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| Have a question for Kerry that you think would benefit others as well? Please submit your question via email with “Question For Kerry” as the subject. Questions will be chosen periodically and the answers will appear here and in the email newsletter. |
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Why can’t I find class dates or registration info on the website?
Class schedules, prices, updates and registration information are sent in our E-Mail Newsletter. You can sign up to receive our newsletter by entering your email address either on the Welcome Page or on the Contact Page of the site. You will always be kept up to date with what we’ve got going on! Make sure to add us to your contacts list so we won’t end up as spam. |
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What is a monologue?
A monologue is a scene performed by one actor. It is similar to a speech in that it is one person talking uninterrupted. They can be directed at another character in a play (such as Lucy’s monologue to Linus in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown) to the audience (Eugene’s monologues in Brighton Beach Memoirs) or as their thoughts (Anne’s diary entries in The Diary of Anne Frank). Monologues are often requested at auditions, especially for theatre and for performing arts schools & colleges. It’s a great idea for all actors to have two monologues memorized and rehearsed. One should be a comedic monologue, and the other should be dramatic. Monologues for auditions are usually one to two minutes long. I have a large collection of monologues and coach actors working on monologues often. I am especially busy with monologue students before the auditions for NYU, PPAS, LaGuardia, Frank Sinatra, Talent Unlimited and other schools. Make sure you leave enough time before your audition to have your monologue properly rehearsed. |
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Are you available on the weekends for private coaching?
I work with students one-on-one during the weekdays only. On Saturdays we have group classes and on Sundays we either have a workshop, a performance, or the studio is closed. I am here all week and work with private students on the hour. |
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.Are you an agency or a manager?
I am not a manager and Acting Creatively is not an agency. However, since I’ve been working with talented kids for a long time, I do know many casting directors who call me when they need kids for a project. When that happens, I will submit my students who are appropriate for the roles. Many of my students have booked great jobs this way. I very often will help with casting student films for NYU, Columbia, and SVA film students (as well as other independent films). Several NYU and Columbia students films have casts consisting entirely of Acting Creatively Kids! |
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Why are the age groups so broad for classes?
Kids 10 and 15 years old are sometimes grouped together in classes. While the ages are very different (in most cases), I’ve found that they work extremely well together. The younger kids are sometimes less inhibited with their work while the older kids have a stronger sense of focus and taking direction. I’ve noticed that the different age groups are greatly inspired by each other in different ways and make for a really fun and productive class |
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Why are the age groups so broad for classes?
Kids 10 and 15 years old are sometimes grouped together in classes. While the ages are very different (in most cases), I’ve found that they work extremely well together. The younger kids are sometimes less inhibited with their work while the older kids have a stronger sense of focus and taking direction. I’ve noticed that the different age groups are greatly inspired by each other in different ways and make for a really fun and productive class. |
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Will my child/I get a role after taking a class?
This is a question I am asked almost every day. I love that kids are so passionate about acting that their first thought when signing up for a class is that they want to get a part after it. I will do my best to get you on appropriate auditions and will give you any opportunity I can give you & that you deserve... However, you are the one who will get you the role. Lots of actors audition for the same role, and the right one for you will come along! It does take a lot of auditioning and a lot of work to be a consistently working actor. My advice is to always participate in your school shows, community theatre productions, and any student films you can. This, along with taking classes, will help you to gain such valuable experience and will keep you at your passion... performing! |
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What are headshots?
Headshots are standard show business pictures. They are 8x10 with your name printed on the bottom and resume attached to the back. In NYC, black and white pictures are most often used. In LA, they prefer color. A headshot can be a picture of just your head & shoulders, or a 3/4 shot which shows your upper body and waist as well. To see some examples of headshots, please visit our links page and check out the photographers’ work. There are many other kinds of photos used in show business such as comp/zed cards for modeling and even snapshots which are fine to use for little kids. Most often, though, a standard headshot is expected for all submissions. |
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My child is only 4 but he/she's very advanced/bright for a 4 year old. Can he/she take your class?
Your child is probably awesome! Very verbal, memorizes songs and lines from movies, and very out going...? If you feel that your little one would enjoy show business and do well with commercials, etc., you can submit their pictures to agencies. Unfortunately, though, I do not work with such young kids. I love to spend time with them, but what we do here really benefits kids who are a bit older. Agents love to meet little kids who will go in and just be themselves. If your child is very shy meeting new people or taking direction, they might not be ready for show business yet. Let them develop their own social skills, instincts, and when they’re a little older, I’d love to work with them! |
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I'm 22 but I play younger. Can I take your class?
That’s great that you look young! It will probably work to your advantage as far as getting cast goes. I would be happy to work with you privately, however, I do think you would feel out of place in our teen classes. I do work with young adults one-on-one, but would recommend you try another school for group classes. |
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Where are all the cool things in your studio from?
Most of the circus props are from either Dube.com or TryOutToys.com. The other character props & costumes are from Abracadabra, Halloween Adventure, or just from old collections. The furniture is from FunkySofa.com, WickedElements.com, UncommonGoods.com, and Ikea. All of the other awesome things have been given to me by my generous and creative students! |
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I heard Kerry talking about vegan things. What's that?
Being vegan is a kind & compassionate lifestyle where there is no use of animals for food, clothing, etc.. I am vegan and work with a bunch of extremely talented vegetarian and vegan kids who perform at animal advocacy events throughout the city. If you’d like more detailed info. on veganism, nutrition, and what you can do to live a more compassionate, cruelty-free lifestyle, please contact me anytime. I’d be happy to help! |
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Do you put on shows?
While we are not a children’s theatre, we do work on productions. Our classes are not rehearsals towards an end-of-session performance like some other programs are... rather, they are classes in which there is always a new focus, a new improvisation, a new script. I do direct and have directed pieces featuring my students for performances at Lincoln Center, The National Arts Club, and for The Bindlestiff Family Circus among others. Whenever presented with an opportunity to direct or produce, I will always put my students in the starring roles! |
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Do you allow auditing for classes?
We do not allow auditing for a specific reason. An acting class is a creative playground and a place to explore characters and emotions freely. When different students are popping in and out auditing classes, it makes the enrolled students feel as if they have an audience. I like to create a camaraderie among my students so that by the second day of the session, they feel that they are all friends comfortable performing in front of each other and always encouraging of each other. I also feel that the kids who come to audit aren’t necessarily getting the full feel of the experience as each class is different. |
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Do you have to want to be a professional actor to take classes?
Absolutely not. While you will see our congratulations to all of our kids performing professionally, many Acting Creatively students are here just to have fun! Even if you have never acted out a line in your life, we’re sure you’ll have a blast playing at Acting Creatively! The auditions and opportunities made available to the kids are all optional. You will never have to go on an audition, but sometimes opportunities will be given should you chose to take them. |
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What’s the parking like near the Acting Creatively studio?
Great news... There’s a lot right across the street and another one a couple of doors down from us. Both garages are very friendly. If you’re lucky, you can sometimes find street parking in the neighborhood and there is metered parking on 7th Avenue. |
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Acting Creatively sounds like fun! Are the classes very expensive?
Not at all. While our classes have been called “the best in the business,” and one of NY’s “top resources for kids,” you’ll find that the prices for class sessions are lower than almost all other acting schools. This is done to make the program as available as possible to anyone who’d like to participate (while still being able to pay our rent :). |
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Do you teach vocal or dance classes?
The things we do in classes are listed on the “Classes” page of the site. Many Acting Creatively Kids are musically talented and do work on their performances for musical theatre here. I work with musical theatre kids from a director’s perspective, giving the best performance possible and making it interesting. For voice and dance training, I can refer you to other wonderful coaches and schools. |
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| Recent News! |
| *The Acting Creatively Veg Kids* are performing all over the place & receiving a lot of media attention! Here's the latest... |
| Kerry Lea and *The Acting Creatively Veg Kids* are featured in the June 2007 issue of Veg News Magazine, available in stores everywhere and online at www.VegNews.com! |
| THE UNITED NATIONS - Sept. 21st, The Kids performed their song "Day Of Peace" for Dr. Jane Goodall, Kofi & Nane Annan, Michael Douglas and many other brilliant speakers, world leaders, and ambassadors of peace. See the live webcast here: (The performance is 2:08 into the video). The song lyrics were also published in the internationally distributed "Roots & Shoots" magazine! |
| Central Park, NYC: The kids opened Farm Sanctuary's Walk for Farm Animals, sharing the outdoor stage with wonderful speakers and performers. |
| Peter Max's Art Studio, NYC: Kerry Lea and a few of the kids presented speeches & sketch comedy at the fundraising gala for The Coalition for Healthy School Lunches! They were introduced by Chevy Chase. |
| The Natural Pet Fair, Brooklyn, NY: The kids received a COMPANION ANIMAL GUARDIAN AWARD, & were filmed for The Animal Planet. |
| The Vegetarian Food Fair, TORONTO, CANADA: The kids performed six 50-minute shows & two comedy cooking demos for amazing audiences! |
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Kerry Lea sends giant CONGRATULATIONS
to her students now playing roles in: |
Acting Creatively Kids are acting in everything!
If you turn on the TV, you're likely to see an *AC* Kid in a commercial, or hear them in a voice over. The kids are on Broadway, Off-Broadway, doing international and national tours, acting in feature films, TV shows, doing print ads, and everything from video game voices, to singing national anthems at pro sports events! From Nickelodeon to the Opera... you can see Acting Creatively Kids performing everywhere!
Below are some recent projects!
Congratulations everyone! |
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| Congratulations
to... |
| ON & OFF BROADWAY: |
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| Tolan Aman: "The Coast of Utopia" starring Ethan Hawke! * Amanda Sprecher: "Inherit The Wind," with Christpher Plummer & Brian Dennehy! * Patrick Henney: Broadway's Beauty & The Beast & "Howard Katz" starring Alfred Molina! * Paris Rose Yates & Nicole Bocchi: "King Lear" startting Kevin Kline! * Nicole Bocchi: Broadway's "The Grinch!" & "Mary Poppins" * Tolan Aman, Gabby Malek, Michael Herwitz & Malcolm Morano: Broadway's "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!" * Malcolm Morano: Broadway's "The Grinch" & "Falsettos" at George St. Theatre * Sophie Gorai & Athena Ripka: "The Nutcracker" at Lincoln Center * Gabby Malek: Broadway workshop in London, “Zhivago!” * Jessica Carlson in Brighton Beach Memoirs at Emelin Theater * Sy Adamowsky: Broadway's "Caroline or Change" & California run, "Night of the Hunter!" * Marlon Sherman: Broadway's "Beauty & the Beast!" |
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| Addi Timlin starred as "Annie" on tour, played Baby Louise in Broadway's "Gypsy" and just shot the film "Derailed" in London with Jennifer Aniston! |
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| Jack Rovello was amazing as Julianne Moore's son in The Hours. He plays Liv Tyler's son in the film "Lonesome Jim" & has guest starred on All My Children, Ed, Sex & The City, and is currently working on the new feature film "Girl in the Park"! |
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| Katie Henny plays "Elizabeth Cole" in the new American Girl Movie: "Felicity!" And the new American Girl Doll, ELIZABETH just came out and looks a lot like Katie! |
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| Nadine Jacobson has just finished filming the feature “Perfect Stranger” with Halle Berry and Bruce Willis! |
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| Tommy Nelson just finished shooting "The Good Shepherd" with Robert DeNiro and Angelina Jolie, as well as the feature "Quid Pro Quo"! |
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| David Benger plays "Carl" in The Squid & The Whale! He also has been busy with radio voice overs and several other independent films! |
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| Joelee Cummings will play "Danielle" in the new independent feature film "SUPERHEROS!" |
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| Austin Torelli is on As The World Turns and recently shot the film "ZERO"! Austin has also done several commercials. |
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| Tyler Rivera stars in the upcoming feature film Little Fugitive! |
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| Stevani Weaver is currently on tour with "ANNIE"! |
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| Tobin Asher & Athena Ripka are in TOSCA at the Metropolitan Opera! Athena also just had a very special role in "MANON," also at the Met. |
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| Anthony LaFlamme plays "Tim" in the film "LITTLE MANHATTAN"! Molly Goldberg also has a cameo in the film doing her signature hair flips! |
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| Kianna Underwood is a regular cast member on Nickelodeon's "ALL THAT!" |
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| Shelby Young played "Jennifer" in a few episodes of "Everybody Hates Chris"... Shelby has also guest starred on "Ghost Whisperer" and "Freddie"! |
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| Daniel Manche is playing Young Tarzan in TARZAN on Broadway! |
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| Alexa Eisenstein & Heather Schacht are in the upcoming film "A VERY SERIOUS PERSON" & Alexa also did a voice over for a KMart Commercial! |
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| Annamarie Rienzi is a regular cast member on "Sesame Street" and is also in a commercial for Carrier Heating! |
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| Alexander Flores just starred in 3 episodes of "Rescue Me" and starred off-Broadway in SLAG HEAP at The Cherry Lane Theatre. |
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| Devynn Pedell is on tour with the new musical "Brundibar" which will come to NYC and play on Broadway at The New Victory Theatre! |
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| Ryan & Ty Simpkins playing brother & sister “Shannon” & “Jimmy Eagan Jr.” in the upcoming feature film PRIDE & GLORY (children of Colin Farrell) Ryan was also recently cast in “Festen,” an upcoming Broadway show! |
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| Meredith Bull starred off-Broadway in "The Tutor"! |
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| LOTS of Acting Creatively girls are in the wonderful AMERICAN GIRL REVUE at The American Girl Place, NYC! Some are also in the special Holiday Show! |
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| Parker Ash's band, PONY, is starting to gig around NYC & Brooklyn. Keep an eye out for them & go see them play! |
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| Jasmina Lee has two videos in stores: Sesame Street's Happy Healthy Monsters and Blue's Clues Hug Day! She's also performed on Late Night with David Letterman and Last Call with Carson Daly, is in the independent film, Eleven Year Old Man, and sings on the commercials for Hefty's Zoo Pals! |
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| Brian Krantz will begin shooting the film "Welcome To America, Brian Wong" playing young Mike Stein. |
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| Diana Williams & Mackenzie Thomas were on separate episodes of "The Martha Stewart Show"! |
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| Chelsea Cooper will be on 2 episodes of "The Book Of Daniel" with Aiden Quinn. |
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| Raum-Aron is on Disney's "Jakers! The Adventures of Piggly Winks!" |
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| Jordan Burt is on “Conviction” on NBC! |
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| Jessica Carlson is on PBS Kids! She also just played the lead role in the independent short "Blue Dress." |
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| nna Friedman was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her starring role of Mona in the short film "The Braggart." She was nominated for: BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHORT FILM Leading Young Actress. She also stars in the independent feature "Lucy Keys" |
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| Stormy Barbara just got a role in the upcoming ABC Primetime BULLY Series! |
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| Miryam Coppersmith will return to "The Sopranos" for season six! She also just played "Amy" in the upcoming independent film "Civil War" with a bunch of other AC Kids! |
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| Carson Kleiner & Masha Shirin both have great roles on Law & Order! |
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| Other Great Stuff! |
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