Christy is a respected and influential figure in the entertainment industry, celebrated for her exceptional skills as a coach, talent manager, and founder of the Bay Area Acting Studio. With over 20 years of dedicated experience, Christy has made significant contributions to the field.
Her distinguished career began as one of 50 students selected to study with the legendary Sanford Meisner during an intensive month-long program on the island of Bequia in the West Indies. Her exceptional talent and dedication were quickly recognized, and she was among the 22 students chosen to continue in Meisner’s prestigious two-year private program. This period of rigorous training, under Meisner’s direct tutelage, was both intense and immensely rewarding.
After transitioning into talent management in 2010, Christy brought her wealth of knowledge and experience to Los Angeles, where she began managing actors for union TV and film. Her exceptional eye for talent and deep understanding of the industry quickly set her apart. With the support of her dear friend Kyle Fritz, a veteran manager known for representing Academy Award-winning actor Rami Malek and multiple Emmy Award-winning actors, Christy launched her own management company.
Today, Christy serves as the Director of the Youth Division at Kyle Fritz Management in Los Angeles. Her extensive background in acting, coupled with her strategic insight and dedication to nurturing talent, has solidified her status as a highly esteemed and trusted figure in the entertainment world. Christy’s clients have worked on numerous well-known TV shows, and her youth clients have achieved recurring roles on Disney and Nickelodeon programs. Her contributions continue to shape the careers of many rising stars, and her influence is felt throughout the industry.
Ria Pavia is a director, producer, writer and acting coach. Her film directorial debut, Second Team, nabbed 16 awards at various prestigious festivals, wrapping up at Cannes last year. Her career in the entertainment industry launched with performing gymnastics in a commercial in the ‘80s. This stint propelled her into acting in TV commercials, guest spots, and film roles. Back in the day, she recurred on Who’s the Boss, The Hughley’s, and the soap opera Santa Barbara. In the theatre world, Pavia has collaborated with Noah Wyle, Jennifer Aniston and Mark Ruffalo; directing over 45 plays and musicals. She is in her 6th season as Acting Coach on Freeform’s Grownish and recently directed her first music video in partnership with TikTok and Apple. Earlier this year, she also served as Acting Coach on the latest installment of the Disney Descendants franchise, coming soon! She’s been touted as The Cast Whisperer and vows her favorite gig remains setting actors up for success through private coaching sessions via Zoom and in person.
Pavia attended Interlochen Arts Academy for high school as a Theatre Major, studied under the late great Sanford Meisner in the West Indies, and finished up at UCLA focusing on Theatre, TV & Film. Her most rigorous training revolves around the title of Mother to Adrianna (22 years old) and Dominic & Rocco (19 year old twins).
Karen Bethzabe is a dynamic and versatile professional with nearly two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. Born in Mexico, she has built a distinguished career in the U.S that spans acting, writing, producing, and soon, directing. Her work is characterized by a commitment to authentic storytelling and diverse representation, making her a powerful voice in both film and television.
Karen is perhaps best known for her role as Elena Reyes in the hit AMC series Fear the Walking Dead, where her portrayal of the complex, multi-dimensional character garnered widespread recognition and acclaim from both audiences and critics. She has also made a notable impact in film, including her work in Damien Chazelle’s Babylon (2022), where she collaborated with the Academy Award-winning filmmaker to bring another compelling character to the screen. Beyond acting, Karen has expanded her creative talents into writing and producing. Most notably, she played a dual role in the film *Justine*, which she not only starred in but also associate produced. The film was successfully acquired by Ava DuVernay’s company, Array, highlighting Karen’s ability and passion both in front of and behind the camera.
Currently, Karen is in development for her directorial debut, a project that marks the next exciting chapter in her career. In addition to her work in film and television, she is a passionate advocate for collaboration and representation in the arts. She regularly shares her insights as a public speaker, participating in panels and events where she mentors actors and filmmakers.
Melissa (she/her) has been acting and teaching professionally for over 20 years. She can be seen in national commercials and in the award-winning feature film, East Side Sushi, and has performed onstage and nationwide with American Conservatory Theatre, Center Rep, San Jose Stage, Saint Louis Black Repertory Theatre, and more.
Melissa’s passion for acting has been deeply enriched through her study of Meisner technique and on-camera acting technique with amazing teachers such as Christy English and Annie Grindlay. She has taught improvisation and acting at San Jose Rep and Saint Louis Black Rep through their children’s programming, as well as with the award winning outreach and improvisational Red Ladder Theatre Company, where she worked with communities from preschoolers to teens and teachers to corporate CEOs, helping to bring acting, improvisation, and creativity into the classroom and workplace.
Her love for the arts and zest for life has brought her to teach adults, teens, and children through On-Camera, Meisner technique, and Improvisation here at Bay Area Acting Studio. She is represented by Stars the Agency in both LA and the Bay Area. Outside of acting, Melissa is a mother of three and is a certified yoga instructor.
Estella is passionate about storytelling. She has over 20 years of experience as an actress. Some of her acting credits include “Southland” on TNT, “Bones” on FOX, “The Young and the Restless” on CBS.
Estella is also an award-winning screenwriter, she creates transformative female lead characters set in powerful, controversial, and relevant worlds. Overall, her scripts have placed in a dozen screenwriting competitions. Here are some that are noteworthy:
Her TV pilot, “AMERICANA” (formerly ICE) was the recipient of the Showtime Tony Cox Award - TV 1 Hour. Her feature film, “GRINGAS”, was a finalist in the 2022 Black List Lab. Her TV pilot, “Lady of the Lake,” was on the prestigious “Coverfly RED LIST” and was ranked #18 out of over 7,000 sci-fi scripts. Her TV pilot, ORO, was selected for the 2nd round for the Sundance Episodic Lab and was 1 of 30 out of 8,627 submissions deemed worthy of sending to AMC for consideration by the Austin Film Festival. Estella has also produced and acted in her own work as well.
During a break from acting and screenwriting, Estella was the founder of a social streaming platform, 10 Block - A TV guide for the social media generation with a patent pending - that was sold in 2020. 10 Block was venture-backed by Mogility Capital and advised by entertainment industry leaders with backgrounds at Universal Studios/NBCU, DreamWorks Animation, Disney, and Paramount Studios. In 2019, SXSW named 10 Block a top-10 cutting-edge product. 10 Block had evolved from a short-form streaming platform with social aspects to a universal discovery tool, allowing viewers to make playlists, review, and discuss content across all television platforms.
Karen Brelsford is a working actor in Canada, San Francisco and LA’s Film, TV, and Theatre industries. She is conservatory trained (American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York) and specializes in improv and sketch comedy.
Karen Brelsford is a working actor in Canada, San Francisco and LA’s Film, TV, and Theatre industries. She is conservatory trained (American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York) and specializes in improv and sketch comedy.Karen regularly performs with various San Francisco improv groups including The Iron Stage (Improvised Game of Thrones) and SF Improv Collective. She has trained with improv greats in New York and Canada.Karen's love of improv began 15 years ago when she was asked to join the shortform improv group, Throw Us A Line. This weekly fast-paced show led to a thriving career in improv and comedy, including performing with Canada’s award-winning longform group, Sin City. Karen has taught improv in Canada and is excited to bring her passion and skills to the Bay Area Acting Studio. Karen also has a M.Sc. in dendrochronology and performs as a comedic Kate Middleton impersonator!
Her TV credits include such shows as FOX’s Gracepoint and Hallmark’s Cedar Cove. Karen’s New York Theatre experience includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Night Must Fall. Her Canadian Theatre resume includes The Odd Couple in addition to numerous other productions.
Mirabel is an actor based in the Bay Area, and is represented by MDT Agency. She's been coaching and teaching at Bay Area Acting Studio since 2022.
Prior to acting, she trained as a competitive ballroom dancer for over a decade, performing in numerous showcases and competitions, and eventually became a coach for San Jose State University’s collegiate ballroom dance sport team. She's also an ongoing social dance instructor and performer for NorCal's largest yearly anime convention ball event, FanimeCon's Black & White Ball.
After her years in dance, Mirabel transitioned into acting, finding an essential foundation and deep creative inspiration within the Meisner technique. She expanded her skill sets into comedy, improvisation, and voiceover, and continues to train as a lifelong learner of acting and filmmaking. Mirabel enjoys supporting the Bay Area’s collaborative independent film community, and writes and produces her own short films and projects. One of her most personal projects as writer, producer, and actress is Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, a short film inspired by her childhood and dedicated to the aviation community in San Jose.
Outside of acting and teaching, Mirabel works as a marketing and communications professional. She enjoys bridging collaboration and creativity to the vibrant communities of Silicon Valley, and is thrilled to be part of Bay Area Acting Studio's home for actors.
Mark’s passion for acting began as a child, when he saw Jodie Foster and Scott Baio in "Bugsy Malone."He is now a Bay area based actor with experience in film, television and theater, and his training in theMeisner Technique with Christy English has inspired his passion for teaching and coaching.
When he’s not in a class or on a set, he’s usually still on a set in his role as a professional commercialand portrait photographer.
Ruth is an energetic actor with a passion for teaching. Ruth's interest in performance began when she was a child, and it flourished after she started her family. Ruth began studying the Meisner Technique with Bay Area Acting Studio in 2010. Currently, Ruth is enrolled in BAAS’ advanced Meisner class. While continuing to hone her craft in the advanced class, Ruth teaches multiple classes at BAAS and regularly auditions.
Additionally, Ruth has worked as a professional makeup artist for over 23 years. She has worked on many projects, both behind and in front of the camera, and considers it all valuable.
Pamela is our resident Life Coach.
Pamela Johnson moved from New York City to California landing in a Meisner class with Christy over a decade ago. She’s been performing and teaching most of her life. Her career has spanned commercial, TV, Film and Theatre.
Pamela’s love of acting is imbued with her love of the human condition. She is a Life Leadership Coach who helps individuals make sense of their reality (themselves, their teams - even their families) using Enneagram and Archetypal wisdom. The Enneagram is a personality map of consciousness that illuminates autopilot patterns of power. This allows you to wake up, show up and “Transform on Purpose” becoming CEO’s of your own life.For more information or to contact Pamela directly, visit www.soulpath-guidance.com
Elijah Macias (he/they) has been teaching and coaching at Bay Area Acting Studio since 2022, and has been working as an actor and model for over ten years. Having been heavily involved in arts from a young age, he has appeared in over 40 theatrical productions before making the switch to on-camera work.
A Bay Area native, Elijah has appeared in commercials for many companies including Apple, SurveyMonkey, Proactiv, Visit California, Monterey Bay Aquarium, San Jose International Airport, amongst many more.
When he isn't in front of the camera or teaching, Elijah works behind the camera in the AD department for independent features in the Northern California market.
Will has been a performer from an early age, instantly drawn to the joy of laughter, having an audience and the power of generating a smile. He truly launched his acting career upon moving from Michigan to the bay area when he landed at the Bay Area Acting studio, diving into the Meisner technique, with Christy English. Through film, television, theatre, improv and even some stand-up, Will continues to love an audience, moving them to tears (usually of joy) or a smile. Currently, when not auditioning for commercial, film or television work, he loves to take the improv stage, truly enjoying the full creative freedom in the absence of a script.
As a teacher with BAAS, Will loves diving into and sharing the creative power of the Meisner technique with students and passing along all of the golden nuggets of acting and performing that he’s picked up along his journey.
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