Miriam Laurence Studio | Acting Classes Toronto

Winter Session Almost Full + Announcing New 2026 Actor Projects!

Happy December Everyone!

The Winter Session is filling up, so be in touch if you decide to partake!

I’m pleased to announce the formalization of:

EnsembleStudioWorks

EnsembleStudioWorks (ESW) is a production unit of Miriam Laurence Studio. 

It’s initiated by me, Anna Migliarisi, and Lydia Cain.  They’ve both trained in my class for a long time and Anna is a teacher in her own right. 

 The ESW ensemble will be formed from actors who have trained with me.

ESW will be the umbrella for:

A rehearsal scene featuring four actors, with two standing and two seated on pedestals, engaged in reading scripts against a backdrop of black curtains in a studio setting.
No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre (in a new translation by M. Laurence)
Rehearsal with: Anna Migliarisi, Kai Davanyan, Lydia Cain & Nic Grimes.
Two men seated in a rehearsal space, engaged in conversation. One man is wearing a dark brown suit, while the other is in a blue shirt. A table with materials is visible in the foreground.
Orphans by Lyle Kessler: With Anthony Dias, Philip Savas (and Kai Davanyan)

2.   The Classic Live Reading Series involves invited actors from the ESW ensemble.

The idea is to expose actors and interested audiences to challenging world-wide classics in live readings that will be held every month or two. 

More TBA! 

Let me know if you are interested in these initiatives and in being part of the ESW ensemble!

Recommendations

There are some interesting series that have come out recently – and some to avoid – which I won’t bother mentioning 😊

The Lowdown

Ethan Hawke and the cast shine in this excellent series with fantastic music.

Promotional poster for 'The Lowdown' featuring Ethan Hawke and other cast members in various scenes, with a neon sign displaying the show's title and air date.

Slow Horses

Excellent, as usual.

Promotional poster for the series 'Slow Horses' featuring a group of characters, including a middle-aged man in glasses and a woman, in a dimly lit urban setting.

High Potential

 Light and charming detective series 

Promotional image for 'High Potential' featuring a woman wearing pink sunglasses with the text 'POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS' reflected in them, holding a brown folder with 'HIGH POTENTIAL' and Hulu branding.

Pluribus

Created by Vince Gilligan of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fame. Rhea Seahorn (Better Call Saul) in a virtual one-woman showcase with excellent supporting actors. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but can’t wait to find out.

Promotional image for the series 'Pluribus' featuring a woman with blonde hair expressing a strong emotion against a bright yellow background, along with the text 'FROM THE CREATOR OF BREAKING BAD' and the Apple TV+ logo.

Task (HBO)
 
Deep work from Mark Ruffalo.  The supporting cast of younger actors are really superb.  Many are not from the States, but their accents are impeccable! 

Promotional poster for the HBO series 'Task,' featuring two men in intense expressions, one in an FBI vest and the other aiming a gun, with the series title prominently displayed.

Films:

I’m not sure about these two as satisfying story-telling, but the performances are first rate.

The Smashing Machine:  

Interesting to see Dwayne Johnson going deep into this role.  He projects this depth through a ton of makeup and prosthetics.  Great supporting character work from Emily Blunt.

Poster for 'The Smashing Machine' featuring a close-up of a muscular man with a serious expression, blood on his face, and wearing fighting gloves. The title is prominently displayed above him along with the names of the actors and director.

One Battle After Another

Great filming and performances, but again, not sure about its impact;  I was hoping for an epic, mind-blowing story and it doesn’t quite measure up to my expectations.

Movie poster for 'One Battle After Another' featuring a dramatic scene with a predominantly orange desert landscape, showcasing a close-up of a rugged man's face alongside a woman holding a gun.

Signing off for 2025;  Have a great New Year and hope to hear from you soon!

miriamlaurence

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