Acting 101 (for High Schoolers)

Exceptional storytelling requires a commitment by the actor to learn, understand, and apply myriad acting technique(s) to their craft, and when better to start than in high school? 

With a focus on text analysis, relationship, and character-building, students will explore the basics of scene study and what it means to become a true partner onstage. Learning to integrate and personalize our work together is a journey unlike no other full of generosity, laughter, and trust. 

Please join us as we build and prepare a community of young artists to take the stage!

INSTRUCTOR: Jana Mestecky

After two decades in New York City, Jana has found her a new home in New Orleans. She has played the leading role of Mary Griffith in Prayers for Bobby performed by the Astoria Symphonic Choir, Nancy in This Living Hand by Pulitzer-nominated playwright Richard Vetere as part of both The New Group New Works Series and in a staged reading at Cherry Lane, Gina in Little Light Production’s Under Covers, Hester Prynne in The New Globe’s Theatre, Inc.’s The Scarlet Letter at both Playhouse on Park in Hartford, Connecticut and The Gene Frankel Theatre in Manhattan. In addition to playing Hester, Jana is credited with the original adaptation of Hawthorne’s novel alongside her mentor and friend Stuart Vaughan (founding Artistic Director of The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park with Joe Papp). Other highlights include Beatrice in The New Globe Theatre, Inc.’s The Servant of Two Masters at Theatre Three, The Angel Project with Tony Award-winner Deborah Warner (Lincoln Center Festival), Fool for Love (Bleecker Street Theatre), When A Storm Comes (Epic Repertory Theatre Company, DR2), The Informer (Ernie Martin Studio Theatre), Unexpected Tenderness  (written & produced by Emmy Award-winner Israel Horovitz), many seasons as a company actor with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ Imaginary Theatre Company, Trick of Fate (The Players Club), and her New York film debut in The New Guy. She also played leading role in the independent short film “Broken”, directed by David Johnson. In addition to her BA in French and Theatre, she holds an MFA in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School at New School University. She has studied at The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, Théâtre des Cinquantes in Paris, France, and The Actors Studio. Her work continued beyond the professional stage having served four years as Chair of Performing Arts at the prestigious Spence School among other positions at St. John’s University, The Buckley School, the Birch Wathen Lenox School. In New Orleans, Jana served as the Director of Education at Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré. She is a member of all three professional unions (AEA, SAG-AFTRA) and has performed in television commercials, and theatre nationally and internationally.