Past Guest Artists

Elena Montero Mulligan (singing for the Actor) is an actor, singer, and Raleigh native. She holds a BA in Theatre (Musical Theatre Concentration) with a Vocal Performance minor from Meredith College. In addition to teaching with Actor's Training Ground, she is a voice teacher at Bach to Rock Apex and North Raleigh School of Music. Some favorite theatre credits include Gussie Carnegie in Merrily We Roll Along, Jo March in Little Women the musical, and Virginia Poe in Strange City of Edgar Allan Poe. She is also a member of the Oakwood Waits, Raleigh's premiere costumed caroling group.

Samantha Corey (Shakespeare) is a teaching artist, actress and director in Raleigh, NC. She has a BA in Theatre Performance from Appalachian State University with a minor in music. She graduated from the Shakespeare and Performance Masters Program at Mary Baldwin University, as well as The American Shakespeare Center as an education artist. As an actress, she most enjoyed playing The Fool in King Lear with Honest Pint and Sweet Tea Shakespeare.

Kaluwa (Movement for the Actor) began dancing shortly after learning to walk, and hasn’t stopped since. Her love of performing with dance companies and teams was topped only when she discovered her love of teaching dance. This passion for dance led her to train in using movement for expression and healing, and even develop a therapeutic movement program. Her blend of technique with expression provides a unique learning experience for performers of all abilities motivated to find their authentic performance.

David Henderson (Acting Master Class) is a Morehead Scholar graduate of UNC and the founder and co-artistic director of Honest Pint. Most recently, he was seen as Charlotte in I am My Own Wife, (Theatre Raleigh) Tracy in The Legend of Georgia McBride (Honest Pint) and the title role in Lombardi (Theatre Raleigh); which earned him a Broadway World award for Best Actor. Prior to that, he played the title role in Hamlet which earned him the Broadway World award for Best Actor in a Play. He also starred as Sweeney in Sweeney Todd at RLT and understudied the role at Playmakers Repertory Company. Favorite roles include, Ulysses in Annapurna, Joey in A Steady Rain, Fr. Laurence in Romeo and Juliet, Edward in Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, John Adams in 1776, Bobby in Company, and Henry in Henry V. For the past 23 years, he has had the pleasure of playing Jacob Marley in TIP annual production of A Christmas Carol. Thanks to all of you that support the arts! Drink Deep!

Paul Barnes (Acting as a Business - Building your Brand) is an accomplished, award-winning director, administrator, and teacher whose work has been seen at regional theatres, festivals, and training programs across the country. Barnes is the former Education Director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), Conservatory Director/Associate Artistic Director at PCPA Theaterfest, a founder of the Oregon Cabaret Theatre, and a founding Producing Director and former Artistic Director of the Great River Shakespeare Festival. Barnes has directed a wide variety of plays at Repertory Theatre of Saint Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Pioneer Theatre Company, Syracuse Stage, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre, Skylight Opera Theatre, Missouri Repertory Theatre, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Center REPertory Company, Alley Theatre, Denver Center Theatre Company, the Alabama, California, Chesapeake, Idaho, Oregon, Orlando, and Utah Shakespeare Festivals, as well as PCPA Theaterfest. His work has been reviewed in Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal, Opera News and in numerous regional media. Additionally, Barnes has directed and taught at professional training programs at the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theatre, University of San Diego/Old Globe Theatre, University of Delaware/PATP, University of Nevada-Las Vegas/Nevada Conservatory Theatre, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Utah State University, Webster University, actor training programs.

www.paulbarnesdirector.com

Dr. Ben Slate (Acting as a Business - Script Analysis) is a dedicated artist-scholar, teacher, theatre professional, and mentor with strong leadership skills, a commitment to artistic excellence, quality arts education, audience development, and the championing of interdisciplinarity. Dr. Slate is an arts advocate with over 20 years combined teaching experience at all levels, most at the university level. Dr. Slate holds a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary fine arts (theatre, art, music, philosophy). Dr. Slate has academic specializations in numerous arts disciplines, extensive lecture, and art research experience. He has served as Artistic Director, Managing Director, Performing Arts Director, and Director of Theatre and Professor of Theatre. Dr. Slate has worked in areas of new play development, one-act festivals, audience research, one-act competitions, and theatre for social justice. He has also served in the role of artist as director, actor, playwright, and designer in a number of productions.

Rebecca Bossen (Dialects Master Class) is a Durham-based theatre educator, voice coach, playwright, and performer. She holds theatre degrees from Duke University and Northwestern University, as well as an Advanced Certificate in Voice Studies from London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She has taught theatre classes at Northwestern University, Act One Studios, Raleigh Little Theater, Burning Coal Theatre, NC State Young and Teen Writers’ Workshops, and a number of local schools. She has provided training and workshops in vocal technique and dialects for more than fifteen years. Acting credits include: Macbeth-The Banquet (SnapPea); As You Like It, The Prisoner’s Dilemma, Pentecost, Brigadoon (Burning Coal Theatre); Norway, The Changeling, Master Builder, Maccountant (Little Green Pig); Outside Mullingar, The Liar (Deep Dish Theater); Everything in the Garden (Creede Repertory Theatre). Voice and dialect credits include: The Curious Incident…, One Man Two Guvnors (Raleigh Little Theater); Miss Holmes, The Syringa Tree, I Capture the Castle, Drood, Pygmalion, Sweeney Todd (Creede Repertory Theatre); Ashe in Johannesburg, The Weir; Stuff Happens; The Royale, Heisenberg, Skylight, Blue Sky, The Heretic, Ruined, Good (Burning Coal Theatre); Sweeney Todd, Parade, Titanic (Elon University); Constellations (Bartlett Theater); Skin in Flames (Stage Left Theatre); Escanaba in Love (Circle Theatre); and the film The Game of Their Lives. Writing credits include: Delilah Lee, Blue Straggler, Iced Coffee Five Cubes, The Deepest Dark, Shards of Light, and 27. She is the recipient an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Grant for Scriptworks and an Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grant. Delilah Lee was named an O’Neill National Playwrights Conference finalist. www.rebeccabossen.com

D. Anthony Pender (Movement and Shakespeare) is an award-winning actor and stage director. His reputation as a Shakespearean actor has garnered praise for his performances as King Richard in Richard III, Prospero in The Tempest, and Romeo and Juliet with Evan Rachel Wood. His television credits include Windmills of the Gods, Smokey and the Bandit-The Series, and several guest appearances on Matlock. His film acting credits include Ramblin' Rose, Road to Wellville, Twilight Zone-The Lost Episodes, and Radioland Murders. From the beginning of his career, Tony has consistently been involved in coaching and education, developing educational programs and workshops throughout the southeast. His students have gone on to perform on major television shows like Sonny With a Chance, in feature films like The Hunger Games, and off-Broadway in shows such as Camino del Cielo (Way to Heaven).

Rebecca Jackson-Artis (Improv Master Class) is an actor, writer, and podcaster from Chicago. Rebecca has worked for over twenty years in theatre, television and film. The last ten years she’s shared her time and talents in community advocacy, political organizing, and maternal and child health. She wrote, produced, and starred in a short film, In The Midst of Morons (2018). She is the writer, producer, and star of Totally Becky (2018), a web series she co-creates with Dre Robinson. With Rebecca Fox she performs in a sketch comedy duo, The Rebecca Show (2019). Rebecca is a Spotify® Sound Up 2019 Podcast Bootcamp alum. Black Becky Speaks, the podcast she began creating in 2019, will premiere in 2021. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampton University in Theatre Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Narrative Media Writing at The University of Georgia. Rebecca lives with her family in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Erik Stein (Working with a Director) is the Casting Director for PCPA Pacific Conservatory Theatre and the Recruitment Coordinator for Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s Professional Actor Training Program. On Broadway, Erik performed with Roddy McDowall, Hal Linden, Jim Dale, and Frank Langella. He appeared as the Ghost of Christmas Present opposite Tim Curry in the Broadway production of A Christmas Carol directed by Susan Stroman. Off-Broadway, Erik created the role of Stephens in Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of Captains Courageous starring Treat Williams and Norm Lewis. Erik is a founding member of The Alaska Shakespeare Festival and The California Cabaret Theatre. He has had the fortune to work across the country with more than 30 Regional Theaters including several award-winning theaters such as The York Theatre Company, Goodspeed Opera House, The Utah Shakespeare Festival, Pioneer Theatre Company, North Shore Music Theatre, Geva Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars, and PCPA. Erik teaches Audition Techniques and the Business of Being an Actor for Pacific Conservatory Theatre, he has directed for several training programs and regional theaters, and he has lead Audition and Acting the Song workshops all over the country. Erik is the author of No Caution! A Step by Step Guide to Preparing Auditions for Universities, Colleges, Conservatories, and Beyond. He lives with his beautiful wife Jax on the Central Coast of California.

Vanessa Neff (Business of Acting) After a successful career and a profound personal loss, Vanessa stepped into the world of acting in 2018—proving that it’s never too late to begin a new chapter. Since then, she has appeared in over 20 films, with three feature films currently streaming, and built a thriving career in commercial work, modeling, and indie film. Her long silver hair and distinctive style have made her a sought-after face for local boutiques, designers, and advertisers. Vanessa has trained with seasoned professionals, co-hosted workshops for emerging talent, and learned to navigate the acting world from outside the traditional industry hubs. One of her proudest accomplishments is Dear Daughter, a short film she wrote, produced, co-directed, and starred in, which earned numerous international awards during its festival run. Vanessa is currently represented by Talent One Agency in Raleigh, NC, and continues to book roles that reflect both passion and purpose.

Ira David Wood III (Directors' Panel) A partial list of honors include: The North Carolina Award in Fine Arts, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, The Wilson Hayman Vocational Service Leadership Award, The Halifax Resolves Award, The Morrison Award, Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of The NC School of the Arts, Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, & the Builder of Bridges Award from the Babcock Center Foundation. He is an inductee into the Raleigh Hall of Fame. David has been presented three keys to the City of Raleigh and honorary citizenship awards from Columbia, SC, and Compiegne, France. In honor of his many achievements, Raleigh’s City Council voted unanimously to rename the theatre’s facility “The Ira David Wood III Pullen Park Theatre.” Tony Award-winning Artistic Director of The Lost Colony outdoor drama for seven seasons.

Ray Walker (How an Actor Prepares panel) returns to Raleigh after 4 years as Asst. Dept. Chair of Fine Arts and Theatre instructor at St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont. While there, he produced and directed plays and musicals while providing instruction in all aspects of theatre and vocal music. Prior to that, Ray served as Artistic Director of North Carolina Theatre Conservatory which provided robust arts programming for youth ages 5-18, from entry level through pre-professional training in musical theatre, acting and dance. Ray was the creator and lead instructor for the LIVE ON STAGE programming which introduced musical theatre to thousands of youth in Raleigh NC.

As a performer, Ray appeared on Broadway in the original production of Les Misérables as Marius as well as Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar and Falsettos. He understudied Donny Osmond in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and was featured in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webbers concert tours across the world. Local audiences may remember him for his many roles on the stage of North Carolina Theatre.

Dean Garris (Acting for the Camera: Film) - is an accomplished filmmaker from North Carolina. He has produced and directed many films and commercial works. Currently his 2014 award winning web series The Super Femmes and his 2011 award winning feature documentary Nathan Davis Still Lives can be found on Amazon Prime.

Learn more at his website: deanopictures.com

Dustin Britt (they/them) (Styles of Performance) is a Durham-based director, actor, designer, writer, journalist, and intimacy choreographer. They have worked with companies across central North Carolina for more than 25 years, including directing projects with Bare Theatre (Timon of Athens, ShakesBeer, and ShakesQueer), Seed Art Share (The Miracle Worker), St. John's MCC (Marat/Sade and Corpus Christi), and Henderson Rec Players (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Our Town, and The Crucible -- the latter two winning awards for Best Director of a Play from Broadway World). Dustin is trained by Theatrical Intimacy Education and holds a Master of Arts in Education from East Carolina University. They are a script reader for the National Playwrights Conference and OdysseyStage, a judge for the DPAC Rising Star Awards, a jury member at the Nevermore Film Festival, and they sit on board of the OutSouth Queer Film Festival.

Temporary Economy Relief Pricing

All Classes reduced to 2020 prices - $175
12-week class - $225

PAST GUEST ARTISTS