“Play is the highest form of research.”

—Albert Einstein

Play is how an actor works it all out. And class is where play happens best. I guide actors in my New York City classes, and bring bespoke workshops to artists across the country.
Check out the full list of offerings, and let’s play!

NYC Classes: Spring 2024

Registration Open!

  • Expanding on the tools learned in Psychophysical Acting I: Michael Chekhov Technique, you will continue developing stretch in your instrument and imagination. This class will focus on Chekhov’s tools for characterization, including Centers, The Three Sister Sensations and Imaginary Body. As you bump up against the limitations inherent in choosing what is comfortable or familiar, you will notice the craving to make changes in yourself and your art. In the second half of the course, you will experience the integration of your individual psychophysical practice with a partner’s, via paired scenes.

    April 1 - May 20. Pre-requisite: Michael Chekhov Technique I or by permission.

  • For the committed, adult actor at any level of skill and experience, this class provides a place to work out your actor muscles, work through your creative growing pains and work with other actors who are equally dedicated to their craft. Receive custom-tailored coaching on a wide range of material, from monologues, songs and audition sides to theatre, tv and film scenes. Bring what you want to work on — I can guide you if needed. Hamlet said the readiness is all. To be ready, you have to get ready with consistency, practice and support.

    Ongoing admission, each 4-week cycle starts at the top of the month. Class is limited to 6.

Ongoing Classes

For the committed, adult actor at any level of skill and experience, this class provides a place to work out your actor muscles, work through your creative growing pains and work with other actors who are equally dedicated to their craft. Receive custom-tailored coaching on a wide range of material, from monologues, songs and audition sides to theatre, tv and film scenes. You should have your own ideas about what you want to work on, but I can also guide you towards writing and roles that will challenge and excite you. Hamlet said the “the readiness is all.” To be ready you have to get ready with consistency, practice and support. Ongoing admission, each 4-week cycle starts at the top of the month. Class is limited to 8.

Actor’s Gym

Working with scenes from the Contemporary American Theatre, we move away from the mindset of performance and towards an appetite for authenticity, personalization and a holistic sense of play. Specific emphasis is placed on becoming a story detective, understanding the world of the play, deepening your connection to character and relationship, and inviting intuition and physicality to dance with your study of the text as you unearth a nuanced, embodied interpretation of the playwright’s work. Ideal for actors who seek community, artistic growth and process-oriented feedback. Participants meet weekly outside of class to rehearse. Ongoing admission, each 4-week cycle starts at the top of the month. Class is limited to 10.

Scene Study

Special Topics Classes + Workshops

Take a journey from the boring land of analysis paralysis to the rich vistas of clear, connected choices that are wholly yours. Using Michael Chekhov technique, breath work and other mind-body centered tools, you'll learn to tap into your senses, imagination and intuition, reduce overthinking and bust through creative blocks. Instead of viewing your work with dread, anxiety or confusion, you’ll begin to hold it as a creative practice, a ritual built on simplicity, fun, discovery and body intelligence. 8 weeks.

Michael Chekhov Technique: Foundations

Expanding on the tools learned in Psychophysical Acting I, you will continue developing stretch in your instrument and imagination. The focus of this module is on Michael Chekhov’s tools for characterization, including Centers, Three Sister Sensations and Imaginary Body. As you bump up against the limitations inherent in choosing what is familiar, you will notice the craving to make changes in your work. In the second half of the course, you will experience the integration of your individual psychophysical practice with a partner’s, via paired scenes. Pre-requisite: Psychophysical Acting 1 or by permission. 8 weeks.

Michael Chekhov Technique II: Character + Connection

As you continue to build stamina, strength and trust in the profound wisdom of your body, we’ll utilize stick work to grow partner-to-partner trust as well. Then, we’ll go deep in our ensemble exploration of the Rasaboxes. Based on an ancient Hindu performance aesthetic, Rasa work will enhance your emotional intelligence and fluidity and increase your artistic athleticism. By freeing yourself from the constraints of linear, thought-based process, you shed old habits and assumptions, find new pathways to text, character and relationship, and illuminate unexpected avenues to truth and empathy in your work. Pre-requisite: Psychophysical Acting 1 or by permission. 10 weeks.

Psychophysical Immersion: Sticks + Boxes

Phonetic Pillows

If you’re wondering what the heck phonetic pillows are, you’re not alone. In fact, they’re just what the phrase implies : pillows made in the shape of the phonetic alphabet, born of the brilliant mind of Louis Colaianni, one of my mentors. They are also a truly innovative, exhilarating, visceral, playful-yet-rigorous way to approach voice + speech training and dialect acquisition. While the phonetic pillows are integral to the way I work with actors on accents, this foundational course focuses on the rediscovery of our relationship with sound as an embodied experience and as a primer in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). 8 weeks.

Dialects

Building on your work with the phonetic pillows and IPA, in this class we apply the ability to identify, transcribe and utilize the phonetic symbols to: 1) understand our own way of speaking, and 2) take on the language patterns of another person, as defined by playwright, character or dialect. This class is a blend of technique and artfulness, with ample opportunity to learn a prescribed dialect, such as RP, as well as work on dialects of real subjects. Can be tailored to the needs of your production or ensemble. 10 weeks.

  • “With joy and enthusiasm, Kristen offers tools that are inviting and accessible to actors of every level. After working with her, I feel a new sense of wonder and presence spilling into my daily life. What a gift she brings to the world."

    Kristin Moran, Actor

  • "Kristen’s intergenic, warm, personalized coaching creates a safe and inspiring place to learn, understand, and explore. I now have more confidence in my intuition and imagination. Highly, highly recommended!"

    Marshall Glass, Actor

  • “Kristen aided me in opening up a channel that tapped into my truth on stage. Her class allowed me to dive deeper! For the gifts of truth and depth in my work, I am forever thankful to Kristen Cerelli."

    Brandon Stalling, Actor

  • "Kristen taught me how significant it is to pay attention to the 'why' in my work. She led me to probe more deeply into my choices and what's underneath them. The second I started to do that, the better actor I became."

    Laura Kariuki, Actor, ABC’s The Wonder Years