Broadway | Inside TVI Actors Studio

Lauren Port of MelCap Casting Comes to TVI

April 23, 2012Kristen Trahan

Lauren Port is a Casting Assistant at MelCap Casting, working in film, television, voiceover, and theatre. She has assisted with Broadway productions of Death of a Salesman, Seminar, Stick Fly, and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, just to name a few! She has worked with Second Stage on several productions including How I Learned to Drive, and The Blue Flower. Lauren has also assisted with many regional theatre companies such as ACT, Ars Nova, Arena Stage, and The Williamstown Theatre Festival. She is currently the associate on Steel Magnolias (Sony for Lifetime). Recent feature films include Love and Other Drugs and Blue Valentine. Independently, Lauren has cast FanBoy and Joan: 316 for The ExtraPulp Ensemble as well as readings of The Bird and the Two Ton Weight in connection with Syracuse University. Lauren holds a BFA in Drama from Syracuse University.

Lauren will be hosting a one night workshop at TVI Actors Studio in NYC on Tuesday, April 24th, at 7:30 pm. We are ecstatic to have her with us!

Camille Hickman, Casting Associate at Lincoln Center hosts workshop at TVI NY!

February 29, 2012

Camille Hickman, a casting associate of Lincoln Center Theater will be hosting a workshop at TVI New York on Wednesday, February 29th, at 6:30pm.

For actors interested in pursuing theater, this is one industry professional you want face-time with!!!

Recent Credits at Lincoln Center Theater include: Awake and Sing, Third, The Next Room or the Vibrator Play, Cymbeline, A Free Man of color, War Horse and Dying city. Other projects include Exit the King, God of Carnage, Frost/Nixon, and The Bridge Project – Richard III.

The Actors Nightmare

November 16, 2009admin

Jeffrey D Pic.jpg

Well, it happened again last night. Another bad dream. This time I found myself unable to get out of the locked dressing room to make a stage entrance. Despite pulling on the door, trying to climb out the window, yelling at the top of my lungs, I could not get rescued from my dressing room prison. What made it even worse, I could not tell from my costume what play I was in. So even if I did break out, I just had to “wing it” when I eventually got to the stage. It was one of those nightmares that felt so real, it took me several awake minutes to realize that it was just a dream. Other actor dreams I have heard about (and even experienced myself) include making an entrance and not knowing the part, making an entrance and being completely naked, showing up and realizing there is no audience. Psychologists would have no problem figuring these episodes out. I am sure they are metaphors for feeling unprepared, vulnerable, scared. Because it feels so real is probably due to the actor’s imagination being so fertile. When I have these kinds of experiences, I tell myself to analyze at what I need to work on. Usually unfinished business or not being ready for a task or event. For an actor it seems to reflect the need for preparation of some sort. Because we are frequently between jobs, it is easy to let go of our important actor tasks. By taking classes, meeting with your agent, reviewing your resume, getting advice from your career coach, you are, in fact, preventing the nightmare in the first place. You are now doing everything you can to release yourself from the grips of the unprepared actor and embracing professionalism.

Paradigm Talent Agency

September 3, 2009East Coast editor

Congratulations to Bruce Vilanch who has signed with the talent agency, Paradigm. He was last seen in the Broadway hit “Hairspray” playing the part of Edna Turnblad.

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Abrams Artists Commercial Agent

July 5, 2009East Coast editor

The uniqueness of TVI Actors Studios across several continents in bring foundation acting classes with prominent talent agents and casting directors. We call this the Hybrid Actors School. While founder of TVI, Alan S Nusbaum recognized the importance of a solid dramatic education and theatre foundation, what was missing was the weekly interaction with the talent agents, casting directors, producers and directors that will eventually be employing the TVI Acting Students – whether it be in Hollywood, New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Mumbai or Sydney.

“Education without practical knowledge and industry relationships will only get you so far working as a professional actor”, or as Alan S Nusbaum coined the term actor-preneur.

Pictured in the posting is head of the TV Commercial department at Abrams Artists Mark Measures in Los Angleles and TVI actress in the middle of coaching her on suggestions and tips to succeed in the commercial marketplace.

See more details about Abrams Artists here.

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New York Casting Director David Vaccari

June 24, 2009East Coast editor

TVI Actors Studio will be presenting a working in London with New York City Casting Director David Vaccari from Telsey Casting Company in July.

In addition to casting films, TV and Theatre with Bernie Telsey, David is a film producer, continuing to work on his first feature, “Poundcake”, starring Kathleen Quinlan & Jay O.Sanders. t premiered at AFI in November in Los Angeles. “Poundcake” won an Honorable Mention as best feature film at the 40th annual Nashville film festival.

If you are in London and would be interested in this workshop please see here. You can also email the TVI admissions office, or fill out the form.

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Los Angeles Acting School students

June 23, 2009East Coast editor

TVI Actors Studio Los Angeles students Laura Hughes and Fernando Dos Santos with TVI Acting School career coach and professional actor Corey Pepper.

Corey Pepper just returned from workshoping a new Disney musical, Villains Tonight for Disney Cruise Lines produced by Disney Entertainment. The workshop was by directed by Allison Narver of Seattle Rep.
The Disney production will be going on the ship in late 2009/2010.
Corey Pepper played played Panic (Hercules) and Iago (Aladdin)

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Tony Award Winning Actress Randy Graff

June 18, 2009admin

Randy Graff‘s sold out Musical Theatre Master Class was a huge success! Last night at TVI New York, Kevin Stites, Broadway musical director (“Les Miserables,” “The Color Purple”) accompanied the actors. The incredible Broadway pairing worked with the actors on their 16-bar audition pieces.

Among her impressive credits, Randy won a Tony Award for her role in “City Of Angels” and a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress for her work in “A Class Act”. Randy was also the original Fantine in Les Miserables on Broadway.

Randy brought her wonderful positive vibe with her to TVI New York, and due to amazing feedback from students we are looking forward to having Randy back to teach again very soon!

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Top Broadway Casting Director Teaches Musical Theatre Class

March 10, 2009admin

Eric Woodall, Casting Director at Tara Rubin Casting, will be offering an Advanced Musical Theatre Audition Technique class starting Monday, March 23rd, 2009. Eric’s numerous Broadway Casting Credits include Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, Billy Elliot, Phantom of the Opera, Shrek, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, and more.

This 4 week class will focus on fine tuning a performer’s book of musical audition pieces while gaining insight into the world of New York Musical Theatre as you polish your audition technique.

Call now to set up an audition appointment and to find out more information! 212-302-1900

Top Casting Director offers Musical Theater Class

October 2, 2008admin

Ever find yourself up at 6am, waiting in line at a Broadway Musical Equity Chorus Call or EPA, only to find out 5 hours later that Casting has run out of time to see any additional talent? Well now, we may have a class to remedy that problem! TVI is thrilled to announce that Eric Woodall of Tara Rubin Casting will be teaching a 4 week Musical Theater Technique class starting up in 2 weeks. Broadway credits include Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, Spamalot, Phantom of the Opera, The Producers, The Pirate Queen and Regional Credits such as The Kennedy Center, The McCarter Theater, and east coast casting for La Jolla Playhouse. If you feel you aren’t being seen enough by casting directors, this may be the perfect opportunity to get your foot in the door with one of the top casting agencies in NYC. Slots fill up quickly, so call today to sign up–212.302.1900.

To read more about Eric Woodall and his thoughts on auditioning, visit this site: http://www.playbill.com/features/article/110028.html

Broadway Auditions at Film, Stage and ShowBiz Expo this Sunday

September 18, 2008East Coast editor

This Sunday is Film, Stage and Showbiz Expo at the New York Hilton.

TVI Actors Studio will be center stage with my Keynote speech from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. You can register here.

The 10 Rules to Succeed as a Professional Actor in Film, TV and Theatre

“Getting the Agent to Love you, Getting the Casting Director to Book you”!

Putting the Law of Attraction into your acting career is a big change in your life; it requires believing not only in yourself as an actor, but that what you believe can manifest itself in your acting career, propelling you to A-level actor status.

With an actor’s daily life bearing down on you…with all the rejections and demands of a working actor…and survival job, it’s easy to be so overwhelmed that you can’t positively apply the law of attraction to your acting career. To maintain your focus and succeed as an actor, simply follow these rules you will learn at this Keynote Seminar.

There will also be Auditions at the Expo for the following shows:

Godspell
Hairspray
In The Heights
Legally Blonde
Rent
South Pacific
Wicked
The Color Purple
Catch Me If You Can
Addams Family
Spider-Man
Ever After
Leap of Faith
Minskie’s

You can find details of the auditions here.