"A dynamic Ensemble of Committed Artists!"
ACTING STUDIO TESTIMONIALS

"I thought I knew everything there was to know about acting...until I met Jack Stehlin" - Alfred Molina
ALFRED MOLINA is an accomplished and versatile actor with over one hundred film, television and theater productions to his credit. He currently stars in the television series "Law and Order, Los Angeles."
His many film projects include Poe, Vivaldi, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, The Tempest, Carmel, Big Buy, Lessons in Self-Defense, An Education, Da Vinci Code, Spiderman II; Hoax , As You Like It , Frida, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.A veteran of the stage, Alfred Molina recently was nominated for a Tony Award for his outstanding portrayal of Abstract Expressionist painter Mark Rothko in RED. Alfred Molina is a Associate Artist of The New American Theatre
Click on the link to see Alfred Molina on imdb!
ALFRED MOLINA is an accomplished and versatile actor with over one hundred film, television and theater productions to his credit. He currently stars in the television series "Law and Order, Los Angeles."
His many film projects include Poe, Vivaldi, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, The Tempest, Carmel, Big Buy, Lessons in Self-Defense, An Education, Da Vinci Code, Spiderman II; Hoax , As You Like It , Frida, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.A veteran of the stage, Alfred Molina recently was nominated for a Tony Award for his outstanding portrayal of Abstract Expressionist painter Mark Rothko in RED. Alfred Molina is a Associate Artist of The New American Theatre
Click on the link to see Alfred Molina on imdb!

"Jack Stehlin has done more for my acting than anyone on the planet. I’ve made 95% of my improvement as an actor in the past year. Jack’s all about bringing your true self to the material."
"Never let them catch you acting." " I can’t express how much the group’s collective spirit has helped me." - Don Harvey
"Never let them catch you acting." " I can’t express how much the group’s collective spirit has helped me." - Don Harvey
Don Harvey is a graduate of The University of Michigan and The Yale School of Drama. He made his New York theatre debut in Sam Shepard’s A Lie Of The Mind at the Promenade Theatre in 1986. Other theatre credits include What The Butler Saw (La Jolla Playhouse), American Buffalo and True West (Portland Stage), The Homecoming (South Coast Rep), The Rover (The Guthrie), The Broken Pitcher (Baltimore Center Stage), Progress (The Long Warf), Titus Andronicus (New York Shakespeare Festival), and That Championship Season (Broadway).
He is a thirty-five year veteran of television and film with many notable performances including "Pam and Tommy," “Casualties of War,” “Eight Men Out,” “Taken 3,” “Yellowstone,” “Better Call Saul,” “The Blacklist,” “The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair” and “The Deuce.” He was honored with a Daytime Emmy Award Nomination for his performance as Tom Baker in “General Hospital.” www.imdb.com/name/nm0367496/

"Jack Stehlin has provided me with utterly inspiring and truthful direction and coaching in the pursuit of my artistic goals."
He is truly a visionary when it comes to theatre, not to mention teaching acting. Without Jack, I would have moved to a farm somewhere to hide under a rock long ago! Honestly, he has transformed my perception of the craft and has driven home the most basic Stanislavsky and fundamentals that I never would have fully understood without him. Just the fact of Jack Stehlin and New American Theatre's existence and has kept hope alive in me for the fate of theatre arts and the craft of acting."
- Jade Sealey
Jade Sealey is a Member of The New American Studio Ensemble. With NAT:Macbeth Revisited. The Number, Julius Caesar, Christina Woodman in the world premiere play Bedfellows, Baltimore in Sister Cities (Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Circus Theatricals), Jane in Mooney’s Kid Don’t Cry, Crystal Allen in The Women, Shannon Gosling in Safe, Viola in Twelfth Night, Marian in The Heiress, Genevieve in Weedwacker, Iphigenia in Iphigenia , Debby in Deconstructing the Torah. Other theatre: Janna in Blind Spots, Ruthie in Tsuris (Sidewalk Studio Theatre), Portia in The Author's Voice and Constanze in Amadeus (Steve Dobuzyinski Theatre). Film/TV credits include: “Chasing Eagle Rock,” “How to Cheat,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Bridesmaid #3,” “The Hunger Artist,” “ Cul De Sac” and “Fool's Paradise.”
He is truly a visionary when it comes to theatre, not to mention teaching acting. Without Jack, I would have moved to a farm somewhere to hide under a rock long ago! Honestly, he has transformed my perception of the craft and has driven home the most basic Stanislavsky and fundamentals that I never would have fully understood without him. Just the fact of Jack Stehlin and New American Theatre's existence and has kept hope alive in me for the fate of theatre arts and the craft of acting."
- Jade Sealey
Jade Sealey is a Member of The New American Studio Ensemble. With NAT:Macbeth Revisited. The Number, Julius Caesar, Christina Woodman in the world premiere play Bedfellows, Baltimore in Sister Cities (Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Circus Theatricals), Jane in Mooney’s Kid Don’t Cry, Crystal Allen in The Women, Shannon Gosling in Safe, Viola in Twelfth Night, Marian in The Heiress, Genevieve in Weedwacker, Iphigenia in Iphigenia , Debby in Deconstructing the Torah. Other theatre: Janna in Blind Spots, Ruthie in Tsuris (Sidewalk Studio Theatre), Portia in The Author's Voice and Constanze in Amadeus (Steve Dobuzyinski Theatre). Film/TV credits include: “Chasing Eagle Rock,” “How to Cheat,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Bridesmaid #3,” “The Hunger Artist,” “ Cul De Sac” and “Fool's Paradise.”

"Jack Stehlin and the Studio is an oasis of artistry in a desert of pizza and beer commercials."
It's fuel for the artistic soul to come in on Saturdays and study the best plays ever written, and then feel inspired to go back to the grind of auditions and rejections. Jack has a keen, intense mind for acting and directing, and his passion is contagious. He has most certainly made me a better actor. - Brendan Brandt
It's fuel for the artistic soul to come in on Saturdays and study the best plays ever written, and then feel inspired to go back to the grind of auditions and rejections. Jack has a keen, intense mind for acting and directing, and his passion is contagious. He has most certainly made me a better actor. - Brendan Brandt
Brendan Brandt's credits:
Film: "Tic" (LionsGate, June 2011)
TV: Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Working Class, Close to Home
Commercials: Domino's, Microsoft, Kaplan, Sprite, Bud Light, etc.
Theater:With NAT: Macbeth Revisited, Boy’s Life, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 5 Beauties (Green Eyes), Macbeth, Getting Out, and 9 years of One-Act Festivals (authored Exigence). Other theater- Godspell, Wild Geese, and Twist in SoCal, and Macbeth, Assassins, and Equus in Minneapolis. TV: Workaholic, Criminal Minds, Last Man Standing, Working Class, Close to Home. Brendan directed the documentary Victor’s Last Class, which has played in festivals in Amsterdam, Kansas City, and Pasadena, on TV in Israel and Slovenia, is coming to theaters in Poland, and is still touring colleges and festivals. www.victorslastclass.com.
Film: "Tic" (LionsGate, June 2011)
TV: Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Working Class, Close to Home
Commercials: Domino's, Microsoft, Kaplan, Sprite, Bud Light, etc.
Theater:With NAT: Macbeth Revisited, Boy’s Life, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 5 Beauties (Green Eyes), Macbeth, Getting Out, and 9 years of One-Act Festivals (authored Exigence). Other theater- Godspell, Wild Geese, and Twist in SoCal, and Macbeth, Assassins, and Equus in Minneapolis. TV: Workaholic, Criminal Minds, Last Man Standing, Working Class, Close to Home. Brendan directed the documentary Victor’s Last Class, which has played in festivals in Amsterdam, Kansas City, and Pasadena, on TV in Israel and Slovenia, is coming to theaters in Poland, and is still touring colleges and festivals. www.victorslastclass.com.

"Working with Jack Stehlin and the New American Theatre is a gift!" - Eve Danzeisen
Jack has a wonderful way of guiding you in the work that pushes the limits of your imagination to get at the truth of a story. He offers a wealth of knowledge and understanding with zero pretense. I feel that my acting is now more about possibility and seeking than about preconceived notions. The sense of community at NAT allows everyone to work freely without any expectations other than commitment. It’s exciting to know that for a few hours a week you’ll definitely be working with Jack, a great group of actors, and some of the best writing out there.
About Eve Danzeisen: With New American Theatre: Uncle Vanya, Boxing Lessons. Other theatre includes: LA: 4Play: Sex in a Series (TripLA), Cold Sweat (Atwater Village Th.), The Trip Back Down (Whitefire Th.) NY: world premiere of The Body Politic (59E59), U.S. premieres of Construction of the Human Heart (Access Th.), and Romeo and Hamlet (Abington Th., Gayfest), with The Old Globe (San Diego): Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale, Richard III, and more. On camera credits include: her film The Hardest Part (Tropfest Best Actress Award), Fire in the Hole, Reason, Heyday, Pooched, & 3 yrs. as the Optimum Business spokesperson. Sarah Lawrence College (BA), The Old Globe (MFA), www.evedanzeisen.com.
Jack has a wonderful way of guiding you in the work that pushes the limits of your imagination to get at the truth of a story. He offers a wealth of knowledge and understanding with zero pretense. I feel that my acting is now more about possibility and seeking than about preconceived notions. The sense of community at NAT allows everyone to work freely without any expectations other than commitment. It’s exciting to know that for a few hours a week you’ll definitely be working with Jack, a great group of actors, and some of the best writing out there.
About Eve Danzeisen: With New American Theatre: Uncle Vanya, Boxing Lessons. Other theatre includes: LA: 4Play: Sex in a Series (TripLA), Cold Sweat (Atwater Village Th.), The Trip Back Down (Whitefire Th.) NY: world premiere of The Body Politic (59E59), U.S. premieres of Construction of the Human Heart (Access Th.), and Romeo and Hamlet (Abington Th., Gayfest), with The Old Globe (San Diego): Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale, Richard III, and more. On camera credits include: her film The Hardest Part (Tropfest Best Actress Award), Fire in the Hole, Reason, Heyday, Pooched, & 3 yrs. as the Optimum Business spokesperson. Sarah Lawrence College (BA), The Old Globe (MFA), www.evedanzeisen.com.

"Jack Stehlin has an uncanny ability to unfold Stanislavsky's insights into tools, pathways which enable the actor to simply prepare the conditions which then allow the experience to naturally happen."
It has a lot to do with the fact that he is such a good listener, observer; and has been doing so over a lifetime of working with and directing the best in American theater.
The resonance he has helped reveal within Stanislavski’s work often parallels fundamental master teachings from other fields, which is probably why it feels so authentic in theory, but especially in practice. - David Purdham
David Purdham:
As a professional actor and director, David Purdham has worked extensively in theatre on and off Broadway, in many of the great resident theatres in our country(including New York Shakespeare Festival, Roundabout Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Old Globe- San Diego, Yale Repertory Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival) as well a lot of television and film during the last 45 years. He is a member of NEW AMERICAN THEATRE, and directs The Tempus Theatre Group’s Classical Play reading series (an exploration by professional actors of the evolution of theatre from the Greeks forward.) There is a nice Television Series moving into its second season on HBO - “Winning Time”, in which he plays Larry O’Brien, the commissioner of the NBA.
It has a lot to do with the fact that he is such a good listener, observer; and has been doing so over a lifetime of working with and directing the best in American theater.
The resonance he has helped reveal within Stanislavski’s work often parallels fundamental master teachings from other fields, which is probably why it feels so authentic in theory, but especially in practice. - David Purdham
David Purdham:
As a professional actor and director, David Purdham has worked extensively in theatre on and off Broadway, in many of the great resident theatres in our country(including New York Shakespeare Festival, Roundabout Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Old Globe- San Diego, Yale Repertory Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival) as well a lot of television and film during the last 45 years. He is a member of NEW AMERICAN THEATRE, and directs The Tempus Theatre Group’s Classical Play reading series (an exploration by professional actors of the evolution of theatre from the Greeks forward.) There is a nice Television Series moving into its second season on HBO - “Winning Time”, in which he plays Larry O’Brien, the commissioner of the NBA.
"The inclusive environment fostered by both Jack (Stehlin) and the dedicated, hardworking actors in the workshop have helped nurture my growth and remind me why I love this craft!!!" - Tyler Harlow
"I had the privilege of training in this past spring Stanislavsky workshop. The structure of the class focused on the most instrumental and salient aspects of acting, always asking me to dig deep to retrieve the most vital and fundamental motivation for my character, while always remaining truthful to the text of the author. Through receiving feedback in the scene I workshopped, as well as giving focused attention to others during their work, I was steadily able to see how utilizing these tools allowed for my work to grow. I feel better equipped and more confident to take on roles, knowing how to structure my thinking and approach. The inclusive environment fostered by both Jack and the dedicated, hardworking actors in the workshop have helped nurture my growth and remind me why I love this craft!!!"
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"A fulfilling and joyous experience!"- Richard Osborn
One of the great experiences of my acting life was joining Jack Stehlin’s Circus Theatricals company at The Odyssey Theatre in the early 2000’s. Learning and growing as an actor and benefiting from Jack’s extraordinary insights into the craft of acting and the practical application of the Stanislavsky System culminated in performance evenings of Chekov and Great American Classic scenes as well as, most gratifyingly for me, the opportunity to play Dorn in Chekov’s The Seagull.
Now, some 20 years later and a member of The New American Theatre (also having participated in two seasons of the Stanislavsky Workshop), I find there’s still much more to learn from Jack. And his guidance through the key precepts of the System is as inspiring as ever…whether I’m in a scene putting it to the test or watching others, I find it a fulfilling and joyous experience! ~ Richard Osborn
One of the great experiences of my acting life was joining Jack Stehlin’s Circus Theatricals company at The Odyssey Theatre in the early 2000’s. Learning and growing as an actor and benefiting from Jack’s extraordinary insights into the craft of acting and the practical application of the Stanislavsky System culminated in performance evenings of Chekov and Great American Classic scenes as well as, most gratifyingly for me, the opportunity to play Dorn in Chekov’s The Seagull.
Now, some 20 years later and a member of The New American Theatre (also having participated in two seasons of the Stanislavsky Workshop), I find there’s still much more to learn from Jack. And his guidance through the key precepts of the System is as inspiring as ever…whether I’m in a scene putting it to the test or watching others, I find it a fulfilling and joyous experience! ~ Richard Osborn

"Jack Stehlin is not only an amazingly talented artist, but truly the best acting teacher I have ever had."
- Vanessa Waters Kassir
In the years I have studied with Jack, I have become a better actress and am constantly challenged. Jack teaches pure Stanislavski and gives his students the tools that enable you to work on your own. Each class is profound. Each time I listen to Jack I am inspired as an actress and leave with excitement to work. He is a humble, no nonsense teacher. I appreciate the truth Jack brings to my work. Jack is a gem in a town full of people who claim to have all the answers. Jack really does, or at least makes searching for the answers a true artistic endeavor. I feel so lucky to be practicing the craft in Jack's studio."
- Vanessa Waters
Vanessa Waters: As a long time company member, plays with The New American Theatre include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar, As Is, The Women, Three Sisters, Macbeth, and seven different productions of One Acts. With Shakespeare Santa Monica, The Merchant of Venice, and Vanessa recently starred in the premiere of Blind Spots by Colette Freedman. She has appeared on television shows Battle Creek and House, numerous independent films, and is also a voice over actress. Vanessa is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts (PCPA Theaterfest) and holds a B.F.A. in theater from Ithaca College. Big thanks to Jack and Jeannine for their dedication to our company
- Vanessa Waters Kassir
In the years I have studied with Jack, I have become a better actress and am constantly challenged. Jack teaches pure Stanislavski and gives his students the tools that enable you to work on your own. Each class is profound. Each time I listen to Jack I am inspired as an actress and leave with excitement to work. He is a humble, no nonsense teacher. I appreciate the truth Jack brings to my work. Jack is a gem in a town full of people who claim to have all the answers. Jack really does, or at least makes searching for the answers a true artistic endeavor. I feel so lucky to be practicing the craft in Jack's studio."
- Vanessa Waters
Vanessa Waters: As a long time company member, plays with The New American Theatre include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar, As Is, The Women, Three Sisters, Macbeth, and seven different productions of One Acts. With Shakespeare Santa Monica, The Merchant of Venice, and Vanessa recently starred in the premiere of Blind Spots by Colette Freedman. She has appeared on television shows Battle Creek and House, numerous independent films, and is also a voice over actress. Vanessa is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts (PCPA Theaterfest) and holds a B.F.A. in theater from Ithaca College. Big thanks to Jack and Jeannine for their dedication to our company