San Jose
1930 Camden Avenue, Suite 4
San Jose, CA 95124

(415) 322-8464

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San Francisco Chronicle Building
925 Mission Street, #109
San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 322-8464

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Christy has worked in the industry for over 20 years, she started out as one of 50 students (out of more than 3500 applicants from all over the country) chosen to study with Sandy Meisner for a month-long intensive on the island of Bequia in the West Indies. 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.

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.

While coaching and teaching actors the art of acting and the Meisner technique, Christy became passionate about helping her talented actors take that next step and achieve their dreams of being working actors in the industry. She then teamed up with her long time friend and Mentor Kyle Fritz, a well established Talent Manager in Los Angeles for 20 years. She has been working as a Manager out of Kyle’s L.A. Office and coming back twice a month to teach her Master Classes and her well received “The Actor’s Edge” class, which prompted her to start a Tele-Seminar series where she teaches how to get an “edge” over the competition.

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Beth has had the acting bug since she was a little kid and her parents let her play a pickpocket in "Oliver." She spent many years on stage as well as back stage and even kicked up her heels in ballroom, latin, and swing dance exhibitions. She eventually found her way to TV and film in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. She began studying Meisner Technique with Christy years ago as an eight-week class, but just never stopped... Beth has been teaching since graduate school where she got her Masters degree in Geology/Geophysics. She also spends time on the computer doing everything from website design and graphic design to program and project management.

For more information or to contact Beth directly, visit www.bethbemis.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 English 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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Mariam began her journey through Meisner in Oct 2009 having only acted in college plays and a few local commercials. Since then, she has completed six short films, earned her SAG eligibility, taken new professional headshots with an accredited LA photographer, is represented with an LA manager and SF agency, and auditioning regularly! Beyond the professional success she has achieved, the strides she has made in her acting are enormous. She always knew she had a passion for the craft and the desire to become the best actor she could be, but studying with Christy in this class has really given her the necessary tools, confidence and belief in her future as a professional actor to do so. And all the while, she has studied in the comfort of a unbelievably supportive and encouraging class environment without competition or lack of one-on-one attention.

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Melissa’s passion for acting has been deeply enriched through her study of the Meisner technique. She has taught improvisation and acting at San Jose Repertory Theatre through their children’s programming, as well as with The Red Ladder Theatre Company, San Jose Rep's resident improvisational outreach theatre company, where she continues to work with communities from preschoolers to teens and teachers to CEOs, helping to bring acting, improvisation, and creativity into the classroom and workplace.

With over ten years of acting and teaching experience, Melissa has performed onstage across the country, and continues to work in television, film, and commercials. Her love for the craft and zest for life has brought her to teach both adult Meisner technique and kids & teens classes here at Bay Area Acting Studio!

For more information or to contact Melissa directly, visit www.melissalocsin.com

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Ayelette is a Meisner-trained actor with experience in television, film, theater, and improvisation. Ayelette is passionate about her craft and has appeared in a variety of independent short and feature length films in the Bay area. In addition to acting, Ayelette is an avid ballroom dancer and won the 2011 National Championship title in International Latin. It was her dance teacher who recommended she take an acting class, and after just a few weeks, Ayelette fell in love and knew acting would be her future. So after years in the legal industry as attorney and legal technologist, Ayelette jumped head first into the world of acting and hasn’t looked back. Ayelette brings passion, compassion, and drive to her work and her teaching, and strives to help each person discover his or her best self.

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Jay Ruby is a local actor working mostly in independent film. His last project was "To Kill a Demon". Aside from teaching acting, Jay also teaches high school (World History and Economics), and occasionally teaches martial arts. When he’s not teaching or acting, Jay is raising two boys.

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