Community

We are a Collective because we are stronger together. We rise in success and purpose with those around us.

Liberation

We dare to dream of a new American canon. Pedagogies can change to reflect the world around us. We source our knowledge from ourselves, teachers, and ancestors.

Joy

Our pleasure, dissension, and existence is tied to revolution. We practice radical empathy and joy in our work and process.

Consent

Actor training should not be traumatic. We cultivate relationships that are brave, communicative, and supportive.

*PRINCIPLED STRUGGLE

honesty with compassion. We’ve learned this term from the work of adrienne maree brown, who sources N’Tanya Lee for providing a framework. Learn more here.

^AFFINITY SPACE

where learning occurs and groups of people are drawn together because of shared strong interests, characteristics or engagement in a common activity. The concept is attributed to James Paul Gee and co-author Elizabeth Hayes, who introduced it in their 2012 publication “Nurturing affinity space and game-based learning.” Learn more here.

jenelle chu

(she/her) is a Canon Crash Course instructor. Specializes in scene study, voice and dialect, career, MFA applications. Chu is an actor, singer, and aspiring educator and director. Her credits on Broadway include Junk (Lincoln Center Theater) and Bernhardt/Hamlet (Roundabout). She has been seen regionally at Shakespeare & Co, American Conservatory Theater, Papermill Playhouse, and Bucks County Playhouse. Other credits in NYC include shows at The Flea Theater and 52nd Street Project. Film/TV credits: Elementary, Instinct, Madam Secretary, New Amsterdam, Prodigal Son, and short film White Flags with AC Productions. Jenelle has studied with master acting teacher, Michael Howard and on-camera coach, Bob Krakower. She holds a BM in Vocal Performance with an emphasis in Opera Voice and a MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama. Her ancestry comes from Guangdong, China and Cholon, Saigon, Vietnam. She was born and raised in St. Louis, MO and is fluent in conversational Cantonese Chinese. (Photo Credit: Dirty Sugar)

sohina sidhu

(she/her) is the lead Workshop organizer. Specializes in MFA applications, scene study, career, and voice. Sidhu is an actor and artist originally from California. While at school, she has been seen in YELL, Kiss (Yale Repertory Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing, Death of Yazdgerd, The Seagull, and The Tempest among others. She conceived and directed The Red Tent at Yale Cabaret, directed NOVIOS pt. 1 at the Yale Cabaret, and appeared in The Trojan Women at Yale Summer Cabaret. Other credits include The Seagull, STRATA, Caenis (Pace Gallery NYC). Television credits include Evil (CBS ALL ACCESS), Little Voice (Apple tv +), and Prodigal Son (Fx); Film credits include: The Society (short), DATING in New York (Independent Feature). Her short film Vuka, was a finalist for best directorial debut and best short thriller (Barcelona Intl Festival & FilmHaus Berlin) and screened at 9 other international festivals. Sohina Sidhu holds degrees in acting from University of Southern California School of Drama and film from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts; and an MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama 2019. Sohina is a member of The Actors Center and The National Alliance of Acting Teachers. Sohina is also a birth doula. She is currently on faculty for Theatre and Performance Studies at Yale University and at CineStudio Paris in Paris, France. (Photo Credit: David Noles)

julian elijah martinez

(he/him) is the Containers instructor. Specializes in movement, voice, career. Broadway: Network. Off-Broadway: Anatomy of a Suicide (the Atlantic Theater Company) Alligator (New Georges); and Mud (Boundless Theater Company). Selected Regional Credits: Father Comes Home From The Wars Part 1,2,3 (c/o production with Yale Rep and American Conservatory Theater); The Square Root of 3 Sisters (Dmitry Krymov Lab); 9 Circles (Forum Theatre); The Hampton Years (Theater J); Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, (Chesapeake Shakespeare Company). Television credits include Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Prodigal Son, Elementary, High School Lover, Big Dogs and Madam Secretary. Film Credits include: Dominant Species (short) and Swimming (short). Martinez received his MFA from Yale University where he was also the Co-artistic Director of the Yale Cabaret. Martinez has taught with the New York Film Academy and the Chautauqua Institution and is a current Board Member of the Developing Artist Theater Company. (Photo Credit: David Goddard)

francesca fernandez

(she/siya) is a Canon Crash Course instructor. NYC: Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST), Roundabout Theatre Company, 59E59, Daryl Roth Theater, Ant Fest at ARS NOVA, Center at Park West. Regionally: Dorset Theatre Festival, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, KC Rep, CalShakes, Southern Rep, Theater Mu, Two Rivers Theater, Magic Theater, Cleveland Playhouse, Milwaukee Rep. She has workshopped new work with The Tectonic Theatre Project, Rattlestick Theater, 2g Productions, Playwrights Realm, The Bushwick Starr, The Lark, Clubbed Thumb, and the National Black Theater of Harlem. TV/Film credits include “Law & Order: SVU,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Hardest Part,” “Mooshrooms,” “Arcadia: Web Series,” “The Locker Room Series,” “Facetime” (co-written), and PBS’ Great Performances recording of the play “Gloria: A Life.” While getting her MFA in acting at Yale School of Drama, she was a co-Artistic Director of Yale Cabaret in its 50th season, an original member of the Asian and Asian American Coalition (aka Asian Potluck) and Yale School of Drama’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. She was featured in American Theater Magazine as a “Theater Worker You Should Know.” She currently teaches at The New School and Yale University. She has previously taught at La Mama/Trinity College, Waterwell, Urban Arts Partnership, Dwight/Edgewood Project, Play/Write, KID SmART, and the Edible Schoolyard NOLA. (Photo Credit: Ian McLaren)