Lisbeth inspires you to remember that it is the human act of impassioned story-telling that is most important, not just getting cast in this play or movie or TV show; or getting accepted at a particular college or graduate program.

Lisbeth Bartlett is a phenomenal acting coach. She simply cannot be beat! I will try to explain what I think truly sets her apart from all other acting coaches. Lisbeth is a highly inspirational and influential figure in my life. I first worked with her as a private acting coach the year I applied to college theater programs… a time we all know can be enormously stressful. In the several years since then, I have coached with Lisbeth for professional theater auditions, as well as television and movie auditions. She has also helped me create television and feature film audition tapes for my agent to send to Los Angeles when I am unable to travel there in person.

Image: CBS series THE GOOD FIGHT

Lisbeth’s coaching singlehandedly helped me get cast in a major supporting role in my first professional theater production, Off Broadway’s THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE with Cynthia Nixon.

Lisbeth has had a successful acting career in her own right, and this comes off in her coaching. She is a lot of fun to do scenes with. If I am not angry enough in a scene, Lisbeth will amp up her energy and make me angry. A huge part of acting is reacting to what the other actor is doing, and Lisbeth is the best coach I know for improving my work as an actor by practicing “reacting” to the other character while I am working on audition scenes. This is an invaluable part of her talent as a coach.
Image: Off Broadway’s PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE with Cynthia Nixon.

Lisbeth is demanding, gives meticulous direction, and is not afraid to criticize, but she is never punitive or demeaning.

Lisbeth is also extremely very gifted at making me feel comfortable, supported, and safe in session so I can take big risks and grow as an actor. Feeling safe in session is SO important for a young actor trying to find him/herself. Lisbeth is demanding, gives meticulous direction, and is not afraid to criticize, but she is never punitive or demeaning. Lisbeth truly loves the acting process; and because she has decades of professional acting experience bringing characters to life in high-pressure situations like Broadway shows, she has the highest standards and is relentlessly thorough. Lisbeth’s coaching singlehandedly helped me get cast in a major supporting role in my very first New York production Off Broadway. She meticulously coached me for the three teenaged roles I was reading for in THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE starring Cynthia Nixon.

A year later, Lisbeth coached me for an audition for a leading role in very difficult, new Off Broadway play set in London. I sent her the play via email, and when I arrived for my session she had read the whole play and prepared many thoughts about the character and the audition scenes I had to prepare. she was also tremendously helpful with the dialect. On the morning of my audition, I woke up to a long email from Lisbeth giving me additional interpretive advice about the play, character and audition scenes, and wishing me good luck. This is the kind of dedication that comes only from true passion and love for story-telling. And that is what is great about Lisbeth as a coach. She makes you remember that it is the embodied human act of impassioned story-telling that is important, not just getting cast in this play or movie or getting accepted to a particular college or graduate program. And this transforms the audition process from something stressful to something inspiring.

Image: THE HUMANS on Broadway