Actor Aesthetic

Introducing the next level of virtual auditioning, Eco Cast Live! NYC-based actress and host Maggie Bera chats about the basics of Eco Cast Live, how actors can use it to their advantage, and how it will impact the future of the theatre industry.   Neewer Ring Light - https://amzn.to/3hE3Pao Collapsible Self-Tape Background - https://amzn.to/3f8qI42 Blue Yeti Mic - https://amzn.to/3g7UiYW   "Here'...

Kaitlin Hopkins is an award-winning actress, director, and educator and has worked in theater, film and television for over 30 years. In 2009 she created the BFA Musical Theatre program at Texas State University , recently named one of the top 10 musical theatre programs in the nation. As an entrepreneur, she is the Co-Founder of Living Mental Wellness , which is a holistic evidence-based company...

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, actors all around the United States are hurting mentally, emotionally and financially - with almost 100% of the industry out of work. In this episode, Maggie shares her favorite self-care strategies actors can use right now to boost mental health.   To join the Actor Aesthetic Alliance Facebook group, click here. Spread love and don't forget to rate, review and sub...

Broadway is shut down until at least January 2021. By the time it *hopefully* reopens, an entire industry will have been out of work for a minimum of 9 months. So what does this mean for actors?   In episode 92, NYC-based actress and host Maggie Bera chats about the Broadway shutdown and how it ultimately affects actors.   Why It's Ok For Actors To Slow Down Send A Letter To Congress To Support Th...

Cailen Fu is an actor, singer and voiceover artist based in New York City. She made her Broadway debut in MEAN GIRLS and is the current standby for Regina George and Gretchen Wieners! She trained classically at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and in London with RADA + Shakespeare’s Globe. She then graduated with her BFA in Musical Theater + Honors in Acting from University of California, Irvine. P...

Ellen Lettrich has been working with young musical theatre and acting performers for almost 29 years, first as a high school classroom teacher and theatre director and, after receiving her MS in Speech-Language Pathology, as a medical voice therapist. Her diverse teaching experiences led her to found Musical Theatre College Auditions (MTCA), a college theatre audition preparation company. Ellen bu...

Marshall W. Mabry IV is an activist, playwright, and performer from Atlanta, Ga. He’s an incoming freshman majoring in Musical Theatre at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Marshall strives to leave every room brighter than he found it especially for the young artists of color coming after him. In this episode, NYC-based actress and host Maggie Bera chats with Marshall about racial stereotypes in...

Effective allyship is an active, conscious choice to advocate for a marginalized person or group of people. And right now, the BIPOC* community needs as many allies as possible.   Join NYC-based actress and host Maggie Bera to learn how to be a better ally to People of Color in the theatre industry.   *BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)   #BlackLivesMatter   Sign A Petition, Donate, Ca...

Jennifer Apple is a multi-hyphenated artist who hails from NYC and is a huge fan of new work & truthful storytelling. She currently plays the role of Anna in "The Band's Visit" tour and has performed at regional theaters like Chautauqua Theater Company, ACT, Goodspeed Musicals, and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. She has appeared on TV in "New Amsterdam" and holds an MFA in Acting from The Amer...

Elise Melendez is a Chicago-based arts manager, dance educator and nonprofit marketer with a strong commitment to fostering community. Beyond her work with Motivated Movers, Elise continues her commitment to the dance community as managing director of Denman Theatre & Dance Co , a New York based company dedicated to developing hybrid theatrical works using movement/dance as a primary storytelling...

Tyler McKenzie (performer, director, choreographer, and educator) was last seen in Hamilton. He is a Long Island native with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Western Carolina University, where he studied with three-time Tony Award nominee Terrence Mann, former WCU Phillips Distinguished Professor of Musical Theatre, and Charlotte d’Amboise, Mann’s wife and a two-time Tony nominee. He has since perfor...

Natalie Malotke is a director, choreographer, independent producer, and teaching artist living in New York City. Most recently, Natalie worked with Joshua Bergasse on the choreography team for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She frequently works with Artistic Director, Karen Azenberg at Pioneer Theatre Company (associate on Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof, and Sweet Charity). She also assisted Sus...

Hailing from Texas, Bret Shuford has been living deep in the heart of the acting world since he moved to New York City in 1999. A veteran of 8 Broadway shows, several feature films, network television, and webseries, Shuford has sung, danced, and acted on stages and screens across the country. His best collaboration has been with ballet dancer, actor, and husband, Stephen Hanna. Shuford hopes to c...

NYC-based actress and Actor Aesthetic creator, Maggie Bera, dishes her 6 reasons why every actor should convert their personal Instagram account to a business profile. Ready to make the switch? Setting up an Instagram business profile is easy! Here’s how to do it: Go to your profile and tap the “gear” icon on the top right. Tap “Settings.” Tap “Account.” Tap “Switch to Professional Account.” You’l...

NYC-based actress and Actor Aesthetic creator, Maggie Bera, gives her nerdiest podcast yet... featuring the most surprising facts you didn't know about Instagram (and how actors can take advantage!) We're talking cold, hard facts and the numbers behind why Instagram has become one of the most popular platforms on the planet. Learn about how to increase engagement on Instagram through filters, geot...

NYC-based actress and creator of Actor Aesthetic Maggie Bera answers all your questions about how actors can take advantage of Instagram. Should actors have more than one Instagram account? Should I revamp my personal account? Or just create a new one? What should I be linking to in my bio? Website? Youtube? other socials? How often should you be posting on Instagram? What time of day is best to p...

Dr. Bill Crawford chats with host Maggie Bera about his philosophy, Life From The Top Of The Mind, and the hard science that will help you deal with the overwhelming stress and anxiety caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to holding a doctorate in Psychology from the University of Houston, Dr. Bill Crawford is a licensed psychologist, author of eight books, and organizational consultant. O...

NYC Casting Director Michael Cassara talks with host Maggie Bera about how professional auditions work in NYC, how actors can take advantage of social media, and how the COVID-19 crisis is changing the theatre industry as we know it. Michael Cassara, CSA is a Casting Director and Educator in New York City, where he and his team have cast over 400 theatre and film projects since the formation of Mi...

Host Maggie Bera chats with her grandpa, Bruce Richardson, about taking his grandkids to auditions in New York City, going on the road as a chaperone in the national tour of Little House on the Prairie with granddaughter Taylor Bera, and his own advice for parents supporting their kids in the theatre. To grab your copy of the Marketing 101 For Actors eBook, go to  www.actoraesthetic.com/shop/marke...

Actress Bailey McCall chats with host Maggie Bera about moving to NYC, getting an agent, the power of social media, survival jobs, how she packs for tour, and how COVID-19 has affected the national tour of Waitress. Bailey McCall is an actress currently playing Jenna on the National Tour of Waitress. Regionally, she's worked at the Fireside Theatre, New Stage Theatre, and Jenny Wiley Theatre. She...

Actress Paloma Garcia-Lee chats with host Maggie Bera about growing up in her mom's dance studio, moving to NYC and making her Broadway debut at 17, multi-tasking, dance captaining and swinging 19 roles at once, breaking into the film and television industry, and what truly brings her joy. Paloma Garcia-Lee is an actress/dancer currently starring in the Broadway production of Moulin Rouge! The Mus...

Carissa Fiorillo is an actress currently on the road with the North American Tour of Aladdin. National Tours: Bullets Over Broadway, Radio City Rockettes and Guys and Dolls. Regional: Argyle Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse. She's appeared as a dancer on television in “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”, NBC’s “Upfronts”, and Saturday Night LIVE, and in numerous commercials and print ads. She trained in M...

Amanda Paige Lewis is an actress and model based in NYC. As an actor, Amanda performed regionally at the Weston Playhouse, Theatre Aspen, Theatre By The Sea, and The Lake Dillon Theatre Company, and has appeared in numerous commercials and print ads. She is also an indoor cycling instructor at Flywheel Sports and a proud member of Actors Equity Association. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre...

Joomin Hwang, originally from South Korea, is an actor/dancer based in NYC. Joomin made his Broadway debut in The Prom, when he became the only native Korean-male performer to be on Broadway since 1985. As as actor, he also performed off-Broadway in KPOP, and regionally in In The Heights at Alxerod Theatre. On the screen, he appeared in Marvel's Iron Fist, Isn't It Romantic and the upcoming movie...

Meghan Nicole Ross is an actor/entreprenuer based out of Long Island. As an actress, Meghan performed off-broadway in Peace, Love and Cupcakes:The Musical with the Vital Theatre Company, and regionally at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Gateway Playhouse, Woodstock Playhouse, The Palace Theatre in New Hampshire, and the Engeman Theatre. As a business owner and social media influencer, she is the...