Maria Capp Brings Hollywood to Sayville

Sayville resident Maria Capp is an actor, teacher, coach, mentor and parent advocate for the arts. She’s an acting coach as well as a life coach, but she’s also involved in a lot more. (For more information on Maria and her background, see .) Capp recently returned from a training course out in California and she feels the work she did over the summer will bring even more success to Sayville.

Tell us a little bit about your training.

I am returning from Los Angeles where I spent six intensive weeks studying, working and receiving accreditation from Ivana Chubbuck Studios in Hollywood. It has been a whirlwind experience: surreal, amazing and a blessing as Ivana is a master of her craft in the same company as Uta Hagen, Bill Meisner, and Stella Adler. I studied at the studio in ’96 for two years while living in Los Angeles.

Why did you decide to go back to Ivana and her technique?

My family and I decided to embark on a summer in Los Angeles because my eldest wished to study over her summer break from college and when searching for a studio, program or teacher we identified that there is no one teaching the Chubbuck Technique here in New York City, let alone no one in the Northeast. When I reached out to Ivana and shared my bio and what I’ve done since leaving her studio in ’96, she invited me to participate in her select certification program.

All three of my children and I were completely immersed in the studio: I for 40 hours a week, Raffaela my 18 year old for 30 hours a week and my other two children, Natasha and Steven, studied in the children’s studio. We worked with aspiring, emerging and professional working actors…..many, many familiar faces throughout television and film,  with names not famous and a few with famous names.

Now that you are trained in this method, will you be bringing this expertise to Sayville?

Maria Capp Acting Studio offers private coaching, classes and workshops in Sayville and Manhattan. I have been teaching and using the Chubbuck Technique in my work as an actor, director and coach since first studying with Ivana in '96. I am the only certified acting teacher after completing an intensive accreditation teacher training directly under Ivana's mentorship. Bringing this technique to New York City allows me to teach emerging and working professionals in television, film and theater. There is a growing presence of television and film production throughout the metropolitan area. My choice to create a solid presence on Long Island’s South Shore was Sayville because of my belief and feeling that the creative arts community, talent and support are strong here.

There are many actors who come from our local area and pursue this business/art form and earn a living. There are many who dream/fantasize about this business strictly from a "famous" standpoint and spend countless hours and wasted money on "get famous" gimmicks. The number of working actors I encountered and befriended over the summer whose face may or may not be familiar but who earn a living, are members of the union, have health benefits, raise their family, etc. And just like working out at a gym, they work out at an acting studio.

What advantage will your students now have?

Aspiring actors, young and old, as well as high school students preparing for conservatory training have a geographic advantage of not having to go to Hollywood or even Manhattan to be exposed to this amazing Academy, Tony and Emmy actor producing technique.

What can we expect next from you?

I will be back on Long Island starting August 21 teaching workshops at South Shore Dance Studio, coaching students via Skype, phone and one on one and starting ongoing acting classes in Sayville and in Manhattan after Labor Day.

Upon my return in addition to my coaching, I am producing and promoting the local full-length feature “Life’s A Beach” to be shot in the Sayville, Bayport and Davis Park communities.