ABOUT DEBORAH
Meet our fearless leader, Deborah Lemen! Deborah Lemen is a working actor, teacher, writer, director, and producer who works in both New York and Southern California. She has trained with George Morrison and Jack Waltzer in New York, and with Peter Flood and Ivana Chubbuck in Los Angeles.
Deborah Lemen is the first Professional Acting Coach to adapt the Ivana Chubbuck Technique, making it accessible and age appropriate for kids and teens, yet still offering the same acting tools that have created hundreds of successful and award winning adult actors.
With 25 years of experience Deborah Lemen has curated her own effective and dominating technique called the Lemen Technique, which is a compilation of her own methods as well as the Strasberg/Method Acting, Meisner Acting Technique, Chubbuck, Stanislavski’s Method, and Gestalt Acting Method. By using her technique 100’s of award winning actors have landed prominent roles in the industry.
Deb's acting technique and workshops have proven to be career changing! Past and present students have been successful both theatrically as well as commercially. A few of her many successful students include:
Reid Miller a long time student who is the lead in the film “Good Joe Bell” playing opposite Mark Wahlberg as well as starring in Netflix’s You.
Nicolas Duvernay has a reoccurring role on Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living.
Jaylen Barron is starring in Netflix’s Free Rein, and has recently filmed in 9-1-1 and the new show Blindspotting.
Avantika who is the lead in Disney’s new show Spin, and has starred in Diary of a Future President.
Many LA acting teachers have a "get in/get out" mentality and are focused on the quick result - specializing in booking the "under 5." Personally, I believe in longevity and preparing actors for a career, rather than a short stint, which is why I heavily invest in my students. Acting training, much like athletic training, requires the strengthening of muscles, whether they be physical or mental. This is something that takes time, hard work, and sacrifice. I stress the importance of the journey, which has been a pillar of my teaching and my acting career.
My goal is to shape dynamic, smart, hard-working actors that love their art. While I do offer classes for beginners, my true passion is working with teens and young adults who display an appreciation for the process. I am always available for any questions!
Finola HUghes
special Guest Teacher
Finola is a well-known actress, television host, entrepreneur, author, and acting coach. She is best known for her role as Anna Devane on the ABC Soap Operas General Hospital and All My Children. She is a beloved acting coach that students immediately bond with her and enjoy working with her and continue to grow under her direction. After recognizing her immense talent and her giving personality Deborah Lemen hand selected her to teach The Lemen Technique along side her.
Megan Ford-Miller
Kids class Co-Teacher W/ Deborah Lemen
Megan is an award-winning Writer/Director/Producer for live theater and film based in Los Angeles. In addition to her creative work, Megan serves as a child therapist for children on the Autism Spectrum. She is a co-teacher with Deborah Lemen in the kid's acting classes.
Kevin benton
adult acting class teacher
Kevin Benton, with over four decades of film, television and commercial experience and a working knowledge of the industry, brings to Deborah Lemen Studio the expertise to train and develop actors at all levels. His approach to acting has been influenced by many: Ivana Chubbuck, Sanford Meisner, Robert Carnegie (Playhouse West), and Tasha Smith (TSAW).
With these wide-ranging influences, Kevin believes that as an actor, you will take pieces of knowledge from your own journey and use them to discover what works for you in your craft.
Mentoring actors and guiding them to discovery of imagination and growth has become a passion for Kevin. Through instrumental exercises and scene study, Kevin builds a creative community that focuses on safety, professionalism and creativity that gives each actor the tools necessary to be competitive in the business of acting.
During six years teaching at Tasha Smith's Acting Workshop (TSAW), Kevin partnered with Tasha Smith, taking the actor from classroom to audition and from audition to set.
Kevin works with studios and production companies in many capacities: acting coach, actor, and technical advisor.
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