A Program Like No Other
The Theatre for All Professional Actor Training Program is Queens Theatre's groundbreaking initiative providing free, professional-level training to Disabled actors for nearly a decade. Accessibility doesn't end at the box office and Queens Theatre is committed to building a future where Disability is represented onstage as naturally and visibly as it is in our communities. But real barriers stand between Disabled performers and high-level training, and TFA exists to close that gap. For nearly ten years, TFA has trained Disabled actors in voice, speech, movement, on-camera acting, auditioning, improv, script analysis, classical acting, and more, building a pipeline for emerging artists to industry professionals. Many TFA alumni have gone on to secure agent representation, join AEA or SAG-AFTRA, and perform at professional theaters nationwide and in film and television.
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TFA
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Ricahrd Hinojosa |
Mary Archbold |
Past Instructors
TFA has a long history of partnering with prominent figures from the entertainment and theatre industries to lead master classes as part of our program. Past instructors have included:
Vincent D’Onofrio, actor: Full Metal Jacket, Men in Black, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Marvel’s Daredevil
Linda Larkin, actor and voice actor: the speaking voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and its sequels and series
Tonya Pinkins, Tony award winner for Jelly's Last Jam. 3-time Tony nominee. TV credits include Scandal, 24
Katy Sullivan, actor and Paralympian: Tony-nominated for Cost of Living on Broadway; Richard III at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Dexter: New Blood
Marilee Talkington, actor, director, and disability advocate: Morgan Le Fey in Aaron Sorkin’s Camelot on Broadway, NCIS, FBI: Most Wanted, Apple TV+’s See. Founder of AC3: Access Acting Academy
Clark Jackson, actor: Broadway’s All My Sons, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Bronx Bombers, Cobb; and television roles on Pose, Madame Secretary, Elementary among others
Brigid Brady, actor: Succession, Gossip Girl, and Christine in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway
Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick, casting director: Blue’s Clues & You!, Dora the Explorer, Bubble Guppies, American Girl: Corinne Tan. Founder of DPD Casting; former Nickelodeon casting director
Stephen DeAngelis, casting director: 300+ theatre productions, national commercials, and television
Each year, TFA brings in working industry professionals to mentor students and share their connections. Just as important, our instructors adapt their master classes to students with a wide range of disabilities. Our guest instructors change from year to year, so the artists above show the caliber of teaching we aim for, not a guarantee of who will lead classes in any given season.
Curriculum
Every year TFA strives to provide new and exciting classes to students that not only deepen the craft of acting, but also explore adaptations to make the experience as accessible as possible to a wide variety of disabilities. Previous classes have included:
ACTING TECHNIQUE |
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| Scene Study | Students work on scenes with a partner, analyzing text, objectives, and relationships to build truthful, specific performances. |
| Classical Text | An introduction to Shakespeare and other heightened language, focusing on verse, rhythm, and making old words feel immediate. |
VOICE TECHNIQUE |
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| Linklater Technique | Exercises that free the natural voice, building breath, resonance, and range. |
| Voiceover Technique | Students practice using the voice alone for animation, narration, and commercial copy. |
| Musical Theatre Auditioning | Students choose and prepare audition songs and learn to perform them with confidence in the room. |
MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE |
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| Viewpoints | An ensemble approach to movement and staging that builds spontaneity and responsiveness to space, time, and fellow performers. |
| Laban Technique | A framework for exploring weight, space, time, and flow to make physical choices more varied and expressive. |
| Alexander Technique | A practice of releasing unneeded tension and improving body awareness for easier movement and presence. |
ON-CAMERA TECHNIQUE |
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| Acting On-camera | Students learn to adjust their performances for the screen, including scaled-down work, hitting marks, and auditioning on tape. |
| Commercial Acting | Students practice commercial copy, quick character choices, and the on-camera skills advertising work requires. |
CREATION & COMEDY |
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| Improv | Games and exercises build listening, spontaneity, and trust in the moment. |
| Stand-up Comedy | Students write and perform short comedy sets, learning joke structure, timing, and stage presence. |
| Creating Devised Work | Students generate original performance pieces together, without a script, through exercises, improvisation, and group collaboration. |
TFA Production History 2024-present (Click to expand)
*These actors appeared courtesy of Actors' Equity Association
2026 Master Class Staged Readings
Readings
Take A Seat
by Sarah Granger
directed by Maggie Keenan-Bolger
Samantha – Megan Simcox*
Narrator – Chris Lopes
The Robin
by Liza Mann
directed by Maggie Keenan-Bolger
Vivian – Heather Schmerman
Nick – James Ian
Narrator – Liz Power
Trust Falls
by Laura Neill
directed by Abbey Joan Burgess
Asa – Luna Vintner
Christine – Megan Clancy
Narrator – James Ian
Expired
by Jazmine Cornielle
directed by Abbey Joan Burgess
Woman – Kristina Arntz
Man – Cyrus Carrillo
Narrator – Gina Marie
Fran and Dad Are Here
by Victoria Mack
directed by Maggie Keenan-Bolger
Hannah – Gina Marie
Fran – Liz Power
Edward - Jacob Hytken
Narrator – Joci Scott
Satellites
by Dane Jerabek
directed by Abbey Joan Burgess
Sarah – Kristina Arntz
Abby - Joci Scott
Isaac - Peter Trojic
Narrator - Jacob Hytken
A Self Play...
by Kendall Wienecke
directed by Abbey Joan Burgess
Girl – Laura Charette
Severed Leg – Peter Trojic
Decapitated Head – Cyrus Carrillo
Narrator - Luna Vintner
Trapped
by Marisa Jean Giachetti
directed by Maggie Keenan-Bolger
The Seen – Joci Scott
The Unseen – Laura Charette
The In-Between – Chirs Lopes
Narrator – Cyrus Carrillo
2025 Master Class Readings
Readings
The Ubercorn
by Brett Hursey
directed by Evan Cummings
Denny – Chris Lopes
Oscar – Matthew Shifrin
Narrator – Peter Trojic
Unbound
by Amir-Gabriel Gad
directed by Gwynn MacDonald
Π – Megan Clancy
A - Heather Schmerman
Narrator - Maggie Keenan-Bolger*
Lover Over Trust
by Ali Hardy
directed by Evan Cummings
Madison – Rajee Aerie
Brooke – Nathalie Reyes
Narrator – Abbie Hills
Spa Day
by Rachel Handler
directed by Gwynn MacDonald
Denise – Bellamie Bachleda
Greg – Ben Dworken
Bob – Patty Dwyer
Narrator – Liz Power
It’s About Time
by Abbie Goldberg
directed by Evan Cummings
Abbie – Marisa Jean Giachetti
Norma / All other roles – Laura Charette
Narrator – Megan Simcox*
The Gas Man Cometh
by Ian Patrick Williams
directed by Evan Cummings
Roy - Carla Rosales
Nadine – Liz Power
Charles – Bonetta Lynch
Narrator – Chris Lopes
Frogs
by Natalie Sacks
directed by Gwynn MacDonald
Maya - Maggie Keenan-Bolger*
Yves – Peter Trojic
Narrator - Rajee Aerie
The Episode
by Arthur Pesin
directed by Gwynn MacDonald
Tina – Kerry McMenamin
Harold – Laura Charette
Wayne – Carla Rosales
Narrator – Gina Marie
The Gravity of a Crossroads
by Nicole Zimmerer
directed by Gwynn MacDonald
Zaz – Kerry McMenamin
Jules – Gina Marie
Phone – Patty Dwyer
Narrator – Laura Charette
Wizziwig
by Amy Claussen
directed by Evan Cummings
Alice – Abbie Hills
AJ – Megan Simcox*
Narrator – Marisa Jean Giachetti
2024 Master Class Staged Readings
Readings
The Story of “Me” and my Mother
by Keiko Senda
directed by Gwynn MacDonald
“Me” – Ali Hardy
Mother – Masha Sten-Clanton
Father – Ryan Urbin
Stage Directions – Nicholas Amodio
Bamboo
by Mosukuwakanu
directed by Dev Bondarin
Eiko – Megan Simcox*
Yuko – Sam Nieves
Stage Directions – Ali Hardy
Howard’s Rear End
by Bara Swain
directed by Gwynn MacDonald
Barbara – Bonetta Lynch
Jessica – Rachael Abbott
Stage Directions – Masha Sten-Clanton
Peach Pie
by Julia Stier
directed by Dev Bondarin
Granddad – Jeninka Zee
Izzy – Liz Power
Stage Directions – Chris Lopes
House Call
by Brynn Hambley
directed by Dev Bondarin
Bianca – Megan Simcox*
Man – Maggie Keenan-Bolger*
Stage Directions – Jeninka Zee
At the Park’s Exit
by Maki Utabe
directed by Gwynn MacDonald
Kenji – Ryan Urbin
Shun – Maggie Keenan-Bolger*
Stage Directions – Bonetta Lynch
Ka-Boom
by Sarah Bowden
directed by Dev Bondarin
Tess – Sam Nieves
Rachel – Bellamie Bachleda
Henry – Chris Lopes
Stage Directions – Liz Power
The Escape
by Makena Metz
directed by Gwynn MacDonald
Jax – Nicholas Amodio
Ryan – Chris Lopes
Cal – Jeninka Zee
Maya – Rachael Abbott
Stage Directions – Ryan Urbin
The TFA Actor Training is funded, in part, by Flagstar Foundation and TD Charitable Foundation.
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