Faculty

Theresa Hayes is a Cum Laude graduate of U.C.L.A where she received her degree in Theatre Arts. Her stage credits include Sophisticated Ladies where she won a Best Actress Award, Dreamgirls (Deena), The Tap Dance Kid (Carole), Man of La Mancha (Aldonza), A Chorus Line (Cassie), Sweet Charity (Helene), West Side Story (Anita). Television and Film include “No Good Nick”, “Matlock”, “Dynasty”, “The Charmings”, most recently the film ”Pure O” and in the season 2 credits for “B Positive”. She was the Director of Instruction at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts where she cast over 100 stage productions a year. Some of her favorite shows she directed were: Proof, Eclipsed, Into the Woods, The Tiger, Dancing at Lughnasa, Enter The Guardsman, How I Learned to Drive, For Colored Girls Who Have Committed Suicide (When the Rainbow is Enough), and Women of Manhattan. She completed the training in Breathing Coordination and is also a Certified Alba Instructor (L3). She is thrilled to be a part of the EMAS team.

Jordana Oberman: (Meisner Technique and Technique Series) has been teaching and acting for the past 15 years between New York City and Los Angeles. She has worked with Roundabout Theatre Company, The Women’s Project, The 92nd Street Y and is currently proud to be on faculty at The Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio. Acting highlights include - NY: World Premiere Avalon (Spotlight On Award- BEST ACTRESS); South of Delancey (George Street Playhouse), Spanky, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Regional: The Beauty Queen of Leenane and God of Carnage (Directed by Michael Serna), Rabbit Hole (Directed by Eric Hunicutt), One in the Chamber (Directed by Marja Lewis-Ryan), The Homosexuals (Celebration Theatre), LA Premiere Dear Harvey; Extraordinary Chambers – The Reading (SCR) TV/Film: Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Synapse, Preening Swan (Nominated - BEST ACTRESS Vienna Fright Night FilmFestival). Jordana has her Master’s from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and completed the 2 year Meisner Program at EMAS.

“Teaching is as much a part of my craft as Acting. Our quest as an artist is consistently growing, progressing and morphing through our commitment to constant discovery. Being a part of that journey for others is beautifully humbling as I learn more every day from my students than perhaps they learn from me.”

Elizabeth Mestnik ( Meisner Technique, Scene Study) is an award winning, actress, director and teacher. Elizabeth founded EMAS to bring her New York style of professional actor training to the west coast. -She received her MFA in Acting from Rutgers University under the tutelage of William Esper, Sandy Meisner's associate at the Neighborhood Playhouse for over 17 years, and New York's leading Meisner teacher. Mr. Esper highly recommends her as a teacher stating "Elizabeth is a first rate and versatile teacher, compelling, intelligent and dedicated, with a clear method that leads others to bring their ideas to light. I cannot say enough good things about her." She has taught at Rutgers University and Chapman University as well as various private studios. She has coached such renowned actors as Ed Asner, Fred Savage, Charles Michael Davis and Sharif Atkins in both New York City and Los Angeles and is on the referral coaching lists of numerous agents and managers. Her directing credits have garnered critical acclaim. The L.A. Times called her direction "dazzling" and "magical". Her students have worked in theater, film and television, including performances on Boyhood, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Good Wife, Criminal Minds, Key and Peele, ER, Law and Order, Arrested Development, The Office, 24, According to Jim, Still Standing, 40 Year Old Virgin, , X-Men, Broadway, off-Broadway, West Coast Ensemble, South Coast Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, The El Portal, The Pasadena Playhouse, Taper Too!, Shakespeare Orange County and many others.

“This studio is a very special place – a place where I get to see students transform before my eyes. I love seeing potential transform into a beautiful, moving performance. I love to watch people discover themselves, their uniqueness and what they have to offer the world. Even if they decide not to pursue acting professionally – that type of personal growth is inspiring.”

Alex (Sandy) Egan (The Meisner Technique) is an actor, director, and has been on the faculty of EMAS since 2006. He is a graduate of Occidental College where he received his bachelor's degree in Theater. He completed an internship at New York's famed Circle Repertory Company and completed the two-year Meisner program with William Esper at the Willam Esper Studio. Sandy has appeared in many Los Angeles area productions at theaters including the Odyssey Theater Ensemble and South Coast Repertory. He was a member of The Groundlings Sunday Company and with Acme Comedy Company. He also received a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Michael Yurchak (Meisner Technique, Technique Series, Voice for the Actor) is an award winning actor, voice over artist and educator. He has taught voice over and acting workshops around the country to all levels of students. In addition to his work with EMAS, Michael works as a Lead Teaching Artist for Shakespeare Center LA, Pasadena Playhouse, Center Theater Group, and Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum. He holds a BA from Colgate University and an MA from NYU and is a Certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework.

Michael has appeared in multiple films (and television programs including Modern Family, Franklin and Bash, Mad Men, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He also has extensive stage credits in both LA and New York, including Death of A Salesman, Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

As a voice artist, Michael currently plays recurring roles on the hit animated shows The Legend of Korra (Nickelodeon) and Naruto (Disney XD). He has voiced dozens of commercials and video games a New York News Emmy Award for his promo work on NY1 for which he also received the Silver Promax Award two years in a row.

“My practice as an actor is as informed by my teaching, as my teaching is informed by the craft. Curiosity yields discovery, and it is an honor to assist with people’s journey as they discover a process of their own.”

Ken Weiler (Meisner Technique) received his MFA in Theater Arts from Mason Gross School of the Arts under the tutelage of William Esper and Maggie Flanigan. He’s worked for over twenty years with appearances in dozens of commercials and numerous appearances in film and episodic television including Blunt Talk, Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Friends, The West Wing, Desperate Housewives, and Days of our Lives

He is also an accomplished musician, performing with his band The Four Postmen at various L.A. venues

“Helping our students create truthful authentic behavior is challenging but rewarding, because the training works. As a working actor, as well as teacher, that is exciting to witness week in and week out.”