About the Class

Acting I: Foundation is designed to help you build a strong foundation of basic acting techniques while exploring the fascinating mystery of acting itself. Through practical exercises, you will develop physical and vocal awareness, learning to utilize your full instrument, and cultivate attention—a crucial skill for stage presence and truthful performance. Finally, you’ll discover self-care as an actor, understanding how to maintain your well-being in a demanding artistic profession.

Tuition

$300

Duration

2 hours, 6 classes or 3 hours, 4 classes

Capacity

Maximum of 12 students

Find Your Session

10 sessions available

04/25-05/30

Saturday

(2:00PM - 4:00PM)

Taught by Xavier Mikal

Sold Out

05/13-06/17

Wednesday

(6:30PM - 8:30PM)

Taught by Allison Gardner

Sold Out

06/08-07/13

Monday

(6:30PM - 8:30PM)

Taught by Allison Gardner

06/20-08/01

Saturday

(11:00AM - 1:00PM)

Taught by Xavier Mikal

06/23-07/14

Tuesday

(6:30PM - 9:30PM)

Taught by Cara Mantella

07/05-07/26

Sunday

(2:00PM - 5:00PM)

Taught by Bernard Gilbert

07/15-08/19

Wednesday

(6:30PM - 8:30PM)

Taught by Sharon Foote

08/04-08/25

Tuesday

(6:30PM - 9:30PM)

Taught by Cara Mantella

08/17-09/14

Monday

(6:30PM - 8:30PM)

Taught by Allison Gardner

08/22-09/12

Saturday

(11:00AM - 2:00PM)

Taught by Cait Cortelyou

Meet the Teachers

Xavier Mikal is an Equity actor, director and teaching artist from Baltimore, Maryland. He has his Master of Fine Arts Degree and African American theatre certification from University of Louisville. He also has his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from North Carolina A&T State University. He has taught theatre from the University to Kindergarten levels. He has also coached Film/TV acting at AGI Entertainment. He has many theatre credits including King Hedley II and Martin Luther King Jr in The Mountaintop. As far as TV/film, Xavier was a lead in a limited series, THE PACT as Micah (Telly Award Recipient) and an independent film, ERACEING as Edwin which was shown in The Louisville International Film Fest, Toronto Black Film Fest and San Diego Black Film Fest. He also featured in the film SHIRLEY starring Regina King on Netflix. He is so excited to be leading acting classes with Alliance Theatre!

Cara Mantella has performed on stages in and around Atlanta including The Alliance Theatre, Actor’s Express, Aurora Theatre, Theatre in the Square, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Horizon Theatre, Stage Door, Dominion Entertainment Group, and Théâtre du Rêve. Television and Film credits include Grosse Pointe Garden Society, Lodge 49, Stranger Things, Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters, Woke, Will Trent, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Pain Hustlers and more. She has her BFA in Acting from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. imdb.me/caramantella

Bernard Gilbert (he/his) Bernard is an Atlanta-raised actor celebrated for his compelling performances on stage and screen. A proud Morehouse College graduate with a Business degree, he also holds an MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. His television credits include recurring roles on “The Chi” (SHOWTIME), “Empire” (FOX), and “Utopia” (Amazon), alongside guest appearances on “Law & Order” (NBC), “Chicago P.D.” (NBC), and “The Big Leap” (FOX). On stage, Bernard has performed with renowned theaters such as The Goodman Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, and Northlight Theatre. His standout roles include Hero in Father Comes Home from the Wars, Dez in Skeleton Crew, Fish in The Royale, and Herald Loomis in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. A recipient of the Princess Grace Award for Acting and the Ossie Davis Jr. Award for Best Featured Actor, Bernard feels deeply blessed to share this journey with his loving wife, Alicia, and grateful for the unwavering support of his amazing friends and family.

Sharon is a member of SAG/AFTRA/AEA and has extensive acting experience in New York, Los Angeles and the Southeast. Her experience includes professional theater, television and film as well as TV commercials, soap operas and voice-over. Some of her credits include Susan Aronson on One Life to Live and Sally on Texas. She has performed in movies for ABC, MTM Productions and Warner Brothers to name a few. In addition to being the lead teacher for the film and television classes with the Alliance Theatre, Sharon coaches many celebrities for acting and hosting. Her clients have included Rickey Smiley, several members of the cast for The Real Housewives of Atlanta and football players Dorsey Levins and Ed Hartwell. She was also an associate casting director for several films including the Academy Award winning movie Driving Miss Daisy as well as an award winning professor of Speech Communications and Drama. She is the founder and principal instructor for Foote Communications. Sharon has directed 12 Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre shows through Clayton State University's Continuing Education Program for the Atlanta community. She also proudly served 4 years as a volunteer for the USO.

Cait Cortelyou is an actor and producer based in Atlanta since 2020. She holds a BA in Theater from Columbia University in partnership with the Juilliard School, and graduated from The O’Neill’s conservatory program The National Theatre Institute, with training from Colman Domingo and the Royal Shakespeare Company. On camera, Cait produced and starred in the award-winning feature film Ask for Jane, which enjoyed a limited theatrical release in 2019. She has been seen on TV in Bull on CBS, and in a recurring role on Steven Soderbergh’s The Knick on HBO. Cait has spoken on panels for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, the Hamptons International Film Festival, the New York Television Festival, and has taught masterclasses for the China Women’s Film Festival in Beijing, and the School of the New York Times at Lincoln Center. Since January 2023 Cait has been leading a weekly artist workshop called The Collective at Alliance Theatre. www.CaitCortelyou.com