School Audition Prep
All colleges, universities, conservatories, and specialized high schools have very specific audition requirements. Many of my clients have auditioned for numerous programs, and have been accepted to Yale, Emerson, Ithaca, ACT, LaGuardia, and NYU, among others.
I am an audition coach and I have students on and off Broadway, in major films and TV shows and many fine university theatre programs, colleges and fine arts schools all over the world. I have been coaching for 39 years in New York City. I know I would be able to make your audition comfortable and the best you could be.
What you do in production and class is quite different from what you do in an audition. I might very well be adjusting your focus and having you work differently with language and intention. What happens in an audition is unique and needs to represent a very specific type of presentation. I teach master classes at colleges and schools so that teachers who don’t know what goes on in the audition room can learn the difference between audition and performance presentation.
“When I was looking for a high school audition coach for my son, I reached out to multiple people to see who might be the best fit for us. As soon as I spoke with Deena, all the other people I'd been considering moved to the bottom of the list. As a parent who has professional acting experience myself, I could tell that Deena was just the type of established coach we were looking for. From day one, she treated my son like a young professional, imparting her wisdom and experience, but also honoring his thoughts and feelings about the work. Together, they identified pieces that spoke to him and he was excited to work on and that were not going to be monologues that everyone else was doing. Over the course of several months, they worked together on the pieces so that he felt confident not only in his acting choices, but also in other things like slating for the video auditions and practicing interview questions for the in person auditions. While we are still awaiting admission decisions to be released, my son is happy with the quality of the work he was able to share through his audition. I know that we came to Deena for a specific purpose, but the relationship that they formed will continue beyond the high school audition season.” — VTW
“She takes the time to get to know her students as both artists and people, and is therefore able to find material that showcases them in the most exceptional light. Working with her is always a joy and every session feels like a gift and a breath of fresh air. We all know that this business is filled with struggles, hardships, and huge bumps in the road. Every actor deserves to have someone like Deena in their corner, not just during those times, but always, to cheer them on, give them guidance, and remind them of the passion, drive, and talent they possess and all the reasons to persevere.”
Photo by Dave Cross
“Deena is an amazing teacher! I came to her feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by choosing new material for my book. She has not only matched me with new amazing pieces but has helped me feel confident in my performances of them. Her industry savvy is matched with motherly warmth and support and I always leave each session, not only feeling good about my material, but feeling great about being an actor. From film scene work, to commercial copy to musical theatre, she has helped me find deeper connections and stronger performances in each. She encourages me to always strive for the best, and I have never felt so supported in my pursuit of acting!”
“My family and I were living out of the country and were moving back to the city at the end of the summer, unsure of what high school I would be attending. I was set on getting into the LaGuardia Performing Arts High School. We were on a time crunch and I saw Deena 4 or 5 times to prepare. Because of her and the work we did, I am now a student at the school. She helped me shape my craft, learn things about my voice, and years later, I continue to see her for auditions because of her skill and knowledge about music, but also the warmth of her personality. Now heading to college, the auditions that I have prepared with Deena have secured my place in the best performing arts program. Thank you, Deena! ”
“When I first started seeing Deena, I was auditioning for performing arts high school in NYC. Not only did she have a great knowledge of the type of material they were looking for, but even specifics about the audition room and process from years of experience from preparing kids. She handpicked material for me, even cutting together monologues that were so mine that she never used them for other students. Now as a Senior at LaGuardia, I have performed and starred in mainstage productions of my dreams, and I never would have got there without Deena’s personalized coaching.
Six years later and here I am, still coming back to her; The main reason is her complete and utter dedication to the individual. Even if I go a few months without seeing her, the second I walk into her studio it’s as if no time has passed. She still knows exactly what songs fit my voice and which monologues fit my type. Each of her students is a personal project that she gives her 100% effort to. This year, as I entered the college process, Deena guided me through picking and filming my arts supplements which had a huge part in my gaining admission to Princeton University.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of being coached by Deena since the seventh grade. Without Deena’s expertise I would not have been able to successfully audition for high school, nor would I have made it through the BFA audition process. Deena’s expertise in the performing arts is unmatched, and she always knows how to help put a performer’s best foot forward and make them stand out from the rest of the pool. All the material she has given me has been perfectly tailored and unique to me, and with her guidance, I was able to gain admission to LaGuardia High School as a vocal major, as well as five of the seven acting programs I applied to for college. Learning from Deena since I was so young has been wonderful, and as I’ve grown up taking lessons with her she has pushed me to be the best performer I can be. Deena is always incredibly supportive and has met me with nothing but kindness and generosity and I am very grateful I’ve had the opportunity to work with her. ”