SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS
Arizona Actors Academy is so proud to regularly bring in guest artists from throughout the industry to work with our students and the larger arts community in Phoenix. From audition workshops to highly specialized intensives not found anywhere outside of New York, London or Berlin. We're incredibly grateful and feel very fortunate to enjoy the support of some of the industries best and most highly sought after talent.
Guest Artist In Residence
Open Enrollment: January 8th, 2024
Isaac has taught acting at the University of the Arts, the New York Film Academy, Texas State University, and the Tony nominated Matthew Corozine Studio in NYC. He studied acting with a variety of wonderful teachers including master acting teacher Fred Kareman, Larry Silverberg, Terry Martin, and Matthew Corozine. His students have gone on to work on Broadway, television, and in award winning films. He spent 13 years in New York City directing in Off Broadway venues including: HERE Arts Center, Joe’s Pub@The Public Theater, DR2, 59E59, and the Cherry Lane Theater. He has been awarded the New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Direction twice and productions he has directed have been nominated for a Drama Desk Award, an Off Broadway Alliance award, 25 NYIT awards, and 11 Planet Connection Awards. NYC. He also performs regularly with the Ad Hoc Economy theatre company in the award winning show Butcher Holler Here We Come. Productions he has directed have toured all over the world including in the UK (London, Edinburgh) Hong Kong, Germany, Estonia, Canada, and Italy.
Class is In Person or on Zoom | $225 per month (four classes a month)
The Meisner technique begins with step by step exercises designed to hone the actor’s ability to listen, respond, and to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances. It’s often the “magic pill” that helps unlock actors in their ability to improvise truthfully, craft deeply meaningful objectives for themselves as actors, and to develop their active listening skills. The Meisner technique is highly valued for its active—“doing” approach to learning the foundations of acting, and it’s simple but highly effective psychological approach to acting. Based on the Stanislavsky system, Meisner technique is especially renowned for its effectiveness with emotional preparation and “unblocking” actors. Learning this technique is like core strength for actors; it makes you an all around stronger, faster, and more flexible “athlete of the heart!”
Class is a three month commitment. Isaac the instructor teleconferences into our Arizona classroom.
Interested actors can submit for the next session here.
“Isaac Byrne enters the fire with his students and fights for them. He knows how to push you to be better than you imagined you could be, to perform in a way that opens your soul. He has the kind of insight that comes from a perfect combination of life experience and excellent training that sometimes feels like witchcraft when your heart opens up despite your petty insecurities and daily nonsense. Isaac was the first person to ever tell me I wouldn’t break if I pushed myself, and for the first time I believe it.”
“In Isaac’s class at MCS, we get to forget about being good, so we can push ourselves beyond our boundaries, knowing that we have the the class, and Isaac, to guide and support us on the way. I learned to dare to go deep into my emotional prep, and to trust my imagination. This has made me very comfortable on set when I have to perform on my highest level, take after take.”
“I love working with Isaac. I always feel confident going to Isaac with my materials knowing that my work will be better after our sessions. He is a passionate and gifted director and teacher. I absolutely recommend him to anyone who is looking to further their craft as an actor.”
“Isaac cast and directed me in “FRESH KILLS” a new play at 59East 59. Isaac understands the process an actor goes through to plumb a role. He got me there and for his belief in me I am forever grateful.”
“Isaac has the unique quality of being able to guide you to your best performance. I never felt like I had to justify a choice I didn’t understand with Isaac-instead, he helped me understand the characters to the fullest and understood the importance of a journey from beginning to end.”
PAST GUEST ARTISTS
Kristen Cerelli and the Michael Chekhov Technique
“It doesn’t matter what it looks like to us, it matters what it excites and enlivens in you.”
“The critical thing about gesture is using your entire body, 100% of your body.”
https://www.kristencerelli.com
About the Michael Chekhov approach to acting and his now universally recognized innovations in the psychophysical work better known as Psychological Gesture.
“Michael Chekhov developed an acting technique, a ‘psycho-physical approach’, in which transformation, working with impulse, imagination and inner and outer gesture are central. It offers clear and practical tools in working with imagination, feelings and atmosphere.
Sandra Seacat
We have the great honor of hosting the luminary and legend, Sandra Seacat at AZAA for week long retreats in beautiful Sedona. Sandra Seacat is an actor, director and coach. She is one of the last living great proteges of Lee Strasberg who went on to innovate a new approach to method acting utilizing C.G. Jung’s dream theories. Sandra’s list of acting students is too vast to list but includes some of our greatest and most admired actors. Sandra’s unique and highly sought-after approach to developing the actor and the role through the great well spring that is our unconscious self, is known as Dream Work.
Dream Workshops
Dream work for the actor moves well beyond any analytical approach to the script or standard training of the actor’s instrument. The artist drawn to this work is asking of themselves to do more than portray a role. They are asking that with every rehearsal, performance or take that a deeper truth within themselves is reached. This actor is not afraid to “live their wound” as Sandra would say and embraces their role as a Wounded Healer through the craft of acting. This actor will lean into areas naturally avoided in real life. Those parts of ourselves in the shadow and hidden. He/she is hungry to expand as a human and an artist with every role that shows up. It is a powerful tool, calling on an unabashed and brave digging into the subconscious for knowledge guidance and truth.
“If one really wishes to be a master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an “artless art” growing out of the Unconscious.”
– Zen in the art of Archery
Gabe Fazio
Gabe Fazio is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. Regularly working with Bradley Cooper, Derek Cianfrance, Ellyn Burstyn, Estelle Parsons, Harvey Keitel. Gabe is an old school actor with an unmatched passion for artistry in acting. He settles for nothing less than the deepest truth in his own work and those actors he works with. His intensives at AZAA are very special and highly anticipated. Famous for going over 16 hours in a day and truly transforming.
Gabe Fazio’s most recent work was playing Emmy winner Mark Ruffalo’s on set twin.
Inside Mark Ruffalo’s Transformation Into Twins for ‘I Know This Much Is True’
Jeremy Kareken
AZAA was proud to produce and present “Rochester Nights” by Jeremy Kareken in April of 2019. Jeremy had just come off his Broadway debut as a playwright with his huge hit, “Lifespan of a Fact” starring Daniel Radcliffe. Jeremy spent a week with us in residency working with the cast and crew through opening night and offered multiple, free playwriting workshops to the general arts community here in Phoenix. “Rochester Nights” was a highlight of that year and we are grateful this accomplished playwright supported our students and local community with his talent and expertise. Two of our students actually went on to produce and star in another of Jeremy’s plays in 2020 as an industry read in New York City.
Four Short Plays Come to the Valley with Rochester Nights
Austin & Colleen Basis
Austin is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio and won a Peoples Choice Award for his fan favorite role on CW’s Beauty and the Beast. He is a Hollywood veteran, his IMDB speaks for itself, follow the link below to see more career highlights. Colleen is a casting agent and acting coach. We can’t recommend Colleen’s school highly enough for those actors in LA looking to keep their audition skills sharp and survive the industry. She’s the best! Together they bring their expertise of the industry. Navigating Hollywood is a feat in itself for any actor, regardless of their training. Austin & Colleen have been our guests to help actors get to the nitty gritty of it!
