Amy Chaffee
Position: Resident Artist (Actor / Director), Faculty Member
Contact: achaffee@xrtc.org
Classes Taught: VOICE AND SPEECH , ACCENTS AND DIALECTS
Education: Amy started acting professionally in the Midwest and Northern California at the age of 6 and was apprenticed in classical repertory theatre. She has a BFA in Acting and Producing from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where she studied under theatre legends Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, Ryschard Cieslak and Augusto Boal, among others. She was an intern and student at the Royal Court Theatre in London where she studied under Max Stafford-Clark, Caryl Churchill, Sir Harold Pinter and David Hare. Amy received her MFA from USD/The Old Globe Theatre where she was directed by Roger Rees, Daniel Sullivan, Nicholas Martin and Jack O’Brien. She was also a student under famed teacher Milton Katselas at the Beverly Hills Playhouse for 9 years.
Professional Experience: With acting jobs in 40 states and 5 countries, Amy’s began teaching career 8 years ago at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles where she is senior faculty in Voice And Speech. She has been vocal/dialect coach on a dozen movies and several television shows. Clientele include: Ellen Burstyn, Colin Firth, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Maria Bello, Kevin McKidd, Charlie Hunnam, Amber Tamblyn, Patricia Clarkson, Vanessa Hudgens, Jason Schwartzman, etc… As an actor/director, Amy was named Founding Artistic Director of Door Shakespeare, a professional company in the north woods of Wisconsin that has been in operation for 16 years. In Los Angeles, Amy has been nominated for 3 Garland Awards, 1 Robby Award and an Ovation award for outstanding performances onstage. She has also appeared several television shows including: Desperate Housewives, Prison Break, Judging Amy and had several recurring roles on “Days of Our Lives.” Look for her in upcoming movies: “Convincing Clooney” and “Sacramento.”
XRT Acting Credits: Ma (TRUE WEST), Amanda / Marsha / Melissa Stearn (DURANG DURANG)
XRT Production Credits: Dialect Coach (The Front Page), Director (Anton In Show Business)
What the XRT Means To Me…: XRT is an oasis to me: where the hustle of the city is all around you but instead of draining you, it offers up the possibility of change and change for the better; a beautiful space to learn, grow, fail, succeed or create something never seen before. A little touch of the New York ethic exists here in Southern California where hope and dreams spring eternally. XRT exudes the vibe that all are welcome to enter here and dared when they enter to make something new!
Why I Do What I Do…: A wise teacher once told me, “At a certain point, acting stops being just about you and becomes about something greater than yourself and is eventually a way to sculpt the world around you.” When I started teaching, it was just to make ends meet. But, as I taught, my students began to teach me about myself and I realized how much I had to offer others. I teach because I have information other people need to get what they want: to be a professional actor, to get a job, to get to the next level of ability, to communicate more efficiently and effectively. While some days it is hard! For me not to teach, would be selfish and uncaring. Giving of your knowledge begets generosity in others and all this world needs to get along better is a little more “give.”
Did You Know? Amy is a lifelong Badger and active sports fans, Amy prefers NCAA to professional sports and believes that Los Angeles doesn’t deserve a NFL franchise team until it cleans up it’s act.
