Faculty
Running the Show
Photo credit: David Gazzo
Matthew Corozine is celebrating over 20 Years of creating Matthew Corozine Studio Theatre Inc. (MCS). With a vision for an artistic community for artists to build their craft with honor and integrity, Matthew has become one of New York City’s leading Meisner based acting coaches. The space created by Corozine within his studio community, inspires and encourages students to get out of their way to build a meaningful life with art.
From acting careers on national television and Broadway to producing to writing original work for theatre and film to using their art as activism, Matthew’s students have taken the transformational MCS work to become leaders across all artistic platforms.
Matthew was officially nominated for a 2015 and 2018 EXCELLENCE IN THEATRE EDUCATION TONY AWARD®. He has a BA in Theatre Arts (concentration in Acting and Directing) from SUNY at New Paltz, and continued his training in the Meisner Technique with the late great, Robert X. Modica at Carnegie Hall Studios in NYC. As an actor, he has appeared in commercials, NYC theatre productions, national tours, and independent films. His most recent credit is directing and acting in Messy Stars Productions' "Filling the Void".
In January 2022, Matthew became a published author with his book "If You Can Survive 7th Grade, You Can Be An Actor".
He is now one of New York City’s leading Meisner-based acting coaches, teaching and creating opportunities for students to “get outta your head” in order to build a meaningful life with art. Already with an established student base in NYC and Washington DC (in person) and internationally (via online coaching), MCS has expanded to Miami in September 2021 and currently has sold out classes there. Over the years, Matthew has coached actors and performers on Broadway, TV, Film, including platinum-selling America’s Got Talent finalist, Jackie Evancho. Most recently, Matthew directed Nick Payne’s play “Constellations,” at MCS produced under the AEA mini contract. Also, Matthew directed the original show “Going Through Life With No Direction” at 54 Below (NYC), produced by Alicia Keys.
In addition to coaching at MCS, Matthew has coached on MTV's Emmy Award Winning "Made," taught acting at American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC) and acting and improvisation at SUNY Purchase. He has been a guest artist teaching master classes in Meisner at SOHO House (NYC, Miami), The Standard (Miami), SAG-AFTRA (NYC), The King's College (NYC), Texarts (Austin, Texas), Hudson Valley Improv, Actors Connection (NYC), The Network (NYC), Northwestern College (Iowa), The Danish National School of Performing Arts (Denmark).
Some of Matthew's favorite directing credits include FringeNYC (THE BOYS UPSTAIRS and MISS KIM) the NYC and LA premieres Susan E. Isaac’s ANGRY CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD, based on her spiritual memoir, and Terria Joseph's original one-woman show GOING THROUGH LIFE WITH NO DIRECTION (produced by Alicia Keys at 54 Below). Some of Matthew's favorite producing credits include the NYC premiere of Halley Feiffer’s ITS JUST WEIRD NOW and Lia Romeo’s GREEN WHALES, as well as MCS co-productions of ALMOST MAINE, THE WAY WE GET BY, DOG SEES GOD, and The Shrill Collective’s productions of DRY LAND, and the original piece, “FIRSTS.”
Matthew Corozine currently resides in Miami and NYC with his partner, Alain, and miniature pinscher and MCS mascot, Mimmo.
matthew@matthewcorozinestudio.com
Instagram: @matt.acting.coach
@mcstheatre
Instructors
Ryan has trained and has been working with MCS since 2001. He has assisted on many MCS studio projects and shows and eventually started teaching the MCS’ Meisner method with Matthew in 2003. Former classes taught at MCS include a preteen class as well as a writer’s workshop. Ryan has also taught and directed preteens at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) and also teaches Special Education in the NYC public school system.
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre at the New School University. He has a Master’s in Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir at CUNY’s Graduate Center. Many of his poems and theatrical works have been work-shopped and performed at MCS. Ryan co-wrote and performed in the critically acclaimed MISS KIM, THE PLAY which was produced through MCS and fringeNYC in 2010 and was reprised 2012 at 45th Theatre.
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Isaac has been awarded the New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Direction twice and productions he has directed have been nominated for a Drama Desk Award, an Off Broadway Alliance award, 29 NYIT awards, and 6 Planet Connection Awards. NYC Credits: Other Mozart (NYIT Outstanding Solo Performance), In Vestments (NYIT Outstanding Premier of a New Play), To Nineveh (NYIT Outstanding Production), Tar Baby (DR2, PS122), 52 Man Pick Up (Ars Nova, Edinburgh Fringe), AMP (NYIT Nominated for Outstanding Performance Art), I Used to Write on Walls, and Rusalka. He has taught acting at the University of the Arts, the New York Film Academy, and the Matthew Corozine Studio.
Peter Fanone is a classically trained professional actor with significant acting and teaching experience. He has studied and performed at some of the best classical training programs in the world, including the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, the Yale School of Drama, Georgetown University, and the American Conservatory Theater, where he received his MFA in Acting in 2018. As a professional actor, he has been in multiple professional Shakespeare productions, including Hamlet on A.C.T.’s LORT A Geary Stage, where he performed alongside Tony Award nominee John Douglas Thompson. As a teacher, Peter has taught actors of all backgrounds, from advanced students at the American Conservatory’s prestigious Young Conservatory program, to beginners and intermediate students at Downtown High School in San Francisco’s Mission District, to seminars for majors in Georgetown’s renowned Theatre and Performance Studies program.
Randy Graff won the Tony and Drama Desk Award for her performance in “City of Angels.” Her other Broadway credits include: “Mr. Saturday Night,” opposite Billy Crystal, “Fiddler On The Roof” (2004 revival/Drama League Nomination) opposite Alfred Molina, “A Class Act” (Tony, Drama Desk Nominations), “Moon Over Buffalo” with Carol Burnett, Neil Simon’s “Laughter On The 23rd Floor” with Nathan Lane, “High Society,” “Falsettos,” and the original Fantine in“Les Misérables.” She won the Lucille Lortel Award for her work in Richard Greenberg’s “The Babylon Line” for LCT and was a Drama League Nominee for Paula Vogel’s ‘The Long Christmas Ride Home,” at the Vineyard Theatre. Randy has served on the musical theatre faculties at NYU and Manhattan School of Music. She is trained in Meisner technique and uses it in the root of her teaching “Acting Through Song.”
Laura Stracko is a multi-hyphenate artist living in New York City. Broadway: Diana the Musical. Film/TV: Blue Bloods, Diana the Musical (NETFLIX). International: Cats (RCCL) National Tours: Damn Yankees, A Christmas Carol. Regional: Gypsy, Mambo Italiano, Rent, Mamma Mia, Sister Act, and more. Laura's recent credits have expanded to teaching acting and directing for Professional Youth Theatre in Long Beach, and teaching chess. Instagram:@thisisLauraStracko www.laurastracko.com
Behind the Scenes
Trevor Markanovic
Studio Administrator &
Assistant to Mr. Corozine
Born and raised in northeast Ohio, Trevor fled to New York City to pursue a career in acting and writing. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing from John Carroll University and has studied at MCS since July 2018. He is also an active member of the MCS Writers’ Block writing group through which he has completed several projects. Trevor is excited to give back to the studio that gave him his start in the world of acting.
Melissa Mattos
Programs Director
Born and raised in Brazil, but based in Brooklyn, Melissa is a multi-faceted artist. Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dance, Melissa has an extensive dance career in and out of U.S. Melissa has also been producing and acting for 10 years, having Matthew Corozine as her current acting coach. With a vast musical theatre background, some of her favorite New York credits include Carla (In The Heights), Rent (Mimi), Cabaret (Helga), Eurydice (The Nasty Man), Urinetown (Dance Captain).
Behind the Scenes
Justin Schaffner is a New York native Actor, Singer, Dancer and Voiceover Artist who has trained at MCS for a few years now. Some of his most recent credits include Bobby in 'A Chorus Line', Male Swing/Mike Teavee and Augustus Gloop Understudy on the National Tour of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', Radames' Understudy in 'Aida', Dancer in 'Sway: A Dance Trilogy' starring the Chmerkovskiy Brothers and other dancers and celebrities from 'Dancing with the Stars' and much more.
Leah Heffington is a singer/actor/ tapper/ musician based in NYC. While she’s been training & working in the industry since a young age, she’s only started training at MCS 2 years ago. Some of her recent roles include: Arlekina (Off-Broadway), Day Player (HBO’s “Love Life” starring Anna Kendrick), Day Player (HBO’s “Succession”), as well as a guest appearance at Rockwood Music Hall & principals on multiple commercials.
In her down time she can be found training for a half marathon, playing piano, reading books on attachment theorem, or feasting with her Brit foodie-friends.
@offcially_lgrace
Leah Heffington
Studio Assistant
Ali is from Scranton, PA. In 2019, she graduated from the University of Scranton with a degree in Strategic Communications and a minor in theatre. She discovered her love for the theatre after dancing for many years and hasn't looked back since. Favorite school roles include The Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily Cardew), Leveling Up (Jeannie), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Schwartzy).