Master Classes

“Janet Foster has been an inspiration for the Fordham Theatre students.  Her amazing work with actors stems from her gifts, which include her eye for talent, her ability to nurture that talent and bring it to the surface, her instinct for strong material, her work  ethic that causes her to always give more than expected, and her large community of friends in the professional community who seem willing to do anything for her.  We are so proud that Janet is a member of our faculty.” – Matthew Maguire, Director, Theatre Program, Fordham University

What started out as a yearly visit to the Playwrights Horizons Wing at New York University has expanded to master classes for BFA & MFA programs at Rutgers University, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the University of Texas-Austin, and other prestigious Fine Arts schools over the years.  She is now in her third year as an adjunct at Fordham University.

Mark Schlegel, a talent agent for Cornerstone Talent, and I have been taking our “dog and pony show” on the road for more than 15 years as well as working solo.  Seminars range from one-day clinics to weekend-long workshops in which we explain the nuts and bolts of the business, including:

• The difference between and agent and a manager.
• What constitutes a good headshot and resume.
• Assessing talent from the viewpoint of an agent and of a casting director.

We bring a general understanding of what the world is like once a student leaves school.

“Janet demystifies the industry, offers career insights and gives personal feedback to our students in a straight-shooting way that takes years off their learning curve.  With her guidance, they enter the business of acting with more confidence, clarity and focus.  Any actor who is lucky enough to study with Janet, is lucky indeed.” – Beth Wicke, Rutgers University