Jeff Passero

Scene study, audition skills and private coaching available in New York every Thursday at 1:30. Midtown Manhattan location. Call 818-437-1612 or email for further details. Dependant on scheduling availablity, see latest news for classes.

I was born an hour from Manhattan, in Norwalk, CT and grew up on New York theatre. I consider my years of theatre going to be my greatest teacher. They gave me the respect I have for the craft of acting. To this day, theatre going is one of my life's greatest passions.

I developed my technique as a teacher from my training as an actor. In my early years, I studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. I studied Speech and Drama at Catholic University, and then continued working on technique at the famed HB Studios with Ed Moorhouse and Uta Hagen. I finally honed my skills in scene study with Terry Schreiber and Larry Moss. I also had the opportunity to spend several years studying musical theatre audition technique with the late, great David Craig. These teachers who gave me so much and whom I hold in high esteem, inspired me to pass on all that I've learned to the next generation of actors.

Teen and adult classes New York: Scene Study, Monologue, On-Camera Audition Skills, Musical Theatre Audition Technique & College Audition Preparation

Private Coaching

My goal as a teacher is to bring to classes my talent and knowledge as both a trained actor and a working casting director. My scene study classes for both adults and teens will concentrate on two character scenes and monologues from contemporary plays. We will focus on acting technique, script breakdown, character development and the kind of moment-to-moment work that translates into great acting. Class will include acting exercises, voice and body work, and improves, which will allow the actors to break through acting and emotional blocks and to use their imaginations to make strong choices while remaining truthful in their acting. In addition, a portion of the class will be spent on audition skills and on-camera work. Once a year we will do a presentation of scenes for industry guests. If they desire, students will be able to utilize my vast resources as a casting director to learn about the business of breaking into the business. We will cover topics such as how to go about seeking an agent and/or manager, joining theatre companies, and the importance of networking.

"Jeff is the kind of coach, teacher and mentor who pushes you beyond the limits you've set for yourself. He's taught me to truly dive into the process and put in the work, to always ask questions and dig deeper, be bold with your character's intentions and push myself to make choices that feel scary, all with a loving sense of humor that makes me love coming into his class every time."
-Katya Martin
("Promised Land" ABC-TV)

"Jeff Passero is the most well-rounded acting coach I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Not only is he a teacher, but he's also a casting director, producer, director, and performer, himself. So his unique perspective and knowledge of the craft is really all-encompassing. As a student, I really benefited from his wealth of knowledge and his discerning application of the craft. Few people in my life have impacted me as a human and as an actor as much as Jeff has."
- Rachel Finninger
Actress / Model

"Jeff has helped me prepare for nearly every audition I've been on. His experience as an actor and casting director has been invaluable. He has a genuine love of the craft, and it shows. I'm a better actor for having known and worked with Jeff Passero"
- Bebe Wood
Actress (series regular The Real O'Neals/ABC; The New Normal/NBC)

"Jeff's coaching allows me to explore the intentions of my character while still keeping it natural. After working with him, I had a much firmer grasp of the character, which assisted me greatly in landing the part of Fredrika."
- Katherine McNamara
Actress/Singer (2010 Broadway revival of A Little Night Music; Shadowhunters/TV Series)

"Jeffery Passero is a dedicated, gifted, and insightful acting coach. I have been working with Jeff for the past several years and he is largely responsible for the jobs I've been cast in and for my acceptances into several BFA programs. Without his help and expertise, I would not have been accepted into Carnegie Mellon's BFA program. He is a wonderful teacher, not just of acting technique, but in helping to instill a strong work ethic in his students."
- Jahquan Wynder
Actor

"If you're looking for a teacher who can give you specific tools and technique for the craft of acting, Jeff is the perfect teacher. He is incredibly clear and gives his students tangible pathways to becoming a better actor.">
- Doug Carpenter
Actor/Singer

"Jeff Passero is a gifted teacher. He has the "golden key" to the pathway of finding the true breadth of your character. He encouraged me to draw from my own unresolved relationships to focus on what I want, as it relates to my character's overall objective, and to go after it with fierce determination."
- Idella Johnson
Actress/Singer

Musical Theatre Audition Technique and Performance

My musical theatre workshop will consist of four classes in which we will focus on the mastering of an up-tempo and a ballad for musical auditions, both contemporary and Broadway. Students will learn to approach a song as they would a monologue: as an acting piece. By giving their character strong intentions and a fully developed inner life, students' finished performances will be moving and have a physical life which will have evolved naturally, as opposed to a piece where every move looks choreographed. In a bad performance, the performer is thinking more about the notes they're singing and the moves they're making. In a good performance, those same notes and moves will come out of the performer's acting choices. I studied the craft of Musical Theatre with David Craig and my teaching draws largely from his landmark book, "On Singing On Stage" and his last book, "A Performer Prepares".

"Jeffery Passero is a first rate interpreter of David Craig's technique. His class is invaluable."
- Lonny Price
Broadway Director of A Class Act; 110 In the Shade; Urban Cowboy; Sunset Boulevard (revival)

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