AMANDA MELBY
Head Coach (Acting, Voice, Cello) and Owner

Amanda Melby, a native Minnesotan, made her way to Phoenix via Southern California, Washington, DC and Cleveland. She has worked as a professional actress since 1990 and is a proud member of the actor unions SAG, AFTRA and AEA. She is a member of the Music Teachers Association (Phoenix, Arizona and National). In addition, Amanda also works as a producer and is the Executive Director of IFP/Phoenix.

She is pleased to be a three-time EMMY (R) nominee for her work as host and producer of SCREEN WARS and was recently honored by the Arizona Entertainment Alliance with the 2008 Layne Award for her work on behalf of the Arizona Entertainment Community.

Her Los Angeles theatrical credits include understudying for Peri Gilpin as Gwendolyn in FRASIER GONE WILDE: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at the Mark Taper Forum, starring in the LA premiere of LIFE x 3, in SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR and in the premiere of CHENILLE STEMS AND COCO MIDRIB. She also has many regional theatrical credits. Her Phoenix credits include Phoenix Theatre (PLAYERS IN THE GAME) and Theatre Artists Studio (SHAKESPEARE'S FRIENDS, RIDING TO BETHLEHEM, KISSING, COLLECTED STORIES and MEDEA'S GHOST).

Amanda can be seen in the Warner Bros. feature THE MAJESTIC, the independent features JAKE'S CORNER, NETHERBEAST, INCORPORATED, MADSION HALL, FAREWELL DARKNESS, REM, THE LANGUAGE OF KICKBALL and the independent shorts SMALL HAPPYS, THE FENCESTITUTE, THE DARKNESS OF LIGHT, COCKTAIL WIZARD, BONDAGE, AUTUMN LEAVES, DEATHBED BLUES, OUTLET (a 2000 Sundance Festival selection), among others. Her television credits include S.I.S. (Spike TV Fall 2008), BOSTON PUBLIC (Fox), THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS), AdTV (Pilot) and IFP/PHX's SCREEN WARS (AZ-TV).

She has studied with Howard Fine in his Master Class in LA. Amanda is an accomplished cellist, was the recipient of a Music Scholarship in Cello and holds a BA in theatre and English from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. Ms. Melby's full bio is available at www.AmandaMelby.com.

JENNIFER PFALZGRAFF
The Core, Film Acting, Commercials, Teens & Tweens/Kids Classes, Scene Study (sub) and Private Acting Coaching

Jennifer Pfalzgraff, SAG, was born in Santa Monica and raised as a native Oregonian where she discovered her acting passion.   She lived in Los Angeles for 2 years before moving to Phoenix 6 years ago where she has been able to remain an active talent in both markets.  Jennifer has collectively starred in over 30 films and has many commercial, TV and theater acting credits to her resume.

Jennifer has supporting roles in 21 Grams opposite Naomi Watts, and as Jessica Chastain’s supervisor/friend, Chloe in the feature Jolene. Jennifer has written and starred in 3 homages that were produced for the popular local TV series Screen Wars, and was invited to co-host a few episodes as well. She was nominated for an Emmy for her co-hosting. She was the superheroine from Dynamic Film’s Flower Girl (www.48hourFilm.com’s 2005 Best Film of Phoenix).   Her current TV credits include Tostitos (National Commercial), AZ Department of Transportation, Starz TV promo and Fazoli’s Italian Restaurants.  Jennifer is also the host of Rusty’s Garage, an educational children’s TV program currently in development. 

Jennifer recently won an “Outstanding Performance” award for best acting in DIB Pictures A3F 48 hour film challenge, Daddy and was also awarded a specialty award at the 2007 Peoria Film Festival for “Most Active Talent in Phoenix”.  Jennifer also won Best Actress for her portrayal of a love spurned hairstylist in John Philip Sousa Gets a Haircut (written and directed by Bruce Dellis) for Screen Wars Specialty Awards.   She also won a Best Actress award for a favorite theater role as Cherie in Bus Stop. 

Jennifer has studied with various coaches in Portland, Los Angeles and Phoenix learning the many methods and techniques of acting, and realizes the importance of always working on your craft as an actor.  She completed the Intermediate level of the Groundlings, in L.A. last year for her improv training and also has studied with Gordon Hunt in his Master Class.  Jennifer is represented by Dani’s Agency in Phoenix.  Visit her website at www.JenniferPfalzgraff.com.

GENE GANSSLE
Intro to Voice Over, The Core, Scene Study (sub)

Gene is an award-winning actor, producer and sound designer in the Phoenix market. 
In addition to having hundreds of TV/radio commercials, films and industrial projects to his credit, 
he has over 20 years of professional onstage experience and teaches Acting for the Camera 
and Film Production at Arizona State University as well as independent workshops. www.Ganssle.net

DIANE SENFFNER
Accents and Dialects

Diane Senffner has been working in theater for over 30 years and honed her craft at the venerable University of Cincinnati CCM and the famed Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston, IL. Over the years, she has professionally coached dozens companies and hundreds of actors in such shows as Pygmalion, The Elephant Man, Dancing at Lughnasa, Enchanted April, Educating Rita, Lady Windermere's Fan, She Stoops to Conquer, Henry V, Wind in the Willows, Noises Off, Misalliance, Oliver!, Cabaret, The Ritz, My Fair Lady, Molly Sweeney, Crimes of the Heart, and Beard of Avon to name just a few.  

In addition, Diane prides herself in coaching actors and non-actors alike to speak professionally and with confidence. She teaches workshops on vocal techniques for voice-over production and is a member of VASTA - Voice and Speech Trainers Association.  She is also an award winning video director.

Diane recently coached actors Ron Livingston, Lizzie Caplan and Matt Walsh in their 'cowboy' dialects for the motion picture, "Queens of Country."  

CHRIS MICHAEL DENNIS
Shakespeare Scenes & Monologues

Chris Michael Dennis  is an ariZoni award nominated actor and director. He holds an MFA from the Chicago College of Performing Arts Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University. He is currently the Education Director for Desert Rose Theatre. Prior to relocating to Arizona, Chris was the Associate Artistic Director of the LiveWire Chicago Theatre, where he directed such plays as No Exit, Miss Julie and The Collector, which was nominated for a 2008 Jeff Award. Chris has been teaching actors for the past ten years all across the country. He has taught at Mesa Community College, Desert Rose Theatre Studio, the Southern NJ Academy of Performing Arts, and Chicago’s East West University. 

More information can be found on his website: www.chrismichaeldennis.com. 

JESSICA HOLT
Kids and Teens Acting

Jessica Holt is an Arizona native and developed her love of theatre and teaching right here in the valley. She holds a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Utah State University and is currently a high school theatre teacher.

Jessica has appeared as Moxie in Relative Values, Gertie in Fuddy Meers, Sue Bayliss in All My Sons, Mme. Pernell in Tartuffe, and Dawn in Universal Language. She has also appeared in plays such as Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Crucible, Wit, Once Upon a Mattress, and Street Scene. In addition to acting, Jessica has directed plays such as Red Light Winter and The Curious Savage.

Additionally, Jessica has done voiceover work and some industrial films for multiple clients.

KATHERINE STEWART
Shakespeare Boot Camp

Katherine Stewart is a classically trained performer with a degree in opera and extensive conservatory training in Shakespeare and classic theatre. A native of Arizona, she believes that talent can bloom anywhere (including the Sonoran desert) and that such talent must be cultivated so that home-grown artists can use their creative voices to further the arts in their hometowns.

Katherine is a member of Actors Equity and a multiple ariZoni Award winner. Stage roles include: Marilyn in MMxx (world premiere), Maria in "West Side Story," The Chorus/Katharine in "Henry V," Joan in "The Lark," Kitty in "Joyful Noise," Meg in "Leading Ladies" (southwest premiere) and Kate in "Taming of the Shrew".  Film roles include Emily in "Blackout," Catherine in "The Appearance of a Man," Shelley in "Born to Ride" and Alaina in the upcoming "Paranoia."

Katherine is a working singer, actor and director, and has adapted several literary pieces into plays. Right now she is working on two original plays and an adaptation of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde.

As a director, Katherine is known for her non-traditional approach to the Bard.  Her "Merry Wives of Windsor" took place in 1880s Arizona; "Romeo and Juliet" was placed firmly in the 19th century; "The Taming of the Shrew" was a cross between traditional commedia dell’ arte and circus hijinks; "As You Like It" was a foray into the Jazz Age; "Twelfth Night" was a mod, 1962-inspired party in a resort hotel lounge and her most recent "Much Ado About Nothing" was a post WWII romp in small-town America.

When asked why she refused the Elizabethan costuming, Katherine simply said, “Guys don’t like to wear tights,” but the truth was she felt Shakespeare was timeless, and if the concept supported the text, the story could happen anywhere, anytime. Other favorites include "She Stoops to Conquer," "Lady Windermere'sFan," "Doctor Faustus" and "Moby Dick Rehearsed."

CHRIS REDISH
Honest Improv

Chris Redish is a director, actor and writer from England, now living in Arizona. He can currently be seen in a national commercial for Major League Baseball. He also recently appeared in the feature film Suspicion.

As a director, Chris has worked with actors such as the legendary Tony Curtis, Robert Picardo from Star Trek: Voyager, Christopher Atkins from Blue Lagoon and Liz Sheridan from Seinfeld.

His short comedy films have played at festivals around the world, winning accolades including Best Student Short Film at the Orlando Film Festival. His 35mm short, The Blacksmith and the Carpenter, was selected by the Phoenix Film Festival as one of their Top Ten Arizona shorts of all time.

Chris performed for 7 years with the improv groups the Oxymoron'z and the Jester'z, both as an actor and as a director.

Chris specializes in teaching 'Honest Improv' – improvisational techniques to help actors bring magic to their auditions and screen performances.

SUSAN K. BRIGHAM
Scene Study (Sub), Private Coaching and Film Acting

Susan K. Brigham is an award-winning independent filmmaker, who began her career as an actor. She studied acting at The Actor’s Lab in Scottsdale, AZ, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, CA, and the British American Drama Academy at Stanford University. Her studies prepared her for the variety of roles she played in commercials, theater, and several independent films. From there, she segued into writing, directing and producing her first feature film, GREASEWOOD FLAT. Susan is currently in post-production on THE FENCESTITUTE, in pre-production for DEFLATED, and is finishing the script for her next feature, which she hopes to produce in early 2013.

DEE RICH
Scene Study (Sub)

Dee Rich is proud to be joining the teaching team at Verve Studios. Dee is a native Iowan and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Acting from Coe College in Cedar Rapids.  Her additional training includes many respected Valley acting teachers such as Judy Rollings, Carol MacLeod, David Barker, Susan Southard, David Vining, Bob Sorenson, Tracy Hill, Jean Thomsen, Christopher Williams, Donna DeCarl, Dawn Reilly, Barbara Acker, Joe Bousard and Joann Yeoman.  Dee also studied in the Actor Training Program at the Utah Shakespearean Festival at Southern Utah University.  Dee previously worked for the Herberger Theater Center with Judy Rollings as the Performance Associate and Coordinator, working on The Young Artists Competition, Lunch Time Theater and teaching acting classes for the Stages Actor Training Program.  Along with her husband John, Dee co-founded Untapped Theater, where she has directed and acted in the company’s productions.  Dee spent one season as an actor for Essential Theater, doing Playback Theater, a unique form of improvisational performance that celebrates the stories of all people and spent one season as an actor for Phoenix Theater’s Cookie Company.   Dee has worked as an actor in many of the Valley’s theaters.  Some of her favorite roles include Sis in Last Lists of My Mad Mother, Hermia in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mary Jane in Big River and Catherine in Waiting for the Parade.  Dee is a member of Theater Artist’s Studio, is represented by Dani's Agency and lives in Chandler with her husband, John, and two children, Mason and Zoey.  

DOUG TRAER, Los Angeles
Commercials Intensive, Private Coaching/Los Angeles

Doug Traer graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in media. Locally, he appeared on stage at UNF and Jacksonville University, as well as with several other theatres in the area in diverse productions from Shakespeare to Neil Simon. He also worked at broadcast and cable television outlets locally before moving to Hollywood to pursue his career. 

Since then, Doug has worked in film, television, theatre, and commercials. His film credits include Robert Miller’s “Brenda Starr,” the critically acclaimed “Speak of the Devil” and the black comedy “Dead Giveaway.” He has had multiple roles on “General Hospital,” appeared in “America’s Most Wanted” and “Saved by the Bell,” among others.
He has made a number of national TV commercials for products such as Mercedes-Benz, Sony Playstation, Blue Cross Insurance, Baskin Robbins Ice Cream and Hardee’s Restaurants.

In addition to his acting gigs, he works as a commercial casting director and session director as well as teaching and providing career guidance to young actors or those just getting into the business. He also directs theatrical and industrial video productions through his own independent production company.

Doug studied acting with master teacher Cliff Osmond for 15 years and began teaching in Los Angeles eight years ago where he now has regular classes. He has also taught in San Francisco, Chicago, Oakland and Santa Barbara.