Conservatory Bound

Expert coaching to help you excel in every aspect of your admissions audition

Conservatory Bound–What we'll do

In our first session, we’ll begin with an in person meeting during which we’ll discuss your goals for undergraduate or graduate acting program admission and beyond. We’ll review the requirements for the schools you are interested in and discuss your prior experience as an actor and how that can inform your audition piece selection.

“I am ecstatic to report that the audition process was a lovely variation of your Acting courses. All in all, I felt exceptionally comfortable with my performance because I was familiar with what I learned in your classes. Tremendous thanks!”

Erikka Dunn, accepted in London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, MA Music Theatre Program

During our subsequent meetings we will begin work together on your audition preparation:
  • I will share strategies for successful auditions beginning with your time prior to arrival at the audition till the moment you leave the room.
  • Working together we will choose audition pieces, which you are excited to perform and which play to your strengths and unique characteristics.
  • We will practice interview skills so that you will feel knowledgeable, comfortable and confident in that portion of your admission process.
  • I will train you in audition technique for actors.
  • I will consult on audition appropriate wardrobe.
  • I will help you put together an effective resume.
  • I will advise on your headshot needs, including referrals.
By the end of our time together, you will have:
  • Appropriate and audition-ready monologues
  • Improved interview skills
  • A competitive resume/headshot
  • Overall confidence as you complete your audition process

Conservatory Bound And You

Gaining acceptance to college and graduate schools, especially programs that specialize in training the next generation of artists and thinkers, has become more difficult than ever. The student body make up of most undergraduate colleges and universities is now 60% women (or more) and 40% men (or less). What this means is that young women need an even greater edge as they vie for coveted spots against other qualified young women. For young men, this means that they must present themselves as academically and artistically ready to succeed in academia.

BFA programs such as NYU/Tisch accept an average of less than 20% of applicants. MFA Acting Programs often accept fewer than 20 actors per year worldwide. For every qualified student they accept, they must turn away two more students who are also academically and artistically excellent. What gives you an edge? How will you differentiate yourself from the hundreds and thousands of other hopeful applicants?

These excellent schools choose students who show academic promise. However, as with any profession, whether or not you make the cut comes down to how you present your material and how you interview. Conservatory Bound will give you the skills you need to present yourself in the best possible light, beginning with the moment you enter the audition room. In this highly competitive field you emerge from the rest by learning how to prepare and how to present.

Let’s work together to get you where you want to go.

Mariah’s students have received offers from:

Student Testimonials

Check Out What Recent Students And Colleagues Are Saying About Mariah’s Teaching
Present & Perform is absolutely incredible in preparing you for MFA Acting Auditions! Mariah is incredible in assisting with finding the right monologues, working through them, and providing exercises that help improve your performance. Everything from entering the room, saying my name, delivering the monologues, making the monologues fit time restraints, and answering interview questions was covered. I felt incredibly prepared at all of my grad school auditions and now I have a bunch of new monologues that are ready to be used for regular auditions as well! I highly recommend!
Betzabeth Gonzalez
“Mariah is a Godsend!” are the exact words my daughter said after her 4th session with Mariah. Mariah helped prepare her for every step of the college audition process, from selecting monologues (a daunting process to undertake on your own) to choosing an outfit that makes you stand out. Not only did Mariah give her new intellectual tools for thinking about her monologues, but she also gave her a tremendous boost of confidence. There is no doubt her entire audition benefited from the work they did together. I can not speak highly enough of Mariah’s process and all the support she gives her clients.
Amity Doolittle
From a logistic standpoint, I traveled to the East coast for a few sessions, then continued work with her over skype. Both ways of working with her were extremely worthwhile. I found her approach to acting to be practical, pragmatic, and most importantly, demystifying. It imbued a sense of confidence and consistency. We worked on two monologue pieces for auditions into conservatoire programs. In addition to being very supportive and knowledgeable in her technical approach, her knowledge of acting academics and admissions was a huge help. I was amazed at the amount of time and thought she put into reviewing my materials and on-screen work to lend advice and present monologues for me. Her knowledge of current and contemporary work was really a tremendous, and I felt like the monologue pieces she offered to me were gems.
Eric Lim

Ready to Begin Your Journey?

Let’s prepare your best audition and give you the edge in your BFA/MFA applications.