The Acting Studio

Joanna specializes in the Meisner “emotional honesty” approach to acting created by Sanford Meisner. The Meisner Technique focuses on the authentic expression of your in-the-moment experience.

Horton Actors Studio

Joanna founded Horton Actors Studio in 2009 in northeast Florida. HAS has provided training in the Meisner acting technique, as well as intro to acting, Shakespeare study, and youth classes. Learning the craft of acting is a difficult but rewarding personal journey in which students develop a reliable and consistent performance in roles. Joanna’s studio centers around commitment to learning the craft of acting, giving professional actors an intimate, focused space to develop familiarity with oneself as the instrument for acting. Class meets twice a week for 3 hours each with outside scene rehearsal and class preparation time. The rigor of the program arises from the “emotional honesty” approach that focuses on acting with honesty and authenticity. In addition to classes, HAS students have participated in award-winning film productions, agency representation, a screenwriting group, public events and festivals.

Joanna continues to offer clients private acting coaching, improvisation and public-speaking training.

Joanna as an Actor

Joanna began acting on stage at age 13 in Greek Myths & Fables. In high school, she joined a group touring schools to lead interactive theatre workshops about bullying, bias and discrimination. This would influence her entire career and the course of her life.

During her time at Vassar College, Joanna served in area schools and on the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Sioux reservation leading youth arts programs. As an actor, Joanna studied in New York City with Sally Johnson, at the Actors Workshop in Ithaca’s Meisner conservatory, and later in Los Angeles with Jen Krater. She also studied with Augusto Boal and Theatre of the Oppressed.

Joanna has appeared in many theatre productions, TV, film, and commercials. Notable roles include the leads in “Romeo & Juliet” and “Merry Wives of Windsor” and many independent film productions. Joanna co-founded and produced original web series, “Exposure” (scroll down for video).

Joanna’s Demo Reel

Honors

Awards include Best Director in the Maine One-Act Festival for stage production, “The Death of Trotsky.” Joanna received a “Best Actress” nomination in the 2011 Jacksonville 48-Hour Film Festival for “String ‘Em Up.” She co-produced & coached for in International Go-Green winner, “The Other Half” (screened at the Academy in Los Angeles), festival winner “Manifesto,” and International 48-Hour Film Festival Best Acting”-award winner, “Being Becca.”