Acting Teacher/Coach Testimonials
Here’s what my friends and clients have to say!
“I have gained so much in my on-going work with Mark. I came to him carrying loads of insecurity and frustration, feeling mostly defeated. Mark’s thoughtful, caring and joyful approach has truly brought me back to my center as an artist. He’s helped me to thoroughly enjoy the process and believe in myself again. I look forward to our sessions together each week.”
— Abigail Mentzer (Actor/Dancer/Designer/Burlesque Artist)
“First off, Mark is one of the most talented actors I know. I was terrified of acting before working with him. Within a few sessions he quickly taught me skills that allowed me to approach material with confidence. With each exercise I was given, I became increasingly comfortable in my own character and in scenes with others. I learned skills for attacking sides and material as well as how to improvise a scene. Mark is very nurturing, supportive, and clear. Learning specific techniques was exactly what I needed to improve. Thank you Mark!”
— Daniela Filippone (The Phantom of the Opera National Tour Corps de Ballet; Radio City Christmas Spectacular; The Met Opera Dance Ensemble)
"Mark Emerson is an actor's actor. I love coaching with him because I respect and trust him as an actor and also feel supported by him as a coach and friend."
— Chris Mann (The Phantom of the Opera; Pam and Tommy on Hulu; Viral musical parody comedian)
“Mark’s deep knowledge of theater technique paired with his innate empathy and humor created a space where I could successfully step out of my comfort zone with specificity and security; he helped me see acting in a new, accessible way.”
— Tynan Davis (Grammy winning singer and educator; swing/u/s Madame Giry, 25th anniversary tour of The Phantom of the Opera)
“I came to Mark with no formal acting training and he instantly made me feel comfortable. As patient as he is knowledgeable, he gave me the tools to look at words on a page and see a point of view… a character.”
— Ted Keener (Actor/Dancer/Educator)
“Mark is one of the most highly skilled teachers I have ever worked with. As a teacher, he is kind, and encouraging, yes. But he helps you to dig deeper into the text and make the work more deeply connected and nuanced. If you are looking to find deeper meaning in your work, I cannot recommend Mark enough!”
— Katie Travis (she/her) (Actor/Singer/Instructor of Voice; Adjunct Professor, Penn State School of Theater)
“Mark and I met in 2017 when I joined the cast of the touring production of The Phantom of the Opera. I had the honor of watching him open our show every night. During my time on tour, Mark helped me with almost all of my self-tapes. I began to call him my good luck charm because everything I taped or coached with him either led to a callback or a booking. I now run my own masterclass series and have brought him on as a guest practitioner.
The energy and knowledge that Mark brings to the table as a coach is unmatched. He has the wisdom of experience and training, paired with a kind heart and passionate spirit. I trust his insight implicitly and am continuously inspired by everything he does.”
— Eva Tavares (Christine - The Phantom of the Opera; Marta - Kiss of the Spider Woman; Anne - A Little Night Music)
"Mark is a humble, sensitive teacher who instructs with love and kindness. He guided me into deeper layers of my character work and helped me to find complex layers within my performance. His love for acting and the human condition is so wonderfully infectious.”
— McKenna Birmingham (Meg Giry U/S The Phantom of the Opera; Juilliard Dance Alum; Former LA Dance Project Company Member)
MARK EMERSON has taught and coached actors all across the country including undergraduate acting at University of California San Diego (UCSD).
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