CLIENT TESTIMONAILS

"I would not have been accepted to graduate school if it were not for him!"

Alexandra Maurice (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA; Also accepted NYU GRAD ACTING AND COLUMBIA)

"To call Brian simply a 'coach' does not nearly encapsulate all that he has done for me in my journey. Brian was recommended to me by a friend, and the first time that I worked with him he guided me to work in a way that I had not been able to for years. He provided a safe space for me to play and explore, and I was able to find the joy that was missing in my work. Brian has been there every step of the way, from monologue selection to being one of the first people I called when I got accepted. He has the incredible gift of being able to meet you wherever you are in your process and gently guide you to a more meaningful and authentic expression of yourself. Brian gave me a new perspective on how to approach applying to graduate school that ultimately gave me my confidence and power back. His passion and attention to detail were so palpable that I left each session with a new sense of inspiration. The two greatest gifts that Brian gave me were permission and ownership: permission to make a mess and ownership of my work. The gems I learned with Brian are mine forever and to simply put it, I would not have been accepted to graduate school if it were not for him. I am forever grateful."

"Brian is the ultimate Acting Guru, a true genius at his work."

Aman Soni (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

"One of the many stages in Joseph Campbell's "Journey of a Hero" is ‘when the hero finds his mentor who then helps him achieve his goal’. If your journey is to get yourself into one the world’s top drama schools you would be extremely fortunate to have Brian McManamon as your guide and your mentor to help you get to your goal. Brian is the ultimate Acting Guru, a true genius at his work. His million dollar talent lies in his magical trick to make you overcome the 'audition anxiety'. He would thoroughly scrub all kinds of impurities from your talented soul – ‘worries, judgments, predictions and fears’ and you will courageously enter the audition room with pure passion for the work you do. Brian inspired freedom and love in the work that I took inside the audition room, it made all the difference for me to get an acceptance at Brown Trinity. I would highly recommend Brian's coaching magic to anyone who is planning to apply to Drama Schools."

"Brian showed me it was possible to make a life in the theater"

Jose Espinosa (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA; Also accepted A.R.T./HARVARD):

"When I first met Brian I had been in one show and was hesitant to even refer to myself as an actor. Brian's tremendous gift as a teacher is his ability to work with actors at any stage in their training and artistic process and to help them reveal more of themselves through their work. The questions that Brian asks during rehearsal are questions I have come to ask of myself, both in my acting work and in my own life. Brian's teaching helped me to frame the process of auditioning for MFA programs as a truly creative endeavor-one where I could make an artistic statement through my work and take ownership over my career. His words and presence have helped me to take greater risks and find more enjoyment in my work. Truly, he was the first person I met that showed me it was possible to make a life in the theater."

"He's generous, present, kind and patient and will get you results!"

Medina Senghore (Matriculated: JUILLIARD):

“Working with Brian to prepare for my grad school auditions is the smartest thing I could have done. He has insights about the audition process that I never would have figured out on my own. Yes, he will put you in position to do your best work but that is just a portion of what makes for a successful grad school audition. The other pieces you can only learn from someone who has been through the process and Brian shares that information with generosity while simultaneously coaching with expertise. Brian is an incredibly gifted and highly intuitive teacher. He has a way of saying things so that they click immediately and I can put them right into my work. But he's not heavy handed. He simply empowered me to bravely experiment and to trust my own choices. I've booked every audition I've gone on since I started working with Brian and I think it's because he really trained me to find the answers myself. As a result, I'm much more confident in my audition prep and execution. The other benefit of working with Brian is that he has a gentle but probing way of and unlocking what you need to do to present your best work. Much of our work together was about stripping away: my fears, my excuses, my over-thinking. With his help, I was able to unlock all the fun, playful impulses that were already there and just needed to be set free. He's generous, present, kind and patient and will get you results! I highly recommend him.”

"It will shape who you are as an actor and an artist for the rest of your life"

Leslie Fray (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING  Waitlisted: JUILLIARD):

“The work we did made me feel incredibly prepared for the entire grad school auditioning process, but more importantly it informed me of who I was as an actor and a person, what kind of work I wanted to create, and ultimately how to master my craft in order to make it happen. Brian helps you access your strengths, giving you the tools to create the work you have always wanted to by YOURSELF. The work you do with Brian doesn’t end at the audition or play you were preparing for, it will shape who you are as an actor and an artist for the rest of your life."

"Without a doubt, the best thing I've done for myself as an actor"

Yonatan Gebeyehu (Matriculated: UCSD):

“I simply cannot speak highly enough about Brian as a teacher and a coach. He's done so much for me as an actor and a person. The best gift he's given me is the permission to be unapologetically myself throughout this entire process. He's encouraged me to pick pieces that spoke to me, and guided me through the work in a way that allowed me to connect in a very personal way. There's no recipe for getting into these schools, but Brian puts you at a huge advantage by helping YOU shine, your strengths and your flaws, in a very beautiful way. He's also been a constant reminder that acting this fun, and I do this because I love it. Working with him is such a fun process, and he allows you to bring so much joy and play into your work, which is something that is incredibly invaluable throughout this process. Having Brian as a teacher and coach is, without a doubt, the best thing I've done for myself as an actor.” 

“Brian is the grad school audition shaman”

Maggie McCaffery (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA)

“Brian is the grad school audition shaman. As far as I’m concerned, he’s the only person you need to go to when auditioning for grad school programs. He was there for me whenever I felt lost, panicky, or overwhelmed. He was a guiding light throughout this very daunting process, and made me feel at ease every step of the way. And most importantly, he made it FUN! If you’ve made the decision to apply this coming year or the next and don’t know where to begin or what to do, the very best thing you can do for yourself is to go to Brian. I could not have done this without him.”

“My mom thinks her prayer group got me into Juilliard, but it was really Brian”

Samuel Im (Matriculated: JUILLIARD: Also accepted: BROWN/TRINITY and A.C.T.)

“My mom thinks her prayer group got me into Juilliard, but it was really Brian McManamon. He will remind you what you love about your pieces and your craft. He will give you the tools to navigate the most stressful auditions imaginable. He has a way of nudging you into doing your best work - he'll make a small suggestion, and suddenly the path is clear. Working with Brian is a joy and a gift. I can't recommend him enough.”

“Brian EMPOWERS you.”

John Selby (Matriculated: LAMDA):

"There is no other coach/artist/human being I would want by my side going through the process of applying to grad acting schools than Brian McManamon. Limitless. That is how he made me feel on our journey together. From the very first session, Brian EMPOWERS you. I immediately felt his grace, passion for the work, and sense of play, and every session after was always the highlight of my day, because I knew I had a safe space to explore my pieces, continue to grow in my craft, and just have a blast. Brian did ultimately help me achieve my goal of attending grad school, but the thing I am truly most grateful for is the discoveries I made about myself along the way, and I could not have done so without Brian. He is a vessel of empathy. He listens to you. He creates community. He welcomes and celebrates every ounce of who you are as a person, and he loves the art in you. I can say without hesitation, working with Brian is a tremendous blessing."

"No one is working harder than Brian to help you get where you want to go"

Conrad Schott (Matriculated: SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY'S ACADEMY OF CLASSICAL ACTING at GEORGE WASHINGTON):

“Getting help from Brian is absolutely the best thing you can do for yourself if you would like to improve your chances of getting into grad school.  In his private coaching, he is incredibly generous, astute, talented, and tons of fun - but what sets him apart from every other coach is that he has made it his personal quest to demystify the MFA audition process by investing so much of his personal energy into providing previously unheard-of resources and opportunities, such as the MFA panel and the mock auditions.  Anyone who is truly serious about grad school would be crazy not to take advantage of these unique offerings.  For the panel, he gathers recent graduates of all the top MFA programs and hosts an invaluable question-answer session with them, providing his clients with the priceless opportunity to learn about these programs and their students' experiences first-hand.  Even more valuable are his mock auditions, without which I would be utterly lost. I attended two of his meticulously orchestrated mock auditions, which gave me the luxury to make a number of mistakes BEFORE the actual audition, rather than learning the hard way.  Do yourself a big favor and enlist Brian's help.  No one is working harder than Brian to help you get where you want to go.”

"It sounds cheesy but he really did change my life."

Keeley Miller (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING)

"Brian is an intuitive, intelligent, warm and gifted teacher, coach and human being. He honestly and gently guided me through the grad school process. He reframed some very destructive self talk I had been using in my work and I am forever grateful. Coaching with him turned out to be more than getting in to grad school, he changed the way I approach my process and my value and that will stay with me in all my work to come. He dares you to be brave enough to show up with all of your self! He was always present in the moment with me, guiding me with excitement and compassion and a keen eye for the craft. I simultaneously felt like a student and a peer and Brian always coached without ego. (A very rare thing to find in this industry). He brought out my authenticity and did it without force and seemingly without effort which I believe speaks to his subtly, nuance and deep knowledge of humans, the process of acting and growth within this craft. He is a true gift. It sounds cheesy but he really did change my life."

“Brian's support will help you to maximize returns—especially those of the soul”

Jesse Cao Long (Matriculated: COLUMBIA. Also accepted: BROWN/TRINITY)

“Working with Brian has been transformative and utterly crucial. Prior to our first session, my experience with the MFA application process felt like an amorphous, anxious reaching around in the dark. Brian brought structure, form, and thoughtful wisdom to each step of the process, as well as an invaluable shift in mindset — one away from viewing this process as a distinct means to a zero-sum end, and instead toward regarding applications and auditions as a rare, lucky opportunity to take stock of the artist that you are and that which you want to be. I'll continue to carry these immense gifts with me as I go to school and pursue a career. This wild time in your life is a massive investment in yourself, and Brian's support will help you to maximize returns—especially those of the soul—on that investment.”

“I am forever indebted to Brian’s wizardry”

Lambert Tamin (Matriculated: JUILLIARD)

“Brian is the reason I got into Grad school, without question. Right away, he cleared the firestorm of myths circulating in my brain about the process. Brian also taught me to relinquish my obsession with “perfection” and to instead to lead with my love and gratitude for both the material and the overall audition process without attaching myself to any “outcomes.” For the first time during any grad school audition process I was completely at peace with myself, so much so that I even received a compliment from one of the other auditioners about my “Zen-like” state of mind! I owe all of that to Brian. I am forever indebted to Brian’s wizardry and if you are looking for a Grad school coach, contact him right now. You won’t regret it!”

“After each session I felt as though a weight had been lifted”

Marcus Fitzpatrick (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING)

“Working with Brian is the best decision you can make for yourself if you plan to audition for MFA acting programs. My last audition cycle before working with Brian was stressful because it was clouded with doubt, worry and the possibility of rejection. I made the audition process solely about the schools and what they wanted in a candidate rather than reflecting inward and asking myself what do I want in a school? What Brian does is help you bring your own unique self to the work while fostering an environment where you feel free to explore. He has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the graduate school audition process. After each session I felt as though a weight had been lifted and the limitations I accumulated over the years would start to vanish. By the time audition season came around I was completely unburdened with the feeling of self doubt that was prevalent the previous year. It now became about honoring my own artistic journey by performing the pieces I loved without the worry of how it’s being received.”

"Working with Brian will change your entire audition experience, and potentially, your life."

Eli Pauley (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA.  Also accepted: CASE WESTERN RESERVE/CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE)

"In our very first session, my entire perspective on grad school auditions was changed. I promise that working with Brian will change your entire audition experience, and potentially, your life. Brian talked me through my anxiety, my grief, and my elation on his own time. He is more than a coach: he is a mentor, therapist, teacher, and friend. Brian is the most invaluable and worthy resource you could invest in to achieve your MFA goals. I feel certain I would not have achieved my dream of attending Yale without his guidance, wisdom, and generosity."

"Brian helped me break past my debilitating fears and made the process one of artistic exploration"

Rivka Borek (Matriculated: A.C.T.)

“Brian McManamon. That was the name I kept hearing over and over again as I put feelers out inquiring about the grad school process and how to get ready. Before I started seeing Brian (and even during!), I was a nervous wreck. These were scary, life-deciding auditions! A decision would be made during my four minutes in the room that could change my life for the better or affirm my worst fears (failure). There was so much anxiety surrounding the whole process that I felt completely paralyzed by it. Brian helped break past my debilitating fears and made the process one of artistic exploration. Suddenly, things were fun. We were able to push aside my anxiety and focus on living as these exciting characters for a few minutes. After each session, my head would be reeling with new thoughts about my pieces. I became excited to share them. The Audition wasn’t a moment to live and die by. Instead, I was able to enter the rooms and play. Without Brian’s attention to what was holding me back, I never would have felt so free in my auditions. Since working with Brian, I’ve recommended him to everyone who’s brought up wanting to go to grad school. Just do it!” 

"I always left our sessions with my feet on new ground"

Laura Lapidus (Matriculated: LAMDA)

Brian is freakishly generous, attentive and genuine. His gift as a teacher has to do with his way of seeing. He demands my fullest potential simply by seeing it is there. His style is collaborative - it happens live in the room - it’s not about a formula or a rightness. I always left our sessions with my feet on new ground. He insists that regardless of the nature of any audition, the joy is in lending the parts of myself to my pieces that only I can. No matter what is on the “agenda” with Brian, something always unlocks.

“Had it not been for Brian, I would not be going to graduate school”

Victoria Duffy (Matriculated: CASE WESTERN RESERVE/CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE; also accepted: EAST15):

“Had it not been for Brian, I would not be going to graduate school this upcoming fall. I started working with Brian later in the grad school audition cycle. I had completed my first two auditions to no avail. My confidence was tanking and I had completely lost passion for my pieces. After realizing that I couldn't do it alone, I found Brian on facebook and reached out. It changed my entire audition experience. After only our first session together, my confidence had returned, as did my passion for the material. He knew these schools well and made sure I was well prepared for each individual audition. Out of the 8 schools I auditioned for under Brian's guidance, I was accepted to 2, waitlisted for 2, and received final callbacks for 2. Brian is one of the greatest coaches I’ve ever worked with. His nurturing and nonjudgmental approach enabled me to have fun and make choices in the room. He taught me how to trust my talent and showcase my personhood as well as my artistry. I will continue to carry his lessons far beyond my graduate school audition process, and am forever grateful for the confidence he instilled in me as an auditioner and an artist."

"Brian's resources are unmatched -- simply invaluable."

Ann-Kathryne Mills (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING)

"Brian broke every mental barrier between me and my dream school. From monologues to debunking every nonsensical myth, he was instrumental in increasing my comfort level throughout my preparation. He redirects nervous energy into support for the work, focusing instead on serving the character and story. As much as the application and audition processes are about sharing oneself through the work, Brian's discerning eye separates you from the perceived gravity of the personal stakes to return to the characters' circumstances, revealing the truest you and the clearest stories. Beyond coaching, Brian's resources are unmatched -- simply invaluable. He eased me out of my anxiety and...into Grad Acting. Ever grateful."

"He's a wizard!"

Alex Shaw (Matriculated: JUILLIARD):

“As a coach, Brian has a gift of making you feel more at ease, more invigorated, always more curious about your pieces, more excited to NOT KNOW and explore!!  He's a wizard!  If you're lucky enough to have the chance to work with him, DO IT.”

“A great strategist, a rigorous coach, and the most genuine cheerleader”

Anna Civik (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING):

“I think there is a little bit of magic in the way that Brian starts the process of working - he wants you to LOVE your pieces, to play with them, and to make the daunting process of auditioning for graduate school a gift to your artistry. These are Brian's rules of engagement - you are never done working, and I am so excited to keep working on mine far past these auditions. He brims with optimism but never without intensity - a great strategist, a rigorous coach, and the most genuine cheerleader.”

“There is something alchemical about Brian’s ability to help you unlock your inner artist”

Kyle McClellan (Matriculated: COLUMBIA. Also accepted: A.C.T., PACE, DePAUL, BRISTOL/OLD VIC and LAMDA.)

“It’s hard for me to believe now that at first I was hesitant about working with a coach for grad auditions- I foolishly had a chip on my shoulder about wanting to prove I could do it all without anyone’s help. Still, I didn’t want to find myself at the end of the process thinking, “What if…?” So I figured I’d try one session with Brian: what could be the harm in that? Well, needless to say, that one session was only the first of many, for working with Brian was nothing short of life changing. He shattered my idea and expectations of what an acting coach can be, but more than that, he helped me shatter the creative, mental, and physical restrictions I didn’t even realize I was putting on myself as an artist. There is something alchemical about Brian’s ability to help you unlock your inner artist, always knowing exactly what questions to ask to help you take your work to a newer, deeper, and more personally authentic level. With Brian, the audition room becomes a playground where you have the golden opportunity to explore your pieces in new and exciting ways, freed completely of the inhibiting desires to be “right” or “perfect.” Brian is truly a wealth of knowledge and experience, but more importantly, he is a genuinely kind and passionate person with a true gift as a teacher, and he was there for me every step of the way. Brian didn’t just help me get into grad school…he helped me take ownership over my work and believe in myself as an artist again.”

“I truly have no idea how I would’ve done any of this without Brian”

Julien Alam (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING):

“Brian absolutely transformed my MFA audition experience. Coming into the process, I was a ball of anxiety with endless questions. Of course, Brian offered valuable expertise into a process that can be impossible to decipher. Armed with his knowledge, I had a much greater understanding of what the auditions entailed and what I should expect. More than anything, however, Brian empowered me to see these auditions as an opportunity to grow and share what I love. He didn’t take all my anxiety away (no one can do that!), but he completely upended how I imagined the auditions. He made them a place of discovery, of trial and error, and of genuine passion. He brought me back to the reason I love acting in the first place: to genuinely connect with other human beings. Thanks to him, I learned so much about myself as an artist and as a person through the audition process. I truly have no idea how I would’ve done any of this without Brian.”

"The time you spend with Brian will last a lifetime"

Claire Fort (Matriculated: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. Waitlisted: BROWN/TRINITY):

“Brian cares deeply for his students. He takes the time to get to know the REAL YOU.  Brian's open heart, humor, and love for actors kept me focused and eased the anxiety of the entire process. He consistently checks in to make sure you are feeling confident with your work.  Brian challenges you to play more fearlessly and creatively in your work. Brian asks you to do the crucial work: the daring, fearless work of bringing 100 % of yourself into the room. Additionally, rigorous text and character work in coaching sessions, mock auditions and the graduate panel fully prepared me to succeed in my auditions and to enjoy the process.   Brian worked with me to find pieces I loved, that were specific to where I am in my life and with the work. He has an amazing ability to help you find the heart of YOU in each piece, making it possible to work honestly and confidently.  The time you spend with Brian will last a lifetime. I bring my work with him into every audition, class and rehearsal. Brian has made me a better actor, a better scene partner, and a better person. His compassion for actors is rare. No one will work harder to help you achieve your best work than Brian. It is with the highest regard and respect that I recommend Brian McManamon as the best MFA coach, and teacher you can work with in NYC.”

“Brian is an alchemist”

Anna Takayo (Matriculated: RADA):

“Brian is an alchemist. He holds space for all and everything that you are. He gives you room to expand beyond the edges of who you know yourself to be as an actor. You will transform under his guidance, not into that actor you've always admired, but rather, into YOU--the you unbound by your old judgements and limiting self-talk. He addresses the voice in your head that tells you "you can't do it" and challenges you to step into a deeper knowing--that you are enough. He invites all aspects of you into the room--the good, the bad, and the terribly awkward--and celebrates them as the very things that make you special (which you certainly are). You will find pieces that allow you to be full and free and remarkably relaxed (this, coming from an extremely worried person). You will look forward to Wednesdays at 11am (or whenever your sessions happen to be) because you will always leave lighter, shinier, more embodied, elevated by a clearer sense of self within your work, and of course, because Brian is a true friend, a champion, and a joy.”

“I walked away from this process with a real sense of ownership of my artistry”

Katherine Lane (Matriculated: JUILLIARD):

“It was a tremendous gift to be able to work with Brian throughout my MFA application process. He takes something that seems so daunting and illuminates the opportunities for fun and growth and celebration. And when you have that perspective available to you, it changes the whole game! His extensive knowledge about the process is so valuable in making you feel prepared logistically. Through things like mock auditions and grounding techniques, he helps you feel secure and therefore empowered to be bold in your artistic work. In his coaching he is always focused on bringing more of you into the room. Your passion, your ideas, your interests, your fears. So you know at the end of the day when you stand there, fully prepared (and you will be prepared), it is all you. Your work has not been geared towards pretending to be someone else or trying to show anyone what you think they want to see. I can't tell you how amazing that feels. I walked away from this process with a real sense of ownership of my artistry, in a way that I never could have imagined. He creates space and works with a mentality that helps you do that. It is really more than I could have ever asked for.”

“I get to study at an excellent school with some of the best teachers in the country!!! All because of Brian”

Sahil Kaur Dhaliwal (Matriculated: COLUMBIA):

“I tried many coaches during MFA auditions last year, yet was unsuccessful. This year, I knew Brian was THE ONE within 20 minutes of meeting him. He demystifies the MFA process and gets rid of any limitations we put on ourselves. Despite having no formal acting training/limited theater experience, I was urged to find MY voice and work on pieces I loved, regardless of how "good" they'd make me look to these schools.Brian subtly guides you to your own discoveries. Don’t believe me? I changed BOTH Shakespeare pieces 3 days before my Columbia audition, and after patiently hearing me out, Brian got me to revisit my original pieces and (I still don’t know how he did it) I had never felt so much joy, freedom and FUN working on these pieces before! MFA auditions ARE high stakes, expensive and intimidating, but Brian pulls us away from that pressure and brings us back to the JOY of the craft. I genuinely rediscovered my love for acting that day and I go back to that lesson whenever I feel stuck. I felt a HUGE shift, working with Brian, because this year I walked into auditions feeling excited to share my work rather than nervous to ‘get it right’. Just as he was the first one I’d text after callbacks, interviews and acceptance, (I’ll never forget answering his calls to his high pitched screams of excitement LOLLL) he was also there through the rejections, gently reframing my perspective and bringing me back to the joy and artistry of the craft. Grateful to have him as a mentor — and now I get to study at an excellent school with some of the best teachers in the country!!! All because of Brian. If you get the chance to work with him - do it!”

“Working with Brian fundamentally changed me as an actor for the better.”

Lucas Iverson (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA; Also accepted: NYU/GRAD ACTING and BROWN/TRINITY).

"For me, Brian’s greatest assets were his empathy and investment. In our sessions, he possessed an uncanny ability to pinpoint what I was wanting, what was getting in my way, and his breadth of experience allowed him to suggest what could be done about it. While we were working on monologues, it felt like everything Brian offered me went so much deeper than just one piece. This is what made him such a good match for me. Working with Brian fundamentally changed me as an actor for the better. It felt like a call to arms as an actor, and it made me look at the craft in a new light. With Brian, grad school came early. Our prep allowed me to actually have fun and enjoy the audition process – the weeks of auditioning became some of most fun I’d had as an actor in a while. Additionally, he is kind, caring, funny, and incredibly wise. He was everything I was looking for in an MFA coach and more. I would absolutely recommend seeing if he's a good match for you, too."

"He is your biggest fan and supporter" 

Rebecca Futterman (Matriculated: UCSD)

"I can’t imagine surviving the MFA audition season without Brian. Not only does he humanize the entire process, he helps you realize your own potential and enables you to walk in the room being your authentic self- not some phony audition version of yourself. He helped me find the perfect material to show who I am and we worked together so that once I stepped into my first audition I was truly excited to share the work with the people behind the table. Brian goes beyond being just a coach- he is your biggest fan and supporter. I can’t recommend working with him enough!!!"

“Brian has given me a newfound joy and freedom”

Max Younger (Matriculated: LAMDA):

"With Brian, it is all about PROCESS and JOY. I used to FEAR auditioning. My thoughts would race, I’d visibly shake, and seldom felt good about the work I’d done. After just a few sessions with Brian, I learned to internalize a feeling of EMPOWERMENT when it is time to audition. In addition to masterful acting guidance, he gives you the tools necessary in order to feel comfortable and confident with what YOU bring to the table. Ultimately, my work with Brian has given me a newfound joy and freedom with auditioning. For that, I am forever grateful."

"One of the best coaches I've ever had"

Dan Berlingeri (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING):

"Brian's one of the best coaches I've ever had! He's was present, and aware of my individual needs! He strove to bring out the best in me in a playful and challenging atmosphere!"

"Brian has a way of getting right to the heart of you as an actor"

Caroline Siewert (Matriculated: UCSD):

"The most important thing that Brian did for me was helping me approach MFA auditions with a mindset that allowed me to be my best self. I am hugely grateful for his technical help and his incredible insight on text work, but most of all, I'm grateful for the time that he spent helping me to bring myself into the room and to let that be my biggest priority. That attention and encouragement made all the difference when I walked into the room at auditions, and it gave me the confidence to own all the acting work that we had done as well. Brian has a way of getting right to the heart of you as an actor and of helping you discover and celebrate that as well. My time working with him really made all the difference for me." 

"My work with him exceeded all expectations"

Anya Whelan-Smith (Matriculated: JUILLIARD.  Also accepted NYU GRAD ACTING)

“I had heard wonderful things about Brian as a coach, but my work with him exceeded all expectations. Brian is committed to each student’s individual spirit and personal love of theatre. Throughout our work together, Brian has encouraged me to explore plays that I love and characters I love – the seemingly obvious (yet all-too-rarely addressed) starting place. With each session, he would guide me back towards that initial seed of inspiration, encouraging and daring me to push beyond any self-imposed bounds, to step beyond what I believed was possible in my work. Brian is patient and reliable; he was always on call for me if I needed words of wisdom, a pep talk or some last minute advice. I would recommend Brian to anyone who asks; he is simply a phenomenal coach.” 

"So brilliant and awesome at what he does. He’s amazing!"

Jessica Ko (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

"Brian always knows exactly what I need to focus on, where I'm tripping myself up and how I can get out of my own way. And that's what makes him so brilliant and awesome at what he does. He’s amazing! I count myself so blessed to know him as my teacher and my friend."

"Brian has made me a better actor, period.”

Carlos Dengler (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING.  Also accepted: RUTGERS and A.R.T./HARVARD):

“Brian gives the actor who is serious about applying and auditioning for graduate study an informed framework that puts you in front of 98% of all other applicants to these programs. Between his monologue coaching sessions, the MFA acting alumni panel he conducts which includes graduates of the top programs across the country, and the realistic mock auditions, I felt like I had taken an intense primer on the MFA Acting process. I felt confident, equipped and fearless going in to each of my auditions. Brian also takes your process during these auditions to heart. He checks in with you and stays with you as you go through each audition; through his guidance, you get to improve each subsequent audition in real time.  He pushed and dared me to be bolder, braver and more creative with my work.  Most importantly, Brian has made me a better actor, period."

 "10 out of 10 recommend!"

Awni Abdi-Bahri (Matriculated: COLUMBIA)

"Brian is an amazing coach because he is an amazing teacher. As simple as this sounds: He reminds us how to do the thing we do! A lot of us think of an audition as something different from an authentic performance through a monologue; just because of the environmental pressure that comes with applying and auditioning. Brian reminded me that the audition is giving that authentic performance. Nothing more, nothing less. Just your experience through the text. Brian reminded me to breathe, return to basics, and most importantly, TRUST myself. Also, it is SO helpful to have a third eye watch your work when rehearsing. And who better than someone who does that AND gives constructive notes AND knows so much about the school(s) you are applying to! Brian McManamon. 10 out of 10 recommend."

"He was always willing to listen and genuinely cared about my artistic experience and my artistic future"

Katie Croyle (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY; Also Accepted: ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA, Waitlisted: A.R.T. and LAMDA)

"I auditioned for MFA programs last year and hated the entire process. I felt stressed, overwhelmed, lost and put an excessive amount of pressure on myself and my pieces. The thought of auditioning made me nauseous. I'd worked with a coach (a lovely acting teacher) but one who did not connect with my work as an artist or help to quell my fears or help me to be my most present self. Needless to say, I didn't get in that round. From the moment I talked to Brian on the phone, I knew this year would be different. He instantly connected with me on a personal level--he told me that he too had auditioned for programs multiple times and his mission as a coach was to give his clients the tools to be their most authentic, vulnerable selves during the entire audition process. He assured me he'd be there the entire time and he was. He helped me with everything from writing a personal statement that actually felt like "me", to encouraging me to make a mess with my characters, to truly love them. Most importantly he pushed me to say, "Screw it! I'm here for my pieces not for the people on the other side of the table." When I freaked out he listened but was also honest about what what was holding me back. He was there through the acceptances and the rejections--he was always willing to listen and genuinely cared about my artistic experience and my artistic future. The most amazing part of Brian's coaching is that I felt completely in control the whole time--he was simply providing me with the tools I needed to be myself within the given circumstances of these intense and important auditions. So, instead of being nauseous going into each audition, I was excited to see what would happen. I'm so thankful for his help and guidance and recommend him to every person interested in auditioning for graduate school. He's simply the best."

"He radiates bravery and professionalism, trust and compassion from every pore on his body"

Melissa Golliday (Matriculated: JUILLIARD):

"Brian has completely revolutionized my approach to performance, my mindset as an actor, and my commitment to the craft. He unpacked, unfolded, and revealed Shakespeare to me in an approachable and conquerable way. With him, I learned those little tips and tricks for getting out my own way, of successes, the endless possibilities I have at my disposal, and various exercises to bring more of myself to the work. He radiates bravery and professionalism, trust and compassion from every pore on his body. I truly believe that his instruction and nurturing helped me empower myself to apply to graduate school. One private lesson with him and my grad school monologues were transformed. And as a result, I was invited to attend the Juilliard School to receive my MFA this fall. I couldn't have asked for a better experience with him. Thank you, Brian!"

“Brian has changed my entire approach to auditioning and for the better!”

Kendall Cafaro (Matriculated: NYU/GRAD ACTING: Also accepted UCSD OLD GLOBE/USD, and UNC/CHAPEL HILL):

“My mind is blown every time I work with Brian. When it came to auditioning for grad school, specifically, he was so helpful in demystifying the whole process and breaking down the barriers I felt were between me and my work. He was a guide in everything from how to pick material to learning how to take up space in a room. He is also just a really fun and dynamic person to work on material with!! Beyond this process, I know that working with Brian has changed my entire approach to auditioning and for the better. When anyone asks me about applying to these programs, working with Brian will be the first thing I bring up. He has been an integral part in not only getting me into these MFA programs but ultimately finding the school that is the right fit for me!!”

“Brian made the process so natural”

Quaz Degraft (Matriculated USC):

"Brian was recommended to me by a good friend of mine and I almost hesitated since I was already working with a coach for some months! But I am extremely glad I made the decision to work with him. I was immediately comfortable opening up and sharing my thoughts, fears, ideas etc. Brian made the process so natural and was able to bring out the characteristics that were unique to me and help me use that through my pieces. Learning how to bring myself to my auditions was so key for me and really changed how I approached my work. Thank you so much Brian, I’m forever grateful!"

"I got into Yale Drama and I know his help made all the difference!"

Brian Wiles (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA):

“Brian's guidance was enormously helpful in getting my audition monologues to a place where I could feel confident and excited about performing them. He is totally down-to-earth, but the work is meaningful and deep--after just one session, my Iago piece felt infinitely more sincere. With time, we found new levels of resonance and played around with how best to express them in the few precious minutes of an audition. Working with Brian felt a guided experimentation; he left me totally free to follow my own impulses and encouraged growth that I never would have seen on my own. I would recommend him strongly to anyone looking for a practical, personal teacher who works within a student's process instead of trying to change it! I got into Yale Drama and I know his help made all the difference!"

“Working with Brian transformed my relationship with drama school auditions”

Iris Feng (Matriculated: UCSD)

“I always felt deeply grateful after every session with Brian because my time with him continuously pushed me to be a better actor. His directions were clear and simple yet they helped unlock my full capacity to serve my characters and let go of my actor’s brain and ego. Working with Brian transformed my relationship with drama school auditions. I was no longer in the room working hard to please people and hoping they would give me a chance, but instead I was there with my fully open self with a generous desire to share a gift that I had worked hard on. Thank you, Brian, for challenging me and always rooting for me!”

Brian will change the way you approach this process and your craft forever

Quinn Jackson (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING)

“BRIAN ROCKS. It’s that simple. Prior to contacting Brian, I was approaching the MFA auditioning process with all the wrong goals in mind. Focused on appeasing the people behind the desk, I kept forgetting that this process can actually be educational, enlightening and most importantly FUN. From the first phone call I had with Brian all the way thru the auditions and to my acceptance at NYU, I was constantly met with a positivity and joy that never wavered. A Wildly Knowledgable coach/director/actor, Brian constantly empowered me to choose material I loved, focus on the journey, and never forget to discover new things in the room. Not simply an incredible coach, Brian was also a wonderful friend and sound board to have along this journey. He truly was the voice of reason I needed, when that doubtful voice in my head was getting too loud. 5 stars as both a human and a coach, Brian will change the way you approach this process and your craft forever.”

"Brian gifted me the freedom to be myself."

Abigail Coryell (Matriculated: USC):

"Brian changed the way I saw the entire audition process and myself as an actor. He helped me see that the most important part of it all was getting to do the work, and getting to meet a number of incredible artists to see who I most fit with or wanted to learn from. He taught me how to take the audition room, to do what I love, and how to be free in my work. Brian gifted me the freedom to be myself.

In doing so, he showed me the way back to myself. He brought me back to the most essential elements of acting -- going for what my character needs, in whatever room or with whichever people on the other side of the table -- didn’t matter. He helped me find material, he listened to what I wanted to do in the room and what I wanted to get out of my explorations, and he guided me back to loving the work at every turn or moment of doubt. He reset me and my confidence when I doubted myself or my pieces. Truly, he helped me find the way back to acting and playing. Auditioning for grad school became an exhilarating and fruitful process, in which I was present at every moment, and truly enjoyed the high of creating.

In the end, I found the perfect place for me -- which I almost didn’t audition for until Brian encouraged me to do so. I am in the right place."

“Brian’s ability to take risks and dive off the deep end is truly an inspiration”

Marlon Alexander (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA):

“When I first spoke with Brian, I was not intending to apply to grad school until the following year; however, from the very beginning he opened the doors to a realm of possibility that I was unfamiliar with. Brian is much more than just a coach, his ability to take risks and dive off the deep end is truly an inspiration and a testament to his artistry. When I found myself questioning whether what I was doing was what schools wanted, he was there to push me further outside of my comfort zone in order to help me bring my full authentic self into the room. I am eternally grateful for his positivity and daredevil energy. He helped me to say: ‘This is me. Take it or leave it.’“

"The entire process became less intimidating, less overwhelming, and more fun!"

Margaret Odette (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING):

“Training with Brian gave me the confidence to go into my MFA audition rooms ready to "leave a big old stinky pile of me in the whole place!" He helped me forget the "work," of acting, and instead connect to the joy of it. Once I did that, I began trusting my work on each piece and character, and the entire process became less intimidating, less overwhelming, and more fun! Practicing interview questions and discussing my journey as an actor with Brian gave me a much clearer understanding of why I was ready to pursue my MFA, and how to succinctly express that to the auditors. I highly recommend his mock-audition sessions, they were a true game-changer in terms of feeling oriented to the flow of the audition day, and less anxious during the actual auditions.”

“It is no exaggeration to say that working with Brian has changed my life”

Cerra Cardwell (Matriculated ROSE BRUFORD and SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY'S ACADEMY OF CLASSICAL ACTING at GEORGE WASHINGTON.)

“It is no exaggeration to say that working with Brian has changed my life both as a human and an actor. Of the many things Brian will offer you, the most valuable is his ability to help you reveal you to yourself. This is key in your MFA journey as you need to be able to shows these schools who you are when you’re in that audition room. Brian never tells you what to do but he illuminates your choices and hones his keen instinct in order to nudge you forward. His care goes beyond your monologue work but extends through the whole process, from audition to essay to outfit planning (exquisite taste this man has) and through the highs and lows. I was so unsure of both myself and what I wanted at the beginning, but he never decided for me, he coached me through my work and my thought process so I was able to discover the monologues I wanted to do, the art I wanted to make and the schools I wanted to be at. Brian gave me the tools to do those things for myself and that has given me a confidence through this process and as an actor that I will forever be grateful for. If none of the above makes any sense, imagine this, you are lying in a field staring up at the clouds contemplating life and grad school and the sun suddenly comes out from behind a cloud and warms you up and makes you feel like anything is impossible. Well, Brian is that little bit of sun.”

“He transformed my work and my approach to how I work”

Miguel Bertrand (Matriculated: COLUMBIA)

“Simply put, I wouldn’t be where I am without Brian. I cannot recommend him enough. He has an understated way of getting you to be boldly yourself in your work. Auditioning for grad school taught me so much about myself and why I’ve chosen this life. I wouldn’t have learned those lessons without Brian’s approach. He encouraged me to trust myself and to connect to my pieces on a deeper and more personal level. I met with him very early in the process after a friend referred him and I did some research. He gave me some guidance for choosing my pieces, which I took to heart, and then we met much later in the process and got to work. With just a few sessions, he transformed my work and my approach to how I work. He brings a deep respect for his clients and their experience. I haven’t felt safer in any other room than in his. Brian is a true gem.”

"Trust him with yourself and your light. It is well worth it and will probably change not only your auditions, but your entire craft"

Manu Kumasi (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA. Also accepted: JUILLIARD and NYU GRAD ACTING):

"Brian is great. He has what you need the most as you prepare to show off your best self: experience, perspective, a great eye and open ears. I began working with Brian having already picked my pieces. And although all four monologues were incredibly important and personal to me, I felt like they actually lacked “me” in my performance of them. Brian spotted this right away and helped me see how to “sing my song” in these pieces. Working with Brian made ALL of the difference in my Yale and Juilliard auditions and helped me see the joy in telling such truthful and personally revealing stories. I knew that I wanted to tell the stories and live in them, but felt trapped behind a wall of protection. Brian helped me find a way to derive pleasure from giving the stories away and to see why my stories are beautiful and a pleasure to receive. This was priceless. I particularly liked the fact that Brian listens very well. I felt like he saw me and therefore coached me in a way that fit my learning style. This was such a blessing as it made it easy for me to understand his suggestions and comfortable for me to play and give. Brian also gifted me with a list of tools that made me confident and enthusiastic about walking into the audition rooms, both during the first rounds and callbacks. I highly recommend working with him during your audition journey and to trust him with yourself and your light. It is well worth it and will probably change not only your auditions, but your entire craft."

"Brian's coaching coaxed out the essential qualities of the true me"

Emily Brown (Matriculated: A.C.T.  Also accepted A.R.T./HARVARD):

"Preparing for my grad school auditions with Brian helped me reaffirm for myself that as an artist I have something unique to offer. His guidance led me to select monologues that were fun and felt good to do; when I walked into those audition rooms, I truly felt that my pieces reflected my strengths and interests as an actor.  Being a client of Brian's continuously renews and revitalizes my love for character and storytelling. Each time I walk out of an hour-long coaching session, I feel I've gone deeper and made new discoveries, and I feel I've gained confidence in my ability, my flexibility and my generosity as a performer. I could not recommend Brian as a coach more highly because the way he coaches illuminates and develops you--the true you--not a person or an artist he projects onto you or expects you to be. With a light but effective touch, Brian's coaching coaxed out the essential qualities of the true me--actor and human being--so that with each audition I felt I had offered a performance that was passion-driven and genuine. I will never stop recommending Brian! Working with him has been an integral step on my continued journey toward becoming the artist I want to be."

“Grad school was never part of my plan until Brian”

Reece Vernier-Santos (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING; Also accepted: COLUMBIA. Waitlisted: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA)

“Grad school was never part of my plan until Brian was my teacher at the National Theater Institute. I never finished my bachelor’s degree and had little acting experience. The monologues I selected fired me up but I was hung up on the idea of polish and technique to make up for what I lacked on paper. So, I came to Brian looking for answers. Instead he proposed the questions that led me to the answers. He helped me get out of my own way, lose the insecurities and just have fun. Brian unleashed my capacity and allowed me to surrender to all of my instincts, without filter or judgement. His guidance was invaluable to having me accepted/waitlisted at the programs I did. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for guidance in the mystical acting MFA process.”

“Without Brian's coaching, I would not have received an offer from my number one MFA program of choice”

Sarah Joyce (Matriculated: OLD GLOBE/USD):

“I can confidently say that without Brian's coaching, I would not have received an offer from my number one MFA program of choice; I would not have experienced the growth necessary to get me to the open, focused and vulnerable place I needed to be. As a coach and teacher, Brian creates an incredibly safe space that allows his clients and students to truly trust and let go; he is endlessly encouraging and approaches his coaching with a well of joy and positivity. With an enormous amount of warmth, he sees you where you are and clears the path for you to present the work you are trying to present without an ounce of obstruction, he challenges you so you can get your work in tip top shape and he truly prepares you for the process-he does mock auditions, gets you focused for the interview and never stops empowering you. I can't recommend Brian enough for MFA coaching and I also can't recommend his classes enough; I walked out of every session exponentially more connected to my material and truly grateful that a coach, teacher and lovely human like Brian is out there. Thanks so much Brian!”

"He always checks in to see how you feel"

Michael Hammond (Matriculated: UCSD):

“Working with Brian is unlike any experience I've ever had with an acting coach.  His energy, enthusiasm, and concise advice is invaluable.  I always leave the room energized and confident about my work.  He makes you feel welcome the minute you walk in the room.  He's not solely focused on the work; he wants to know who you are, what you like, and how you live your life.  It's amazing how he can relate to exactly what you're going through and is completely supportive along the way.  He checks in, sends texts, writes emails, and makes sure that he's thinking of you and how to improve your material.  There are some coaches you meet and immediately ask, "So what are we going to do?", whereas Brian's first words are: “How are you doing?"  It's amazing how much of a difference that can make when you start a session.  One of the most important things that Brian does is that he always checks in to see how you feel about your work and what is driving you with your material.”

"The way I see the world, the craft, and especially ANY audition process has been forever changed."

Sideeq Heard (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING):

"Brian helped me to see myself for all that I was and all that I could be, by providing a space for me to be my best self, my worst self, and everything in between. When I finally got into the room to audition I was comfortable living in every crevice of my being. I could walk in, share my work, and make a mess of things, and walk out with a confidence of knowingness that I had never experienced before. With his spirit of generosity, vulnerability, and kindness, you become comfortable in the uncomfortable. Brian dispelled every myth that I had about the audition process, leaving me with one charge, to be available to the needs of my characters. My time with Brian silenced all the voices of in my head because of his presence. Brian walks with you through the audition process, not to hold your hand, but constantly reminding you that you already know how to fly. It’s so intangible, the lessons I’ve learned from him. I can hardly place my finger on it, but the way I see the world, the craft, and especially ANY audition process has been forever changed.  If you're considering going through the MFA audition process, there’s no one better to have in your corner than Brian McManamon!"

“My work was transformed”

David Barnes (Matriculated: LAMDA):

“Brian’s greatest gift as a teacher and mentor is his ability to take a back seat whilst guiding the actor towards their own discovery. I was astounded at Brian’s restraint. I came to realize that this steams from an incredible amount of trust. He has the utmost respect for his students and their ability to discover on their feet, in their own bodies, with a generous sense of play. My work was transformed, but more importantly, the way I approached the work was as well. Brian helped me discover who I am in the work, who I yearn to be, and how to be fearless pursuing this. Through a nudge here and a touch there, Brian gave me the freedom to try, to fail, and to find joy throughout. I can’t thank Brian enough.”

You could not hope for a more effective (and fun and kind and wise) cheerleader and coach"

Marianna Gailus (Matriculated: JUILLIARD. Also accepted YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA):

"It was my first year out of college, my first time through the MFA audition process, and my first time really honestly saying "I want to be an actor" out loud to friends and family. Through the casual suggestion of a friend, and figuring I had absolutely nothing to lose, I reached out to Brian. I owe that friend a huge debt of gratitude, because I truly cannot recommend Brian enough, not just as a coach and teacher (and, by the end of it all, a friend), but also a tried-and-true navigator of rough seas of the MFA process. I honestly might even call him the "MFA Whisperer," in two senses: on a primary level, his warm and insightful direction instilled calm and peace within me as I geared up for what I initially believed would be a grueling few weeks of auditions, but on a secondary level, he fully re-wired my brain to see the auditions for what they actually are. Over the course of our sessions together, I felt myself unfolding and releasing into a fuller, more grounded and ultimately more interesting actor. The fact that he noticed it, too, was relieving and encouraging, and allowed me to drop even further into the characters I was getting to know so well. Brian has this innate ability of cutting through all of the voices in your head, getting rid of all the junk you don't need to carry around, allowing you to give in to the characters you've chosen to carry you along for the ride. His mock-audition session was an IMMENSE help. His advice on that day is probably what carried me through each audition and, to my excitement and surprise, each callback, week after week. He always checks in with you before your big audition days, and he made himself completely available to me at the end of the process for some long phone calls as I weighed my decision between my two top choice schools (for which I will be eternally grateful). I'm still in shock at the success I've had throughout this process, but I can honestly say that Brian was the catalyst and driving force through it all. You could not hope for a more effective (and fun and kind and wise) cheerleader and coach for the MFA process, and I know his lessons will stay with me for years to come. And as I head to school in the fall, I know I can finally say, with confidence, that I don't just want to be an actor, I already am one."

"Brian is a wizard" 

Nate Janis (Matriculated: COLUMBIA. Also accepted: U.C.S.D and SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY'S ACADEMY OF CLASSICAL ACTING at GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY)

"Brian is a wizard. He has totally mastered the ins and outs of MFA auditions. As a coach he was committed in helping me every step of the way: monologue selection and prep, essay writing, audition psychology, callback advice, and finally picking which school to go to. But Brian’s more than just a coach; he’s a guide, an advisor, and a friend. The work we did together not only helped me get into several programs, but also helped me reconnect with my love of acting. It’s a joy being in the room with Brian. He brings a powerful presence and depth of experience, while also being refreshingly off-the-cuff and eager to play. I have already integrated lessons and practices I picked up working with him into my regular audition and role prep, and it’s had a profoundly positive impact. I will certainly take what I’ve gained from him into my MFA training and beyond. I couldn’t recommend him higher."

“Brian is kind and generous, but demanding”

Madeline Seidman (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA):

“Brian McManamon helped me be unafraid to be flagrantly myself— as an actor and a person. When working with him on my monologues for graduate schools, he encouraged me to make choices based on what I personally love about acting and what I love about myself, which was at first terrifying! It helped me approach the auditions knowing that I was being honest about what I would bring to the schools, so that the auditions were more about finding the right fit and not about being judged. I felt ready to get into each of the audition rooms with a flexibility to play and the focus to fight hard for my characters—clearly imagining who I was talking to and what I was receiving back from them. Brian is kind and generous, but demanding, and having had him as a coach, director (Measure for Measure, Shakespeare Academy @ Stratford), and a teacher, I have developed a readiness for growth and change in my work.”

“Brian helped me take risks, find pleasure and go deeper in my work”

Elisabeth Ho (Matriculated: RADA):

"Brian brings great craft and an incredible insight into how an actor's instrument works. While other coaches and teachers may go easy and tell you what you want to hear, Brian always challenges you and provokes you to go deeper and make stronger choices in your pieces in an effective way. He helped me take risks, find pleasure and go deeper in my work.”

“I could not have done this without Brian, plain and simple”

Sarah Chalfie (Matriculated: COLUMBIA):

“I could not have done this without Brian, plain and simple. Brian helped reframe a process that can often feel demoralizing and judgmental into something empowering. I would repeat Brian’s advice in my head like a mantra before the auditions and it got me through. He demystified everything about the grad school application process. He was always available should I have questions or concerns about any part of the application, and went out of his way to check in on me and connect me to other people and resources that could help me along the way. I am so glad I worked with Brian, not just as someone applying to MFAs but as an actor in general. He immediately made me feel respected and safe, which allowed me to open up quickly and work efficiently on my material with him. His suggestions always felt personal and specific to where I was in the work. Working on them with Brian made me love my audition pieces. He is able to straddle that fine line of giving you the practical tools and information you need to set out to these auditions confidently, and challenging you artistically. And he taught me that these two considerations are in fact not that different. I am forever grateful for his guidance and will take what I learned from him far beyond this process.”

"Having Brian as a coach is one of the best decisions you can make"

Kalyne Coleman (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

"Let me tell you something....BRIAN IS EVERYTHING!!! He is absolutely one of my favorite people in the world! Having him as a coach for Grad Schools changed my life and made me a better actress. I truly wouldn't have gotten into Brown without his guidance and support. When I met Brian, I had no clue how to approach this process. I was feeling anxious, doubtful, and ill prepared. With his humor and wonderful way of looking at life...I was able to find peace and joy in preparing for my monologues. This whole Grad School thing is no easy task, but Brian finds a way to meet you where you are and help guide you to where you need to be. He makes things simple and reinforces that you are ENOUGH..you are PLENTY. From the one on one sessions, the informative panel, and the meet and greet drinks...Brian has your back and will make sure that you feel like your best self walking into those rooms!  Having Brian as a coach is one of the best decisions you can make...so get it done! I am forever grateful to him and you will be too."

“The growth I felt after working with him may even be compared to some sort of sorcery”

Kieron J Anthony (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA; Also accepted: LAMDA):

“Working with Brian was truly a tremendous blessing! He was able to create such a safe space for me to explore but more importantly, for me to simply “be”. His intuition and care as a person is only surpassed by that of him as a teacher. His attention to detail allowed me to add a lot more specificity to my work. He truly loves what he does and you can feel it from the first moment you walk through the door to work with him. The growth I felt after working with him may even be compared to some sort of sorcery to say the least! For the rest of my life I will be indebted to him for his guidance on this journey towards my MFA.” 

“I would have not gotten into grad school without him”

Chris Portley (Matriculated: CASE WESTERN RESERVE/CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE):

“Brian is the TRUTH! When I first met Brian all I knew was that I wanted to see what was possible, and that I wanted someone that was going to help me fight to see those possibilities. Brian is that person that’s going to be in the ring with you. He pushed me to find the truth, depth, and vulnerability within the work. Brian helped me uncover all the unique things of myself and how to drive it into my work. I left every session braver, stronger and more free to just play. He invests in the deepest part of you and gets there really by you discovering that part out for yourself. Brian is truly a gift! The tools and self-ownership that I have gained through his guidance as an actor and a human being are unmeasurable. I would have not gotten into grad school without him, and saying I am grateful wouldn’t even do justice! Brian is incredible and one of a kind. He’s the real deal!”

"Working with Brian was a game changer"

Sarin West (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING):

"Brian's generosity of spirit and understanding of human growth and development gave me the freedom I needed to make mistakes, to be messy and so totally me. I was gifted so much freedom to try things that when I found myself "in the room" at my top two schools, I was able to invite the people behind the table into my studio-for-a-day. I was free to WORK. Brian helped me eliminate the fear I had build around this daunting experience and just be present during every part of the process, a gift I wish I'd given myself the first time around. Working with Brian was a game changer. A Side Note: it was just nice having someone in my corner outside of my friends/family who could give me some half-time coaching for all of my audition/callback days. I survived (and thrived in) this process with zero regrets."

“Brian will guide you in finding the magic and truths behind your characters and monologues (more than you could have ever imagined!).”

Sonia Goswami (Matriculated: USC):

"As an aspiring artist, I always heard the phrase ‘you need to form your tribe early on; people who will stay behind you and stick with you throughout your journey as an artist.’ Brian is someone who will be in your tribe, forever. Besides being a phenomenal acting coach, Brian will also be your mentor and biggest supporter! I worked with Brian when I was going through MFA auditions for the second time, and he was a constant support system and source of validation for me. As an acting coach, Brian will push you to think outside of the box. He will guide you in finding the magic and truths behind your characters and monologues (more than you could have ever imagined!). As a mentor, Brian is someone who will always be there to support you and cheer you on. He is the exact acting coach, role model, and mentor aspiring MFA actors need in order to be successful, and truthful to who they are, throughout the MFA audition process. I am so grateful to you Brian.”

"Brian is the sort of special person who manages to always remind you of why you fell in love with acting in the first place"

JeVon Blackwell (Matriculated: JUILLIARD):

"It's rare that you can consistently leave a coaching session feeling passionate and fulfilled with the work that you're doing. Yet, with Brian's sessions I managed to do this week after week. Brian encouraged me to open up, let go, and embrace acting all while learning so much about myself as a person. He has the ability to transform the work by bringing you in touch with yourself. Brian is the sort of special person who manages to always remind you of why you fell in love with acting in the first place. There is no doubt that you will leave his coaching feeling centered and strong with an amazing sense of self love."

"He will work his hardest for you"

Galen Kane (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA.  Also accepted: JUILLIARD, OLD GLOBE/USD, BROWN/TRINITY and A.R.T./Harvard):

“Brian single-handedly demystified everything I predetermined about what MFA acting programs are looking for. Before working with him, I had built up so much unnecessary pressure on what I thought would be a challenging process mentally, physically, and even spiritually. The greatest advice I received from Brian was so very simple-- Choose pieces you love, regardless of whether you'll ever play them or not-- Think of it as an open rehearsal with them, not a performance and-- Be yourself! With this advice as a constant mental note, I was accepted into every school I auditioned for.  I place my faith in Brian and I assure you he will work his hardest for you, as he did for me.”

“Your world will be unlocked by working with him”

Bianca Rogoff: (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING):

"I cannot recommend ANYONE more. Not one, but two of my colleagues (who had no relation to one another) recommended I work with Brian.  He opened up doors that went beyond "accepted or rejected" - he made the process feel like I could be exactly who I am in a space that is inherently intimidating. He demystified every aspect of the audition, so when I walked into every room I was sharing with, I felt as though it was a collaboration. Brian made himself available for any form of conversation around the audition process. He called me to check in about how I was feeling and was an anchor of support. He functions from a place of love and creativity and I cannot emphasize enough how your world will be unlocked by working with him. Beyond the audition process, he offers tools to approach your work that will leave you free to create and discover wonderful things. I genuinely don't think I would have gotten into a top graduate program without him. I can't emphasize it enough!"

"I fall more in love with acting every time I work with him”

Matthew Martin (Matriculated: NORTHWESTERN Also accepted: A.C.T.)

“The journey through graduate school auditions with Brian will leave you a fuller and richer artist. He will unpack the entire process and give you a plan to tackle the beast. Brian is intuitive and empowering without being prescriptive. He will ask the difficult questions and give you mind-bending, whimsical, and wise tidbits to unlock your creativity. I fall more in love with acting every time I work with him. I credit this to his undying commitment to his students and his own deep love of the craft. Brian allowed me to make a mess rather than attempt to present a polished product. He encouraged me to take risks without being polite and dared me to go further than I thought possible in my work. Above all Brian gave me permission to embrace who I am and what I stand for as an artist, and for that I will always sing his praises.”

“Brian knows what he’s talking about”

Grace Wacuka (Matriculated: COLUMBIA; Also accepted LAMDA and CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA):

“First off, Brian knows what he's talking about. I was so scared about the process of auditioning, and in the final month got my life together, and in the mock audition process, I learned so much about what it actually means to audition- that I didn't have to be perfect, and Brian's comment to 'get it out, not get it right' was what I took to every single room. I also used to think of the image of the girl jumping into a room with enthusiasm (he shared a video of that with us) and I literally took that image of joy and enthusiasm with me into every room.”

"My expectations were high. Brian exceeded them"

Zachary Desmond (Matriculated: JUILLIARD):

"I contacted Brian based on a glowing recommendation from a friend, so my expectations were high. Brian exceeded them. His support was immediate and wholehearted, from early monologue rehearsals all the way through auditions, callbacks, and acceptance. In very little time, Brian was helping me not just rehearse monologues, but identify the kind of actor and person I'd like to be. His incisive questions and unapologetic confidence in me helped me realize that's not just who'd I'd like to be, but who I am. Working with Brian was one of the most rewarding aspects of the entire audition process."

“He created a wonderful community and made this process a delight!”

Briana James (Matriculated: USC, Also accepted: DEPAUL, CALARTS):

“There are acting coaches…and then there is Brian! Brian McManamon is uniquely positioned to guide people through the MFA journey because he knows SO much about the process and the programs. He is not just going to coach you into giving a good audition, he is going to lead you through THIS process - which is unlike any other audition you will have. All of his work is about helping you find YOU! His guidance led me to the best program for me. He helped me replace desperation with ease and assurance. He encouraged me to courageously step into the work that I wanted to do. Through our work together, I was able to show up in the audition rooms in ways that I hadn’t ever before, and I arrived at the best version of myself as an actor. I kept his words in mind while I was in callbacks and ended up surprising even myself! He created a wonderful community and made this process a delight! Most importantly, he actually cares about your journey as much as you do. Thank you, Brian! I would recommend him to EVERYONE in a heartbeat!”

"Brian enabled me the freedom and confidence necessary to perform at my highest level"

Lindsey Steinert (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

"To refer to Brian as my MFA audition coach feels like an understatement. Through the emotionally draining and physically exhausting audition preparation and process, Brian - with his immense understanding of the application, audition and eventual callback processes - enabled me the freedom and confidence necessary to perform at my highest level, a level prior to working with Brian, I didn't even know I was capable of reaching. For the months leading up to and proceeding my auditions, Brian was there for me whenever I needed him, regardless of whether it was during our sessions, after an audition, before a callback or anticipating a decision. Whether choosing an audition piece or deciding whether or not to accept an offer of acceptance, I relied heavily on Brian's breadth of knowledge to help inform my own choices. I can't emphasize how integral Brian was to my grad school preparation and eventual acceptance, and I know what I learned from him will continue to aid me as I pursue acting during and beyond my grad school education. 

"He combines his expertise with your immediate needs to create a personalized process"

Blake Russell (Matriculated: JUILLIARD; Also accepted: NYU/GRAD ACTING)

"At minimum, Brian demystifies the grad school audition process. At most, Brian frees you to be yourself. I gained a fan for life in Brian and visa versa. It's clear that Brian cares deeply for actors and is absolutely genius at dropping truth bombs that leave you awestruck. Some things Brian said casually truly changed the way I worked and continue to approach my monologues. Brian comes highly recommended and there's a reason for that: he combines his expertise with your immediate needs to create a personalized process. In this industry, we are constantly asked to add on, right? "Try this technique! Apply this method! Add to your skillset!" Brian did the opposite for me and liberated me from restrictions which kept me from doing my best work. In just one session my work was strengthened and my sense of play had, too. Obviously, Brian knows what he's doing because I got into both schools I applied for!  

“I truly credit Brian with showing me the way”

Olivia S. (Matriculated NYU GRAD ACTING):

“Brian was truly a guiding light during the grad school process. He identified and diagnosed some pretty terrible "techniques" I had employed that I thought were helping me be "polished" but actually obscured the joy and authenticity behind my pieces. In working with Brian, I was finally able to find freedom, play, and a sense of abandon with my monologues. I have no doubt that such qualities made me attractive to graduate programs, and I truly credit Brian with showing me the way. He's an invaluable resource and, incidentally, a pleasure to spend time with.”

"He makes you a more thoughtful, curious, and confident person"

Charley Stern (Matriculated: USC):

“Working with Brian has been some of the most transformative time for me as an actor. He does not provide a crash course for how to look impressive in an audition, rather he makes you a more thoughtful, curious, and confident person. He helps you get to a place where you and the character you are playing have full access to one another’s thoughts, feelings, and souls. Brian pushed me further than I wanted to go, which allowed me to make breakthrough discoveries and connections with my characters. And after all the hard work and training was over, I was in a place where I was able to let it all go and play and be myself in the auditions. When it came time to walk into the rooms, I felt that it was opening night of my play, and I had something important to offer. None of this would have been possible without Brian’s support, guidance, and coaching.”

“Working with Brian was what I needed to realize that I wanted to seriously pursue acting as a profession”

Cooper Jennings (Matriculated: JUILLIARD. Also accepted: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA, NYU GRAD ACTING and COLUMBIA):

“Working with Brian was what I needed to realize that I wanted to seriously pursue acting as a profession. The sessions I had with him taught me how to fully incorporate myself into every role I play and how to come to every rehearsal, audition and performance simultaneously ready to play and ready to work. Most importantly, he made the idea of being totally present - onstage and off - feel like something practical and attainable rather than abstract. For that, I am the most grateful.”

“His support and guidance throughout the entire process was an invaluable part of my journey”

Austyn Williamson (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

“Applying to graduate programs for the second time, I was confident that I knew what to expect from the process. But working with Brian, he taught me how to see applying for these programs in a completely new way. He freed me from the unnecessary limitations I was placing on myself and got me thinking outside the box in every step of my application from capturing who I am in my personal statement to choosing the best pieces to showcase myself. Brian helped me to find the fun and joy in an often-stressful experience and his support and guidance throughout the entire process was an invaluable part of my journey that anyone applying to graduate programs would be grateful to have.”

“Hands down the best coach!”

Juan Pablo Cáceres (Matriculated COLUMBIA):

“Brian’s coaching was extraordinarily helpful in understanding the true purpose of the process and learning how to let go and have fun in the room. He’s been helping students get into the world’s top acting programs for a long time and is truly an expert. His acting and auditioning coaching is replete with wisdom applicable to both getting done the ultimate task of getting into a top acting program as yourself and also for being ready to meet life’s challenges with creativity, flow and authenticity. I always felt confident I was in the best hands to prepare for such a potentially career altering process and will always be grateful for his willingness to help us and meet us all wherever we are at. Hands down the best coach!”

"He makes the whole process feel like a collaboration"

Shawn Nabors (Matriculated: A.R.T./HARVARD):

“From the first phone conversation, I knew that Brian was the right coach for me. I like to be challenged and Brian definitely likes to challenge you. He will challenge you to be honest about why you're applying to Grad school, he will challenge you to see your pieces in ways you hadn't originally imagined them and he will challenge you to be your fullest self during your sessions and ultimately while in the audition/interview room. He never tries to impose anything upon you but instead makes the whole process feel like a collaboration. He makes it clear to you from day one that you two are working together to guarantee that you get whatever YOU need to get from the entire learning experience because it is definitely that, a learning experience. Brian is, hands down, an insightful, encouraging, patient and very passionate coach. I'm totally happy with my choice and would choose Brian again.”

"His guidance and support are invaluable"

Victoria Pollack (Matriculated: JUILLIARD):

“In his coaching sessions, Brian holistically approaches the MFA application process, helping his students articulate why they want to pursue an MFA, assess which programs are the best fit through a tremendously informative MFA Panel, and hone the pieces they have selected.  He knows how to ask brilliant questions about the pieces, the plays, and your perceptions of the MFA audition process which demystify the process and ultimately enable you bring your best self into the audition room.  His guidance and support are invaluable to any actor eager to hone their craft as they pursue the MFA audition process!"

"There is no one with higher success rates"

Martin Meccouri (Matriculated: UCSD):

"Getting into an MFA program is as much about strategy as it is about talent and training. While there are many fantastic coaches in the City, there is simply no one with as much specialization in this area or higher success rates for clients as Brian."

"He's one of the best acting teachers I've had the pleasure to work with"

Shpend Xani (Matriculated: SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY'S ACADEMY OF CLASSICAL ACTING at GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY; Also accepted A.R.T./HARVARD): 

"I coached with Brian as an older MFA applicant coming back to acting after a long gap. Brian has a very unique and creative coaching process. He listens, gets to know you and then naturally brings the best out of you as an actor, as an artist and as a human being. You'll realize and utilize your strengths. Brian is genuine, caring and very easy to work with. He's one the best acting teachers I've had the pleasure to work with. Even if I hadn't been accepted to a MFA acting program, just working with him I have grown as an actor."

"The audition doctor!"

Hiram Delgado (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING. Also accepted: UCSD., A.C.T., BROWN/TRINITY and UCLA):

"I found Brian while I was surfing the web, I was really confused during my audition process. With his great advice and counsel I was able to get a bigger picture about auditioning and what to do. A great relief in a great moment of stress. Anybody who's serious about auditioning should definitely talk to Brian, he's the best! The audition doctor!"

 "He is a brilliant teacher and a warm human being"

Alastar Dimitrie (Matriculated: LAMDA)

"Applying to drama school can be a terrifying prospect. Brian helped me to discover the joy in it. Our sessions reminded me why I was doing all of it in the first place. He is a brilliant teacher and a warm human being. Brian doesn’t just give you the answers. What he does is far more valuable—he shows you how to find them within yourself."

"Brian knows how to relate to his students"

Katherine Renee Kane (Matriculated: JUILLIARD. Also accepted: NYU GRAD ACTING):

"I first worked with Brian at NTI (National Theatre Institute). I remember feeling that it was one of the best acting classes I had taken and never wanting it to end. Some years later I called on Brian to help me with my graduate school auditions, which ultimately were successful. Brian knows how to relate to his students. He is straight forward and will guide you to the HONESTY in your work that will bring out the best in your scene or monologue. Also he stressed the imporatance of trusting my instincts and choosing pieces that resonated with me regardless of type or what I think the auditors want to see. I found that made a huge difference. Its a great feeling to walk into that room feeling well prepared and at ease."

"Brian is a master teacher and actor!"

Francisco J. González (Accepted: COLUMBIA)

"Brian is a master teacher and actor. He is very highly regarded among his peers, students, and colleagues in the artistic community. Why? Brian is an absolute joy to be around—in addition to being smart, open, and nurturing. I found his guidance to be incredibly grounding in the MFA audition process. He provided tremendous clarity in a sometimes unclear and overwhelming business/process. He was receptive to all my questions and provided me with useful tools to approach my work as an actor—even beyond the immediate audition process. I confidently recommend studying with Brian to anyone and everyone looking to cultivate greater depth and specificity in their work as an actor. Every other actor that I have spoken to regarding their time with Brian only has overwhelmingly positive things to say as well. Thank you, Brian McManamon!"

"I'm so grateful for Brian's wisdom, bravery and collaboration"

Lily Narbonne (Matriculated: A.C.T. Also accepted: A.R.T.):

“I was habitually trying to package my monologues perfectly, to have control, which wasn't serving me. Brian encouraged me to make a mess. Brian reminded me how my characters don't have it all together! They're all over the place, they're struggling, so I have to do their story justice by letting the artist in me release control, make a mess and HAVE FUN! I'm so grateful for Brian's wisdom, bravery and collaboration.”

"I would not have had the confidence or the peace of mind I had without him"

Max Wolkowitz (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

“Brian McManamon is a remarkable teacher and coach. I worked with him in preparation for my graduate school auditions and his insight, expertise and generosity helped me feel confident in my work, relaxed in my auditions and prepared to let go and play once I got into the room. In just two sessions, he guided me from having a only general sense of how I wanted to approach each monologue to a highly specific and focused approach. Brian has a remarkable way of making sure that you make the discoveries on your own, while giving the support and guidance necessary to get there. He also has an intimate knowledge of being on both sides of the table, which is invaluable for an actor to have access to. Brian helped shape my whole approach to the grad school audition process and I would not have had the confidence or the peace of mind I had without him.”

“BRIAN IS 110% WORTH IT and so are you.”

A.J. Ruiz (Matriculated: CASE WESTERN RESERVE/CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE):

“Working with Brian was, hands down, the best move I made during my MFA audition cycle. I say this not only because he made me more successful in my audition rooms but because he made me a better actor, period. Having auditioned in 2018 and seeing pretty substantial success I thought I had it all figured out. Brian offered me things I never thought should factor into my rehearsal process for an audition. Kindness and messiness. He completely reframed the way I worked. Taking me from a product oriented actor to a process oriented actor. I thought process was something that happened before the audition--NO. Process IS the audition! BRIAN IS 110% WORTH IT and so are you. If you want to give yourself the best chances this year, contact him. You wont regret it.”

"He will help you bring your best self into the audition room and land that dream school."

Brandon O'Sullivan (Matriculated: UCSD):

"It's honestly mind-blowing to me how many of Brian's clients end up in top graduate acting programs every year. He's discovered, somehow, how to help so many actors overcome seemingly impossible odds to end up in training programs that help launch careers. If you're serious about your training, talk to Brian - he will help you bring your best self into the audition room and land that dream school. This part of the process (finding a coach) is easy - just email Brian, and you're already miles ahead of the pack."

“He is the ultimate guide”

Amara Leonard (Matriculated NYU GRAD ACTING):

“Working with Brian is the whole package. He is savvy, precise, and authentically supportive throughout all phases of this preparation journey. He aids his students by creating a joyful rehearsal process and by providing a vast knowledge of the graduate school ins-and-outs. He is the ultimate guide.”

“His wisdom seems endless; masterfully articulate, individually precise and is delivered with such lightness you would think it’s not going to blow your mind, but it always does!”

Nicholas Gerwitz (Matriculated: SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY'S ACADEMY OF CLASSICAL ACTING at GEORGE WASHINGTON)

“Brian's passionate focus is on YOU and what you can offer the WORK right now. What he is teaching is revolutionary. I think it is the most pure and powerful way to approach this art. There is no air about Brian, he meets me right where I am that day and goes into the work with me as a partner. He doesn't treat himself like a gatekeeper and I love that about him. His wisdom seems endless; masterfully articulate, individually precise and is delivered with such lightness you would think it’s not going to blow your mind, but it always does! He reminded me how to play with freedom and specificity and always inspires me to want to give more. His greatest gift was empowering me to continue the work without him. He is still the first person I think of when working and especially when in doubt but I feel like he gave me the courage and permission to trust myself and own my journey to figure things out. Brian has helped me more than I could ever articulate, I can't recommend him enough!”

"Our sessions were some of the best hours of play that I’ve experienced thus far in my journey"

Nedra Snipes (Matriculated: JUILLIARD):

"Oprah Winfrey said: 'A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.' This was my third year applying for MFA programs and something had to give. I entered my first session with Brian being completely honest--I was nervous but yearned to train, and he LISTENED. He wanted to see who I was, understand my journey, unpack those experiences and examine how they impacted my perspective of the audition process. He truly cared about me as a human being.  Our sessions were some of the best hours of play that I’ve experienced thus far in my journey. Brian created a safe place for freedom and discovery, urging me to let go of the past years experiences and personal pressures that I put on myself. I walked out of each session trusting not only the work, but myself as an artist a little more each time. During the audition and callback process, Brian was one phone call or text away - often sending me words of encouragement! I am so thankful for his kindness, passion, support and insurmountable capacity to share his wisdom. I was invited to begin my training at The Juilliard School this fall, and I am filled with gratitude for Brian’s guidance and his humanity. I’ve already recommended him to three of my friends!"                

"I left every session feeling invigorated and inspired"

John Zoitos (Matriculated: SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY'S ACADEMY OF CLASSICAL ACTING at GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY): 

"I can’t speak highly enough of Brian’s ability to instill a sense of creative play and joy that I was completely lacking in my pieces when I first came to him for my MFA audition. I’ve been blessed to study with some incredible teachers during my acting training, and all of them seem to share a common intuition in being able to recognize the creative blocks in their students, guide them in working through potential solutions, and ultimately draw the best out of them as actors and artists. I noticed immediately after our first session together that Brian possessed this same intuition, complete with a generosity and collaborative spirit that you dream for as a student studying under a teacher. Not only did my work deepen and grow with each session we had together, but with it came the fun and excitement in performing that was completely missing in my pieces before I came to him. Instead of the work growing stale and repetitive, which had been an issue I was greatly struggling with, it instead became fresher and more exciting the more we worked together. I continued to make new discoveries through the creative freedom and confidence Brian cultivated in me. He always challenged me to surprise myself, and I left every session feeling invigorated and inspired. My work with him allowed me to come into the audition room not as a student, but as a creative artist hungry to express myself. I can’t think him enough and highly recommend him to anyone looking to work with an acting coach."

"I had more options for my future than I ever expected..."

Tristan Schaffer-Gold (Matriculated: LAMDA and Accademia dell'Arte. Also Accepted: BROWN/TRINITY, NYU GRAD ACTING):

"This year was my first go around at MFA auditions in acting. When a friend recommended Brian I was completely clueless, unprepared, and daunted by the road ahead, not to mention the fact that my self-esteem as an actor was in the toilet. I've always been wary of acting coaches, mainly because 99% of them are responsible for 99% of bad acting habits, but after one session I knew Brian was different. Not only is he an impeccable listener and an engaging teacher, but he has an uncanny ability to look straight through you, find where your soul lives (or hides), and bring it out in the work. He never lets you give up or even skate by, constantly challenging you to stay present and accountable in your work. In the end I had more options for my future than I ever expected, and I know I couldn't have done it without him." 

"Helped me be a better actor, and a better me"

Chris Stahl (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY. Also accepted: A.C.T.  Waitlisted: NYU GRAD ACTING):

“Brian is absolutely the person to help demystify the MFA audition process. When I contacted him for help, I had so many ideas in my head about what the auditions would be like, what they were looking for, etc.  He helped strip all of these away and make me see the light.  What Brian taught me goes beyond grad school auditions: it’s helped me be a better actor, and a better me."

"This process with Brian gave me the confidence to keep pursuing my dreams"

Gillian Abbott (Matriculated: COLUMBIA): 

“I came into this grad school process with an innocent, deep yearning to pursue the highest level of Drama training, and yet also an aggressive, intimidating fear right beside it. This process with Brian gave me the confidence to keep pursuing my dreams, and brought me back to the joy of the journey. He shone light on the part of myself that made me fall in love with performing as a child, and helped me realize that the roller coaster of conviction and doubt I’ve experienced in my career has not been wasted, but rather has revealed the stories I get to own and tell. I am so honored to be writing to all of you, and forever grateful to Brian for helping me open the doors to the opportunity to reclaim my art at Columbia, studying under Ron Van Lieu!”

"He understands what grad programs are looking for"

Janine Harouni (Matriculated: LAMDA):

“Working with Brian gave me the confidence I needed to overcome my fears and be myself in the audition room! He understands what grad programs are looking for and gears his sessions towards achieving that, while still leaving plenty of freedom for you to explore, play with and enjoy your monologues!  He cares so much for his students and really wants them to succeed! You definitely want Brian in your corner! He not only made the audition process a breeze, he made it enjoyable!”

"I would not have gotten in without him"

Adam Lebowitz-Lockard (Matriculated: USC):

“Working with Brian has helped me feel very confident and comfortable about auditioning for Grad Schools. Not only did Brian work on opening me up and really getting to the heart of monologues, he did so in a way that helped me be able to show off the best ME. He also provided a Mock Audition complete with a proctor and callbacks that really helped me understand the strengths and weaknesses in my audition interviews, as well as how to create a real presence the moment I walk in the audition room. I know I would not have gotten in without him.  He is the best.  I absolutely recommend Brian.”

“I feel so grateful and lucky to have had him on my team for this journey”

Ross Barron (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

“Brian is candid, kind, encouraging, and feels more like a friend throughout the process than a coach. He was honest, validating, hopeful, and celebratory at all the right moments and I feel so grateful and lucky to have had him on my team for this journey. The greatest feeling of all of this was standing in front of a faculty panel and giving love to my pieces, my work, myself, and walking away knowing that was the kind of work I'll aspire to for the rest of my life. I would not have reached that feeling without Brian's help.”

"Brian prepared me for every aspect of the graduate school audition process"

Adrienne Jackson (Matriculated: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY):

"Brian absolutely prepared me for every aspect of the graduate school audition process. He aided me in choosing pieces that I felt passionate about, gave me advice on what to wear, and most importantly always was truthful about my work on my monologues. Because I felt so prepared going into the auditions, I was accepted to Columbia University, and Brian was a huge factor in helping me do that. I highly recommend his coaching."

"Brian will be there at the end of it cheering you on when you cross the finish line"

Jenelle Chu (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA. Also accepted: NYU GRAD ACTING and A.C.T.):

“Brian McManamon.  The same name would come up over and over when I was asking around for the best coaches.  Brian gave me what seemed like the simplest advice that was invaluable in the way I began to approach my monologues.  I was able to work from a more truthful, playful, and risky place which gave me the new focus I needed.  I think that Brian approaches his work with actors with wonderful concentration and specificity; all wrapped up in generosity and warmth.  There are many things that run through your head in the craziness that is grad school auditions, so I highly recommend Brian as a coach to FULLY prepare anyone who is planning on taking the journey.  Plus, Brian will be there at the end of it cheering you on when you cross the finish line, wherever it may be.  He was crucial in giving me advice when it came to choosing which school to go to!”

“I had found someone who really cared about my hopes, dreams, and capabilities as an actor”

Rosalyn Tavarez (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

“Finding Brian to mentor, guide, and assist me throughout this whirlwind journey that is grad school auditions was truly a gift! He encouraged me to go beyond any limitations that I had for myself and treated me as a true artist, every step of the way. From the very first session, I felt his kind and uplifting spirit, and knew that I had found someone who really cared about my hopes, dreams, and capabilities as an actor. He not only provides essential tools on how to liberate yourself from any preconceived notions of what you think the process will be like, but also creates an encouraging environment to have fun and be free, to build relationships with your characters that are special and will allow them to lead you to tell their story, and to, above all, live in your truth! It takes immense courage to put your heart and soul out there for the world to see but there is so much beauty and strength in showcasing what makes you unique, what makes you, YOU. I truly couldn’t have done this process without you, Brian! You are genuinely, with all sincerity, the best.”

"The support system he cultivates is second to none"

Hunter Ringsmith  (Matriculated: UC IRVINE):

"I’m so friggin glad I coached with Brian. His ability to really see the work you are offering and then offer up ways to open up that work for these specific auditions was revelatory. As someone who has been in the professional merry go round for a bit, I don’t think I could have picked a better coach who met me where I was and kept me honest and accountable. He’s there to help you explore what’s on the other side of your pieces. Encouraging and forthright, critical but still incredibly empathetic, I felt safe and seen and like a collaborator. He gives you the concrete and the ephemeral. He helps you answer the big questions about your characters journey and your relationship and also questions about how to enter a space and what an interview might be like. Both are so useful. The support system he cultivates is second to none, if you are thinking about grad school at all, a coach is so important and Brian is remarkable."

"Brian was an indispensable foundation"

Travis Johnson (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY): 

"Brian was an indispensable foundation. I didn't know how to approach such a daunting concept as these auditions, and with him I was able to not only be confident in my choices, but to not even see the daunting aspects of the audition process. He helped rationalize my views on what was 'expected' of me during the auditions, he helped humanize what I expected from the process, and without him I wouldn't have been able to find the same sense of capability in my auditions that I did." 

"Truth in acting, that’s what Brian cultivated in me"

Corneilus Franklin (Matriculated: UCSD):

"Brian’s grad school coaching is one of self-realization. He helped me manifest my characters by means of understanding my own depths in order to fully flesh the characters in my monologues. The way in which Brian teaches equips the actor with the skills to use imagination that draws from the self. Essentially, transformation rooted in self-actualization. I had the problem in acting of believing that character was a state of being outside of oneself and that it entailed creating something furthest from myself. What a relief to walk into an audition room with the knowledge that I am enough. Truth in acting, that’s what Brian cultivated in me."

"I trust his judgment and opinion more than any other coach"

Julie Lake (Matriculated: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE/CLARENCE BROWN THEATRE):

“Brian is an excellent coach! He's a recent Yale Drama grad and he assisted the YSD faculty with the auditions every year he was there.  I highly recommend him. He's also incredibly intelligent and fun, and just an all around great person. I trust his judgment and opinion more than any other coach I've worked with. He's the best!  And he’s relatively inexpensive compared to most coaches.”

“Brian gives you the skills to be your own best coach and your own best advocate”

Zoe Chen (Matriculated: A.C.T.)

“I think a lot of people have a misunderstanding of what a coach does. I certainly did. I had thought that after a coaching session with Brian I would magically have all the answers to my MFA woes, but that was far from the truth. In reality, it was A LOT more fun. Brian encouraged me to keep asking questions of myself, and even many weeks after our session, the questions I had learned to ask continued to help me refine my audition material. Brian gives you the skills to be your own best coach and your own best advocate. Brian is such an incredible and successful coach precisely because he helps his students find their own truthful relationship to the work, which is only possible because he takes the time to know every single one of his students. With positive affirmation, constructive criticism, and a sense of play he helps growing actors express their genuine selves in their pieces. I think that genuineness and care define great art, and you will find these things with Brian McManamon.”

"This life-changing moment would not have happened without Brian's encouragement"

Chaelee Chaput (Matriculated: USC. Also accepted: NEW SCHOOL OF DRAMA):

"From the beginning, he encouraged me to work on pieces that I loved and that made all the difference during this round of auditions (it was my third time apply to grad school). Having such a strong connection with my pieces allowed my work to flourish during USC's callback weekend. This life-changing moment would not have happened without Brian's encouragement. He knew what I needed to do to and taught me how to do it. " 

"His passion for acting is infectious"

Kevaughn Harvey (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY. Also accepted: A.C.T.):

“Brian is a fantastic coach. I immediately felt comfortable working with him, and his passion for acting is infectious. He's patient, insightful, funny, and super supportive. He has a great way of helping you find your own voice within your work. I felt really proud of the work that I was sharing and I really felt that I was sharing some of myself along with it!”

“Brian is a caring and compassionate human being”

George Copeland (Matriculated: COLUMBIA):

"Brian's coaching is refreshingly distinct, he works to demystify a daunting and often confusing process, correcting actor's misconceptions about the auditions themselves and allowing them to do their best work in the room. What's more, he encourages his clients to take full ownership of their own process, while still providing welcome oversight and suggestions built on his significant experience. But more than just a coach, Brian is a caring and compassionate human being, and keeps track of his clients before, during, and after the process is over. He truly loves helping talented actors realize their potential, and does his best to get them where they need to be"

“Brian wants you to succeed as much as you do” 

Aaron Lynn (Matriculated: THE ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA): 

“Brian’s ability to cut through to the heart of what made me want to go to grad school in the first place was invaluable to our work sessions. As with character analysis, you have to know why you are doing this. Brian helped me tune in to my uniqueness, while honing in on what about the work excites me, instilling in me the confidence necessary to always do my best work no matter the circumstances. With Brian’s patient and adept guidance, I was simultaneously able to do the work necessary and have fun doing it. I struggle a lot with second guessing myself, and I cannot reiterate enough how instrumental Brian’s compassion and teaching methods were in freeing me up. Brian wants you to succeed as much as you do.”

"Brian McManamon single-handedly reinvigorated my love of acting"

Tim Creavin (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING):

"Brian McManamon single-handedly reinvigorated my love of acting. In helping me prepare for graduate school auditions, he constantly reminded me to act from a place of pure JOY and love for the craft and to share my hunger to learn through my work. His advice was critical to my success and sense of confidence throughout the grad school audition process. Brian is one of the most genuinely supportive teachers/coaches/people I’ve ever worked with, and I simply could not have gotten through this audition process without him. WOW – I’m so glad I found him…he just KNOWS what’s up. If you’re considering applying for graduate school, REACH OUT TO HIM. I promise you won’t regret it."

"You just want to be around him."

Gustavo Pace (Matriculated: A.R.T./HARVARD):

“Brian is a great teacher and coach. He is such a generous person.  You just want to be around him. He will understand you and guide you to your best audition. He also helped me choose material even outside the time we were scheduled.  He really cares about his students and wants you to do your best.  I am sure you going to improve your acting if you meet Brian.  He wants to know who you are. He also sent me some nice articles, interviews that really helped for my auditions.”

"My acting became far more personal than ever before."

Lucy Van Atta (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

“Working with Brian completely transformed the MFA audition process for me, and my acting in general.  I learned to let go of what I thought I was "supposed to do," and to focus instead on showing each school who I was---as both an artist and a human being.  Brian helped me choose monologues I truly loved, and to view each audition as a rare opportunity to bring those stories to life.  Each rehearsal---and, in fact, each audition---became a kind of thrilling experiment, a chance to delve further into the world of a play and my own connection to it.  Throughout my sessions with Brian, he never tried to provide any kind of formula or simple answer.  Rather, he asked questions that forced me to examine why I'd chosen each monologue, why it meant something, how it revealed a part of me, and why it mattered for an audience.  As a result, my acting became far more personal than ever before.  For the first time, I began to allow my audience to really see me in the stories I told---through the lens of another person.  Brian gave me that, and I am endlessly grateful for it.”

"He is hands down the best MFA preparation coach."

Patrick Jones (Matriculated: A.C.T.):

“Brian McManamon changed my life. I went into the MFA audition process, nervous, obsessive, and most importantly LOST. Brian completely transformed my outlook and showed me how to have an artistically enriching experience in the audition room. He is hands down the best MFA preparation coach I have encountered. He isn't just a great teacher and actor, he is a fantastic people-person and motivator.  Brian teaches you to love your work, love the process, and love yourself!  Brian is also an invaluable resource because he knows exactly what MFA programs are looking for in a pool of applicants. He has been through the process himself and matriculated at one of the best schools in the nation. His wealth of knowledge cannot only be trusted, it can ease your mind about the mystery surrounding the audition process itself. Brian helped me uncover the best work I imagined I was capable of, and in the process helped uncover the best, most attractive "me" I had to offer. I walked into the audition room feeling confident, excited, hopeful, and most importantly ready to go. From the mock auditions, to the coaching sessions, to the personal phone calls, Brian is always on your side. He is the perfect coach. I would recommend him to anyone and everyone because I know that if anyone is in Brian's hands, they are in the most capable hands around.”

"Preparing for MFA auditions with Brian is an MFA program in itself."

Lindsay Brill (Matriculated: OLD GLOBE/USD):

“Brian is this wonderful combination of gentle teddy bear and serious business pro. In a safe and supportive environment, he demands your best work. Brian is truly gifted at what he does. His knowledge is vast. He can look at any text and understand its complexities and help you find a way in. Brian has taken time to get to know me as a person and he uses that in our work together, which is gold for an actor. Brian encourages you to bring yourself to every ounce of your work, to be bold and to be brave. Preparing for MFA auditions with Brian is an MFA program in itself. I always hear Brian's voice as I work on my own and I will take him with me as I venture on to grad school and beyond.”

"Brian will get to know you both as a human and an actor."

Viraj Gandhi  (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

“Brian’s private coaching sessions are individualized and personalized to fit the needs of the student he is training. In other words, Brian has no magic formula because no single formula works for every actor. Brian asks questions, rather than providing answers, and this really helps one grow as an actor.  He stretches the way your mind thinks about the craft of acting. He has a rare perception of understanding how his students’ own personalities can best manifest themselves to create character. Most importantly, Brian will get to know you both as a human and an actor, which allows him to pinpoint the direction your training needs to go not based on anyone else but you. If you’re applying to graduate acting school, Brian will help cut through the enigma and intimidation of the audition and applications and will allow you to present yourself to drama schools not only as a character, but as who you are—and you are the most important asset you have going into the MFA audition process."

"Prepare to be amazed."

Dionne Audain (Waitlisted: A.R.T.):

"For starters -prepare to be amazed! Brian doles out the knowledge, love, wisdom, insight & know how with surgical precision. He is this wealth of knowledge and coaching know-how and just plain common sense. He is practical information and your inner voice all in one. Brian came highly reccomended from two very trusted acting colleagues from two of my target programs. I traveled from 4 hours away to work with Brian. 

Brian's MFA Panel & mock auditions are a must and of course one-on-one time. He goes above and beyond with his customer support being available via text and phone with encouragement and support and cheers during crucial audition Hell Weeks!! The more I was out doing the rounds (8 schools) I met more Brian-ites and we were all ready to take our rooms by storm. 

I would not have been as prepared as I was had it not been for my time with Brian. I dare say I love him seriously."

 "Stand out from the pack."

Nick Hoge (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING):

“Having attended a top MFA program himself and having sat in on MFA auditions while a student, Brian has a keen eye and understanding for the MFA audition process.  Working with him gives you a real leg up against most everyone else applying.  Brian has a great deal of enthusiasm for the joy of acting and continually encourages you to play fully and bring your individuality to the work.  At the end of the day, that's what any good MFA program wants to see, they want to see who YOU are.  I highly recommend working with Brian if you want to stand out from the pack.”

"Working with Brian was the best professional decision I've ever made."

Tatiana Pavela (Matriculated: SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY'S ACADEMY OF CLASSICAL ACTING at GEORGE WASHINGTON. Also accepted: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, DEPAUL):

"Brian was easily the best thing to happen to my acting in 2013.  Not just in regards to grad school, but to all of it.  He's perfected the balance of tough love/supportive environment and used this to get me out of my head, break bad habits, focus on the character's task at hand (which is often much simpler than the "Oh my god I need to book this now and nail this and be perfect" dialogue running through the actor's mind), and lastly - to show who I am and what I uniquely bring to the table.  During our first session I brought a new monologue to work on and used it the very next day I used it to get a callback.  With regard to grad schools, his help and guidance took me through the unknown process and guaranteed that I did my best possible work. Working with Brian was the best professional decision I've ever made. The time I spent working with him was full of creativity, dedication and detailed technique. I've worked with other grad school coaches as well as taken other classes throughout NYC, and have never experienced working with someone as down to earth and real as Brian is. Not only did he genuinely care about me as an actor, he whole heartedly cared about me as a human being. Brian gave me permission to be myself in the audition room, which is something I had not allowed myself to do up until I met him. That freedom completely changed the way I auditioned, and for that I am forever grateful to have worked with him. I am now going to my dream MFA program with confidence and a sense of freedom. I honestly could not have done this without Brian.  I imagine what my auditions would have been like without him and cringe. Best possible investment for my acting career."

"I'm not sure coach is the right word to describe him, a spirit guide perhaps?"

Adam Donovan (Matriculated: A.C.T.):

“Brian was a rock throughout this process. In a short time he was able to provide me with a sense of agency and helped me to take ownership of my material. Furthermore he was a FORCE of support and comfort during the final call back weekend. He truly went above and beyond for me.  I am so grateful to have experienced his grace, expertise, wisdom, and warmth. I'm not sure coach is the right word to describe him, a spirit guide perhaps? Whatever the word, whatever the result, he is nothing short of a wonderful human being with an extraordinary ability to guide his clients to find and expose their own deep sense of personal humanity. I am so grateful.”

"Coaching with Brian is the best possible thing you can do for yourself"

Libby McNight (Matriculated: JUILLIARD):

"Working with Brian truly changed my life, and I would have been completely lost without his guidance. I started working with him after a friend of mine highly recommended his class and coaching, and I’ll admit I was a little skeptical. I was terrified to work with someone I had never met on something so important to me. I took Brian’s scene study class as a kind of test, and before the end of the first class I was HOOKED. I love his way of communicating with actors-he really sees you and liberates you to bring yourself into the room. I cannot recommend him enough. I learned so much about myself as an actor, and his coaching made me dig deeper and discover myself in a brand new way. Also, I was also so prepared and so confident because of working with him that the actual auditions were a blast. Training with Brian gave me the skill I needed as well as immense confidence, and he made this journey so much fun!!! If you are planning on auditioning for graduate programs, coaching with Brian is the best possible thing you can do for yourself."

“Brian is the real deal and I cannot recommend him enough.”

David Mattar Merten (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

“I can say with absolute certainty that choosing to coach with Brian before my Grad School auditions was the best decision I could have made. Not only did he make me feel comfortable and prepared for the process, but he was able to encourage me to be brave with my acting choices and the materials that I brought into the room. I walked into every room feeling that no matter what happened, Brian and I prepared materials that represented me as the human and artist that I strive to be. I got accepted to Brown/Trinity, which was my top choice. When they accepted me, the head of the program told me several times that they were so drawn to the bravery that shone through my material choices because it showed so clearly who I was as an actor. Without Brian's encouragement, I would not have been brave enough to take risks with those materials and I am so happy that I did. There is a reason that so many current and former grad school students tell people to work with him. Brian is the real deal and I cannot recommend him enough.”

“He has more knowledge about every single MFA program than anyone I've ever met”

Sam Parrott (Matriculated: SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY'S ACADEMY OF CLASSICAL ACTING at GEORGE WASHINGTON):

"My journey to finding the right MFA program was long and arduous, but Brian was the rock that kept me grounded and focused during the process. When I was feeling frustrated or disappointed, he was always there pick me back up and encourage me to keep going. If I needed advice, he would always make himself available to sit down and talk things over. And, whenever I received good news he was the first person to call and congratulate me. To me, Brian was so much more than just an audition coach, he was a mentor, an advocate, and most importantly a friend. I would never have ended up where I am today without his unfailing support, guidance, and generosity.

Brian understands that the MFA audition process is so much more than just preparing and presenting a few monologues. His compassionate and joyful approach gave me the freedom and confidence to fully expose who I am as an actor, and more importantly a person, whenever I walked into an audition room. He instills in his students a sense of value, and that changed my entire audition experience from a helpless and desperate attempt to perform, to one that felt exciting and engaging. He has more knowledge about every single MFA program than anyone I've ever met, and that's invaluable once you realize that finding the right program for you is just as important as getting accepted. His grad panels are brilliantly informative, and he was always able to connect me to recent alums who could give me thoughtful and revealing descriptions of their experiences.

During our coaching sessions, Brian encouraged me to make actual discoveries in my monologues. He brings a sense of play to the work that will get you out of your head and guide you towards having an honest and exciting experience during your pieces. I can't describe how rewarding it was when I finally started to surprise myself with the feelings and thoughts that were naturally coming up during our sessions. It turns every audition into an adventure.”

"If you are looking to grow as an artist and a person, you will not regret one minute you spend with him"

Emily Bosco (Matriculated: UNC/CHAPEL HILL):

"Brian is such an incredibly warm, insightful, and brilliant coach! I had the good fortune to work with him for two MFA audition cycles, and each time my work grew leaps and bounds under his guidance. Every time we met, he helped me get past the fears and anxieties that kept my pieces in "safe", stagnant places. He taught me how to live through my monologues in real time, and to embrace the fact that they would be (wonderfully) different each time I performed them. Most importantly, he made me laugh every week, reminded me why they call it a PLAY, and helped me really understand that all these grad schools want to see is you, in all your unique glory. Not a flawless, perfect actor - YOU! If you are looking to grow as an artist and a person, you will not regret one minute you spend with him."

“Brian will be there for you every step of your journey through it all”

Mihir Kumar (Matriculated: YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA):

“First let me say the amount of time, effort, thought, mental energy, and focus it takes, going through the drama school audition process, feels pretty unbelievable. Brian understands that, and will be there for you every step of your journey through it all. What I will say about my experience auditioning is, I felt this process requires you to really take ownership of yourself, where you are at, and have the agency to articulate to others how they can help you with your work. Brian’s approach to coaching is very much rooted in that; it is very much about YOU. Be prepared to level with him about what you need, be ready to work, and take advantage of every minute you have with him. Truly I feel I gained a wonderful friend in Brian, who made the journey to grad school so much more enjoyable, and less stressful. Working with Brian will undoubtedly put your mind at ease, so you can walk into each audition/callback feeling excited to share your work, and leave without any regrets.”

"Our work together was a zen experience "

Cassandra Hunter (Matriculated: A.C.T. Also accepted: UCSD, and USC):

"Brian is the ultimate coach for the perfectionist getting in their own way. I came to Brian hellbent on a narrow view of success with a list of goals in hand and a ton of questions that didn't serve my work. He has helped me become a more open actor which allowed me to go into these auditions ready. to. play. Through our work together, I have found the joy, possibilities, and autonomy in artistic exploration. One of Brian's greatest gifts as a coach is that he doesn't allow you to think small - not about the work, not about yourself, not about your path. He encouraged me to move through the process with faith and trust, and kick fear to the curb. Our work together was a zen experience that allowed me to walk into any room and generously, confidently, fully share who I am and what I have to say to the world."

"He opens doors and asks questions to help you walk through them yourself."

Olivia Hoffman (MATRICULATED: LAMDA):

"Brian gave me the footing to trust myself again. He never makes you feel like there’s a “right” way to do a scene or a monologue, he ASKS questions. The trust is the most remarkable aspect of his teaching. He’s about the questions, not the answers. Because Brian is truly fascinated by the possibilities of your work, the element of intent to please disappears. This is why I was able to relax into my LAMDA audition with a “whatever happens happens” mentality. He gave me the tools to put the focus on the work, not the outcome. Brian doesn’t scare you. He doesn’t intimidate the work out of you. He doesn’t make you feel like there’s a “right” answer. He opens doors and asks questions to help you walk through them yourself."

“He helped me realized that I am perfectly imperfect”

Saisha Talwar (Matriculated: NYU GRAD ACTING):

“Brian encouraged a messiness and play in my work that allowed me to authentically embrace myself. He helped me get out of my head and converse with the characters I was serving so as to bring my humanity to the role. He mentally grounded me in the days leading up to the final callbacks in a way that enabled me to live fully in the fun and joy we can so easily forget in these kinds of auditions. He helped me realized that I am perfectly imperfect and can offer so much by playing true to myself. I will be eternally grateful for everything he helped me discover.”

"Brian taught me that I needed to listen to my artistic instincts"

Matt Ketai (Matriculated: BROWN/TRINITY):

“Prior to working with Brian, I had a hard time picking material that not only showcased me as an artist but also demonstrated what I am able to bring "to the table" as a person. Brian taught me that I needed to listen to my artistic instincts and to choose my pieces that immediate resonated with me, rather than over-thinking each piece intellectually. Once I was able to pick the pieces that I really cared about, everything else fell into place as far as acting and performing them.  I am very grateful to have worked with Brian McManamon.”