Acting 101: Where do I find a great acting coach/teacher/class in New York City?

October 13, 5:35 PMNY Wellness ExaminerRoger Ziegler

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Dianna Martin. Acting teacher
extraordinare

Acting coach Dianna Martin in my opinion is one of the most dynamic acting teachers in New York today and I've studied extensively with her.

She is simple, straightforward and incredibly effective at getting people to be in the moment and release their true emotions, rather than trying to "act it."

She now runs the legendary Martin Acting Schools.

Her father, whom, she studied under, is the revered acting coach Ernie Martin who ran the Actors Studio West and coached Sean Penn, Harvey Keitel, Lorraine Bracco and others. Her mother is Tony-winning stage, film and TV actress Ann Wedgewoth (perhaps best known for her roles in Three's Company and Evening Shade).

 Relax, dude, set your self free

"I want actors to be relaxed," Dianna says.  " I want them to use their imagination (their best tool in acting), and work simply and honestly - to talk to each other in a scene not at each other; really listen to one another and take from each other and respond."

Martin says the importance of being relaxed physically is to keep the body from trapping emotions and potentially depriving the actor of a real moment in their work.

Dianna, who teaches both privately and in small groups, has absorbed her father's methods and is adding her own unique stamp.

I've worked with Dianna and she is as caring and dedicated as they come. The actor, or anyone just wanting to improve their public communication skills, is in excellent. hands.

"When people are tense they will be unable to express all the emotion they can," she says " when made to relax more, suddenly the actor releases pent up energy or tears, and is able to really be truthful in the moment. That's the most important thing: to be truthful on stage (or on screen) and go moment to moment in the work. Otherwise you won't believe it, your fellow actor won't believe it...and neither will the audience." 

For more info: Contact Dianna at:  Martin.Acting.Studios@gmail.com ,