Vivian WOODS

Master Acting Coach, Actress, Executive Coach and Motivational Speaker

Vivian’s goals professionally include helping children and adults achieve their true potential both personally and professionally through the programs she’s designed and teaches.

On a personal note, she is a proud mom to 3 incredible young men who are pursuing their own dreams to help serve their community.  

Vivian has an extensive career in film and TV with over 40,000 hours as a talent agent, acting teacher, performing in theatre and studying and improving her craft.  Vivian has single handedly trained over 3500 students over 14 years at Universal Talent.

Vivian’s extensive acting training includes these prestigious schools:  HOWARD FINE, UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE,  SECOND CITY, MARGIE HABER, KATT SHEA, GROUNDLINGS, SPEISER STURGESS, VIOLA SPOLIN, SANFORD MEISNER, JOHN RUSKIN,  and various other acting workshops and master classes.

Vivian consistently continues her training as she is always aiming to improve herself and her team to ensure that our clients always receive the very best education

2020-Present

Carla has been a member of our team for 4 years. She started as an Acting Student and went on to book several roles.  Through her continued training she excelled and became a member of our teaching team. Not only is Carla an actress, she also is also an incredible Acting Teacher well trained in method acting and organic acting.  Carla is our beginners teacher for all ages, and also Improvisation for Family Friendly classes.

Set Etiquette and Producing Instructor (2000-Present)
For the past eight years Ken Shapkin has been a leader in the fashion industry in Vancouver, British Columbia. His diverse experience included costume design for film and television, fashion styling for print and commercials, fashion show production for individual designers, fashion weeks and international fashion tours, and clothing manufacturing. 

With over 50 projects under his belt, Ken has made a name for top quality, world-class productions.  His work has taken him to Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, Monte Carlo, Nigeria, Budapest, and Shanghai. He has worked with such celebrities as: Sharon Stone, Dillon Baker, Timothy Hutton, Kat Dennings, Val Kilmer, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kristana Loken, and Genevieve Nnaji.

"It would be my pleasure to discuss your project needs, large or small I love new adventures and helping peoples ideas take flight."

Ken has also deepened his commitment to producing.  Graduated from NYFS.  His credits are available on IMDB.

Dialect  Coach (2017-2019)

David LeReaney has been acting, directing, coaching dialects and teaching for a living since 1979, appearing in or directing over 250 professional plays and 60 film and TV productions.

He has a busy career in film and TV, appearing in more than 60 productions.

David is a coach and teacher of dialects and accents through his company, Dial/Act Inc. having taught at almost every college and university in Alberta.

He has coached Eva Marie Saint, Brenda Fricker, Jacqueline Bisset, Rachel Ward, Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, Liam Hemsworth, Aidan Quinn, Jessica Pare, Cynthia Nixon, Matthew Modine, Kerri Russel, Skeet Ulrich, Joely Richardson, Greta Scacchi, Clair Forlani and many more.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: David LeReaney

Our Voice Coach (2015-2020)

James O’Farrell, tenor, has performed with Opera Lyra Ottawa, L’Orcherstre Philharmonique du Nouveau Monde, University of Ottawa Orchestra, and recorded opera excerpts for a documentary series on Bravo. He is known for his powerful, resonant voice, intelligent musicianship and a keen sense of emotion and drama. His repertoire consists of roles such as Don Jose (Carmen), Cavaradossi (Tosca), Rodolpho (La Boheme), Ferrando (Cosi Fan Tutte), and Lenski (Eugene Onegin). In 2015, he created the role of “Big Bill Haywood” for the Cowtown Opera Production of Cowtown Annie - The Story of Annie Davidson. 

He has been active as an accomplished voice teacher since 1995, working both as a private teacher and lecturer. Currently he works as a Music/Band teacher for the Calgary Catholic School District.

VITAL STATS  March 8, 1970 Height – 6’0”  Weight – 195 lbs EDUCATION  May 2009 - B.Mus (voice) Magna cum Laude University of Ottawa   PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENTS

2015

September: Cowtown Opera - Big Bill Haywood - Annie Davidson Story  

2010  

December Ottawa Valley Music Festival (OVMF) Haendel -Messiah  August OVMF - Viennese Concert Lehar, J. Strauss  June Recital – art song - Debussy, Duparc, Brahms, Beethoven  April Brahms Choir of Ottawa Brahms - Liebeslieder Waltzes  March University of Ottawa Orchestra Mendelssohn- Symphony #2 (Lobgesang)  

2009  

April: 4th year Graduating Recital U of O - Benjamin Britten’s Serenade for Tenor and Horn  March: St. John Apostle Church Mozart - Requiem  March: University of Ottawa Orchestra - Bruckner - Te Deum

February: University of Ottawa - Don Jose (Bizet – Carmen)    

2008  

April Semi-finals - New York Oratorio Society Competition  April Bravo TV series “Death at the Opera”