Experienced tutor in Acting in Oakland, Michael offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Michael is a phenomenal acting teacher. I can't tell you how much I learned about acting from Michael. He is patient, kind, and positive but always comes up with exercises and ideas to enhance your performance and those around you. He gears his approach to each actor individually based on their experience and existing skill.

I have taken several acting classes with Michael. Michael is just brilliant! One of the best.

What stands out for me at first thought is Michaels infectious enthusiasm and devotion to bringing out the best in his students. He worked hard to find scenes to work with that would push a student to stretch past what one thought was ones range and found ways to help that person cross the threshold. Whether I was the actor in question, or observing him work with someone else, I was learning and marveling all at once. His combination of encouragement and challenge certainly moved my acting to deepen and I watched as others responded similarly. It's been several years since I've been in his classes and I still am nostalgic and grateful for his influence on me. i would recommend him wholeheartedly.

Michael French is a first class teacher, director and actor. Taking a class from him changed my approach to acting -- for the better of course. He digs deeply into character and motivation, as well as physicality, and combines elements from method acting with more traditional approaches, and is always willing to experiment. Above all he stresses honesty and integrity. His enthusiasm is infectious; he is a very hard worker and expects the same of students but is kind and sympathetic too -- with a great sense of humor..

Michael is an attentive and observant director, able to coach students toward their strengths and zero in on areas for growth while encouraging exploration in a supportive environment. His love for the craft shows in his patience and thoughtfulness, and his ability to work with actors at any level makes him an accessible educator and mentor. His warmth and humor make him a trusted adviser and someone students are excited to work with again and again.

You want to own a character on stage? Go learn from Michael. He is one of the most insightful, passionate, and caring teachers and directors I have worked with. He loves his craft and he knows how to get you to understand the intricacies of the character you are portraying. I had the pleasure to work with him over the span of 6 months at the Speakeasy of San Francisco and each of our encounters was a fresh learning experience. Totally recommended!!!

Michael directed a play I was in a couple of years ago and it was a wonderful experience. No question that Michael is an actor's director of the highest magnitude. He doesn't get all caught up in the production or technical elements of the play. He focuses on the story being told and helping his actors tell the story as genuinely as possible. He will take as much time as is needed to help an actor figure out what they are trying to do in a scene, what their relationship is to the other characters, and how to build a story and character arc that will leave the audience feeling they have seen something special. Unlike some directors that are more into the technical aspects of a performance, Michael can sit there for hours and talk with you about backstory, relationship, "stakes", etc. As an actor, I would say that my experience with Michael as a director was as satisfying as I have ever had (and our show was pretty good, too). I would be very happy to be able to work with him any time.

Michael was my director for Other Desert Cities two years ago. He was thoughtful, passionate, and resourceful. He was always professional and he was penetrating as well. I didn't have as much experience as the other actors. With Michael's guidance I found that didn't matter and we still managed to put on a quality show. Michael has a good eye for quality and his encouraging and discerning attitude makes him an excellent acting teacher.

Michael is amazing! I have taken several classes from Michael and would recommend him highly. His teaching includes exercises that give you insights into your character and provides opportunities to try them out. He has an almost magical ability to give each person exactly the right part, so that they experience success in that part while having the opportunity to stretch. He encourages you to try out new ideas that can bring a character to life. It is evident that he puts a lot of time and thought into preparing for each session. His feedback is supportive and insightful. There has always been a waiting list for his classes, so sign up quickly!