STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
"Taking class with Brian has completely revolutionized my approach to performance”
"Taking class with Brian has completely revolutionized my approach to performance, my mindset as an actor, and my commitment to the craft. On the first day of our Shakespeare class I knew he was something special. He unpacked, unfolded, and revealed Shakespeare to me in an approachable and conquerable way. With him, I learned 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 couldn't have asked for a better experience learning.”—Mel Golliday
“Brian’s class is safe space for any actor, looking to play, to learn, to be in community, and to work on this strange and beautiful art form.”
“With a gentle guidance, Brian helps you helps you to become a better actor and more importantly, a more intentional and better human being. Brian’s class is safe space for any actor, looking to play, to learn, to be in community, and to work on this strange and beautiful art form.” — Samuel H. Levine
“His class truly freed me as an artist.”
Brian is a miner of truth and a conductor of expression and freedom. He sets the floor for his students to explore, fail beautifully, be challenged and grow. Everything is rooted in the work, with love. He guides artists with care. Acting is a direct extension of his heart. He is an artist through and through. Any actor will be better off after having worked with Brian. He’s taught me trust and release in my instrument, additional tools for my toolbox and a deepening of process. His class truly freed me as an artist. Plus, he is the most fun, sweetest person you will meet! Do yourself the favor and run to any class he’s teaching. — Tian Richards
“Brian cultivates a place for experimentation and ultimately growth”
"Brian's class creates a rare and spectacular opportunity to work with high caliber professional performers in a low stakes environment. Brian cultivates a place for experimentation and ultimately growth. His focus on the work allows you to wander into new discoveries about yourself and the character. I couldn't recommend his scene study course enough, especially for professionals looking for a safe place to play and grow.” — Doug Harris
“The best thing I've done for myself as an actor”
“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. My favorite thing about Brian’s work is his deep interest in connecting you to your character. He is always interested in what YOU have to bring to your work.Working with him is such a fun process, and he allows you to bring so much joy and play into your work. Having Brian as a teacher and coach is, without a doubt, the best thing I've done for myself as an actor.” — Yonatan Gebeyehu
“Brian’s classroom holds a rare magic which feels akin to alchemy”
“I felt high on Shakespeare, as though I had been invited to join a world previously unimagined to me and yet filled with truly limitless possibility. This feeling came chiefly from Brian’s unique talent of making Shakespeare come alive as though Shakespeare himself were a passionate collaborator in the room with you, goading you on and encouraging surprising and personal discoveries. Brian’s aim was for us to understand our personal relationship to Shakespeare and his words, we approached the text with a level of detail that set the bar for the standard of investigation. It was not only an analysis of the external text but our internal relationship to that text as well, sound by sound and sense by sense. Brian’s classroom holds a rare magic which feels akin to alchemy. I left every class transformed to the core by what I had learned. I say this not in the slightest as a detriment to the phenomenal training I received at LAMDA, but as a testament to the magnitude of Brian’s skill: during my three years in England, there wasn’t much I learned about Shakespeare that I hadn’t already been taught by Brian, and what I didn’t know I picked up immediately because of my foundation.” — Michael DeFilippis
“He's generous, present, kind and patient and will get you results!”
“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 but needed to be set free. He's generous, present, kind and patient and will get you results! I highly recommend him.” —Medina Senghore
“Brian McManamon isn’t just an educator, he is a key holder.”
“Brian McManamon isn’t just an educator, he is a key holder. Brian boasts a natural ability to unlock potential within an actor. I’ve studied acting since I learned to walk — with some of the most gifted teachers, coaches, and professors. Crafting a safe haven for my peers and I each week, Brian offered a certain je ne sais quoi that I had yet to come across in the classroom. From his attentiveness, to his patience, to his irrefutable passion for the art form, he seamlessly poured fountains into me that a number of my past mentors have tried to but have fallen short. He’s honed the art of speaking to his students with tenderness, compassion, and expertise. I believe that an actor can only meet a character as far as they’ve met themselves. And because of Brian’s talent to lead actors to water, I’m leaving his course hydrated and activated. Because of Brian’s ability to assist in an actor’s journey to say “yes”, and to give themselves permission, I’m stepping into my work with fragments of myself that I had buried some time ago and struggled to excavate.” —Tré Melvin
“I felt expanded and honestly...if I can say, high”
“Brian creates an environment that I have never experienced before. It is so safe to LEARN. I felt no pressure to be "good" or give a "good performance." There is no "failing" because we celebrate every experience in the room for the significance and value it brings to us as learners. I love his approach. Most importantly, Brian brings his full presence to each moment. He gives himself completely (body, mind, spirit) to the work which inspired me to do the same. He doesn't have to demand your vulnerability because the fact that he is risking just as much as you are in the room just invites you to meet him there. I felt so much open up for me after his class. I felt expanded and honestly...if I can say, high.” — Maria DeCotis
“Brian creates this welcoming, safe space where you feel free to explore and take risks”
“I chose to study with Brian because I heard he had so much to offer—and I was absolutely right. What stood out was the way he creates this welcoming, safe space where you feel free to explore and take risks. His energy makes it easier to really push through and discover the essence of the story and what makes a character come alive. I still find myself thinking about the questions he planted in my mind. As actors, finding tools that truly resonate and work for you is everything—and Brian gave me just that. Thank you, Brian, for such a meaningful and inspiring experience!” — Matrell Smith
“My imagination has been given its wings back”
“Before studying with him I had been taught to approach acting like it was more of a tightrope than an art. All of that changed in Brian's class. He changed me from a robot, into a dancer of sorts. I feel like my imagination has been given its wings back. I couldn't be more grateful. Brian's class is such a safe place to grow and be curious. His talent and mastery of acting allow him to penetrate the work and help actors hone in on new ways of working that are more successful and inspiring than any I've ever known. Brian taught me to be an artist in the depths of the work, not just on the surface. If you're considering studying with him, do it. He's incredible.” — Mark Haptonstall
“The best acting instructor I’ve ever had”
"Brian McManamon is arguably the best acting instructor I’ve ever had. His approach to the work is very genuine. His thoughtful approach to teaching definitely helped me become a better actor. Brian, I can’t thank you enough." — Newton Mayenge
“Brian's passion and expertise have left a lasting impact on my craft”
Taking class with Brian McManamon was truly a transformative experience. Not only did I grow as an actor but watching Brian interact with my classmates was incredibly inspiring. His insightful guidance consistently brought out the best in each of us. It was remarkable to witness the collective growth in the class. This journey has been nothing short of mind-blowing. Brian's passion and expertise have left a lasting impact on my craft. — Julio Lourido
“He has truly an infinitude of knowledge of acting, and a contagious curiosity for the craft”
“Training with Brian was the single most artistically fulfilling experience I’ve had since entering the professional world from a conservatory program. Brian’s class allowed me time and space to return from the seriousness of the working world as an actor and into the realm of pure play, exploration, and pursuit of my curiosity without fear for failure. Alongside the exciting work that I was able to engage with in class, learning from Brian every day was a privilege. He has truly an infinitude of knowledge of acting, and a contagious curiosity for the craft. Each page of notes I have from the class is a page I will be revisiting many times throughout my life. Also, our class got pretty tight, which was cool because it can be quite isolating and difficult for the actor in the self-tape age to build a community here in NYC. Brian is careful to cultivate a safe-space for students like myself who have felt otherwise targeted and/or ignored in typical acting scene study class. His ability to address actors points of improvements with equal amount of sternness and genuine care is a quality that sets him apart from any other teacher. This class was indisputable highlight of my career as a student.” — Quentin Nguyen-duy
“He has the ability to transform the work by bringing you in touch with yourself.”
"It's rare that you can consistently leave a class feeling passionate and fulfilled with the work that you're doing. Yet, with Brian's class 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 training feeling centered and strong with an amazing sense of self love.”—JeVon Blackwell
“Working with Brian was the best professional decision I've ever made”
"Brian was easily the best thing to happen to my acting this year. 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, and lastly - to share who I am and what I uniquely bring to the table. 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 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. Best possible investment for my acting career." —Tatiana Pavela
“Brian diligently fosters a safe and creative environment for artists to explore, discover, and pour their hearts out.”
"Brian diligently fosters a safe and creative environment for artists to explore, discover, and pour their hearts out. There is a strong value in being a generous actor and giving yourself permission to be lead by the character’s instincts and scene partner. I found this liberating and I’m beyond excited to develop characters and rehearse in this new way based on wonder and curiosity. Thank you, Brian!" — Klarissa Marie Robles
“Brian is totally down-to-earth, but the work is meaningful and deep”
“Brian is totally down-to-earth, but the work is meaningful and deep--working with Brian felt like 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!" —Brian Wiles
“Brian is truly gifted at what he does. His knowledge is vast"“
“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."—Lindsay Brill
“I am leaving with a renewed sense of confidence in myself and my craft”
“I had the privilege of taking Scene Study with Brian. Brian is an incredible teacher. He is kind, sensitive, deeply empathetic, and present. He has a masterful understanding of acting as a craft and as well as how to guide each student through their work. In only a handful of weeks, this class has taught me so much about the craft: how to work from a place of allowance and starting with what is; how to see boundless possibility in each script; how to fully lend myself to my characters. Brian creates an incredibly inspiring and supportive environment for his students, one in which it feels safe to take risks. One of the most electrifying aspects of class was witnessing his adjustments to scene work. Brian has a unique gift for meeting actors where they are and helping them connect more deeply to the material, as well as their own unique gifts. We witnessed moments of pure stage magic each day, as actors transformed into their characters. This class was a life-affirming and healing experience for me. I was able to reconnect with parts of my humanity that have felt dormant for a long time, and will treasure that gift. I am leaving with a renewed sense of confidence in myself and my craft, a deeper connection with my own artistry, and a curiosity and appetite for more. I learned so much in Brian's course, as both an actor and a human. Sign me up for round 2!!!” — Kate Eberstadt
“I am now head over heals IN LOVE with these classics that used to intimidate me”
"I began dancing professionally 10 years ago, and acting professionally four years ago, although my crippling fear made me step away from all of it last year. 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 took Brian's Shakespeare class and I am now head over heals IN LOVE with these classics that used to intimidate me. I made so many great friends in that class who I know will continue to be by my side throughout my career.” —Gillian Abbott
“One of his greatest strengths is his knack for creating a community of actors”
“Brian McManamon is a fantastically gifted acting teacher and coach. One of his greatest strengths is his knack for creating a community of actors who feel simultaneously safe to explore and held to a higher standard of truth. He makes you as an actor feel at ease because you know that what Brian offers isn’t judgement, but a challenge to be as spontaneous and honest as he believes you can be. Brian is focused, committed, but above all, generous.” —Isabel Shill
“I feel confident in approaching any role in the canon after taking the class”
"Brian's Shakespeare Class is terrific and comes with my highest recommendation. I began the class with a significant amount of classical training and experience, but, as usual, Brian's teaching took my work to an entirely new level. I learned how to act Shakespeare anew, and gained an effective and rigorous approach I will now use for all of my work moving forward. I feel confident in approaching any role in the canon after taking the class, and feel a renewed sense of aliveness, authenticity, and artistry in my acting. Brian is a master teacher who takes your acting from a medium, dull gray to vibrant hues you didn't even know you had. Not to mention his wit, charm, and delightful combination of reverence and irreverence. Take this class; I can say with certitude that your acting will improve tremendously.” —Liz Kimball
“Brian has made me a better actor, period.”
“He pushed and dared me to be bolder, braver and more creative with my work. Brian has made me a better actor, period.” —Carlos Dengler
“A true master of teaching of this art form”
“I looked forward to Brian’s class every week because it reminded me of the joys of playing as a kid with likeminded friends while also being mixed with the seriousness of professional actors looking to make giant leaps in their practice. So much fun and a boat-load of serious learning from a true master of teaching of this art form. It was also such a moving experience to witness my peers undergo so much honest progress together. This is an ideal class to connect with who you are, what you want to say, and emphasize and celebrate why you are an actor and artist in the first place.” — Juan Pablo Cáceres
“Training with Brian gave me the skill I needed as well as immense confidence”
"Working with Brian truly changed my life. I started working with him after a friend of mine highly recommended his class, and I’ll admit I was a little skeptical. I took Brian’s scene study class 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 he made me dig deeper and discover myself in a brand new way. Training with Brian gave me the skill I needed as well as immense confidence." —Libby McNight
“Run to take this class!”
“Brian provides an exceptionally safe space, which allows room for tremendous freedom to take risks and make bold choices; he is constantly offering pearls of wisdom while also meeting you where you are at and honoring your specific needs. This class was also so much fun! Every one of us looked forward to the work and being with each other; it provided some much needed community and a fantastically joyful environment. Run to take this class!” — Sarah Joyce
“The environment Brian brings is truly magical”
"Working with Brian reinvigorated me, my freedom to explore, and my relationship to acting. The environment Brian brings is truly magical and I couldn’t recommend working with him enough". — Dusty Lachowicz
“An acting class that truly felt like it was for actors, not just acting.”
“I've left this class a better artist. I learned so much that I'll take with me for the rest of my career -- never, in any class I've ever taken, have I ever been taught how to rehearse and those exercises alone have changed the game for me. Furthermore, the community of an in-person class of students, many who are getting their feet wet like me, has been not only incredibly valuable, but also validating for me. Thank you for creating an acting class that truly felt like it was for actors, not just acting.” — Nicole Ciravolo
“Brian felt like a comrade, in solidarity with each of his students”
“Brian’s class resuscitated the part of me that loves acting. He is an amazing teacher with a breadth of knowledge, but his true gift is his ability to accept other people and allow them to accept themselves. Brian felt like so much more than a teacher. Brian felt like a comrade, in solidarity with each of his students, and because of that, the space was alive with an energy that I haven’t quite experienced in an acting class. The energy of acceptance and kindness. We were protected by it, so there was no such thing as failure.” — Shelby Flannery
“Incomparable to any other acting class”
“Taking this class is genuinely incomparable to any other acting class and you will leave not only trusting Brian as a mentor but trusting yourself as an actor even more. Brian exceeds expectations of how to make a space that feels safe, engaging, and filled with a deep sense of exploration. It would behoove any actor to work him.” —Jared Kemp
“Brian’s teaching comes from a place of deep love and care for the craft”
“Brian’s teaching comes from a place of deep love and care for the craft that he extends towards each of his students. He leads from a place of true curiosity, free from judgment, and invited us to do the same. I learned to lean into wonder, to be curious about my scene partners and fellow classmates as they worked, and to avoid doing everything the “right way”. This class and what I’ve gained — in my art, in my confidence, in my sense of community — cannot be captured in a few sentences but I do know the lessons I’ve learned with Brian will continue to grow and change as I do.” — Sophie Hoyt
“Not only did I regain my love for the craft, but I also regained my confidence”
“Brian's class was a breath of fresh air. In this era of self tape auditioning, the art and craftsmanship of acting gets lost for a quick product. I came into this class searching for a new spark and that's what I found. Not only did I regain my love for the craft, but I also regained my confidence. I acquired knowledge, tools, and life long friendships/supporters!”— Kyra Davis
“Brian instills questions and practices that you as the actor are able to carry beyond the class”
When I think about the creative work I want to be a part of and continue creating, it is intrinsically aligned with Brian’s teachings. Brian instills questions and practices that you as the actor are able to carry beyond the class, so that you may approach your work with specificity, continued curiosity, and intentional risk. It reminds you to be messy, curious, and alive. It allows you to advocate compassionately for the characters you choose to inhabit. — Rebecca Ana Peña