Teaching and Coaching

When use of self is channeled into the engine of structure, when the gifts of the performer meet the demands of the text, we get brilliant, authentic, unique performances that are available and accessible to the audience. This is my focus and my approach in the work of teaching and coaching, whether that's working with individuals, classes, or entire productions.

Whether it’s Shakespeare, new works, contemporary classics, or musical theatre, I think a rigorous, investigative, and imaginative approach cannot be beaten. And because I am also an actor, I know how to distill discussions of technique into digestible, practical, useful offerings for actors and productions.

As a teacher, I’ve worked regionally with Florida Studio Theatre, Texas Shakespeare Festival, the Clarence Brown Theatre, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and the Great River Shakespeare Festival, offering classes and workshops in acting, solo performance, devising practices, and voice, speech, and dialects. I’ve offered workshops and coached 1-on-1 on acting, audition prep/technique, Shakespeare, and voice, speech, and dialects. I’ve also been fortunate to work as a Voice, Text, and Dialect Coach with the Clarence Brown Theatre and Great River Shakespeare Festival, as well as supporting educational theatre productions in East Tennessee.

My CV and artistic philosophy statement are available on request. Please feel free to get in touch with questions, and look below for more specifics about what I can offer!

Teaching & Workshops

My focus as a teacher is helping people find ways to channel their talents and skills into the engine of a play, creating dynamic, accessible, active work.

I have taught classes in varying levels of acting, voice & speech, audition prep/technique, acting through song, and devising practices.

Some workshops offered include:

Activating the Song: Text Work for the Musical Theatre Actor
Spoken Memoir: Devising Solo Performance
The 4 P's: An Approach to Dialect Work
Thinking Shakespeare: A Way into the World of Verse
Audition Prep/Monologue Clinics

Individualized Coaching

I've coached individuals in acting, voice and speech work, various dialects, audition prep/technique,

Voice, Text, and Dialect Coaching

Skillful speech work is not only artful, but it is an act of care that allows audiences into our performances.

My focus as a Voice, Speech, and Dialect director is to help individuals and productions find authentic, accessible, activated expression of the text. Skillful speech work is not only artful, but it is an act of care that allows audiences into our performances.

In addition to Voice and Text Coaching, I have coached the following dialects, and can prepare new accents upon request:

Scottish
French
Cockney
RP
Eastern TN

But don't take it from me, take it from past clients and students...

Payton G., NY-based actress/writer

Sammy gave me the liberties to own my process. They have allowed me to embrace my vulnerability, and hold space to work from your foundation and find the joy of play. To be looked at by a coach and be honestly seen is a gift. It is my pleasure to work with such a present and genuine teacher!