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Meet the Cast
Train with working actors, writers, directors, and creators who bring real industry experience into the classroom.
LACAE faculty includes teaching artists across film, television, theater, comedy, voice, movement, and writing, bringing together professional credits and a deep commitment to mentorship.
LACAE FACULTY
AND TEACHERS
Our faculty spans a wide range of disciplines, supporting actors at every stage, from building the foundation to doing professional-level work.
Kapil Talwalkar
Teaching Artist |Audition Technique
Kapil Talwalkar is a four-time series regular on shows such as NBC’s Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist(2020-2022), Night Court (2023), and the upcoming horror-comedy The Burbs(2026). His film credits include Hallmark’s My Dreams of You(2024) and independent film Paper Flowers(2024). He has multiple recurring and guest star credits on ABC, Apple TV, the CW, and Nickelodeon. Hailing from the Bay Area, Kapil cultivated his passion for acting, performing in school plays before heading to USC and developing his acting career in Los Angeles and New York.
Avery Pohl
Teaching Artist | Audition Technique
Avery Pohl is a 2025 Daytime Emmy-nominated actress best known for her role of Esme Prince on General Hospital. Avery has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, starting as a child model before shifting over to acting. Avery booked her first SAG National Commercial at 5 years old for Homegoods, and her first feature film at the age of 8 playing opposite Brit Marling in “Sound of My Voice”. In addition to her feature film work, she has appeared in several TV shows on networks such as ABC, Bravo, CBS, Lifetime, and Netflix.
Deborah Baker Jr. *
Teaching Artist | Industry Prep
Deborah Baker Jr. is a working actress best known as Denise on IFC’s Stan Against Evil, with additional credits including StuGo (Disney), The Great Indoors (CBS), Its Florida Man (MAX), Grace and Frankie (Netflix) The Neighborhood (CBS), and 2 Broke Girls (CBS).
A seasoned improviser trained at Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) and AADA LA/NY, she has also booked dozens of national commercials and worked as a spokesperson for major brands.
Madilyn Sweeten*
Teaching Artist | On-Camera
Madylin Sweeten (she/her) is an Actress, Director, Writer,
and Producer living in Los Angeles, CA.
Madylin is probably best known for her role as Ally Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond, but can be seen more recently
on Lucifer, Grey’s Anatomy, Dirty John: Betty, and the
upcoming season of Monster: Lizzie Borden. Madylin has performed in many plays in Los Angeles, most notably her
performance as Nora in Now or Neverland, for which she won the Valley Theater Award for Best Actress in 2019.
Dayo Ade*
Teaching Artist | On-Camera
Dayo Ade is an Actor, Producer, and Writer.
Dayo was born in Lagos, Nigeria, raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and now resides in Los Angeles, California.
Dayo is one of the original cast members of Degrassi High who paved the way for Aubrey Graham’s (a.k.a. Drake) generation of Degrassi Alumni.
Dayo currently appears on October Faction & Workin’ Moms on Netflix.
Other shows on his CV range from Lost, Bones, The Rookie, Animal Kingdom, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Criminal Minds Beyond Borders, Castle, C.S.I NY, N.C.I.S and N.C.I.S Los Angeles, just to name a few.
Jane Fleiss*
Teaching Artist | On-Camera
Jane Fleiss is an award-winning actress with over three decades of experience in theatre, film, and television, Jane has performed leading roles on Broadway and national tours alongside Glenda Jackson, Judd Hirsch, and Laurie Metcalf. Her stage work has earned multiple LA DramaLogue Awards and a Joseph Jefferson nomination. On screen, she has appeared in Grey’s Anatomy, ER, Judging Amy, and Crossing Jordan. A founding faculty member at The Art of Acting Studio, Jane brings her deep training with Stella Adler, Uta Hagen, and Cicely Berry to help actors explore text with insight and truth.
Steven Fisher*
Teaching Artist- Industry Prep
Steven is an actor, improviser, and writer with training from USC, BADA, and Upright Citizens Brigade. He teaches in the Teen Intensive, ACT III, and adult workshops, specializing in on-camera work and the business of acting. A company member and member of the casting team at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, he also has professional credits spanning television, theatre, and voice-over. Additionally, Steven is a producer and director of award-winning indie and digital content. He performs with indie improv teams across L.A. and mentors young creatives through Young Storytellers.
Gail Lerner*
Teaching Artist | Writing
Gail Lerner has been a writer, director, and producer on iconic and beloved shows such as black-ish, Happy Endings, Ugly Betty, Grace and Frankie, and Will & Grace. She has recently directed her first feature film, a reimagining of Cheaper by the Dozen, for Disney+. Her work has garnered her a Peabody Award, 6 NAACP Image Awards, and multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Her short film, Seraglio, was nominated for a 2001 Academy Award. Her first middle-grade novel, The Big Dreams of Small Creatures, came out in 2022. It hasn’t won any prizes, but it’s gotten big laughs in third grade classrooms around the country, which is certainly her greatest career highlight. -
Tessa Slovis*
Teaching Artist | Producing
Tessa Slovis is a filmmaker and actor based in Los Angeles and New York. Tessa has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, The Walking Dead, and Law & Order: SVU, and has performed on stages across the country. Her award-winning directorial debut Pizza Party premiered at Academy-qualifying festivals including Cinequest and the Florida Film Festival. Tessa also teaches on-camera acting at USC, The Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio, and Cal State LA.
Julián Juaquín*
Teaching Artist | Filmmaking
Julián Juaquín is a Colombian-American actor and filmmaker from New York, Julián trained at the Stella Adler Studio and The Labyrinth Company before earning his MFA from the University of Southern California. Julián also teaches cinema studies in USC’s School of Dramatic Arts, where he continues to explore storytelling as a means of examining the human condition.
Joe Garcia*
Teaching Artist | Scene Study
Joe Garcia is an award-winning actor with 40+ years of experience in theater, film, and TV. He has performed nationwide and earned critical acclaim. For over 30 years, Joe has taught, coached, and directed actors across Los Angeles, known for his patient and passionate approach. His collaborative style empowers artists to find their authentic voice and grow in their craft.
Timothy Landfield
Teaching Artist | Scene Study
Tim is a seasoned actor with extensive Broadway, film, and television experience. He teaches scene work and acting in LACAE’s Adult Workshops. Known for his passionate, supportive approach, he encourages students to explore their imagination and emotional truth to fully inhabit their characters. Tim fosters a collaborative, inspiring environment where actors can grow fearlessly.
Mary Bleier
Teaching Artist | Solo Performance
Mary Bleier is a theatre director and acting teacher known for her mind–body approach to performance. For over 30 years, she has created and developed original work across Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara, with venues including Highways and Celebration Theatre. Her work has been developed through LGBTQ+ and women-centered programs such as the Los Angeles LGBT Center and Women’s Playwright Outreach Project. She currently leads solo performance workshops and consults with artists developing bold, personal work.
Rob Hahn
Teaching Artist | Voice and Speech
For over 20 years, Rob has coached actors and business executives in dialect work, accent modification, breathing coordination, voice training, and vocal rejuvenation. Rob also provides vocal and dialect support to film, TV, and theatrical productions.
From subtle regional shifts to fuller transformations, Rob worked closely with actors Meghann Fahy, Rose Byrne, Olivia Williams, Brendan Gleeson, and others to elevate not only the accuracy of their dialects but also enhance the confidence and emotional depth behind them.
Kate Roth
Teaching Artist | Voice Over
Kate Roth is a performer and educator with a background in musical theater, voice-over, and dance. She holds a degree in Musical Theatre and a Teaching Credential from USC, and her credits span stage, screen, commercials, and print in both Los Angeles and New York. Kate is an actor, voice-over artist, dancer, and singer, and can most recently be heard as the voice of Zaida in the Netflix series Valeria. Originally from Northern California, she now splits her time between LA and NYC.
Brenda Beck
Teaching Artist | Acting
Brenda Beck is a seasoned voice, speech, and dialect coach with experience in 100+ film, TV, and theatre productions, including major campaigns like Orbit Gum. A trained performer with global theatre tours and an MFA from USC, she brings deep craft knowledge and insider audition experience from years coaching college hopefuls. Brenda creates a fun, rigorous space where teen actors develop authentic voices and gain confidence for college and career success.
Dr. Linda Brennan
Teaching Artist | Dialects & Alba
Dr. Linda Brennan is a Level 3 Alba Method Instructor with over 20 years of experience as a voice, speech, and dialect coach, theatre educator, and director. She has trained hundreds of actors for theatre, film, and television, and is the author of Stage Fright in the Actor (Routledge, 2020). With credits ranging from Pasadena Playhouse to South Coast Rep, and a dual career in psychology, Linda brings both scientific expertise and artistic insight to the actor’s emotional process.
Mike Perkins*
Teaching Artist | Stand Up & Sketch
Mike Perkins is a comedian and producer who has been featured all around the country at clubs such as The World Famous Hollywood Improv and The Comedy Store in LA, and on the road at clubs like the Comedy Works in Denver, The Stand in NYC, and Helium Comedy Club in Philly to name a few. Mike has also been featured in multiple comedy festivals, most notably winning “Best of the Fest” at the Burbank Comedy Festival and was a Semi-Finalist in the Boston Comedy Festival.
Michael Houston
Teaching Artist | Improv
Michael Houston is an award-winning actor, comedian, director, and teaching artist from Brooklyn, New York. Based in Los Angeles, he uses improvisation as a tool to help individuals build confidence, deepen self-awareness, and strengthen authentic communication in everyday life. He earned his BFA in Acting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and serves on the leadership team of the improv group A Tribe Called Melanin.
Mark McCracken
Teaching Artist | Improv
Mark McCracken is an actor and improv instructor with more than 30 years of experience in film, television, and live comedy. His screen credits include We Were Soldiers, Matinee, and Where the Wild Things Are, and he’s worked with directors Spike Jonze, Joe Dante, and Randall Wallace.
Mark has performed with Impro Theatre, ComedySportz, and ACME Comedy Theater, and taught improv at CalArts, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and National University.
Jamie Nichols
Teaching Artist | Movement
Jamie is a celebrated dancer, choreographer, and educator with over two decades leading the contemporary dance company Fast Feet. Her work has been praised for emotional intensity and detailed movement, earning multiple Lester Horton Dance Awards. Jamie brings her powerful and passionate contemporary dance method to LACAE’s Adult Workshops in Dance and Movement for Actors. She is also a respected curator and advocate in the Los Angeles dance community.
Orion Barnes
Teaching Artist | Combat & Intimacy
Orion teaches stage and cinematic combat as well as intimacy direction across LACAE’s ACT III and Adult Workshops. He is a founding member of Sword Fights, Inc. and is certified by the Society of American Fight Directors. Orion holds advanced training in theatrical intimacy and consent-forward practices. He brings his expertise in acting, talent management, and fight choreography to help actors safely master physical storytelling for stage and screen.
Perry Hart
Teaching Artist | Musical Theater
Step onto the stage with Perry Hart! With 30 years as a Professor and Head of Vocal Production at American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Perry has shaped generations of performers. An award-winning Musical Director (LA Drama Critics Circle Award), Vocal Arranger & Coach (including with Debbie Reynolds for 20 years), and a celebrated performer ("STRING OF PEARLS"), Perry brings unparalleled vocal artistry. He fosters a dynamic, inspiring environment, ensuring young artists gain comprehensive vocal and performance insights.
Matthew W. Roberts
Teaching Artist | Writing
Matthew Wayne Roberts is an award winning SAG-AFTRA actor, filmmaker, and writer. He obtained his bachelor’s degree at Southern Illinois University for Creative Writing, with a concentration in Theatrical Performance, as well as studies in Cinema. Roberts was a member of The Loft Ensemble Theatre for eleven years, where he performed onstage and had his own penned works produced, including Hard To Believe, his first full-length play. With his team at ToeNale Productions, producing original short films became the focus.
*Denotes an instructor in the ACT III program, presented in collaboration with the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory.
Executive Director
Erin Coleman
Erin is a founding member of Future Artists of Los Angeles, dedicated to fostering creative opportunities and empowering developing artists. She has worked as a professional actor, director and producer for over 15 years. With a strong background in program development and leadership, she has designed initiatives that bridge the gap between training and professional success, mentoring the next generation of artists and storytellers.
Program Coordinator
Adam Chambers
Adam Chambers is a dedicated educator with two decades of experience. His teaching philosophy centers on empowering students to recognize their strengths while creating a safe and inspiring learning environment. As an industry professional, Adam integrates real-world insights, guest industry speakers, and hands-on experience to prepare students for the ever-evolving entertainment landscape.
500 Years
Collectively our training staff has over 5 centuries of experience in the performing industry.
Experienced Professionals
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Proven Results
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Client-Centric Approach
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Full-Service Solutions
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Accreditations
Accreditation Option
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