Christy Wioncek began her acting career as a model after signing with a top L.A. agent in 1988. Successful modeling stints in L.A. and Tokyo soon followed, as did offers to work in Paris and Milan. However, the more successful she became as a model, the more she realized the work wasn’t feeding her creative spirit. So she signed up for acting classes. Those classes led to more classes, workshops, cold reading classes, improv intensives, on-camera, and “Method” classes. The training section of her resume grew longer and longer as she searched for a meaningful approach to the art and craft of acting.

Eventually that search led to Sanford Meisner, the larger-than-life and by some accounts controversial acting instructor who had taught such greats as Gregory Peck, Robert Duvall, Anne Jackson, and Diane Keaton, to name only a few. Christy learned that Meisner was conducting a nationwide search for suitable applicants for an upcoming class.

Determined not to let odds play a part in her life or her career, Christy sent off her headshot and resume and a few weeks later, found herself face-to-face with the legendary instructor at his home in Los Angeles. They sat by his pool for nearly two hours sharing their thoughts and emotions about acting and life. When the meeting ended, Sandy’s assistant accompanied Christy to the door. As they walked, he turned to her and smiled. “Sandy has never taken that much time with anyone.” Christy knew at that moment that she had met her “life teacher,” a true mentor who would help her find that meaningful approach to acting that she had been searching for.

A few days later, a letter arrived confirming that she was one of 50 students (out of more than 3500 applicants from all over the country) chosen to study with Sandy for a month-long intensive on the island of Bequia. It soon became clear to the fifty students that these classes were essentially a month-long audition. When the classes ended, Christy learned that out of the fifty students in the summer program, she was one of only 22 chosen to continue to study in Sandy’s two-year private class.

The following two years studying with Sandy were intense and immensely rewarding. When the two years ended, Christy was invited to join Sandy’s first ever Master Class, which at that time was called The Actors Lab.

One day, during a conversation with Sandy, the subject of teaching came up. Sandy agreed that Christy would make a great teacher “some day.” He told her that her acting was pure, emotional, deep and beautiful and that she should continue to pursue an acting career of her own. “You’ll know when it’s time to teach,” he told her.

After Sandy passed away, Christy continued to study at the Master Class level with John Ruskin in L.A. for four more years. In addition to her acting studies, Christy continued to act, write, direct and produce independent films, one of which brought her nominations for both Best Film and Best Actress. She also began teaching and taught at The Actors Group before moving to Northern California to direct films.

Her decision to open an acting studio in the San Francisco Bay Area came from her discovery of how difficult it was as a director to find local actors that could handle emotional material in a truthful and meaningful way. To solve the problem, she began teaching one class a week to help actors who, like her before she discovered the Meisner Technique, were looking for a way to connect meaningfully to their craft. She soon found that she enjoyed teaching as much as directing and acting.

Sadly, Sanford Meisner passed away without having the opportunity to see Christy become the great teacher they both knew she would be “some day.” It was from their shared and deeply held desire to help other actors fulfill their dreams of becoming honest and truthful actors that the Bay Area Acting Studio was born.

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Steve Voldseth is a Meisner-trained acting instructor who has worked both as a student and a teacher during his three-year tenure at the Bay Area Acting Studio.

Originally from the Midwest, Steve ventured to California with the sole purpose of attending college and instead found himself immediately “at home” among the vast diversities of art and culture. And although he admits to having a “moth to a flame” attraction for the performing arts since childhood, it wasn’t until a college film class screening of the classic film The Swimmer starring Burt Lancaster (based on a short story by one of his favorite writers, John Cheever) that he truly fell in love with all things theatrical. That singular experience led to a freelance film, TV and comedy writing career that, on the advice of a screenwriting professor, shifted to acting and then later, expanded again to include teaching acting.

As a working actor/teacher who “practices what he preaches,” Steve is a devout believer in the Meisner Technique, a “foundational approach to acting” that has served him well in an array of roles in independent film, TV, stage and web productions. His recent credits include a supporting role in John W. Kim’s thriller Blur with Katherine Towne and Charlie Hoffheimer and a starring role in director Alejandro Adams’ feature film Around the Bay which had its world premiere screening before a sold-out audience of 450 at the Cinequest 2008 Film Festival in San Jose, California. Both the film and Steve’s performance received favorable reviews in numerous industry publications including Variety. Recent stage credits include an Equity production of The Diary of Anne Frank (San Jose Stage Company) and A Debt by Any Other Name (San Francisco Theater Festival).

Prior to his current roles of actor and teacher, Steve worked as a professional comedy writer for over a decade with credits that include Jay Leno (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno), Craig Kilborn (The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn), Tina Fey (SNL), and Jimmy Kimmel (The Man Show). Steve is also among the team of writers for the syndicated comic strips Dennis the Menace and Frank and Ernest.

In addition to a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from San Jose State University, Steve also holds a graduate-level certificate in Advanced Screenwriting from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television in Los Angeles.

For more information or to contact Steve directly, visit www.stevevoldseth.com

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Pamela Broyles has shared her passion for creative expression with students for over 15 years—both as a dance instructor and an acting instructor. Prior to joining the Bay Area Acting Studio, Pamela studied dance professionally at world-renowned dance schools such as Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and Steps on Broadway. In addition to teaching acting and dance, Pamela also holds a certificate in yoga instruction from OM Yoga Studio in New York City. Unknown to Pamela at the time, her love of creative performance and early dance training were preparing her for a career in acting and so when she discovered the Bay Area Acting Studio and studio founder Christy Wioncek, she knew she had found her next artistic home. Whether it be acting, dance or yoga, Pamela teaches from the heart with the core belief that inside everyone there is an artist. Adept at creating a safe space for actors to play, to dare and to be challenged according to their abilities and talent, Pamela has dedicated herself to helping students gently tap into their own inner artists, providing them with the tools they need to help them develop and flourish as they evolve into professional actors and artists. Teaching at the Bay Area Acting Studio has become yet another opportunity to continue her “dance” with life and art.

For more information or to contact Pamela directly, visit www.pamelabroyles.com

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