"One of the best teachers I have ever had the pleasure of studying with was at the Dennis O'Neill School of Acting. The level of professionalism, guidance, and honesty was unbelievably high. Unfortunately, my time at the school was cut short due to unforeseen circumstances. However, its impact on my life regarding acting and staying true to myself will remain with me forever."
Peter Baydu
Tonight was amazing! I'm so proud to be in your class and have you as my Acting Coach! Thank you for being such an AWESOME teacher! We rocked in style tonight because you believe in us and coach us toward greatness! Thank you for pouring out your knowledge to us so we can each embrace our talent and Live In The Moment! ~ Amber Welsh
I appreciate your work and your ethics, as well as your devotion to our class. And that appreciation for you grows daily with every email, lesson, and introduction. I was born and raised in Sudan, Africa. Acting in Sudan is not widely accepted. It's generally understood that acting dishonors one's family and the person. So acting for me is more than just acting. It's to breathe, be free, make my own decisions, and be a living organic human being given the ability of expression. I have no family or cultural support regarding acting, so this class and you are that for me. So please keep doing what you are doing because even though some may see you as an acting coach, I see you as an inspiration beyond words. Honestly, thank you for everything. What you said tonight hit home and helped me to remember why I do what I do.~ Mohamed Zein
After studying theatre and acting throughout school, my musical theatre degree, and various classes post-graduation, I still learned so much from the rich, comprehensive history that Dennis O'Neill lays out for us in the chapters of this book. Dennis values the educational side of acting and the actor as a human being with a heart, soul, and spirit. Within this book is a wealth of wisdom Dennis generously shares from his journey through acting. His unique ability to encourage actors is laced throughout the pages. ~ Nicole Choate
After joining your class several months ago, I started to feel a noticeable shift in when I am trying to act vs. becoming the character, having natural character thoughts and reactions. It's a magical feeling, it's a rush, and I didn't even know this was something that existed—but whatever it is that's being unlocked—well, I am so grateful to have you as a teacher to help me discover it and grow as an actress. ~ Michelle McAllister
I received a referral to Dennis O'Neill in a Facebook Acting Community. I was hesitant, but I reached out to him, and we had a wonderful conversation. I eventually made it to a class, and it felt like a family. He doesn't sugarcoat anything and wants to see his students grow. It's a very inviting environment and endless possibilities. He knows his stuff. ~ Kiana Stanford
I was 19 years old when I met Dennis. He was the first actor I met making a living doing what he loves. Over the years, he has inspired me in all sorts of ways. I started taking Dennis's acting class in the fall of 2019. He has inspired me to learn my craft in all its glorious forms. He teaches us to know the character, what is happening in the story (even if you have a one-page cold read), and know and understand our lines. Then stop thinking and let the character take over! It's been quite a learning experience. I appreciate his honesty in class, teaching us with respect and dignity in front of our fellow actors.
I look forward to the future, whatever God has for our class, while living in the moment daily. ~ Marcelle McDaniel
I've been taking Dennis O'Neill's Acting Class for five months, and it's been worth every moment. Dennis is a wealth of knowledge and experience for anyone wanting to advance their craft. He gives sound advice and guidance and is very goal-oriented in achieving your dreams. The actors in class are professional and always encouraging to each other, and also a great way to network in the industry. It has made an enormous difference in my life, professionally and personally, to be around like-minded people with a passion for acting and a teacher to uncover and bring out the creativity in myself I didn't know existed. I thank Dennis and the class for being a source of support in helping me achieve my dreams. ~ Daniel King
I am grateful that Dennis accepted me into his class and can genuinely say that my acting career has benefited me directly. His courses have helped my auditions and my acting on set. Dennis has helped to improve my ability to take the director's notes smoothly and seamlessly and implement them in real-time. A casting director and producer specifically complimented me on this. I attributed it to Dennis's improving our scenes through "director notes." He has helped with character and script breakdowns and learning to think as the character, not as the actor. He isn't shy about calling out mistakes and bad habits. He is genuinely passionate about helping his students. It's easy to see that his heart is in helping us become the best actors we can be.~ Bryan Spellman
I came to Dennis O'Neill's Acting Studio from the world of circus clowning and broad, vaudeville-style physical comedy. Although I had done some film and television work while I lived in LA, my roles became limited due to my eccentric physicality that worked in live performance but was too stagey and cartoonish for most film productions. Dennis has taught me how to "pull it back" to play more realistic characters. He also gives invaluable instruction in pursuing a film and television career. He ensures we are well-versed in cinematic history by assigning classic films to watch and discuss weekly, which exposes us to the techniques of some of the greatest screen actors of all time and provides us with the knowledge to help open doors in the biz.~ Grainger Esch
