The Staff

MICHAEL WOOLSON

Michael Woolson is a Los Angeles-based acting teacher, author, and coach. After almost a decade working with renowned teacher Larry Moss, Michael became one of only two people ever asked to teach for Larry.

The Michael Woolson Studio was created in 2001 with a mission to help actors unlock their creativity and deeply connect to the stories they tell, drawing on techniques learned from Larry Moss and other inspiring mentors. These approaches encourage a rich exploration of imagination and personal experience—resulting in performances that are unique, dynamic, memorable, and fully alive in the moment. Not controlled or rehearsed, but truly happening.

Michael Woolson has worked with numerous Academy Award nominees and winners, including Austin Butler (Elvis), Evan Peters (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit), and Brie Larson (The Room). He is widely recognized for his ability to cultivate depth and authenticity in his students within an environment that is both nurturing and inspiring.

He is also the author of two books on acting, The Work of an Actor and Emotion on Demand, both of which are now being adopted as textbooks at universities across the country.

Also, Michael’s directorial work includes theatrical productions such as “The Shape of Things” by Neil LaBute (produced by Danny DeVito), “Women & Wallace” by Jonathan Sherman, “4 Dogs and a Bone” by John Patrick Shanley, “Cock” by Mike Bartlett, and “Sex With Strangers” by Laura Eason. Of Michael’s direction on “The Shape of Things” David Mamet said, “Brilliant—not a false note.”

Above all, Michael’s greatest joy is creating a space where actors feel inspired and supported—guiding them to live truthfully in imaginary circumstances while uncovering the depth of their characters and growing in the process.

FREDERICK STUART

Frederick Stuart started his acting career 25 years ago when he was chosen as a 2nd year student at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama to perform Romeo at Dame Peggy Ashcroft’s Memorial Service in Westminster Abbey. He performed along side British acting royalty Sir John Gielgud, Peter O’Toole, Ben Kingsley, Judy Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Ian Holm as well as Harold Pinter and Peter Hall and was directed by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Trevor Nunn.

He toured Great Britain and appeared in the West End playing Jean in Strindberg’s Miss Julie. In London he played Lord Byron in Bloody Poetry, Konstantin in The Seagull, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and Pirelli in Sweeney Todd.

Here in Los Angeles he is a Resident Artist at A Noise Within Theatre Company in Pasadena where he has played numerous roles including Tartuffe in Tartuffe, Cassius in Julius Caesar, Edmund in King Lear, Richmond in Richard III, Nandor in The Guardsman, Sidney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities, Bernard Nightingale in Arcadia and Hamlet in Hamlet.

He has worked with The Independent Shakespeare Company playing Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bolingbroke in Richard II, Jaques in As You Like It as well as Crab the Dog in Two Gentlemen of Verona.

He has worked extensively in Film and TV, currently starring in Empty Space on Amazon Prime.

Other credits include The Last Tycoon, The Odyssey, Keen Eddie, Trail of Tears, Queen of the East, The Delivery, Alive and Kicking, El Cartel, The Chief, The Bill, Dreaming of Joseph Lees, The Geeks, Romeo and Juliet.

HAPPY ANDERSON

Happy Anderson is a unique and talented character actor, teacher, audition coach and director. His teaching experience includes The New School (NYC), Ohio Northern University, Indiana University, The People’s Improv Theatre, The NY Film Academy, and The Professional Performing Arts School in New York City. He also has an extensive body of work in television and film. On the feature side, Anderson’s credits include David Ayer’s Bright, opposite Will Smith and Edgar Ramirez; Taylor Hackford’s The Comedian, opposite Robert De Niro; Suzanne Bier’s Bird Box, opposite Sandra Bullock; Tony Gilroy’s Duplicity, opposite Julia Roberts and Clive Owen; and Bad Boys for Life, opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Most recently he was seen in John Slattery’s Maggie Moore(s), opposite Jon Hamm and Tina Fey. He was recently seen in Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders opposite Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, and Jodie Comer.

Recent episodic credits include the modern Western series “Bring on the Dancing Horses,” from Michael Polish and starring Kate Bosworth; and Steven Soderbergh’s limited series for HBO Max “Full Circle,” opposite Dennis Quaid and Claire Danes. Happy’s prior television work includes recurring roles on “Mindhunter” (Netflix), “The Knick” (Cinemax), “Gotham” (Fox), “Snowpiercer” (TNT) and “The Blacklist” (NBC). He also appeared on “The Deuce” (HBO) and “Quarry” (Cinemax), among many others.

Happy also has numerous regional, on and off-Broadway theatrical credits including Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino. Having recently relocated to Los Angeles, Happy was one of New York City’s most sought after audition coaches for over 15 years!