I appeared in Paul’s Hallmark movie Before I Say I Do and worked with him on Being Erica. We have been close colleagues since. A seasoned director with a long list of series episodes to his credit. A few …

An actor, broadcaster and reporter, Terry has been a vital part of the Montreal arts and sports scene for most of his life. A draft dodger during the Viet Nam war, Terry …

At the 2016 Cannes Film Festival Donald was introduced along with the other members of the jury as “…the actor who has acted in more films than all the other actors on the jury …

I had the great experience of being directed by Joe in three different plays and he introduced me to the head of his drama school in Dublin, The Gaiety School of Acting which Joe founded. I started the …

Janine is one of my dearest and most valued colleagues and I’m grateful to be able to call her so. Our on-going discussion on The Work is never interrupted, but, rather …

I acted in Cal’s Canadian Film Centre graduate short film and we’ve continued our collegial relationship ever since. Cal is a straightforward Canadian who …

A well-known actress, especially for Molly’s Game, Below Her Mouth, Wynona Harp, Natalie exemplifies the best in her love of The Work. She was first a dancer and then moved to acting and is now …

A successful and well-liked actor, Ron has been a series regular on so many TV shows -- Orphan Black, Street Legal, Omerta, Wind at my Back, Doc. His love for the …

A shout out to Colin O'Donoghue. 
I was directed in plays by Joe Dowling who was Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre and founded the drama school in Dublin called The Gaiety School of Acting. I initiated and led the on-camera class there for many years and Tadhg McMahon was one of my students. Tadhg and I have kept our work going over the years and he participated in this years The Intensive. During a break he asked me if I liked what Colin O’Donoghue was doing while playing Captain Killiam “Hook” Jones on the television series ONCE UPON A TIME. I asked, ‘Who?’. Tadhg explained that I had taught Colin as well at the Gaiety School and in fact, in Tadhg’s words, ‘Taught him everything he knows!’. Good craic.

I call Raoul ‘The Hardest Working Man in Show Business’ and the steal is apt as he is a terrific blues singer. James Brown would approve. What doesn’t Raoul do? Let’s start by saying he is and has been a successful actor for many years, respected and admired. Here’s truly just a few credits: The Newsroom, The Sentinel, Miss Sloane, Rookie Blue, The Listener. Created his own one-man Hamlet; produced the play Disgraced; leads a blues band Raoul and The Big Time. He is also one of the warmest and most positive colleagues you can work with. Personally, I remember fondly that Raoul was the first renter we had at Centre for the Arts in January, 2002. Best to you Raoul!!

Jean-Michel Le Gal and I have been working together for over seven years. The continuity of our collaboration is a key element in the success of our work. Currently, Jean-Michel is shooting a recurring role on CONDOR for AT&T Originals/MGM, a recurring role on MEHDI ET VAL for French CBC, as well as working on a two-hander indie play called A STEADY RAIN.

Jean-Michel’s perspective of taking his space has him confident and successful. He’s taking a real stand against the pressure from Hollywood to make him – and us - feel like ‘small Canadians’. 

Congratulations on all you’ve done and best wishes for the future!

Is there an actor in Canada who has acted in more plays than David Fox? What a powerful, honest and committed work-horse he is. I acted in a play with him and he came and took a class with me in the church chapel on Westmoreland back in 2001. That space was where the wonderful Meisner teacher Jacquelene McClintock used to teach. There wasn't an exercise he wouldn't jump into - proving a great example of Willingness to the other actors. David had that in spades. He has always been one of my few actor role models. We salute you David! Best wishes to you!!

Marcia Bennett and I have been colleagues for thirty years and first met acting in the play LATER LIFE at the Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay.

Marcia is a terrific actor and acting coach. She has a long and varied resume listing theatre, film and television credits.

We share our teaching ideas and experiences in an open and friendly manner each respecting and valuing the others approach. Against the competitive relations that can exist with some acting teachers Marcia and I value our on-going sitting-in-on-each-others-classes and discussion so we can better serve the actor’s needs.

Best wishes to Marcia for continued success and special congratulations to you for having served the community in such a serious and selfless way.

Hardee is one of Canada’s best actors. Bar none. 

And, like many, he hasn’t had the recognition that he deserves. 

Hardee always speaks his mind.

We were classmates and roommates during our days at The National Theatre School of Canada. 

Over his 45 year career he has acted in countless plays and known for The Big Hit, Survival of the Dead, and most recently a role on Fargo. 

Congratulations on all your success and keep fighting the good fight!

Amanda Walsh took class with me during the time she was transitioning from Toronto to Hollywood.

She has worked at the top of the industry from the get go. Amanda is an honest, talented actor and a warm and considerate person. Congratulations to you, Amanda, on being successful in this difficult business. Best for the future!

Congratulations to Jeff Irving. Jeff has performed in many musicals and stage productions of note including JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT, WEST SIDE STORY, MY FAIR LADY, and SWEENEY TODD. Jeff is going into his 9th season at the Shaw Festival. Jeff took John's first Intensive six years ago. All the best wishes to Jeff for continued success!

Congratulations to Dixie Seatle on her continued success! Dixie is an actor and coach based in Toronto. You can watch her work on Murdoch Mysteries and Paradise Falls. She is a National Theatre School alumna, and has worked 5 seasons at Stratford. She is full-time faculty at Humber College, teaching in their Acting for Film & Television program. Dixie is a proper acting teacher in that she loves acting and actors and uses her experience to translate that love to the students. She is always open to discuss pedagogy and doesn't fall into the trap some acting coaches fall into of being competitive and jealous. Best wishes to Dixie for many more years of real contribution to the community.

In the first class Adam MacDonald took with me I told the story of Brando walking onto set with his eyes down so he wouldn’t look anyone in the eye. Brando said if he did each and every person he looked at would be taking his energy from him because they would be thinking ‘…Brando is looking at me…’.

Adam said to himself, ‘This is a good teacher.’

He trained with me for several years after that; we acted together on a TV series; he directed me in his third short film and we’re close colleagues and friends.

Adam has directed his first feature film BACKCOUNTRY and is continuing his successful career both as an actor and director. Cheers to Adam!

I was in the first play Roy ever acted in up at Magnus Theatre. Front Page directed by Brian Richmond. We were blocked to do this move – four steps forward, four steps back – a group of four actors in a block and Roy kept going the wrong way. Good fun. He’s made more than a few strides since. 14 years at Stratford (back there again this summer) and recently had a terrific run in a wonderful variety of shows—The Last Confession, Father Comes Home from the Wars, Incident at Vichy, It’s a Wonderful Life. Roy believes in humanity and people’s rights including the most important one – the right to be. He sees art in its context. He has a wide range of artistic knowledge and writes, directs, paints and gifted with a wonderful voice. Roy is one of those people who is truly loved by everyone.

It was in one of those rare audition coaching sessions where everything we planned for the audition worked and Anthony got the role. Us acting coaches can’t say that very often. It was in the late 1990’s in a studio at ACTRAWORKS an actor training programme run by ACTRA. Neil Dainard, whose idea it was, had the confidence in me and hired me on the spot to teach there. Years later at Centre for the Arts I hired Anthony to teach the audition class. He is an entertainment lawyer, produces his own films and continues to have a successful acting career. We salute Anthony’s very successful career in TV and movies, wish him continued success and treasure the long history of our relationship.