Biography
Al Bernstein received his Masters of Fine Arts from the Actors Studio Drama School program in New York where he studied intensively in scene study, voice, speech, Alvin Ailey dance, dialects, Stanislavski, Adler, Hagen, Meisner, & Strasberg Methods, Theatre History, Stage Combat, Classics, and Period and Style. He also attended multiple independent workshops covering Dreamwork, Personalization, Improvisation, Affective memory, the Private Moment, among many others, with some of theatre’s top coaches such as: Ellen Burstyn, Susan Batson, Sandra Seacat, Elizabeth Kemp, Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, Arthur Penn, Vivienne Nathan and David Gideon. The Craft Seminars every other Monday from the award winning Inside The Actors Studio Bravo show offered Al intimate lectures from film and theatre greats.
Al was based in New York for sixteen years where his training began at Circle In The Square with Jaqueline Brookes, Terry Hayden and Alan Langdon and moved to Uta Hagens’ HB Studio with the gifted Carol Rosenfeld. He worked in Off Off Broadway and Off Broadway, Independent theatre companies performing, training, teaching, directing and producing. He recently returned to Toronto from living in Los Angeles for nine years where he appeared in many TV, Film and Theatre productions. His award winning short film Walled IN, was selected to screen in 14 film festival around the world.
Today, Al works as an actor, writer, filmmaker, and professor in Toronto. He is a finalist at the Actors Studio in Los Angeles and New York, plus is developing the feature film version of his very powerful short film Walled IN about mental health in our youth and the role of the educator.
Academic Credentials
MFA in Dramatic Arts, Actors Studio Drama School, The New School University, New York City, NY
Scene Study w/Art Wolff @ the Art Wolff Studio, Los Angeles, CA
On Camera Audition Technique w/Catlin Adams, Los Angeles, CA
Advanced Scene Study w/Carol Rosenfeld @ HB Studios, New York, NY
Advanced Scene Work w/Deena Levy @ The Deena Levy Studio, New York, NY
Circle In The Square Theatre School, New York, NY
Level 3 Classes w/Kevin Anderson @ The Second City Workshops, Toronto, Canada
Advanced Scene Study w/ Kevin McCormick @ The Actor’s Tutorial, Toronto, Canada
BA in English Literature, York University, Toronto, Canada
Areas of Specialization
Scene Study I
Areas of Expertise
Expert in the dramatic arts with excellent experience in most performing arts techniques including theatre games and improvisation
Excellent experience as an acting teacher for the ages of 14 +
Outstanding professional acting coach
Expertise in screenwriting
playwriting
filmmaking
producing
editing and researching
Exceptional in examining the objective for your marketing strategy and publicity by making deep life and death personal choices for the presentation of your objectives
Extensive experience in exercises that enhance your listening skills
Gifted in creating confidence that certifies you own the room with an acquired clear set of tools
