About Laura

Laura Henry has been teaching the Meisner technique since 1985. She was trained to teach under Kathryn Gately, she was a faculty member of The Gately/Poole Acting Studio on Theater Row in NYC where she taught for seven years.

In 1992, Laura moved West and opened her two-year conservatory Meisner Training program in Los Angeles. During these years in Los Angeles, Laura also directed theater and her school's yearly graduate showcase. Her L.A. theatre directing credits include Raft of Medusa, Shift, at the L.A. Theater Festival under Peter Sellers, and An Evening With Malcolm Boyd, among others. She was also a resident director at Incline, the theatre company.

In 2003, Laura was hired by Gerald Freedman, Dean of Drama at The University of North Carolina School of The Arts. There, she taught Meisner technique to juniors and seniors, as well as acting, Shakespeare, and audition technique. Laura directed main stage productions every term, and directed the UNCSA graduate showcases in Los Angeles and New York. She was full time at UNCSA until 2011.

Since closing her conservatory program, Laura has developed and taught seven week intensive sessions—for all her classes—in both New York and Los Angeles. She is also available for private coaching and script consulting in both cities and remotely. 

I have not encountered any other teacher who understands acting and drama as completely as Laura. She is vigorous, challenging and inspiring. Her powers of concentration are phenomenal. She has the patience to pay attention to the smallest moment, work on it carefully and lead you to a revelation of deeper meanings.

-Jim Stewart, Editor
Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Monsters, Inc, City on a Hill, Chicago Hope