Anna Migliarisi ACTRA, CAEA, PhD

RESTORATIVE ACTING

Nurture the Artistic Foundation that Fuels You

Build a positive and restorative relationship to your acting practice. With years of training and experience Anna will expertly guide you through a disciplined approach to your work that will help you feel more confident as an artist no matter where you are in your professional journey.

One-on-one Coaching and Micro-Group Acting Classes
Acceptance based on an Interview

ANNA has acted, directed, produced, created international arts conferences, trained actors at various schools and authored numerous articles and books, including the groundbreaking history of Method training in Canada (Stanislavsky and Directing 2008) and the recent anthology, Canadian Plays of Italian Heritage (2024). Proud graduate of the School of Dramatic Art, University of Windsor, Anna also has an MA and PhD from the University of Toronto. She is privileged to have been mentored by some wonderful people, including the late great Actors’ Studio veteran, Janine Manatis. Her methodology draws on a range of acting techniques rooted in the foundational principles of Stanislavsky and his adherents refined into exercises and approaches that are practical, effective and meaningful. The fundamental components of her teaching practice include preparation, active text analysis, sensory exploration, as well as audition methods. Anna is practised in working with seasoned actors needing a gentle reset or exploration of a particular acting problem in a respectful and encouraging space. Of course, aspiring actors are most welcome as well.

Back to Basics

6 Week Session

Exploring Basic Technique
At The Heart Of The Actor’s Craft

October 3, 10, 17 & 24 |November 7 & 14 | 11:30- 4PM
MIRIAM LAURENCE STUDIO | PARLIAMENT AND CARLTON

SESSIONS COVER

  • Preparation & Presence
  • Sensory Work
  • Approaching & Mining The Text
  • Audition Basics

FEES

  • $425 New Students (HST included)
  • $400 Returning Students (HST included)

BACK TO BASICS is a 6-week studio session that I’ve designed to strengthen the core techniques behind truthful, compelling performance. Open to emerging actors wanting to build a strong foundation or experienced actors seeking a craft reset we will focus on the essential tools actors rely on throughout their careers. The group is limited to 8-10 actors so everyone has time to work. Acceptance is by interview.

If interested, please email me at annamigliarisi@gmail.com.

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Canadian Plays of Italian Heritage

Challenging the Definition of “Canadian” Theatre

This landmark collection of thirteen plays plus a previously unpublished translation, by playwrights including Lucia Frangione, Tony Nardi, Nick Mancuso, Dina Morrone and the late Michael Macina, aims to displace critical misconceptions about Italian Canadian theatre. Chosen from a hidden treasure of more than 300 works, the selection honours vital contributions to Canadian theatre identity. By redefining the creators as Canadian playwrights of Italian origin rather than simply Italian writers living in Canada, the editor, Anna Migliarisi, has presented an original and lively account of Italian Canadian performance history dating back to 1786. She has also reconsidered the definition of national theatre, addressed historical omissions, and confronted earlier dismissals of the work as merely marginal or ethnic. The endeavour to set the record straight is unequivocal. The recognition of these plays challenges the larger context of Canadian theatre practice and social history. The influential voices of Italian Canadian playwrights are loud and clear, and worthy of celebration.

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Endorsements

To sit in a room as Anna Migliarisi leads a workshop for actors of all ages, at all stages on the path they are pursuing, is a lesson in how to teach and inspire with open-armed compassion for artists and the arts.

She draws from a deep well of wisdom lined with decades of experience. She speaks with a hard-won honesty about what it takes to be an actor, and what you are there to give with every line, every gesture, every moment of silence.

Actors don’t simply attend a course or a workshop. They are seen. They are heard. They are guided toward that place in their journey that can’t be described, but you know
when you’ve arrived. Anna is there, waiting for you.

“As a Canadian and an immigrant, the question of identity, visibility and representation has been and continues to be, for me, a giant pea under the many mattresses of discomfort. In this collection of works for theatre, by Canadians of Italian Heritage, Professor Anna Migliarisi’s clarity is truly revealing and intelligent and intensely accurate. The works cited in this anthology are those of a generation of artists/writers whom I followed and whose work was inspiring in my own quest to communicate my writing as a Canadian/Italian author. The first generation of artists from my community to bring to the stages of Canada their Canadian stories which reflected their Italian Heritage in all of its light and darkness, humour and tragedy. The assumption that they were Italian plays, or ethnic theatre, is wrong as Migliarisi makes clear. They are a uniquely authentic theatre of a generation that wrote the reality of their times and have never been given the respect or recognition they deserve. This is an invaluable anthology not only for its artistic substance but for the history it provides for generations to come.”

“With clarity and passion Migliarisi launches us on an exciting voyage of discovery. She generously provides us with what we need to start our journey: history, context and an introduction to a brilliant community of playwrights. This book is a guide to a culturally rich area that is too little known and yet full of rewards. Migliarisi is to be thanked and congratulated for bringing us this vibrant collection of plays that reveal the poignant and complex Italian Canadian experience.”

I joined Anna’s class at the very beginning of my acting journey, and I couldn’t be happier that I did. Anna teaches you how to approach acting truthfully, how to understand the work, connect to it personally, and trust the process. I really liked the way the classes were structured. Because the groups are small, Anna is deeply invested in every student. Everyone got the time and feedback they needed, whether we were working on monologues or doing scene exercises. She challenged us in a good way and created an environment where it felt safe to explore and make mistakes. Another thing I really liked was simply listening to Anna talk about the craft. Just being in the same room with someone as experienced as her was incredibly valuable. Her passion, depth of knowledge, and way of thinking about acting gave me something new to reflect on after every class. I left every class with a new perspective, practical tools, and a much deeper understanding of what acting really is. I’d recommend Anna’s classes to anyone who wants to grow as an actor.

I joined Anna’s class at the very beginning of my acting journey, and I couldn’t be happier that I did. Anna teaches you how to approach acting truthfully, how to understand the work, connect to it personally, and trust the process. I really liked the way the classes were structured. Because the groups are small, Anna is deeply invested in every student. Everyone got the time and feedback they needed, whether we were working on monologues or doing scene exercises. She challenged us in a good way and created an environment where it felt safe to explore and make mistakes. Another thing I really liked was simply listening to Anna talk about the craft. Just being in the same room with someone as experienced as her was incredibly valuable. Her passion, depth of knowledge, and way of thinking about acting gave me something new to reflect on after every class. I left every class with a new perspective, practical tools, and a much deeper understanding of what acting really is. I’d recommend Anna’s classes to anyone who wants to grow as an actor.

I have known Anna since we were both students at theatre school. I have always admired her passion for the craft of acting, as well as her caring and positive approach to imparting her knowledge and passion to others, particularly younger actors. As a mature actor, I have returned to the business after a lengthy absence working in production. Working with Anna has helped me to reinvigorate my acting muscles, particularly in the new (for me) era of self-taping and acting within the frame for on-camera work. I think actors both experienced and inexperienced would benefit greatly from working with her.

Back to Basics with Anna was my first professional-level acting class. I didn’t know what to expect and was anxious. I didn’t have to worry. I felt comfortable during the class, which is very important when you have to be so vulnerable. Anna clearly has lots of experience and love for her craft, as well as the ability to teach it to other people. If you are looking for something chill and relaxing, this may not be the course for you. The classes are intense, fun, and challenging, and I never had a moment when I was bored. I could feel my brain working nonstop. I came with zero experience and left with an understanding of the basics of what a professional actor’s work is about (and great respect for it), how to approach a text, and what the next step would be should I continue to explore this further. The classes were well-structured, very professional, and the small group size was ideal for me. Couldn’t recommend this class enough.

I first studied with Anna when I was in my first year of university. I continued to study with her for years after I had graduated. She is fiercely passionate about acting and invests in her students’ long-term development. She integrates a variety of tools from Strasberg, Stanislavsky and physical acting, which allows her to bring out very unique and compelling performances in her students

Working with Anna was a great experience! She really pushed me and helped me get my acting to places it’s never been before. I learned how to approach a script and how to trust myself and not force the emotions. She also provided valuable information about working in the industry. I hope to work with her again!