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Mary Mccusker

Mary McCusker, Acting Instructor at The Gately/Poole Acting Studio

Mary McCusker has been a successful actress and acting coach for many years. She studied acting at the Boston Conservatory of Music and is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse, where she studied The Sanford Meisner Acting Technique. As an on-set coach, her feature film work began with The Client, coaching ...read more

Mackenzie Parker

Mackenzie Parker, Acting Instructor at The Gately/Poole Acting Studio

Mackenzie Parker, a native of Illinois, attended Northern Illinois University’s School of Theatre and Dance after serving on active duty in the United States Navy. While in attendance, Professors Kathryn Gately and Richard Poole were instrumental in developing his formal training. Mackenzie continued his studies abroad with Mikhail Lobanov, noted artist ...read more

Armando Rayes

Armadno Rayes, Intern at The Gately/Poole Acting Studio

Armando Reyes (Manolo Costazuela) is excited to make his debut at Oil Lamp Theater. He most recently appeared inThrough the Elevated Line at Silk Road Rising. He has performed with Pride Film and Plays, The Agency Theater Collective, Urban Theatre Company, Teatro Vista, and many others. Film and television credits include ...read more

Bethany Mangum

Bethany Magnum, Acting Instructor at The Gately/Poole Acting Studio

Bethany is an actor, director, and educator born and raised in southern California but has made both her artistic and family home in beautiful Chicagoland. She holds an MFA in acting from Northern Illinois University and a BFA in acting from California State University, Fullerton. Currently, Bethany is an Instructor of ...read more

Emily Vitrano

Emily Vitrano, Acting Instructor at The Gately/Poole Acting Studio

Emily Vitrano is an actor and teaching artist making her creative home in the Chicagoland area. As a voice and movement specialist, Emily is trained in the Fitzmaurice Technique, Viewpoints, Yoga, Williamson and Michael Chekhov Technique. Emily works with her students’ bodies and voices, emphasizing supple responsive instruments and powerful, ...read more

Richard Poole

Richard Poole, Master Teacher of Acting at Gately/Poole Acting Studio

In New York City, Richard Poole worked as the Executive Director of The Nat Horne Theatre on 42nd Street’s Historic Theatre Row, where he expanded the Gately / Poole studio to over 200 students a year. The studio was home to three separate theatre groups, including the award-winning Manhattan Class ...read more

Kathryn Gately

Professor Kathryn Gately, Master Teacher at The Gately/Poole Acting Studio

Kathryn Gately served as Head of and/or co-teacher of 2 nationally ranked URTA/NAST and Unified MFA/BFA/BA Acting Programs. She headed the graduate program in Acting at Northern (NIU). At Mason Gross, she co-taught the MFA and BFA students with Mr. William Esper. As an actress and a teacher, Professor Gately ...read more