Faculty
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Jim Jarrett
Jim Jarrett (Founder/Director) is one of the most respected and qualified teachers of The Meisner Technique in the world. He spent four years with Sanford Meisner - two as a student in his professional, private class then two more working with the master teacher - both as an actor and teacher-in-training. After his apprenticeship, Jarrett emerged as Sanford Meisner’s last teaching protégé and for the last twenty years he has taught throughout North America, Europe and Asia on behalf of the standards and respect for the craft of acting Sandy stood for. In 2006, Jarrett "came home" to San Francisco and opened The Meisner Technique Studio. In so doing, he made good on a promise he'd made to Sandy many years before - to establish an acting school dedicated solely to the teachings of Sanford Meisner.
Since 1997, he's toured Vincent, Leonard Nimoy's international smash-hit to over a quarter million people throughout the globe. In 2006, Jarrett introduced three children's shows that have also begun a nationwide, educational tour. His latest production, MEISNER, is an original full-length play created from four years of notes Jarrett spent with the master teacher, Sanford Meisner. In addition, MEISNER is currently being adapted into a full-length feature film.
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Melissa Thompson Esaia
Melissa Thompson Esaia has worked in Bay Area film, television and theatre for over 15 years. She studied The Meisner Technique with Jim Jarrett for 2 years in his professional, private class. When she completed her studies, Jim invited her to continue on as his assistant and teacher-in-training. Due to her enormous talent and dedication to the craft of acting, she immediately became one of Jarrett's lead teachers for The Meisner Technique Studio. She currently co-teaches all first year students with Jim as well as her own classes full-time.
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David Usner
David Usner moved to San Francisco to find Jim Jarrett, who motivated and inspired him to take the next steps in pursuing his dream and career. Jim and the Meisner Technique have transformed David’s craft and the opportunity to teach this technique is a joy and gift. In over 30 years of acting, David has been on stage in Edinburgh, Berlin, Vienna, NYC, Philadelphia and the Bay Area. Most recently he has turned more of his attention to the screen. He is also a script writer and has had three plays and one film produced. Currently, he serves on the Board of Trustees of the Playwrights Foundation in San Francisco.
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Eric Burke
Eric Burke has been acting for 20 years and his craft has taken him to Chicago, Los Angeles and finally back to the Bay Area. It is here that Eric met Jim Jarrett and after 2 years studying the Meisner Technique with Jim, Eric was invited to stay on as a teacher in training. After completing his residency with Jim, he joined the faculty of Jarrett's Meisner Technique Studio. Eric also splits his time performing as well as teaching.