Colorado School of ActingABOUT US

EARLY ARTS TRAINING:

Elizabeth found her home onstage at age three, performing in the Suzuki Violin Program. As a child, she also studied piano and sang in choir, which led her to musical theatre and eventually acting as its own pursuit. Meaningful early instructors include Helen Gerald (violin), Mike Weiker (voice / choir), and Director Helen Taylor, who hired Elizabeth for her first professional acting job as a teenager – playing Cinderella onstage.

COLLEGE:

Elizabeth received the President’s Music Scholarship to attend DePauw University in Indiana, where she pursed acting and voice studies. She spent a semester studying opera and lieder in Vienna, Austria, before graduating college early thanks to some high school AP credits. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Music Degree with a double major in Communications. Elizabeth’s senior thesis project at DePauw focused on the evolution of Stanislavski’s Method through members of the Group Theatre such as Meisner, Adler, Strasberg, Lewis, and Clurman, and eventually through Uta Hagen’s work at the end of the 20th Century. Acting Theory is interesting in itself, but is really a means to an end – which is skill in performing onstage or on set.

POST COLLEGE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:

After graduating college, Elizabeth stopped over in her hometown of Denver to star in her first film project, then drove west till the land ended and spent the next decade or so working as an actor in LA. There, she studied with wonderful coaches like Jeff Corey, John Kirby, Marnie Cooper, and Orly Sitowitz, who helped her adapt her stage experience into a more grounded and truthful style that allowed her to book work on camera. Elizabeth is a big believer in finding the education that best serves YOU, whether it is in a university, in private lessons, by reading books, or in a performing arts program like Colorado School of Acting. For most people, it will be an ongoing combination of all those things and more!

Elizabeth’s theatre performing background includes leads in over 25 plays and musicals including: The Valiant, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Love Puzzle, Sound of Music, South Pacific, Jesus Christ Superstar, Annie, with title roles in Cinderella and Gypsy.

On screen, she has appeared in over twenty films including: Waking Up in Reno with Billy Bob Thornton and Patrick Swayze, and a turn as Judy Garland in Warner Brothers’ James Dean starring James Franco. On the little screen, she has appeared in dozens of commercials like Subway, Best Buy, Noodles & Co., Vail Resorts, and more.

Elizabeth especially loves writing and directing productions with CSA (Colorado School of Acting) actors. Her original plays produced include: Jet and the Giants, Aspiring, Neverland, Anansi and the Fruit, Princess Pajama Party, and Hero’s Hideout. Of the many other shows she has directed, favorites include The Secret Garden (the musical) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare.

Ms. Horne teaches only the very most advanced actors at Colorado School of Acting, in the Company Production Class. The entire focus of this class is show creation.

However, she absolutely loves to see ALL the actors in the Elite Program at our Special Events that we hold every single month! It’s so much fun to see the actors perform several times a semester, and the the growth in skill and confidence that results from all of their hard work that they are doing in class with their wonderful instructors. Elizabeth also teaches all of the student actors at Colorado School of Acting indirectly via the curriculum she has created over the years. She continues to update the CSA curriculum, week by week along with Head Teacher Emily Bice, to continue incorporating best teaching practices and the ever-evolving changes in the entertainment industry. Some things never change, though: hard work, dependability, and kindness will never go out of style.

Troy’s performing arts education includes countless years of choir and private lessons in voice, piano, and guitar, before winning a scholarship to Sam Houston State University.

As an entrepreneur, his business education includes an incredible number of online courses and *roughly* every business book ever written. Troy is what they call a lifelong learner, which is a key reason he has enjoyed success in a wide variety of professional pursuits – most recently writing and publishing books. (Over 100,000 copies sold!)

Troy is currently focused on being a best-serving author. His book Mental Toughness for Young Athletes includes a lot of exercises and concepts that are beneficial to young actors as well. We recommend! He is currently writing a young adult mystery.

In past years, Troy made his living as a performer for a long time. He has toured the world many times over, and had record deals and released multiple albums independently and under various labels. He has appeared on Broadway in the role of Tom Collins in RENT, alongside original cast members Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal. He has starred in shows at Disneyland, California Adventure, and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. His original music can be found on many TV shows and films.

Troy is currently overseeing certain business aspects of Colorado School of Acting.

In earlier days at CSA, he has taught Acting, Musical Theatre, YouTube Creation, Voice Over, and Film Production.

Emily holds a BA from James Madison University in Virginia, where she majored in English with a concentration in Shakespeare and 20th century American Literature, and minored in Theatre Arts. She also was a performing member of an improv troupe, and studied improvisation with Austin Bragg.

Emily spent a semester in London where she studied at the Globe Theatre under Patrick Spottiswoode and Nick Hutchinson. She also studied Shakespeare in Staunton, VA with Ralph Cohen at Shakespeare’s Blackfriars Theatre.

While working as an actor in Los Angeles, Emily worked on Scene Study and Acting for the Camera with Casting Director Mark Tillman, and Performance Technique for Film and Stage with Acting Coach Tom Arthur.

Emily has appeared in films, commercials, and theatre on both coasts and now in Colorado as well.

At Colorado School of Acting, Emily has directed many of our summer plays.

Ms. Emily teaches Advanced Acting classes here at Colorado School of Acting, as well as providing Private Coaching for Auditions. She also coordinates the curriculum for the Teaching Artists each week, and provides instructor training as needed.

Tom holds a BA in Theater Arts from Southern Illinois University. Like any good actor, he continues to educate himself through ongoing study. And, of course, you learn the most when you teach!

It’s a very ancient saying,
But a true and honest thought,
That if you become a teacher
By your pupils you’ll be taught.

~ Oscar Hammerstein II

Tom worked in theatre in the Chicago area before moving to Colorado where he has appeared in both films and commercials – so he is a great person to help students understand the local market.

Outside the entertainment industry, Tom owned a specialty food business for some time, in addition to other work in the world of retail and hospitality.

Tom is also US Air Force Veteran, and received a medal for his work with Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mr. Tom is our Level 1 Lead Instructor – which means that he teaches our first year students Monday through Friday in Centennial, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and Westminster!

We at CSA are thankful that Tom is willing to drive to provide these great lessons to young actors in ALL the cities where we operate. It is a wonderful way to create a consistent experience for our all our students in their first year, regardless of where they attend classes. Thanks Mr. Tom!

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, and a Master of Education in Educational Administration.

Rachel has taught acting and directed theatre for over 20 years in multiple states.

She works as an actor in the Colorado market, and moved here from Texas in 2022 with her husband and three children. We sure are glad to have her on the CSA Team!

Ms. Rachel teaches Level 1 students in Centennial and on Zoom – Tweens and Teens. She also teaches Showbiz Kids for our youngest actors, ages 5 to 7.

Chrissy studied Sociology at University of Colorado, Boulder.

Chrissy’s work background includes theatre and on-camera work, as well as many years of professional improv experience, making her the perfect person to teach our Improv Unit to our Advanced Actors. She has been an important member of our CSA Team since 2021.

Ms. Chrissy teaches our Advanced Actors in Westminster, as well as some community outreach classes that CSA offers through the City of Thornton. Ms. Chrissy has taught at CSA since 2021.

Dyane’s Education Info Coming Soon!

Dyane Filip is a life-long actor, having worked professionally since childhood. She has appeared on stages and on camera in commercials and TV all across the U.S. In the Voice Over world, Dyane’s skillful voice can be heard in film and TV work, and in dozens of national commercials for the likes of McDonalds, Head & Shoulders, and Raisin Bran. Ms. Filip is the only woman to have performed as the Public-Address Announcer for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Dyane currently plays the mom of Elizabeth and Emily in our CSA youth sitcom, Jetsetters!

She is passionate about teaching and has guided voice actors for decades, both in classes and as an on-set coach. Ask anyone who has worked with Ms. Filip in New York, LA, Chicago, or Denver, and they’ll tell you: Dyane will help you find the best and the most fun way to grow as an actor.

Dyane teaches our Voice Over Classes on Zoom. She is also our Anchor Teaching Artist in Colorado Springs for the Advanced Actors in the Elite Program. She has been an important member of the CSA Team since 2019.

Connor is currently in his final year of college, preparing to graduate with a BA in Film in Spring of 2024. Afterward, he plans to continue his studies, pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Film.

Connor has been our on-staff Film Editor at CSA since 2022.

In addition to filmmaking responsibilities, Connor provides the instruction for Coaching Club, our after-school online support for audition preparation. Connor is also the Co-Teacher for our Company Production Class, where our very most advanced students work on creating shows along with Ms. Elizabeth.

Chuck has studied education as well as acting and improv at The Second City, Cuyahoga Community College, and Cleveland State University.

In addition to theatre and on-camera acting, Chuck’s professional background includes extensive improv and sketch comedy with The Second City and educational outreach programs through Cleveland Opera.

Chuck has been an important part of our CSA Team since 2019, teaching our Weekly Workshops in Centennial and Lakewood, and on Zoom. This is a critical role as the Workshops are the entry point for most of our new students. More recently, he has been teaching our Remote Learning Exploratory Classes from his family’s new home in Atlanta!

Ms. Liz is currently pursuing a degree in film studies, while also teaching at CSA. She began her college education at Colorado Film School, where she won an award for her acting performance as the lead in a short film. Liz is planning to continue this pursuit, currently applying to other film programs. During her teenage years, she got a solid foundation in acting training right here at CSA! (Sometimes we get to grow our own instructors.)

Liz joined our CSA Team as a Co-Teacher in 2021, but started here as a student years before that. She has appeared in films, commercials, and theatre here in the local market.

Ms. Liz currently teaches our Drop-In Acting Workshops in Centennial and Lakewood, and on Zoom. She is a kind and caring instructor for our newest actors just beginning their journey.