Faculty
In order to create the most dynamic and effective learning environment our faculty are working industry professionals who are also experienced teachers. This unique combination ensures the best, most up to the minute information and tools delivered in a way that appeals to all learners.
DIRECTORS
RICH GOTERI (Artistic Director)
What do Rich Goteri, James Gandolfini, Mickey Rourke, Harvey Keitel, Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman all have in common? They are all alumni of The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York.
Rich Goteri, the creative director at Michigan Actors Studio has enjoyed one of the most diverse careers one can have in show business. He started his professional career at age 16 as a stand-up comic playing such New York clubs as Catch a Rising Star, Dangerfield’s and The Comedy Store. At age 19 he auditioned and was accepted into the legendary acting school The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, where he remained for eight years. He also studied at HB Studios with Academy Award Nominee, William Hickey.
During this time Rich started acting in plays, television and films. He was lucky to work at some of the best Off-Broadway theatres in NY including, The Actors Studio, The Samuel Becket Theatre, The City Theatre and The Nyrican Cafe for Miguel Pinero. He received critical recognition for his role as Deacon, the drug addicted street hustler turned writer in the play Deacon Blue. The play ran in NY (produced by Mr. Pinero) and Los Angeles before being turned into a film with Rich playing the lead and penned by the late great J.A. Rodriquez.
It was at this time that Rich directed his first play, William Sorayan’s The Time of Your Life, which was produced by Lee and Anna Strasberg and performed at the Marilyn Monroe Theatre. This started Rich’s passion for directing and he went on to direct numerous plays such as Danny and The Deep Blue Sea, The Girl Who Loved The Beatles and The Woods by David Mamet, to name a few. He also taught his first acting class to homeless mothers and their children for the State of New York. This experience changed his life.
With a love for comedy, Rich started studying improv and writing at The Chicago City Limits and thanks to his mentor Joe Perce he started performing. He soon was cast in the Off-Broadway interactive hit show Frozen Styff for which he received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Murray Grossman. This led to roles on Saturday Night Live, Law and Order, Pirate TV (MTV) Goodfellas, H.E.L.P. with David Caruso and other film and TV appearances.
In 1990 Rich moved to LA to further his career. Within weeks he was cast in the hit show The Last Pad produced by Amnesty International and directed by Billy Hayes (Midnight Express). He then was hired as an actor/writer for the TV show Hot off The Press. Other LA credits included Silk Stalkings, Coach, The American Dream Is Over and writing cold openings for Mad About You. He also started taking classes at the famed Second City and the National Lampoon and later become one of their main stage players.
In 1994 Rich came to Detroit where Second City was opening a new company. He started teaching, directing and acting and became the head writer of corporate theatre. Ten years later he became the Artistic Director and Director of the National Touring Company. He wrote the book Something From Nothing for Brainiac books, which has become very popular within the improv community. He has also penned, sold or optioned several screenplays including The Italy Boys with Frank Roach and Mike Mili which will film in 2010 and star Harvey Keitel and Danny Aiello.
Since coming to Detroit, Rich has been very busy. He was the Artistic Director of the Detroit Ensemble Theatre, Director of Theatre at St. Clair College, on faculty at OCC, St. Clair College, Macomb College, Jeff Daniel’s Purple Rose Theatre, and has been nominated for outstanding teacher of the year 6 times!
Rich has directed many shows in Michigan and has acted in the films *61 with Barry Pepper and Thomas Jane for Billy Crystal, The Ugly One with Academy Award nominee and Avatar star Wes Studi, Guns, Drugs and Dirty Money with Eric Roberts, America with Rosie O’Donnell, Stone with Robert DeNiro and Edward Norton and Game of Death with Wesley Snipes.
In 2009 along with Rachel Bellack, he started The Michigan Actor’s Studio which has become the premier acting school in the state of Michigan.
Click here for more on Rich.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0331772/
To see some of the people Rich has worked with Click Here.
RACHEL BELLACK (Managing Director) Rachel is originally from Toronto and has been involved in the performing arts as an actor (ACTRA, CAEA), director, writer and teacher for over 20 years working and training in Toronto, Chicago and Detroit. She is a graduate and former instructor at the Second City Detroit Training Center and served on faculty in the performing arts department at Oakland Community College, St. Clair College and Macomb Community College.
Rachel has appeared in numerous commercials, industrials, independent and training films and is a member of the Company at the Detroit Ensemble Theatre. She has written and performed sketch comedy with a variety of improv troupes in both Canada and the United States. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Windsor and a Masters from Canterbury College.
As a professional certified coach she works with corporations, small businesses and individuals in the areas of effective communication, speaking and presenting with confidence, overcoming stage fright and nervousness, and executive presence and leadership. Rachel is thrilled to be involved with the Michigan Actors Studio and is excited to help others to be the best they can be.
FACULTY
BARTON BUND is the Founding Artistic Director of the Blackbird Theatre. Directing credits include the Blackbird's "Women in Love," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "The Tempest," "Twelfth Night," "Patty Hearst," "Hamlet," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "How the Other Half Loves." Barton has been a director and instructor for the Ann Arbor public schools for over ten years, as well as resident playwright at Mosaic Youth Theatre. Recently, Bart directed Michigan Opera Theatre Children's Chorus in "The Maker of Illusions." He lives in Ann Arbor with his family and menagerie.
JEFF FRITZ started his career at the Second City Detroit where he was a member of the touring company then the director of the touring company. Jeff progressed to the Second City Main Stage where he spent 4 years before moving to Chicago where he was a tour co member and teacher. Jeff has taught at the Second City training centers for over 10 years. He has also directed several original shows, including “Naughty or Nice” with Motor City Improv. Jeff has been acting on stage and in film and television for the past 10 years in Detroit, Chicago, New York and nautical points in the Caribbean Sea. Jeff has played many different types of law enforcement agents, appearing in “Law and Order”, “Life on Mars”, “Fringe”, “Salt”, and “Date Night”.
RICHARD D. JEWELL is a member of SAG and AFTRA. He has appeared in many feature films, television 
shows, and numerous commercials. He has co-written two screenplays, and produced and distributed one feature film. Richard has trained at the Michigan Actors Studio, Purple Rose Theater, with Tom Mahard, and with Gillean Eaton.
For the previous 26 years he was the Chief Criminal Investigator for the State of Michigan Racing Commissioner. He holds a graduate degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University where he served as adjunct faculty. Richard is founding member of the Creative Film Alliance, the trinity of MSU, U of M, and WSU film schools and also serves as a member of the National Core Curriculum in the Arts media committee.
Richard loves teaching and learning. He is as passionate about helping people reach their dreams as he is reaching for his own.
MICHAEL MILI(Writer)In 1999 Michael Mili became the Director of New Markets for Schinker Entertainment. He oversaw the development and implementation of all new one-of a-kind mobile promotional attractions and technologies. Mr. Mili worked with such studios as 20th Century Fox, Searchlight, New Line Cinema, Miramax, MGM, Columbia / Tri-Star / Sony, etc.
Michael has teamed up with fellow actor and friend Rich Goteri; together they’ve co-written several screenplays; of which two of them are: “Potty Time” and “A very Low Carb Movie.” Rich and Mike have compiled and developed a method of applied writing principles, which they called: “WORDS TO FILM BY.” Together, they have determined to share the method with everyone who wants to give Screenwriting a shot. The book of the same name is set for release sometime this year.Michael wrote and illustrated: 101 Uses for the Dirty Disposable Diaper and Tasso’s Big Book of Humor. Michael is putting the final touches on his novel; an epic based on three generations of his family, America and the early days of the Mob.
PATRICK MOUG studied acting, writing and directing at Jeff Daniels’ Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan. His first venture as a playwright and actor was his play CAPTAIN BEEFALO. Next Patrick wrote, directed and acted in the action film THE UGLY ONE. THE UGLY ONE (which featured WES STUDI of AVATAR, GERONIMO and LAST OF THE MOHICANS) will be released in China. Following THE UGLY ONE, Mr. Moug directed the controversial documentary BOLD AS A LION. Featured on NBC Dateline, the documentary sought justice for a girl who had been murdered and set on fire. As a writer, Patrick has written five screenplays and two plays for the stage. As an actor, Mr. Moug was recently cast in Drew Barrymore’s WHIP IT! and INTENT with Eric Roberts.
In addition to his success in the creative world, Patrick has been a law enforcement officer held in high regard. He is a current member of the Screen Actors’ Guild and Actors’ Equity.
JIM NEMETH began improvising in Detroit as a student of The Second City in 1997. He later became a member of The Second City Chicago Conservatory under Artistic Director Dr. Martin De Maat. He has studied at the Improv Olympic Chicago (home of Chris Farley, Mike Myers and Tim Meadows) under Improv Creator and Director, Charna Halpern (Charna has called Jim, “...one of my favorite improvisers!”) While at the Improv Olympic Jim performed with the Del Award nominated long form Improv team “The Sidewalk Ends.” In November 2000 Jim trained and performed at The Tokyo Comedy Store in Japan with the Improv troupe “Spontaneous Confusion!” He has also studied with Paul Sills, creator/founder of The Compass, The Second City and Story Theater, at the Sills Farm in Door County, Wisconsin.
He has served as the Assistant Director of The Second City Detroit’s Touring Company, and studied sketch comedy with former Saturday Night Live writer Ali Farahnakian at the Peoples Improv Theater in New York. In addition to Directing the critically acclaimed Second City Comedy Lab production of “Caught in a Cabaret!” as well as “Matrix or Treat?” for The Capitol Theater in Windsor, he is the Creator/Director of the International Improv Troupes, “Big Fun Limo,” Juanita Bobo” and the two person Improv group “Men in Shirts” (www.meninshirts.com) with appearances at the Chicago, Toronto, Phoenix, San Francisco and Miami Improv Festivals.
In 1998 Jim co-founded Planet Improv, a Detroit Improvisational Theater Workspace, with Annoyance Theater Alumni Steven Melosi, and serves as the Producing Artistic Director. He Created and Directed Detroit’s only all female Improv troupe “Why Dad’s Mad” whose show “Deconfused” opened at the Second City Detroit. Jim opened his own Improvisation Theater Planet Improv!, featuring Improv Comedy/Drama (Dramedy) in October 2002. He has spent the last three years developing “Medium Form” Improv, a rehearsed, unscripted theater style with strong musical elements based on the work of the late Del Close, with additional inspiration from Second City Chicago Main stage Director and Mad TV writer Joshua Funk.
KATE PECKHAM started her career in Michigan and has been a professional theatre artist for 19 years. She received her BFA in acting from the University of Detroit- Mercy in 1994. Since then she has worked on over 100 professional theatre productions in the Detroit area at the Williamston Theatre (Best Actress Nominee, Lansing City Pulse Talley’s Folly), Meadowbrook (Winner Best Supporting Actress, Wilde Awards Steel Magnolias), The Purple Rose Theatre Co (Best Supporting Actress Nominee, Detroit Free Press Off the Map), 1515 Broadway (Best Actress Nominee, Detroit News Baggage), The Strand Theatre (Best Supporting Actress Nominee, Detroit News Bus Stop), The Attic Theatre (Best Actress Nominee, Detroit Free Press The Good Times are Killing Me), and The Planet Ant (acting in the Ant’s very first production, Praying Mantis and directing and conceiving Waking the Witch a nominee for Best Original Script, The Oakland Press ). While living in Los Angeles, Kate co-founded the Tasty Face Theatre Company in a garage in North Hollywood with fellow Detroiters Kristopher Walby and Larry Joe Campbell, appeared in feature films (Almost Famous), national commercials and taught actors to use themselves in their work through scene study at Anthony Meindl’s Actors’ Lab in West Hollywood.
Since Kate’s return to Michigan in 2003 she has been working with the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit as Director of Acting Programs and Co-Artistic Director.. Members of Mosaic’s Acting Company under Kate’s direction have been accepted into BFA/conservatory programs all over the country including SUNY Purchase, NYU, DePaul, Rutgers, and the Guthrie program at the University of Minnesota.
HOBART REYNOLDSis an experienced actor appearing in numerous theatre, film and industrial productions. Stage credits include Proof (Robert), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (George), Edmond (Edmond), and many others. Some film roles include roles in The Ugly One (Buoy 22), You are Here (The Jeffrey Porch), and The Candle( (Five Clover Films). Additionally, Hobart has worked as a comedian and improv actor in numerous corporate events and industrial films. Hobart has continuously trained and studied acting, improv and voice acting with several coaches.
RICO BRUCE WADE is an actor, writer, producer and comic and is part of one of North America's richest comedy traditions, the Second City. As a mainstage cast member of the Second City- Detroit, Rico co-wrote and performed in six revues including "Computer Chips and Salsa," and "One Nation Undecided." He also directed the Second City-Detroit touring company. Rico eventually completed his Second City resume by becoming producer of the Detroit venue. The revues he produced include the critically acclaimed revue "Greetings from Viagra Falls," and Second City-Detroit's first workshop production, "Blah Blah Sista' Hood." He was also co-producer of the television series "Film Fest 7 with the Second City." Rico has designed and facilitated workshops in improvisation for over twenty years.
SARI ZALESIN is a nationally recognized voice talent with a 22 year broadcasting background in radio and TV. She has been heard on radio stations across the country including WCSX and WRIF in Detroit, KLXK MInneapolis, KZPS Dallas, The Loop Chicago as well as teaching voice overs and broadcasting at Columbia College in Chicago, and most recently a Music Director and national on air talent at XM Satellite Radio. Sari's vast experience in voice include everything from local Detroit Art Van commericals to National Rent-A-Car, Comcast Cable, Gordon Food Service, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Saturn Cars, Wal-Mart, Asset Health training, as well as voice verification for Hyundai Cars. along with several industrial reads, CD- ROM's for Disney, DVD narration for Heifer International, Podcasts for Out LoudOpinion, and the character voice of Kayla the Kangaroo for HealthMark Multi-Media in English and Spanish.
She is recognized for making national history featured in USA Today as the 1st Female Public Address Announcer in the N.H.L. for the Dallas Stars and holds an honor of being inducted into the Specs Howard Hall of Fame. She has been featured in the NY Times, Fortune 500, Forbes Magazine and locally in the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. Working for XM, Sari covered red carpet interviews and artist catalogue retrospectives interviewing a wide array of celebrities and talent. Recently moving back to the Detroit area to be more involved in the film industry, she has been a part of several Michigan films, and is looking forward to more!