As I was heading into my second year of auditioning for MFA programs, I relentlessly searched for a world class coach. I lived outside Philadelphia. I thought it best to link up with a coach in NYC at first. I was about to make the trip to NYC for a consultation when I realized that coaching that far away would be a very costly venture considering the travel costs and the time I’d have to take off work. I searched again in areas near me extending into Philadelphia Center City and that’s when I found the amazing Lisbeth Bartlett, who came highly recommended! I immediately contacted Lisbeth and she got back to me the same day.  The next thing I knew I was having an in-person consultation with her. It was great! She was tremendously welcoming and enthusiastic. Lisbeth really loves what she does and her passion for the audition process is clearly apparent. After our conversation, I knew I wanted to work with her. At the end of that consultation, Lisbeth even gave me several plays to read from her personal library, before our first coaching session, right on the spot, plays that I immediately related to.  I knew I was going to be in great hands. 

Lisbeth and I had a tremendously creative collaboration. She did not try push anything on me that I was not comfortable with but she also didn’t hold back. She constantly challenged me further. Her knowledge of playwrights, acting styles, and actor training methodologies is amazing! I have never read so many plays in my life, but each play helped me grow and allowed me to explore my range through a wide variety of characters. I was able to work on dozens of roles, comedic and dramatic, contemporary and classical, before making my final choices. The work was never finished and always in process. When an exciting new play was published shortly before my audition season was about to begin that fit me perfectly, she quickly got me the script. I incorporated that new monologue into my auditions and it was tremendously successful for me.

And… Lisbeth completely eliminated my fear of Shakespeare! I’ve read Shakespeare many times in the past and I always became frustrated with the language, even when I studied classical acting abroad in London. Lisbeth saw that and together, we successfully tackled and overcame the challenges. I ended up reveling in and loving my Shakespeare piece and other classical monologues! Lisbeth really pays attention to you during the coaching process and doesn’t let you struggle blindly. She’s there to help you find yourself in the text, give you tools to ground your process, and help you overcome fear. When it was time to start the process of rehearsing on my feet, I’ve never had so much fun!! She creates a safe environment in her studio, a beautiful space with thousands of scripts, posters and photos from her professional acting career on and off Broadway which is so inspiring. The moment you put your trust in this phenomenal acting coach you will find the freedom and confidence you need to soar. More than that, as I went through my stressful auditions in New York Lisbeth’s coaching didn’t stop. She spoke to me after every audition. She was with me to the end, through callbacks and the final decision process, which was so comforting. During audition season, I still coached with her between auditions as well to keep rehearsing, which I highly recommend, because something new can always be discovered and it is important to incorporate valuable feedback from the auditions in preparing for the next audition and/or callbacks. I auditioned for NYU, Juilliard, Columbia, USC, and UCLA. I was invited back to final Juilliard & USC call back weekend and waitlisted at NYU, an accomplishment I didn’t achieve the year before. I was extremely proud of myself but even more thankful and grateful to have Lisbeth as my mentor. In the end, I was accepted in USC’s Dramatic Arts MFA program. Lisbeth is truly an inspiring, welcoming and all around amazing coach and if I didn’t land any acceptances this year I would not hesitate to work with her again. YOU ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST LISBETH!