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Your Acting Coach

Kashi Johnson, MFA

A pioneer in actor training, with a focus on Hip-Hop Acting Techniques and Hip-Hip Theatre pedagogy. I'm an Artistic Associate with the Black Acting Methods Studio, Professor, and Chairperson of the Department of Theatre at Lehigh University. I've been teaching actors for over two decades. I'm often invited to present on my actor training techniques, Hip-Hop Theatre curricula and pedagogy at conferences, festivals and gatherings across the nation. I'm ready to help take your artistry to the next level. 

Serving: Adults (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)

  • On-Camera Techniques
  • Voice-work
  • Auditions and Cold Reading
  • Scene Study
  • Hip-Hop Theatre Acting Techniques
  • Public Speaking
  • Curricula Building
  • Hip Hop Theatre Pedagogy
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For Actors

During our coaching sessions, you'll be able to:
  • Develop: Learn proven acting techniques that develop the mind, body and voice as the primary instrument of the actor.
  • Expand: Stretch your current acting practice beyond your comfort zone while utilizing acting games, exercises, and assignments to strengthen and hone your acting skills. 
  • Discover: Explore new, innovative techniques for line memorization.
  • Access: Experiment with new ways to bring your stage, tv, or film character to life through script analysis.
  • Build: Harness and strengthen your confidence while performing in front of an audience or on set. 

For Educators

During our coaching sessions, you'll be able to:
  • Reflect: Before you teach Hip Hop Theatre, it's important to identify where you fit in the matrix of Hip Hop. Are you a card-carrying member of the Hip Hop generation? Are you a practitioner? An artist? A complete stranger to the culture? Or, a student who wants to learn more? Whatever your identification, it is imperative that you recognize who you are in this process, because Hip Hop is rooted in authenticity and if you’re not about that life, you shouldn’t ‘front’ and act like you are. Students, like audiences, instantly know if you’re ‘keeping it 100.’ As the instructor, if you are willing to do the necessary preparation work, this type of curriculum can take you very far. I encourage you to do much of the same work with me that you will ask your students to do: be courageous, honest, allow yourself to be vulnerable, and trust the process.
  • Develop a Master Plan: Are you planning a curriculum for a single class? A full semester? An entire academic year? You and I will identify the experience and level of impact you want your students to have once you expose them to Hip Hop Theatre performance techniques.
  • Build a Blueprint: We'll chart a curriculum for success. We'll plan the most effective way to introduce Hip Hop Theatre into your curriculum. Depending on the level of exposure you hope to achieve, I'll provide exercises and activities that you can put in your 'tool box.' You'll start to familiarize yourself with Hip Hop inspired exercises, games, activities and performance assignments that feed your students' interests, and challenge them to step outside of their comfort zone.
  • Remix: Drawing on the lessons of Hip Hop which presents the idea that everything we create takes inspiration from something that has come before, I have remixed traditional acting techniques with Hip Hop sensibilities, resulting in exciting new warm-ups, games, activities and performance projects. I will share these with you.  Discover accessible assignments and performance projects that invite students to participate at any comfortable entry point.
  • Maximize Cyphers: Learn the best ways to transform your classroom/rehearsal space into an ongoing cypher where students are empowered to become critical change agents. They'll be able to recognize, appropriate, and transform dominant power, as they creatively express themselves as a “crew” who “has each other's back.’’

Kashi's ability to engage actors and draw out their raw emotions is nothing short of astounding. She has taught me that vulnerability is not weakness, but rather the key to bringing a character to life. Kashi guided me towards becoming the best actor that I can be. 

Alison Haggins

Kashi's amazing training is informative, interactive, and totally engaging. Her Hip-Hop Theater training is designed for all levels of background and experience.  

Freda Scott-Giles, Professor Emerita- University of Georgia

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Meet More Coaches in the Black Acting Methods Studio

Sharrell D. Luckett, PhD

Specialties: Scene Study, Auditions, The Luckett Paradigm, Research/Project Consultation, Curricula Building, Diverse Approaches to Acting

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Jonathan M. Lassiter, PhD

Specialties: Wellness, Breath-work, Meditation, Black, LGBT, POC, & Artistic Populations, Black Psychology, Wholistic Orientations to Wellness

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