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Testimonial Reel #1 Firsthand accounts from former youth students of Santa Cruz, CA about my work as an acting coach, director and their biggest takeaways. Testimonial Reel #2
Video clips of my teaching style alongside production examples, while former youth students speak on my methods. |
As a director, he has the magic touch. Everything he brings to the table elevates the work. He is collaborative, generous, insightful, inspiring, and profound. His staging is epic and effortless, the shows tight and nuanced. This is rare, but he is great at both understanding the big picture and the small moments. |
"I have had the privilege of working with Andrew both in my youth and in my adulthood. What has always been, and will always be, my favorite thing about Andrew Ceglio is his dedication to professionalism and respect for one's colleagues.
As an adult I continue to find this to be true. I studied theater in college, and I have learned from many theater educators in my life. While many of them are very talented actors and very informative teachers, all have failed to meet the standard that Andrew maintains. A safe and welcoming space for his students to explore without coddling them and this is what sets him apart.
There is no ego, no judgement, just love for the art of acting and for those who love it as well."
Kiana Hamzehi
Singer, Actor, Teacher
www.kianahamzehi.com
"Andrew Ceglio is an actors' director. While tailoring notes to your personal process he makes you feel safe and open to fail and explore your role with an open mind. Working with him is like being directed by your best friend who you can’t stop laughing with. It is a give/give collaboration of ideas, perspective, and character growth. From comedy to drama he is able to adapt to what each human interaction needs to bring out the best version of every performance. It is always an immense pleasure to share the stage and creative journey with Andrew.”
Marissa Fennell
Playwright, Actor, Comic, Artist
www.marissafennell.com
"Andrew Ceglio is a wealth of knowledge. After working with him for over a decade, he gave me the tools to successfully navigate the professional acting world. This ranged from character building and scene analysis to physicality and grounding.
Andrew helped foster my love of acting and encouraged me to pursue it as a career. After starting with group classes, I soon tapped Andrew to coach me for drama school auditions where I successfully secured a spot at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England."
Versai Knight
Actor (SAG-AFTRA), Model
B.A. Honors Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
www.versaiknight.com
"Andrew Ceglio is literally one of the best directors, if not the best, that I have ever worked with! I feel my best self while I'm working with him."
David Hardy
Actor, Comic, Podcast Host: Bruh Chill Podcast
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bruhchillpodcast?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
"I've had the privilege of having Andrew Ceglio as my Director, mentor and teacher from age 10-15. Even now at 22, I am still going to him for advice and mentorship, which he never fails to offer me.
Words cannot describe how absolutely incredible it is to have Andrew as a teacher and/or director. Every human he comes into contact with is blessed with his amazing gift to see people for who they are. He is able to bring out the best qualities in oneself that you may have never known you had. I've noticed this not only with myself, but with all of the other students he's had over the years. He does everything with a purpose and makes every student feel important. His teaching stems from a deep place of passion and love.
I can truly say that I would not be studying theatre in college if it weren't for his incredible guidance all these years.
He is able to make every student the very best performer and person that they can be."
Peyton Turowski
Theatre Arts/Acting Graduate of CSU Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Pursuing Master in Fine Arts for Acting, Columbia University New York, NY
"Andrew's wholistic approach defies the preconceived notions of the artistic boundaries one usually sets for themselves. After I work with him, I feel confident in my abilities in any scene or script. He achieves simplicity in application, while allowing for deep levels of complexity to be obtained through the character and dialogue work. Most of all, as an instructor, Andrew is able to teach genuine connection because he has it with all of his students and within himself. He is a physical example of what you can do when you apply heart with your own focus. It's a beautiful thing to watch."
RJ Wayne
Actor (SAF-AFTRA, AEA), Hip-hop Artist/Author
IMDB: www.imdb.com/name/nm6358947/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
“Andrew not only taught me more about theatre and acting than anyone else, but he also taught me confidence, to be comfortable in the ridiculous, and about being my authentic self. The lessons he taught me have taken me well past my theatre days and into my career in the entertainment business.”
Marissa Schafer
Unscripted TV Development Manager
"I had the pleasure of working with Andrew for many years, as a teacher, a director, a castmate, a business partner and colleague. His ability to recognize a person's individual strengths, and to pull the maximum potential out of an actor, is unparalleled. The comfort and confidence that he instills in his students to really dig deep and find that sense of play, has resulted in some of the most incredible growth and development I have seen in my career."
Ariel Dooley
Actor, Dialect Coach, Former Business Partner
www.arielbdooley.com
"After working with Andrew for nearly 15 years I can confidently say that he is one of the best creative partners out there. He has a combination of grounded decision making & imaginative intuition that make him not only a strong leader but also an adept teammate.
He draws from a diverse range of experience & versatility that brings powerful momentum to any project he is involved with.
Propelled by his dedication and his love of creative craft, Andrew will bring success to any artistic endeavor."
Dan Cato Wilson
Music Producer, Entertainment Entrepreneur
www.cato-creative.com
"Working with Andrew Ceglio in any capacity is always a treat. In any project, I trust Andrew’s unique directorial process to challenge me as an actor yet allow me to be decisive in molding characters to life. Andrew sets a high bar for professionalism and dedication to the craft. After working with him, I always feel better about my progress as a performer."
Devon Deleon
Actor, Artist
IMDB: www.imdb.com/name/nm7753212/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
"Andrew Ceglio is an amazing director and visionary who is dedicated, wonderfully talented and so easy to work with!"
Sherry Hursey
Actor/Singer (SAF-AFTRA, AEA), Co-Founder of Turning on the Light Entertainment
www.totlentertainment.com
"Andrew always holds his students to the highest standard. He teaches the importance of constant presence and engagement onstage.
He pushes his students for greatness with great passion and respect for the craft."
Ginger Hurley
Actor (AEA)
BFA in Musical Theatre
“Andrew Ceglio is such a genuine and giving person. director and collaborator. Whether you have a speaking role or not, Andrew finds the nuance. He gives you permission to go as far as you want and think you need to go. And he will make it ALL MAGIC!
It is no surprise to me that with everything he gives that the results are nothing less than brilliant!"
Matt Dunn
Actor, Realtor for M-Squared Properties
www.m-squaredproperties.com
"While I am no longer involved in the theater world, the skills Andrew taught me are still ones I use today. Integrity, confidence, professionalism, and compassion are the main qualities he not only modeled but helped instill in me from a young age.
I am forever grateful for his mentorship and now friendship!"
Brynna Ahlstrom
Medical Assistant, EMT
"I was very fortunate to have Andrew Ceglio as my first acting teacher. Learning from him and his extensive knowledge of acting was truly a pleasure. The curriculum of our lessons included grounding, character creation/dissection, audition prep, onstage techniques, physicality and so much more. With the completion of his course, I feel confident in my ability to grow my acting career and face the challenges that come with traversing the world of acting."
Graydon Clarke
Actor
MBA in International Management
"Andrew's ability to deeply listen to your needs and guide you through the process is unmatched. Andrew helps you create strong, physical characters that resonate with audiences. Thanks to Andrew's guidance, I've not only grown as a person but have also booked an acting role myself that I never thought possible. Andrew truly gets you the job!"
Diana Guire
Creative Artist, PsyD, CHT
"Thank you, Andrew, for restoring the faith in me that I have what it takes to be the person I want to be and to achieve anything I want to achieve."
Sadie Rose
Actor, Executive Producer for Santa Cruz Performing Arts Teen Theatre
"When I think of Andrew Ceglio, my heart is filled with the most tremendous amount of gratitude a mother could have. That man changed my daughter's life. She met him when she was just ten years old. She wanted to be on stage more than anything. But she was also quite shy. She compared herself to others and believed she was not good enough. Over the course of the next five years, he taught her the craft of storytelling while constantly challenging and empowering her. He raised the bar higher and higher, and her confidence grew as she constantly surprised herself.
Thirteen years after that initial meeting, Andrew continues to be her mentor and colleague as she continues to follow her dreams and pursues her Master of Fine Arts in Acting at Columbia University. Andrew instilled in her a strong work ethic, a sense of responsibility for herself and her castmates, an incredible attention to detail and, most importantly, has helped to change that voice in her head from “I’m not good enough” to “I am worthy”."
PARENT OF FORMER STUDENT
Melanie Turowski
Registered Dietician Nutritionist
"Andrew Ceglio's program was game changing for my daughter who ended up studying musical theater in NYC. His program not only gave her confidence, but it gave her the tools to prepare for the hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in this business.
Even if your child is not going to have a career in theater, his program teaches the students to explore their feelings, have compassion and empathy for others, and work as a team to tell an amazing story."
PARENT OF FORMER STUDENT
Jill Alexander
Fashion Designer, Owner of Jill Alexander Designs
www.jillalexanderdesigns.com
"Andrew highlights everything that is crucial about an Arts Education. I've tried my best to distill the vastness of what Andrew puts forth in his teachings, and I've narrowed it down to these three core elements: Andrew instills in his students: artistic integrity, personal responsibility, and compassion for others."
PARENT OF FORMER STUDENT
Denise Ahlstrom
Managing Director of CYT Santa Cruz, CA
"Andrew is a fantastic storyteller who has an incredible way of inspiring creativity in every actor he works with. From the moment you step into Andrew's class, you feel the safe space he creates-one where you can take risks and explore your craft without fear. Andrew is genuinely caring and authentic, always approaching each session with a deep sense of empathy and understanding of human nature."
PARENT OF FORMER STUDENT
Diana Guire
Creative Artist, PsyD, CHT
“Andrew Ceglio is truly a mentor. He loves his art and is passionate about sharing that with his students by his continued encouragement and support. The desire to see them shine in what they love to do is genuine. He is their biggest advocate leading them toward a professional theatre experience. He has his students and the arts best interest at heart, first and always.
Thank you, Andrew, for being an inspiration to so many.”
PARENT OF FORMER STUDENT
Cheryl Aguirre
Business Owner
"Andrew Ceglio creates the magic that brings it all together!"
PARENT OF FORMER STUDENT
Diane Bock
Musician, Elementary School Teacher