Teaching Statement:
“I am interested in how we find the bravery to step into the unknown, take up space, stay out on the skinny branches, befriend failure, assume our own brilliance and find our personal joy in acting. I am passing forward the teachings I received from master teachers at NYU Grad Acting, and elsewhere, that have challenged me and helped me grow as an actor. I try to recognize what walls are coming up for students, and find ways to help inspire them to venture further outside their comfort zones. I think we all come to acting out of a deep sense of personal joy, and that our best, most authentic and surprising work comes when we tap into that joy as the fuel for what we do and truly allow ourselves to play.”
Bio:
Ben Mehl has taught Movement and Shakespeare’s Clowns at the NYU Graduate Acting Program, where he also received his MFA and completed a teaching mentorship in Movement under Jim Calder and Voice under Scott Miller. He teaches Voice and Movement, Physical Characterization and Combat at the New York Film Academy and has also taught at The Public Theater, Red Bull Theater, the Refugee Youth Summer Academy, the New School and as a private coach. Acting credits include: Off-Broadway: THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL; (Red Bull Theater); PERICLES, COMEDY OF ERRORS (Public Theater). Regional: THE CRUCIBLE, YENTL (Cleveland Playhouse); TROUBLEMAKER (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION (Williamstown Theatre Festival); HENRY V (Two River Theater); LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST (Chautauqua Theater Company). Other New York: DANNYKRISDONNAVERONICA, JULIUS CAESAR (Wheelhouse Theater); AT THE TABLE (Fault Line Theatre); HABIT (P.S. 122); THE LAW OF RETURN (4th Street Theatre). TV: Netflix’s YOU, THE GOOD WIFE, SUPERNATURAL INVESTIGATOR. Film: VIRAL BEAUTY, THE FLY ROOM.