Our Super Rad Crew:
ABIGAIL ESMENA - Studio Director/Owner
Abi Esmena is a professional actor with over a decade of experience, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and serves as Secretary for Women In Film (Cincinnati) Executive Board. She attended the University of Kentucky on an Academic Scholarship, majoring in theatre & finished her degrees in theatre/electronic media & broadcasting at NKU.
You have probably seen Abi in one of her many commercial spots (she’s been cast in more than 100!), for recognized brands and companies like: McDonalds, Delta Airlines, Target, Cox Communications, Nationwide, Modelo, KY Lottery, OH Lottery, WV Lottery, Cincinnati Bell, and more. She’s been cast in numerous SAG feature films, independent projects, industrials, spokesperson spots, and theatre, and also has experience directing, producing, and screenwriting.
Below are just a few of her favorite film projects and credits:
“She-Hulk: Marvel Limited Series” / Available 2022 on Disney+
“Don’t Tell A Soul” / AppleTV / AmazonPrime / Theatres Jan. 2021
“Wildfire: Episode 2, The Attempt” / AmazonPrime
“And Then I Go” / AmazonPrime
“Terror Trips” / Nightmares Film Fest / Distribution in 2022
“They/Them/Us” / Available end of 2021
She credits her success as a working actor to her knowledge of both sides of production as well as her ongoing training, having studied at the world renowned Second City in Chicago, the one and only Stella Adler Studio, and with distinguished acting coaches like Kirk Baltz, Silvana Gallardo, Lesli Surdi, James Whittington, Nancy C. Jones, fight masters K. Jenny Jones & Richard Ryan, and other talented mentors.
Learn more about Abi at www.AbigailEsmena.com
TRACY BEDFORD - DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Tracy is a nutrition educator for The Ohio State University. She has held health and wellness programs for diverse audiences throughout the city of Cincinnati for over a decade. And It’s only in the past few years that she began taking acting classes in her free time as a way to meet new and interesting people and build important skills. Continuing her journey with the talented coaches here at our studio, Tracy takes what she has learned from the acting process into other areas of life, including passion projects like podcasting, writing and teaching. Her purpose here at Audition Room 513, as Director of Operations, is to not only support the students who are part of our growing acting community but the staff that puts everything together to make it all work.
To contact Tracy and the team, email INFO@AuditionRoom513.com
ERIN BERRY - SAG-AFTRA Actor/Coach
Erin Berry is an actor, mother, and adventurer. After several years climbing the corporate ladder, she left for more creative pursuits in Los Angeles. There she started her acting training with respected coach, Aaron Speiser, who has coached successful actors Will Smith, Virginia Madsen, Gerard Butler, and Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) to name a few.
Erin studied improv at Second City Hollywood and was accepted into their Conservatory Program. Erin is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has been a principal actor in several commercials such as El Pollo Loco, eHarmony, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Mattel Toys. She has been in commercial print ads, and has been cast in several short films notably, Second Chance, which streamed on Hallmark’s, Feeln.com.
In addition to her own acting career, Erin has successfully launched and guided her daughter’s career, and coaches many of her auditions as well as being on set. Her daughter debuted as The Baby Bachelorette on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and has since co-starred on NCIS and Swamp Thing. Currently her daughter has a recurring role as Katie Townsend on Netflix’s hit show, Sweet Magnolias.
Erin loves to share her many years of experience navigating the entertainment industry with aspiring actors and their parents. She is excited to plant roots in Cincinnati and be a part of its blossoming film/tv community, and is excited to help actors shine!
JARED PETTIT - actor / writer / improv artist
Jared is an award-winning Screenwriter and Actor who hails from Cincinnati, OH, the birthplace of putting chili on your spaghetti.
He graduated with a Master’s degree from DePaul University in Screenwriting. As Jared was studying for his MFA, he also graduated from The Second City Training Center – Chicago and i.O. Chicago where he studied Improv, Acting and Sketch writing.
After Chicago, Jared took an internship in Los Angeles at Night and Day Pictures. In L.A., he played a 1970s Cop in Murder Book and was in the Rom-Com Accidental Engagement. Jared also performed, interned and took classes at Westside Comedy Theatre in Santa Monica.
Jared soon moved to New York City to pursue Acting. While there, Jared was accepted into The Barrow Group Acting Conservatory. Upon competition of the Barrow Group, Jared continued his study of Acting under Deena Levy. As a Founding Member of a sketch group The Salty Nuts, Jared continues to write, act and produce sketches. The Nuts perform regularly around NYC and were selected to perform in the “NYC Sketchfest”.
Jared acts, writes and produces his own content, many of which have gone onto place at festivals, like Filmmatic Comedy Screenplay Awards, Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards, the International Beverly Hills Film Festival, Intergalactic Film Festival, The Second City Seven Day Shorts Contest and many more.
You might recognize Jared from commercials such as Christ Hospital (Spine Patient), Louisville Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child “The Dark Mark” Ad campaign or maybe his nose, chin and arm from episode eight of the hit MTV show Teen Wolf.
Outside of acting and writing, Jared enjoys long walks on the beach. If you want to know anything else about him, free feel to ask!
Joe Sorzano - actor/voice & accent/dialect coach
Joe Sorzano has been a film industry professional for over 10 years. While he learned to Assistant Direct commercials, tv, and feature films, he started his career in theatre. In addition to being an AD, he is also an actor, voice actor and dialect coach. Doing silly voices and impressions got him an early start at 16 years old voicing Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors where he discovered his passion for voice work. He continued his vocal journey by studying accents from all over the world. He's always been a quick study when it comes to accents and loves to share his expertise while always seeking new accents to add to his repertoire and yours!
Oluchi nwokocha - actor / coach / writer / director
Oluchi is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Miami University of Ohio, where she teaches classes in Beginning Acting, Acting for the Camera, Musical Theatre, Auditions, and Scene Study. She earned her MFA in Acting from the University of Florida. Her background and training are in the Stanislavski acting Method, Chekhov, Uta Hagen and Arthur Lessac for Voice and Movement where she is currently training to become a certified Lessac teacher. She has lived and worked in New York City and Los Angeles.
A recent transplant from the Bay Area, Oluchi is a working actor, writer, and director. Last seen in Barbecue at the Human Race Theatre in Dayton. Previous credits include: Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play at Contemporary Theatre of Ohio (CATCO). Lights Up! 2021 at City Lights Theatre, Under Milk Wood at The Pear Theatre, Sappho at Cutting Ball Theatre, The Claim at Shotgun Players, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Marin Shakespeare Company, Macbeth at African-American Shakespeare, We are Proud to Present... at San Jose Stage.
She is excited to help you book whether it is an audition for college or grad school or for TV/Film.
