Exploring Acting: Fun Theater, Drama, and Improv Skills for Young Actors

😎 OUR INSTRUCTORS 😎

LUKE FERRELL
Luke is a New Jersey-based Stage Director and Teaching Artist and the proud Owner and Artistic Director of Ferrell Studios! Some credits include Puffs (Director), Songs for a New World (Director), The Last Five Years (Director), Into the Woods (Music Director), Alice in Wonderland (Co-Director), Ideation (Co-Director), Spring Awakening (Music Director), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Director), Sweet Charity (Director). He is a Teaching Artist with Fresh Theatre Arts, where he is the Fall Drama Director and Spring Musical Technical Director for Highland Park High School. He is also the Technical Director at Henry Hudson Regional School and an Instructor and Music Director at the Middletown Arts Center.

DANIEL BRISTOL
Daniel Bristol is a multi-award-winning actor and 2019 graduate of the prestigious internationally recognized conservatory Studio 58, under the direction of Kathryn Shaw. Most recently, Daniel was awarded nationally with an Official Top Young Emerging Actor Selection in 2022 by UBCP/ACTRA and acted in Leo Award-winner Joyce Kline's film 'Cancelled Stamp', which won the coveted Audience Favorite Best Short Award at the Victoria Film Festival. He made his film debut in Paramount Pictures 'The Uninvited' as Samuel Wright with Academy Award nominee David Strathairn, Elizabeth Banks, and Emily Browning. Soon after, he acted in the Warner Bros film 'Sucker Punch' directed by Zach Snyder. In 2016, he was nominated for Best Young Actor in a Leading Role as Lucas in 'His First Time' and won for Best Monologue at the Joey Awards: Canada's & UK's/Europe's most prestigious awards for young performers. After appearing in 6 award winning Studio 58 Mainstage Productions, including the Carol Bolt Award and 3 Ovation Awards, he graduated at the top of his class and starred as the titular role of CBC's Digital Shorts' Pilot 'Captain Coquitlam' directed by Arno Hazebroek, who executive produced the film Hope Gape which was directed by two time Academy Award Nominee William Nicholson. In only a few months, after auditioning nationally, he was cast in the starring role of Ben as his professional theatre debut for which he found great critical and popular acclaim in the hit Canadian Actors' Equity Association production of 'The Birds and the Bees' (2020). The show's run was extended twice and raised over $106,265 for Children's Charity. Also in 2020, Daniel won the worldwide Silver Medal in the World Monologue Games out of 3000 actors from 85 countries for Best Monologue and represented his country within the competition as the only Canadian to reach the Global Finals. Revered actress Sohaila Kapur, youngest sister to Cate Blanchett's Oscar Winning Elizabeth director Shekhar Kapur, earned Bronze. In 2021, Daniel worked with Lee Strasberg's son David Lee Strasberg in Los Angeles as well as with HBO's Game of Thrones dialect coach Sally Hague in Staffordshire, England. He also made a Guest Appearance at The Second City Chicago.

DAPHNE SARDIS
Daphne Sardis is a New Jersey-based filmmaker, writer, and actor. Her most recent short film credits include Ioanna (Writer/Director) and Diary of a Simpy Kid: The Documentary (Director). She is currently studying Digital Filmmaking and English at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where she is also a Writing Center tutor. Her most recent theatre credits include Company (Bobby), 9 to 5 (Director), American Idiot (St. Jimmy), Into the Woods (The Witch), Hair (Claude), and tick, Tick... BOOM! (Jon).

CURTIS (CJ) KNORR
CJ Knorr is a New Jersey-born actor currently residing in Morehead, Kentucky. He graduated from Arcadia University with a B.F.A in Acting. His previous roles include Ensemble in The Prom and John Brooke in The Little Women Musical. CJ fell in love with theater at a young age and enjoys nothing more than watching people succeed on the stage. He doesn't believe anyone when they say "They can't sing" or "They can't act." He knows that everyone can sing and act they just need the right training and the confidence to do so. CJ can't wait to bring his theater experience into this community and hopes he can help others grow into the performers they were meant to be.

CHRISTOPHER PARSONS
Christopher Parsons, aka Mr. Maaagic the Clown, is a writer-director who has brought smiles worldwide -- from London's West End to charity shows in East Asia. His books, TV, and live shows bring audience participation to new heights.  This magical teacher incorporates clowning, improv activities, music, and D&D into his unique classes.   If you want to learn new performance techniques, classic acting skills, or just clown around, Mr. Maaagic is the instructor for you!

CHARLOTTE FRANCIS
I am a professional singer in NYC, having just graduated from Columbia University with an MFA in acting ‘23, and Wellesley College ‘19 with a degree in music. I have trained, and continue to train with the top acting and singing professionals in the business. I am currently a student of Mary Setrakian and Liz Caplan's studios and am represented by Atlas Artists.

LYSIA MOGFORD
Lysia Mogford is an actor, comedian, and teaching artist based in Philadelphia PA. She is a recent graduate from Temple University with an acting degree. Since then, she has been acting locally, teaching in afterschool programs, directing local productions and films, and doing stand up and improv. Some of her most exciting recent projects are Love is Afoot, a world premier of an all new musical, performing at a character show at Philadelphia Improv theater, and now directing a production of King Lear coming up in February 2024. Her biggest passion is comedy! She is proficient in sketch comedy, improv, standup, and comedy writing. She looks to create theater that promotes equality, changes to the traditional theater mold, and most of all makes people laugh.

MICHAEL KELBERG
Michael is a professional working actor (SAG-AFTRA) who has had roles in: FOR LIFE  (ABC), THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (AMAZON), FBI (CBS), and THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA (HBO) to name a few.  Upcoming projects include the films: EVERYTHING AND THE UNIVERSE, SHOPPING TOWARDS BETHLEHEM, and THREE BLIND MICE.  He has been in 100+ Commercials/Industrials/Print and has over a decade of experience working with kids of all ages at Camps, Youth Groups, and Non-Profits.  Michael has a B.A. In Journalism from Temple University and has studied at HB Studio, the Simon Studio, and  Upright Citizen's Brigade.  He lives with his wife Becky, a Social Worker, two kids Lila & Lucy, and their beloved rescue Stella, a boxer mix.

LUKE HARDT
Luke, a lifelong theater artist, has decades of experience directing, designing and writing plays for all age levels. As an actor, he has numerous film and stage credits. Luke loves to teach and learn through all things theater and is delighted to engage on almost any creative topic. He holds an M.F.A in Acting from Temple University and has served as Director of Theatre for the University of Montevallo and Bethany College. During his time at the Performing Arts Magnet High School (CCPAC), in Montgomery, his students earned statewide recognition, succeeded in earning significant scholarships, got offers from numerous training programs and for many, went on to successful professional careers. His own career includes directing over 85 plays representing a broad range of genres, age groups, audiences and venues. Luke’s approach to teaching is collaborative, eclectic, physical, and informed by years of study and practice. He is looking forward to sharing his expertise in Acting, Audition Prep, Playwriting, History and Appreciation, and more with the next generation of theatre people through Ferrell Studios/Outschool.

KEVIN BRYANT ROSE
Kevin Bryant Rose is a New York City-based actor and acting coach with a rich background in both classical and contemporary theater, as well as extensive television experience. Born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Kevin’s passion for the performing arts led him to earn a Theatre degree from Hunter College and an AA in Film & Video Production, with minors in Philosophy and French language/culture. His stage career includes captivating performances in Shakespearean classics like Hamlet, Macbeth, and Henry VI Part One, as well as dynamic contemporary roles in A Raisin in the Sun and Our Lady of 121st St. On television, Kevin has showcased his versatility with roles on Blue Bloods, FBI: Most Wanted, Ray Donovan, Jessica Jones, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, and more.

In his teaching, Kevin draws on his deep well of professional experience, integrating the Meisner methodology's focus on living off the other person, the traditional Stanislavski method, the Linklater voice technique, and pranayama yoga breathwork. His distinctive approach is enriched by real-life anecdotes from his work on television and film sets, offering students unique insights into the industry. Kevin has worked with students of all ages in various settings, including online, one-on-one coaching, and workshops. His experience in theater directing and his pursuit of a graduate degree in psychology further inform his teaching, enabling him to tailor his methods to enhance student knowledge acquisition.

SHELBY KEITH
After completing 2 Disney College Programs, Shelby wanted to return to her original passion, theater. Her passion for theater and all things acting began when she was about 5 years old when she would sing for her teachers at recess. She hopes to encourage another child’s acting journey, just as her teachers and directors have throughout her life. Shelby uses her Performance and Production degree to give a well-rounded picture of what a career in theater looks like. Kids grow up, and sometimes out, of certain activities they once loved, so Shelby wants to teach that theater is an exciting, multi-faceted career with a variety of options and paths. 

 
Shelby has been trained in a variety of acting styles, though she does not subscribe to any specific one. She views these styles as methods to “organize” your thoughts to give your best performance. While learning these styles at Texas State University, Shelby participated in numerous student plays, radio plays, and even a couple of Zoom plays after COVID-19. 

SOPHONIE PIERRE
Sophonie Pierre is an actor from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sophonie’s love for theatre comes from their family who introduced them to the oral tradition of folklore storytelling and taught them how intrinsically linked to our humanity storytelling is. In honoring their lineage, they hope to continue telling stories. They earned their BFA in Acting from Rutgers University, where they honed their craft and developed a deep passion for performance. Some of their Rutgers Theatre Credit include: Frances in Mud Row, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, and Rosaura in Life is a Dream . Outside of acting, Sophonie loves music, dancing, and teaching.

🧑‍🏫 SUBSTITUTE POLICY 🧑‍🏫
Ferrell Studios is an organization on Outschool with about 15 teachers with professional training and experience in the arts. Occasionally, the teacher for this class may not be able to teach and a substitute teacher from the organization will take her place. Only teachers trained to teach this class will serve as a possible substitute for the class. A message will be posted in the Outschool classroom before the class takes place in the event a substitute will be teaching. Thank you for your understanding!