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Celebrating
25+ Years!!
NEW 6-Week
Workshops!!
Highly Experienced
We specialize in acting classes and workshops that prepare you for professional auditions and roles in TV, film, commercials and theatre. Training includes acting technique, scene study, script analysis, improv, cold readings, monologues and more! Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced students can study with Nick Conti, a professional acting instructor with over 40 years of experience.
Nick Conti has been a working actor and teacher for over 40 years.
Having been a member of Actor’s Equity, SAG and AFTRA, Nick Conti has starred on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional, Stock and Repertory Theater. Mr. Conti has guest starred with Margo Kidder in The Shell Game, Bruce Glover in The Killing Time, Tony Randall in Love Sidney, Jack Warden in Night and Day,Cagney and Lacey, The New Love American Style, and series regulars on The Edge of Night and Search for Tomorrow. He has also worked in over 75 other stage, film and television projects. Most recently, he has guest starred at the Tyler Perry Studios on the TV series If Loving You is Wrong.
A well respected voice-over and looping actor, Mr. Conti’s voices can be heard in the feature films Mobsters, RoboCop 2 and 3,Look Who’s Talking Now, The Last Seduction, Bad Boys, The Hit Man, Misfits of Science, The Frank Sinatra Mini-Seriesand many others.
Having worked and taught in both New York and Hollywood, Mr. Conti has enjoyed working and sharing his skills with the Atlanta Talent for many years. Mr. Conti is the primary reason why the Professional Actor’s Studio is the leader among Atlanta’s acting schools.
Nick Conti
Acting Instructor and Tactical Combat and Firearms Instructor
Scott has been a professionally trained actor for over 25 years and has been featured in numerous films, commercials and TV shows. He’s also served as technical firearms and law-enforcement adviser for numerous shows. Scott is repped by Houghton talent.
A professionally trained actor in the Meisner, Stanislavski and Chubbuck techniques; he studied Theater and Stage Combat at Kennesaw State and attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, CA.
He has a law-enforcement career that spans two states and 11 years; he owns his own fugitive recovery business, serving bonding companies, law firms, and local authorities in Cobb, Fulton, Paulding, DeKalb, Cherokee and Bartow Counties. Scott is certified in stage combat, close-quarter combat, pain compliance, tactical take-downs, taser, collapsible baton use, handcuffing and tactical combat shooting.
Currently Scott is busy shooting several film and TV projects here in Atlanta as well as in North Carolina. He is a teacher for the adult beginners and intermediate acting classes here at the Professional Actor’s Studio, and is proud to be the instructor of the A.A.T.T. (Actors Acting Tactical Training)—the Studio’s first Tactical Combat and Firearms course.
Scott Oakley
Jeff Cole is a professional actor with over 25 years experience. He is a transplant from Los Angeles. During his time in Los Angeles, Jeff was blessed to be accepted as a lifetime member of The Actor’s Studio and has had classical conservatory training as well as professional Improv ensemble work.
Jeff has been privileged to work with and learn from such greats as DUSTIN HOFFMAN, AL PACINO AND MARTIN LANDAU. He recently starred in THE HATE U GIVE, YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE and STEP UP HIGHWATER. He has also been seen on such shows as GREY’S ANATOMY and DOLLHOUSE as well as many other TV shows and feature films.
Jeff is a veteran of the stage and was a founding member of the prestigious improv ensemble RED HEADED STEP CHILD. Jeff performed hundreds of improv shows over 4 years in the ensemble. He is passionate about the craft of acting and looks forward to sharing it with his classes here at the Professional Actors Studio.
Jeff Cole
Shanessa Sweeney
Shanessa Sweeney has been a professional actor, writer and spoken word artist for over 20 years. She started her career at Alabama State University where she earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts as a feature performer in The Slaves No More Troupe and going on to be a featured character in the movie Rustin, starring rock legend Meatloaf and Zachary Ty Bryant (Home Improvement). Her training at A.S.U. comprised of Frank Silvera and Vantile Whitfield’s method of Being.
Shanessa has been seen in national commercials for Roto-Rooter and Native Deodorant as well as Western and Southern and Lazy Boy Furniture. Her recent television credits include, $1 (CBS All Access), Mindhunter (Netflix), and as the nurse Janet in Netflix’s film Point Blank starring Anthony Mackie (The Avengers) and Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock and Code Black).
Shanessa is a published writer and was a commissioned and featured poet in “Ritualistas”, a Green Show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She is the first winner of the Last Poet Standing competition in Ohio and her original monologue, “36146 and Juanice” is published in the monologue book, New Monologues for Women by Women II. . Shanessa became a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild in 2018 and is currently represented by PCG Talent.
Rachel O’Hara has been an actress and teacher for several years. She was trained at the American Academy of dramatic arts, and with Stuart Metzler, Jennifer Rodriguez, Susan Blackwell and playwright Michael McKeever.
She is trained in Meisner, method and Stanislavsky. Rachel is represented bi- coastal with one of the sag franchised talent agencies here in Atlanta.
Rachel has worked professionally in television, film and theater. She had taught kids and teens for 5 years and we are excited to have her as a part of our team here at the professional actors studio.
Rachel’s film and television credits include a handful of independent films and festival circuit shorts. She’s currently a SAG eligible actor signed with one of the top agencies in Atlanta. She loves the craft of acting and is so lucky to be able to work with people who share that same passion.
Rachel O'Hara
Jeff Pack teaches our improv at The Professional Actor’s Studio. He studied improv at The Upright Citizens Brigade in Hollywood, CA and at Westside Comedy Theatre in West Los Angeles. He completed the Dad’s Garage and Whole World Theatre improv programs in Atlanta, GA. He was a founding member of the improv troupe Playing in Traffic.
Jeff is an actor who has been in over 40 independent films such as Lynch Mob and The Locator which were both sold to Netflix. He taught acting for film and stage combat at the Georgia Ensemble Theatre. He began studying at The Professional Actor’s Studio under Nick Conti in 2003.
JD Ferrantino
JD has been an actor and teacher for over 35 years! He has co-starred on Law and Order for NBC, The Closer With Tom Sellect on CBS, The Equalizer on CBS, along with contract roles on All My Children for ABC. He also worked as principals on Another World, One Life to Live, and General Hospital.
In film and stage, JD has worked with Al Pacino in Frankie and Johnny, Cookie with Peter Falk, and Hot Shot for 20th Century Fox. He did Rasputin at the prestigious Actors Studio in NYC, Hatful of Rain at La mama in NYC, and several others including Lo and Behold at the Granada Theatre, Once Upon a Family and Pelleas and Me’Lisande.
JD Has studied with some of the legendary teachers, including the Academy Award Winner Estelle Parsons, Julie Bavasso and Ron Sossi of the Odyssey Theatre.
The Professional Actor’s Studio is Excited to welcome JD as the newest member to our family of teachers!
Scott Oakley
Acting Instructor and Tactical Combat and Firearms Instructor Scott has been a professionally trained actor for over 25 years and has been featured in numerous films, commercials and TV shows. He’s also served as technical firearms and law-enforcement adviser for numerous shows. Scott is repped by Houghton talent.A professionally trained actor in the Meisner, Stanislavski and Chubbuck techniques; he studied Theater and Stage Combat at Kennesaw State and attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, CA.He has a law-enforcement career that spans two states and 11 years; he owns his own fugitive recovery business, serving bonding companies, law firms, and local authorities in Cobb, Fulton, Paulding, DeKalb, Cherokee and Bartow Counties. Scott is certified in stage combat, close-quarter combat, pain compliance, tactical take-downs, taser, collapsible baton use, handcuffing and tactical combat shooting.Currently Scott is busy shooting several film and TV projects here in Atlanta as well as in North Carolina. He is a teacher for the adult beginners and intermediate acting classes here at the Professional Actor’s Studio, and is proud to be the instructor of the A.A.T.T. (Actors Acting Tactical Training)—the Studio’s first Tactical Combat and Firearms course.
Jeff Cole
Jeff Cole is a professional actor with over 25 years experience. He is a transplant from Los Angeles. During his time in Los Angeles, Jeff was blessed to be accepted as a lifetime member of The Actor’s Studio and has had classical conservatory training as well as professional Improv ensemble work.Jeff has been privileged to work with and learn from such greats as DUSTIN HOFFMAN, AL PACINO AND MARTIN LANDAU. He recently starred in THE HATE U GIVE, YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE and STEP UP HIGHWATER. He has also been seen on such shows as GREY’S ANATOMY and DOLLHOUSE as well as many other TV shows and feature films.Jeff is a veteran of the stage and was a founding member of the prestigious improv ensemble RED HEADED STEP CHILD. Jeff performed hundreds of improv shows over 4 years in the ensemble. He is passionate about the craft of acting and looks forward to sharing it with his classes here at the Professional Actors Studio.
Shanessa Sweeney
Shanessa Sweeney has been a professional actor, writer and spoken word artist for over 20 years. She started her career at Alabama State University where she earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts as a feature performer in The Slaves No More Troupe and going on to be a featured character in the movie Rustin, starring rock legend Meatloaf and Zachary Ty Bryant (Home Improvement). Her training at A.S.U. comprised of Frank Silvera and Vantile Whitfield’s method of Being. Shanessa has been seen in national commercials for Roto-Rooter and Native Deodorant as well as Western and Southern and Lazy Boy Furniture. Her recent television credits include, $1 (CBS All Access), Mindhunter (Netflix), and as the nurse Janet in Netflix’s film Point Blank starring Anthony Mackie (The Avengers) and Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock and Code Black).Shanessa is a published writer and was a commissioned and featured poet in “Ritualistas”, a Green Show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She is the first winner of the Last Poet Standing competition in Ohio and her original monologue, “36146 and Juanice” is published in the monologue book, New Monologues for Women by Women II. . Shanessa became a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild in 2018 and is currently represented by PCG Talent.
Rachel O'Hara
Rachel O’Hara has been an actress and teacher for several years. She was trained at the American Academy of dramatic arts, and with Stuart Metzler, Jennifer Rodriguez, Susan Blackwell and playwright Michael McKeever.
She is trained in Meisner, method and Stanislavsky. Rachel is represented bi- coastal with one of the sag franchised talent agencies here in Atlanta.
Rachel has worked professionally in television, film and theater. She had taught kids and teens for 5 years and we are excited to have her as a part of our team here at the professional actors studio.
Rachel’s film and television credits include a handful of independent films and festival circuit shorts. She’s currently a SAG eligible actor signed with one of the top agencies in Atlanta. She loves the craft of acting and is so lucky to be able to work with people who share that same passion.
Jeff Pack
Jeff Pack teaches our improv at The Professional Actor’s Studio. He studied improv at The Upright Citizens Brigade in Hollywood, CA and at Westside Comedy Theatre in West Los Angeles. He completed the Dad’s Garage and Whole World Theatre improv programs in Atlanta, GA. He was a founding member of the improv troupe Playing in Traffic.
Jeff is an actor who has been in over 40 independent films such as Lynch Mob and The Locator which were both sold to Netflix. He taught acting for film and stage combat at the Georgia Ensemble Theatre. He began studying at The Professional Actor’s Studio under Nick Conti in 2003.
JD Ferrantino
JD has been an actor and teacher for over 35 years! He has co-starred on Law and Order for NBC, The Closer With Tom Sellect on CBS, The Equalizer on CBS, along with contract roles on All My Children for ABC. He also worked as principals on Another World, One Life to Live, and General Hospital.In film and stage, JD has worked with Al Pacino in Frankie and Johnny, Cookie with Peter Falk, and Hot Shot for 20th Century Fox. He did Rasputin at the prestigious Actors Studio in NYC, Hatful of Rain at La mama in NYC, and several others including Lo and Behold at the Granada Theatre, Once Upon a Family and Pelleas and Me’Lisande.JD Has studied with some of the legendary teachers, including the Academy Award Winner Estelle Parsons, Julie Bavasso and Ron Sossi of the Odyssey Theatre.The Professional Actor’s Studio is Excited to welcome JD as the newest member to our family of teachers!
Nick Conti
Nick Conti has been a working actor and teacher for over 40 years.
Having been a member of Actor’s Equity, SAG and AFTRA, Nick Conti has starred on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional, Stock and Repertory Theater. Mr. Conti has guest starred with Margo Kidder in The Shell Game, Bruce Glover in The Killing Time, Tony Randall in Love Sidney, Jack Warden in Night and Day,Cagney and Lacey, The New Love American Style, and series regulars on The Edge of Night and Search for Tomorrow. He has also worked in over 75 other stage, film and television projects. Most recently, he has guest starred at the Tyler Perry Studios on the TV series If Loving You is Wrong.
A well respected voice-over and looping actor, Mr. Conti’s voices can be heard in the feature films Mobsters, RoboCop 2 and 3,Look Who’s Talking Now, The Last Seduction, Bad Boys, The Hit Man, Misfits of Science, The Frank Sinatra Mini-Seriesand many others.
Having worked and taught in both New York and Hollywood, Mr. Conti has enjoyed working and sharing his skills with the Atlanta Talent for many years. Mr. Conti is the primary reason why the Professional Actor’s Studio is the leader among Atlanta’s acting schools.
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