Melissa writes about her recent transition into her new position as Assistant Director and Head of Faculty at the Meisner Technique Studio

1. Tell us about your teaching philosophy.

I love teaching actors. I am honored and humbled to be a witness to the courage, humanity, vulnerability, strength and growth that shows up in every single class. My first love has always been acting. I wrote, directed and starred in my first play in the fourth grade. It has always been a part of me. But until I met Jim, I had always waded in the shallow end, so to speak. I never dove head first into the deep end of my dream. I graduated from college with a degree in psychology and began a career in social services. My favorite part of counseling was always working with groups, and I have always tried to incorporate some type of artistic expression into my counseling work. Later in my social services career, I stopped working with clients and began training counselors, social workers and other social services professionals in areas such as team building, civil rights and enhancing soft skills like motivational interviewing. I found that I loved teaching others, giving others a new skill or augmenting the training they already have in a field they feel passionate about. So when I completed my two years of professional Meisner Technique training with Jim and he invited me to train to teach at his school, it seemed like a perfect fit. I love teaching. I love acting. And I love dreamers, artists, risk-takers. I love being a part of something that truly is important and something I feel deeply passionate about. I love helping our students to find their voice and the courage to say what they have to say. Our students go out into the world and do all sorts of wonderful things with their dreams. And I feel incredibly honored to have played some part in all of it.

As far as my teaching philosophy, it’s simple. I teach the Meisner Technique as purely as it was taught to me, which is exactly how Sanford Meisner intended it to be taught. I’m proud of this fact. Through Jim, I truly am a part of Sandy’s legacy, and this is something I do not take lightly. If I were to describe my teaching style in a few words, I’d say I’m passionate, detailed, tough but fair, compassionate and honest. I teach each person individually because each person needs to be taught individually. A note or adjustment I give to one student may not be appropriate for another student based on who they are and where their instrument is in its development. I believe one of the greatest gifts I bring is that it wasn’t really that long ago that I sat in their very same chair. So I have an understanding and empathy for what they’re going through – the growing pains of the training, the frustration of experiencing a major breakthrough and then falling flat on your face and everything in between and the sacrifices required to truly make a commitment to this training and to your dream. I get it. I love meeting a brand new class and looking out at them and thinking to myself, “You all have no idea the ride you’re about to take.” I know the magic that happens in that classroom. And I know the hard work and dedication that’s required to earn that magic.

2. Tell us about your upcoming projects.

I recently accepted a full-time position at the Meisner Technique Studio as Assistant Director and Head of Faculty, so I am now teaching several classes as well as working with Jim to develop new classes, events and offerings for our students. I am currently developing a class called Shakespeare and the Meisner Technique that we’ll soon be offering. I have also been brought in as a guest teacher at high schools in the community, and this is something I’m very excited about. I love working with high school students – they are so wide open and enthusiastic and typically haven’t been exposed to the type of passion and commitment and authenticity in acting that we introduce them to.

I am also a member of the Studio, our Tuesday night playground for graduates of our training, and I’m very excited to be a cast member of our upcoming web series TABLE ONE. In the next several months, I will be focusing on teaching, and I also hope to produce another film. Last summer I produced and starred in a film entitled Comeback. This film is the first to be birthed out of The Studio. I am very interested in creating strong roles for women, and I have so many talented colleagues and friends, so I hope to collaborate with them on a beautiful piece showcasing their talent and strength.

3. Talk to us about the courage it takes to go after your dream.

For the past ten years, I worked in a very safe, secure, well-paying job with great benefits, retirement, IRA, paid time off, etc., and I was working my way up the professional ladder and leading a very comfortable lifestyle. I was also teaching, observing Jim’s classes and acting just about every evening after work and on the weekends. And although I actually enjoyed my ‘day’ career, it didn’t feed my soul. It just fed my lifestyle. And for many, that’s enough. Or at least they convince themselves that it’s enough. But for me, it isn’t. Jim and I discussed the idea of me working with him at the school full-time for several months before I actually left my job. I saved as much money as possible, and with Jim’s help I created a plan for my exit. When I ‘broke the news’ to my parents, both were supportive but expressed their concerns for my financial security, retirement, healthcare, etc. All of the things I expected to hear. But they both know by now that I have a different view of work and life than they do, and we went through our growing pains with that years ago, so they really have been incredibly supportive, and I am so grateful to them for that. I’ve had mixed responses from others – everything from, “Are you sure it’s the right time to be changing careers? You know, in this economy?” to “I wish I had the courage to take that kind of leap.” So it’s everything. But here’s the beauty of where I’m standing – I don’t care what anyone thinks. It’s my dream and my career and my life and I only have this one. I’m now 35, and I’ve been wading in the shallow end of my dream for a very long time, so now it’s time to jump. Have I had moments when I’ve felt fearful? Absolutely. I’d be lying if I said there haven’t been moments when I fear all of the uncertainties of this career choice. But I think this sums it up perfectly – when we finally made the decision to truly move forward with this, Jim asked, “So, are you scared?” And my answer, without hesitation, was, “The only thing that scares me is not doing it.”

Now I want to stress that I didn’t just jump blindly. I am not saying that our students or anyone should quit their day job tomorrow. No, no, no. I worked extremely hard to earn this opportunity, and once I made the decision, I planned and sacrificed and ‘set the table,’ as Jim puts it. I had to exercise patience, persistence and faith. Looking back on it all, I now know that everything I’ve ever done has led me to teaching actors. Everything. When I was in the middle of the road, not knowing what was ahead, there were many times when I felt discouraged, scared, frustrated and even hopeless. There were times when I thought my life would be so much easier if I was just ‘normal,’ if I could be satisfied with having my safe job and safe life. There was a chapter when I absolutely thought I could settle for that existence, but you wouldn’t be reading this article if I had turned left at that intersection in my life. This transition has been several years in the making. I’ve sacrificed greatly. My heart has been broken, and unfortunately I had to hurt someone who signed up for something else. I’ve been judged, and I’ve been called insane and irresponsible. But I’m also standing right where I want to be, living the life I was meant to live.

I can’t talk about this major life change without giving proper respect to Jim Jarrett, my friend and my teacher. Jim and I were absolutely supposed to find each other. He has been my greatest inspiration and support. Jim has been the single most instrumental influence in my dream and in my life. He taught me that I have a powerful voice and that what I have to say is important. He has held my hand through the darkest days of my dream and my life. He taught me about greatness and courage and has had an unwavering belief in my talent as a teacher and as an actor. I have so much respect for this great teacher, this great man, this great friend, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunities he has offered me and for trusting me with the gift he has given me – sharing his school and his students with me.