SAG, AEA, AFTRA, Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors, National Association of Latino Producers, and Resonance Ensemble.
Alyssa Ciccarello – Head of Voice and Speech:
BFA in Acting from the Experimental Theatre Wing, NYU Tisch. Candidate for Linklater Teacher Designation 2012. Faculties include: ETW NYU Tisch; New York Film Academy, Conservatory and MFA Acting program; Hunter College; Professional Performing Arts School NYC, Eòlia Escola d’Estudis d’Arts Escèniques, Barcelona. Methodologies and major influences: Kristin Linklater vocal progression – Cecil MacKinnon, Louis Colaianni and Andrea Haring; Trish Arnold movement with Merry Conway; Speech, dialects, and International Phonetic Alphabet with Louis Colaianni’s Phonetic Pillows; Roy Hart with Jonathan Hart, in NYC and France. Alyssa has performed and created original work in New York, Barcelona and Rome, both live and for film and video, and currently collaborates with a range of performers and choreographers in New York and Europe.
Erin Cherry – Private Acting Coach: Received her B.A. in Theatre from University of Nevada Las Vegas and her MFA in acting from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where she studied under Bill Esper and Maggie Flanigan. She is a professionally working actress, and has an extensive resume and has worked locally and regionally across the country, and abroad. She has studied for years under the watchful eye of Maggie’s first year and second year program, along with the summer intensive, which has given her the tools and techniques and language needed in private coachings. She is a proud member of AEA, S.A.G., and AFTRA.
Nathan Flower- Co-Director of Movement: Nathan teaches movement and physical technique. He has taught at the Professional Actor Training Program at Rutgers University, MGSA, Actors Movement Studio (NYC), Marymount School (NYC), Columbia University, New York University: Tisch School of the Arts, the Maggie Flanigan Studio (NYC) and across the country with the Aquila Theater Company. He is currently on faculty at NYU’s Undergraduate Drama Program where he teaches acting, movement and also directs for the Meisner Studio and for the Open Arts Studio (Spring at Tisch). He has coached actors privately for many years. The content of his own training comes from collaboration with such influences as June Kemp, Loyd Williamson, Lenard Petit, Sir Henry Marshall and Vincent O’Neil. His decade-long association with Mr. Williamson has proved invaluable both as teacher and actor and Mr. Williamson’s influence occupies the great majority of Nathan’s teaching. He has worked as an actor Off-Broadway, regionally and internationally most recently touring with the Aquila Theatre Co. to Greece and Germany. This Spring Nathan was seen at the Lucille Lortelle Theater with Aquila’s production of The Illiad. Nathan holds an MFA in Acting from Rutgers University. Nathan lives with his family in Ossining, NY.
Danielle Liccardo – Co-Director of Movement: Danielle began her theatre training as an actress under the direction of Kathryn Gately (head of MFA acting at NIU), and at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. As a movement and style specialist she trained at Actors Movement Studio in New York under mentor, Mr. Loyd Williamson. Ms. Liccardo has taught at Tisch School of the Arts – New York University Undergraduate Drama and at Actor’s Movement Studio in New York. She is currently on faculty at Mason Gross School of the Arts, at Rutgers The State University of New Jersey as the core movement specialist in the BFA professional acting conservatory, and teaches advanced acting at Drew University in New Jersey.
Jessica Myhr – Resident Image Consultant: From headshots to casting calls, Jessica will help you clearly and cohesively market who you are, taking into account your essence, look and the roles you play. Jessica has worked as an image consultant specializing in actors and other business professionals for almost 10 years. Her unique background in acting, branding, and fashion has given her the ability to give actors the tools to dress their best. She worked as a Creative Brand Consultant for over 4 years at Silver Lining Productions in NYC. She implemented brand integrity, strategy and management for iconic brands such as Eric Carle, Olivia and Mr. Men and Little Miss. She continued her work in creative branding as a consultant for Fashion Snoops, an online resource for fashion trend analysis. Jessica also works closely with agents and casting directors as a host, reader and camera operator for classes, workshops and seminars. Jessica is a professional working actor Off-Broadway and regionally. She has several indie film credits and for TV, most notably recurring on “All My Children”. She holds an MFA in Acting from Rutgers University.
Victor Villar-Hauser – Associate Acting Teacher and Private Coach: Victor, a transplant from London, came to NYC to study with Maggie Flanigan in 1995. Victor’s selected theatre credits include the critically acclaimed productions of Leaves of Glass (Off-Broadway), A New Television Arrives – Finally, Dirty Works (NYC and The Edinburgh Theater Festival), The Pitchfork Disney, Some Voices, The Countess (Off-Broadway). He is also the founding member of Stiff Upper Lip, a British theatre company here in NYC. In addition to his work as an actor he works extensively in voice over, dramaturges and produces works for theater.
Charlie Sandlan- Senior Acting Teacher: Charlie is the senior acting teacher, and Program Director at the Maggie Flanigan Studio. He received his BA in Theater from Purdue University and an MFA in Acting from Rutgers; Mason Gross School Of The Arts. Charlie teaches First and Second Year of the Meisner Technique, along with classes in Cold Reading, Monologue, Actor/Director Relationship, and the Six Week Summer Intensive. He is also the acting coach for all of Maggie’s First And Second Year students, and leads workshops in impediments, actions, nursery rhymes, and scene work.Charlie is a member the Executive Committee.
Pandora Scooter – Guest Teaching Artist: Pandora Scooter has taught Script Analysis at Mason Gross School of the Arts (Rutgers University), at Drew University and Rider University. She teaches playwriting and poetry throughout the state of New Jersey, working with students from 2nd to 12th grades. Additionally, she gives lecture series on plays and playwrights for senior citizens. For six years Pandora taught acting at the Somerset Performing Arts School, an accredited school for the performing arts high school. She earned her MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts, where she was the recipient of the Bettendbender Award for Outstanding Performance. She is a certified teaching artist with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Kathryn Lacey – Head of Professional Program: Kathryn Lacey studied with Kristin Linklater and graduated with a BFA in Acting from Emerson College. She began her casting career as legendary Casting Director Marion Dougherty’s intern at Warner Brothers Feature Film Casting. A year later, upon Marion ‘s retirement, she took the job of assistant to Marcia Ross, head of Feature Film Casting for Walt Disney and Touchstone Pictures. She was eventually promoted to Manager of Feature Film Casting and as such she oversaw the casting of the films “The Kinky Boots Factory”, “Casanova” and “Step Up”. She was also a Casting Director on “Stick It” starring Jeff Bridges. Lacey left Disney in order to focus her energies bak to acting, producing and coaching actors. She is currently producing the feature documentary “Casting By” which will be the definitive document on the Casting Director and casting process and the independent feature film “Beard’s Creek”. As an actress she has appeared in the television shows “NCIS”, “Private Practice”, “Rizzoli & Isles” and feature films “College Roadtrip”, “Old Dogs”, “The Proposal” and more.