PENELOPE BRACKETT

Coach/Founder

The Creative Seed Career/Life Coaching

Private Coach / Career Course Leader

 

Penelope Brackett received the highest designation of Master Certified Coach from The International Federation of Coaching. For over fifteen years, she has worked as a coach serving a national practice of diverse professionals. She specializes in working with creative artists. Her creative clients include actors, singers, dancers, producers, musicians, writers, visual artists, and directors. An excellent speaker, trainer, program designer and author, she is skilled at building motivation, communication, and creativity among individuals and in the workplace.

                                                                 

Penelope trained with Coach University, the first international organization specializing in training life and career coaches. She began her coaching training and career with Actors Information Project, where she coached performers and lead business courses. Previous to becoming a coach, Penelope worked in the entertainment industry as an actor, director, and producer. She   holds a master's degree in drama from Brandeis University.

 

Penelope has lead presentations and seminars independently and at several organizations including Brandeis University, Rutgers University, Elizabeth Browning Studio, Actors Connection, Sally Johnson Studio, Charles Tuthill’s Professional Acting Class, The Donna Reed Festival (performers' training and scholarship organization), New Actors Workshop, Aching Dogs Theater Company, Boomerang Theater, Dreamcatcher Theater and Atlantic Theater. Penelope has three more books in development, “Art of the Interview, “Art of the Phone Call” and “Make a Joyful Noise: The Art of Networking.” In addition she publishes a monthly online newsletter, “The Fertile Ground” featuring articles and exercises to grow your life and career.

 

Penelope coauthored “Seven Keys for Unlocking Success without Struggle”, a career guide for performers, with director/writer Lester Shane. Her online newsletter, “The Fertile Ground” features articles and exercises to grow your life and career. Articles include: “Ask and You Shall Receive”, “Emergency Distractions” and “My Gift’s better than your Gift”.

 

Penelope has been featured in Child Magazine, The New York Times, The Today Show, The Reading Hour, The Coaching Hour with Lester Thomas Shane. Penelope resides in Maplewood, NJ with her husband Ted and three children, Kazden, Lily and Coulton. For more information, visit Ms. Brackett at www.thecreativeseed.com.

 

LESTER THOMAS SHANE

Co-Author, “Seven Keys to Success without Struggle” Award-winning Director, Writer, Technique/Career/Dialect Coach

Lester's highly acclaimed directing credits include over fifty productions ranging from Shakespeare to the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch as well as premiere productions of many new plays.  He was Artistic Director of Theatre Jacksonville's Shakespeare at the Met and Director in Residence at New York's The Basic Theatre.  He has directed numerous readings and workshops and has worked with the literary departments of Manhattan Theatre Club, Westbeth and Hartford Stage.

 

Lester is the co-author of several screenplays including Pajama Party Horror, Nothing To Lose, and Portrait of the Artist As A Dead Man.  A series of his plays for children was published by Sundance.  He co-developed the program, P.O.V. Max for Children's Television Workshop.  For A&E Network Television's popular Biography series, he wrote James Brown: Godfather of Soul, Tyrone Power: The Last Idol, and Carmen Miranda: The South American Way.  For AMC he wrote the history, 20th Century Fox: The First Fifty Years; and for the Discovery Network, Nazis: The Occult Conspiracy.

 

As an actor, he worked at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.  In addition to playing leading roles like Mercutio, Tartuffe and Puck, Lester also served as the company Voice and Movement Master for three years.  His award-winning one-man show, Mortal Coil, premiered at the First International New York Fringe Festival and has since played across the country.  Mortal Coil has been produced for video and has been incorporated into Columbia University and UCLA's curriculum for training doctors on end-of-life care.

 

 Lester has worked extensively as a speech and dialects coach and is on the faculty of New York's New Actor's Workshop, the TADA! Ensemble, American Academy for Dramatic Art and New York Film Academy.  He was invited to give the keynote address at the 2001 National Teaching Training Institute sponsored by PBS. 
 

Kimberly VaughnKIMBERLY VAUGHN

Triple Tony-nominated Producer, New York & Regional Director, Actress & Musical Theater Performance Coach

 

Kimberly is passionately committed to the creative art of storytelling through the in-depth exploration of the actor’s relationship to text, both dramatic and musical. Her classes and one-on-one coaching sessions encompass musical performance audition technique, monologue character, and text analysis and interpretation. Her clients’ Broadway, national, and regional credits include: Aida, Kiss Me Kate, Little Shop of Horrors, Mamma Mia!, Ragtime, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Full Monty, The Lion King, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Urinetown, and Wicked.

Kimberly is on the faculty of the renowned Circle in the Square Theatre School, as well as an adjunct Professor at Pace University and has taught at the legendary Warren Robertson Acting Studio, NYC.

Kimberly’s credits include: Performing: on Broadway as Constance Wilde: Dear Oscar, and in star packages: The Member of the Wedding w/Ethel Waters, Harvey w/Shirley Booth & Tom Poston, Applause w/Dorothy Collins, Directing:  the Drama Desk Award winning play The Sea Horse and the world premier of The Lost Boy, which she also co-produced regionally.  Producing: as Associate Producer of the twice Tony-Award nominated Marlene w/Sian Phillips, co-producer  of Tony-Award nominated Swinging on a Star.  Miss Vaughn is a member of The League of Professional Theatre Women, Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, The Broadway League,, Actors’ Equity, SAG, and  AFTRA.




PAULA J. RILEY

Actress, Writer, Technique Teacher, Founder “Primary Principals of Acting”

Paula was born in the proverbial theatrical trunk. Her parents were comedian Larry Best and singer Susan Brewster. In joining Iza Itkin’s repertory theatre company @The Chamber Theater in Manhattan, she extended her theatrical family as an actress and director. Performing credits include: Daisy Werthan; Driving Miss.Daisy, Amanda; Glass Menagerie, Edna; Prisoner of Second Avenue Norma; ‘Night Mother. Directorial credits include: A Fake Fiasco, I Feel Swell, Wednesdays, Traffic Jam, Come Back, Little Sheba, Golden Boy, The Wreck on the 5:25,The Stronger. Her production company, New Heights Productions produced their first two plays in May of 2008. 

“To all that cross this path— take advantage! Paula J Riley has been a great force in my auditions and performances.

She directed me in both theatre and cabaret for which I received critical acclaim. She has given me tools, and moreover made me aware of the “business” of theatre. Her insight into the art and individual is a gift worth giving yourself.”—

Marshall Simon: Actor, Model, Cabaret Performer

“During the fast-paced pilot season, Paula really helped me find a way to connect to the material that was thrown at me at a moment’s notice. In addition, Paula’s improv experience is invaluable.”— Elaine Marco: Actress, Dancer, “A Chorus Line.”