MCA’s Emerging Artist Cohort
For college-level performing arts students, recent graduates, and early career artists.
The Cohort Explained
WHAT
We are thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new program designed for early career artists — MCA’s Emerging Artist Cohort!
This highly unique 9-month offering is specifically designed to support early career actors (ages 19-25) in their final years of undergraduate training or their initial post-graduate years. Through research and surveying of college-age and recent post-grad actors, we have identified the educational gaps in most BFA & BA college theatre programs, and have carefully crafted this Cohort to build a bridge between performing arts training programs and the business as it exists for actors today.
Designed for a group of 15 committed participants, MCA’s Emerging Artist Cohort combines monthly workshops led by expert guest artists, small group integration & discussion sessions, self-directed assignments, & guided prompts.
WHY
As any of our MCA alumni will tell you, our coaching team is fanatically passionate about helping young artists realize their dream of a career in the performing arts. And, as working professional artists ourselves, we know from experience just how difficult it is to navigate the early stages of an acting career, no matter how well your training program may have prepared you. After many years of running our student-favorite Business of Acting Intensive, we are delighted to expand to offering a full Cohort program. We’ve created this specific cohort model out of a strong belief that everything is easier when you go through it in community. Our aim is to empower young artists with vital knowledge, tools that will serve them for the rest of their careers, and a space to connect with a supportive community of peers as they navigate the challenges of forging their own unique paths in this ever shifting business.
The business of acting intensive is a must-do for any college student. It gives you all the fundamentals of the business that college doesn't give you, plus amazing resources. I now have a solid starting point and steps on how to start thinking about the business side.
— Mel, 2023 Biz of Acting Student
Class Structure + Topics
Monthly Full Group Session
The full Cohort (15 members) will meet for 90 minutes via Zoom on the first Sunday of the month from 6-7:30pm EST, for nine consecutive months (August ‘25 - April ‘26).
Each Full Group Session will focus on a different topic and will be formatted to include a presentation, Q+A, and group discussion.
Industry Guest Experts will join regularly to teach on Monthly Topics.
Small Group Sessions
Members will be divided into small groups (5 members), and meet with their small group once each month for a 60 minute integration and discussion session. These sessions will take place following that month’s Full Group Session & are an opportunity to dig deeper, discuss new questions or ideas that have come up, or to seek support and guidance on whatever professional challenges may arise. These small sessions will be facilitated by Cohort Leader, Erica Spyres.
Monthly Topics:
August 3rd: Professional Networking + Building Relationships Within the Industry
Taught by Erica Spyres (Broadway’’s Carousel, Paradise Square & First National Tour of Once)
September 7th: Agents + Representation
Taught by Matt Redmond (President & Senior Agent, DGRW Agency)
October 5th: Casting Directors + the Casting Process
Taught by Patrick Maravilla (Casting Director for ARC Casting)
November 2nd: Contracts + Unions
Taught by Erikka Makić (Broadway’s Once, HBO’s The Deuce, NBC’s New Amsterdam)
December 7th: On Camera
Taught by Emily Skeggs (Broadway’s Fun Home, Film/TV: Dinner In America, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Mile 22, When We Rise, Salem, Love You To Death)
January 4th: Voiceovers
Guest Expert(s) to be announced soon!
February 1st: Financial Literacy for Artists
Guest Expert(s) to be announced soon!
March 1st: Jobs, Side Gigs, + Paying the Bills as an Artist
Guest Expert(s) to be announced soon!
April 5th: Seeking Professional Work
Guest Expert(s) to be announced soon!
Scroll down to check out full faculty bios!
The amount of valuable information you'll get from this is indescribable. I feel so much more ready to tackle the real world of acting now that I have this information in my pocket!
— Ian, 2023 Biz of Acting Student
Meet Your Cohort Leader
Erica Spyres (she/her)
Erica is a Broadway actor who grew up singing and fiddling in the Ozarks. She made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award winning 2018 revival of Carousel as an ensemble member and an understudy, appearing in several performances as Julie Jordan and Carrie Pipperidge, and originated the role of Amelia Tiggens on Broadway in Paradise Square. Erica toured the US, Canada, and Japan with the Once First National Tour and spent two months in Paris performing in Sondheim’s Passion at the Theatre du Chatelet under the baton of Andy Einhorn. She has worked in plays and musicals Off-Broadway and in regional theaters including Berkeley Rep, Kansas City Rep, Ogunquit Playhouse, Bay Street Theatre, The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, SpeakEasy Stage, Ozarks Lyric Opera, and more. She directed Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince for Ozarks Lyric Opera and her cinematic cabaret Daydreamer’s Carnival for the Lyric Stage Company of Boston.
Erica has been a soloist with The Boston Pops, for Sondheim Unplugged at 54 Below, Arizona MusicFest, Springfield Symphony, Midland Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Topeka Symphony, and recorded with several bands in the NYC area. She received her BA in Vocal Performance from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri and feels confident in telling you that a non-traditional path can lead you to a successful career in performance!
Hearing from such an accomplished and eloquent group of professionals provided incredibly valuable insight into what a future in theatre will entail and how best to prepare for entrance to the industry. This Business of Acting Intensive is so worth it!!
— Quynh, 2023 Biz of Acting Student
Meet Your Guest Experts
Growing into a thoughtful, successful, happy working artist truly takes a village. We’ve assembled a team of teaching artists who deeply share that belief, and are passionate about supporting the next generation of theatremakers by sharing their firsthand experience & perspective. We’ve collaborated with a diverse array of guest artists working at the top of their fields, who are excited to pass on their knowledge and engage in a meaningful dialogue about today’s industry and where theatre is headed.
See our current lineup of Guest Experts below + stay tuned for additional announcements coming soon!
Matt Redmond (he/him)
President, Senior Agent | DGRW Agency
Learn More
Emily Skeggs (she/they)
Actor | Singer | Voiceover Artist
FILM: Dinner In America, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Mile 22
TV: When We Rise, Salem, Love You To Death
Broadway: Fun Home (Tony Award Nomination)
Learn More
Patrick Maravilla (he/him)
Casting Director, Theatrical | ARC Casting
Learn More
…More Guest Experts to be announced soon!
Erikka Makić (she/her)
Actor | Multi-Instrumentalist | Singer
TV: The Equalizer, The Deuce, New Amsterdam
Broadway: Once
Learn More
As a college senior who is about to enter the industry, this workshop helped bridge the gaps in my college education about the business side of things in this profession. All of the coaches were very helpful in answering all of my questions. I learned a lot, and I feel more ready to enter this industry!
— Ellie, 2023 Biz of Acting Student
Duration, Schedule, + Cost
Duration:
August 2025 - April 2026
Schedule:
Monthly Full Group Sessions will occur on the first Sunday of the month from 7-8:30pm EST. Small Group Meetings (60 minutes) will occur on subsequent Sunday or Monday evenings, depending on the preference and availability of the small group members (a poll will be taken upon Cohort acceptance to accomodate participants’ schedules). All Cohort meetings will take place virtually via Zoom.
Cost:
Early Bird (apply by June 27th): $799
Standard: $849
Payment Options:
We are happy to offer flexible payment options.
Upon acceptance, students may pay full tuition or finance through monthly recurring payments.
“I absolutely loved the intensive. I got such great insight on the industry! I finally feel like I have some direction on how to navigate this crazy but exciting world! “
— Abby, 2021 Biz of Acting Student
How to Apply
How to Apply
Participation in MCA’s Emerging Artist Cohort is by application only. Admission is selective and will be limited to 15 artists.
Application Requirements
1) Headshot + Resume
2) Statement of Purpose answering one or both of the following questions. Statements may be written (300 words maximum) or or recorded (3 minutes maximum).
— What do you see as the value of this program and what are you hoping to get out of it?
— What excites you about the group learning cohort model?
Deadline to Apply
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
The final deadline to apply is July 20th, 2025.
I booked my first professional show after this! This workshop gave me the confidence to really commit and focus without distraction. The entire intensive was just incredibly helpful. I'm so grateful that all of the teachers were willing to take time out of their busy lives to share and talk honestly with us."
— Adlin, 2022 Biz of Acting Student
FAQ
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Early career actors (ages 19-25) in their final years of undergraduate training or their initial post-graduate years.
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Throughout the 9-month Cohort program, both Guest Expert faculty & the Cohort Leader will assign actionable “homework” related to that month’s topic, designed to give students a chance to put the teachings into practice and come to their Small Group Session with good questions and conversation points.
Each month, journaling prompts, supplemental material, and additional resources will also be offered, with the goal of supporting students of all learning styles and career stages with useful tools as they integrate that month’s content and apply it to their own lives & work.
These assignments are optional (not required!), and students are encouraged to explore these supplemental materials as much as their interest and/or schedule allows. We have intentionally designed the time spent outside of the two monthly group sessions to be extremely customizable from month to month, depending on how busy a student is with other commitments at any given time. -
In an ever-changing industry that is constantly throwing new curveballs and obstacles at artists, our goal with MCA’s Emerging Artist Cohort is to help guide and support young actors as they find their own unique voice and develop a meaningful, rewarding, sustainable career. The initial years of a professional performing career are rarely easy or straightforward, but by connecting participants with a network of inspiring, diverse, insightful teaching artists who are working at the top of their field, we hope to leave each Cohort member with newfound confidence, self-discovery, and sense of direction as they continue their journey toward a fulfilling career in the arts and shape the future of our industry.
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All Full Group Cohort sessions will be recorded and made available for asynchronous viewing!
Small Group sessions will be held at various times throughout the month (based on Cohort member availability). Students are encouraged to join the Small Group session that works best for them each month! -
Due to the selective admission and limited capacity spots for MCA’s Emerging Artist Cohort, tuition is non-refundable. Exceptions may be made for extreme circumstances and will be determined on a case by case basis.
Such an intense and beneficial program! They cover everything about an acting career from professional, student, and coaching perspectives. It was a perfect opportunity to ask all the questions and concerns I had to the people I trust!
— Tina, 2022 Biz of Acting Student