Margie’s Team
Courtney Burr
Courtney Burr is currently in his twelfth year at the Margie Haber Studios. He has taught in Europe as well as in New York and Los Angeles. He was voted one of LA’s favorite teachers/coaches in the 2007 Backstage Reader’s Choice Awards.
You have seen his clients in numerous many popular television shows and films including the Academy Award & Spirit Award nominee for “The Visitor,” “Beverly Hills, 90210″, “Mental”, “Nurse Jackie”, “Make It Or Break It”, “All My Children”, “The Bold & The Beautiful”, “CSI: NY,” “The Closer,” “Will & Grace, “ “Dexter,” “The Riches,” “Close To Home,” “King of Queens,” “My Name Is Earl,” “JAG,” “NYPD Blue, “ ”Veronica Mars.”
Mr. Burr started in the entertainment business as an actor, studying at New York’s Circle in the Square and also with the renowned Herbert Berghoff. He starred in the original cast of Tennessee William’s Kingdom of Earth, Sal Mineo’s production of Fortune and Men’s Eyes, The Elephant Man, as Alan Strange in Equus, and Noel Coward’s Hayfever, among many others. His television roles included Joe Kennedy, Jr. in the mini-series “Robert Kennedy: His Life and Times,” as well as appearances on popular shows like “Murder She Wrote,” “Remington Steele,” “Benson, “ “The American Times,” etc.
Courtney is also an accomplished producer and director. His first Broadway production was The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds starring Shelley Winters and Carole Kane. A few years later, he co-produced Harold and Maude starring first-time Academy Award winner Janet Gaynor. Mr. Burr subsequently directed Ms. Gaynor in the play On Golden Pond, Keir Dullea in Deathcap, and Chazz Plaminteri in Lou Gehrig Did Not Die of Cancer. In Los Angeles, he produced the award-winning productions of David Berry’s G.R. Point, Tennessee Williams’ Kingdom of Earth, and Lee Blessing’s Fortinbras.
Eden Harman Bernardy
Eden Harman Bernardy has been coaching professionally for more than twenty- five years, and feels that without a doubt, working with Margie Haber has transformed her understanding of the actor’s process and the importance of “living the life” with courage and imagination. Having worked with actors in Academy Award winning films, as well as a wide array of television shows including; “Treme”, “The West Wing”, “The Wire”, “Frazier,” “Friends,” “Seinfeld”, “NYPD Blue”, “General Hospital,” “All My Children,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “CSI, Vegas”, “House”, “Off the Map”, “Brothers & Sisters”, and more… she deeply appreciates the power of “living the life” as opposed to “playing the scene.”
In addition to working with renowned teachers Estelle Harman, Stella Adler, Sandford Meisner, Jose Quintero, Roy London, Uta Hagen, Jeff Corey, and Larry Moss, Eden served as the Artistic Director of Avenue Theatre in Los Angeles for more than two decades, overseeing dozens of critically acclaimed productions.
As Director of Development for Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment she has worked with the many of the industry’s finest writers, directors and producers, gaining insights from Clint Eastwood, David Fincher, Mike Nichols, Ntozake Shange, Jon Robin Baitz, John Logan, and so many more. A working screenwriter, Eden is known for creating complex characters, compelling dialogue, and as Lori McCreary
(CEO – Revelations Entertainment) points out, “…she has astonishing story sense.”
Eden combines her deep respect for actors with a rich understanding of the writer-director-producer perspective. Whether helping a writer create “organic moments” or and actor find “a core connection” her approach is the same. “Be bold. Trust yourself. Trust the story.”
Zak Barnett
Zak Barnett wrote, directed, and acted in his first play when he was sixteen and has been working in stage and film ever since. While working as an actor on various film and theater projects, Zak Co-Founded and served as Artistic Director of the experimental theater company “Ghosttown,” for which he won numerous grants and awards.
Zak Co-Founded and served as Chair for the Experimental Performance Institute (EPI) at New College of California where he taught acting, directing, writing, career development, and interdisciplinary performance.
Recently, Zak finished Co-Directing, Co-Writing, Co-Editing and Starring in the feature film Less. He is currently in development for his second feature with a major independent film production company.
Zak studied at NYU-Tisch School of the Arts, the American Conservatory Theater, The Actors Center NY, New College of California, and San Francisco State University, earning both Bachelor’s and Master of Fine Arts degrees in Playwriting and Acting.
Zak is new to Margie Haber Studios, but studied under Margie for several years and has trained extensively to teach the Haber Audition Technique. We are excited to share his talent and welcome him aboard.
Barbara Gannen
Barbara Gannen teaches at the renowned Margie Haber Studio and is a Professor at Santa Monica College. Barbara has a B.F.A. in Theater Arts from Ithaca College and an M.A. from Hunter College where she honed her directorial skills under the tutelage of Harold Clurman of the Group Theater. Barbara has worked as an actress, director, teacher, and acting coach in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Her work with actress Nicolette Sheridan earned Ms. Sheridan an Emmy nomination.
In addition to her artistic and teaching endeavors, Barbara was the VP of Development for Bette Midler during which time the film “BEACHES” was developed.
Barbara has been a guest lecturer at AFI, USC, and UCLA’s graduate Writing and Directing programs and a guest artist for AFTRA and SAG Conservatory Seminars. Last fall Barbara directed John Pollono’s “THICKER THAN WATER” to critical acclaim. It was the LA Weekly’s pick of the week.
In 2008, Barbara was honored by Women in Theater for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts.
John Rushing
John Rushing is an actor from Chicago who trained in the Meisner method and has studied Viewpoints and Suzuki with the SITI company. John has been thrilled to work with Margie and can honestly say that her approach has revoloutionized his work and understanding of what it means to “Live the Life.”
John has appeared in numerous national commercials and films. He’s worked in some of Chicago and Los Angeles’ most prestigious theatres, including the Tony award-winning Victory Gardens, The Geffen Playhouse, and Chicago Dramatists. Some theatre credits include The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (original cast), Kingsville (original cast), Equus, and The Love of the Nightingale.
John is also a producer of independent films. When he’s not working on his craft or producing movies, he prays for a winning season for his beloved Cubs.
Tim Powell
Tim Powell has been a professional actor since 1981. Tim has landed supporting and lead roles in more than 30 feature films, and Co-starring and Guest-starring roles in scores of network and nationally syndicated television shows, dozens of national and regional commercials, and hundreds of voice-overs. He has made his living as an actor, a voice-over artist, in live industrial promotions, industrial video productions, and as an on-camera guest-host for a variety of clients on HSN and QVC.
After completion of BA degrees in Theatre and English, and his MFA Graduate studies, Tim spent several years producing and executing direct marketing promotional programs for Fortune 500 companies through a variety of NY based advertising agencies.
(Playboy Enterprises, College Marketing Research, Taylor-Shain, and others.)
After four years acting with Nashville-based Tennessee Repertory Company, Tim relocated to Orlando in 1988 to pursue various on-camera acting opportunities, and in June of 2001, founded Bark at the Dog Productions, Inc., a production company which specializes in interactive web-delivered direct marketing products, Infomercials, industrial voice-overs, and digital video productions. In association with other industry professionals, Tim has produced successful voice-over and on-camera commercial acting workshops in various locations throughout the southeast. In 2011, Bark moved to Los Angeles and became “Barq West, Inc.”
Tim continues to work in front of the camera and behind the mic whenever possible, with recent bookings on LA-Based “Criminal Minds”, and Director Kerry Tribes’ ingenious film There Will Be…
Tim delivers real-world expertise in blending the often disparate worlds of art, craft and commerce that enable actors to make acting their career, and with the innovative approach of the amazing Margie Haber Technique promises to bring a new paradigm to the approach to commercial material.
Robin Dale Meyers
Robin’s innate interest in human behavior led her to a B.A. in Psychology and minor in Theater, sparking a dual life path as an actress and teacher. The natural bond between the two fueled her work in both areas.
As a 20-year veteran of the stage, screen, TV and web, Robin trained at The New Actor’s Workshop, The School for Film & Television, Sally Johnson Studios, iO West and the Groundlings. As an improviser, Robin co-founded three NY-based groups and performed throughout the NY-CT-MA circuit. Recent credits include “The Office,” “Criminal Minds,” “Without A Trace,” and commercials for Home Depot and Buick.
Awards include a 2005 Best Actress Award (NJ Film Festival) for her work in the festival darling, “Duck, Duck, Goose!” and a 2010 Best Actress Award (LA Web Fest) for her role in the critically acclaimed web series, “The Real Girl’s Guide To Everything Else.”
As a teacher and mentor, Robin has taught acting/improv to children and teens throughout the Tri-State area and Los Angeles. In 2011, she co-created and taught a year-long program focused on empowering students through drama & improv games. Through compassion, attentiveness and keen guidance, she’s dedicated to creating a safe, fun space where students from 7 to 70 can truly explore and grow.
Robin’s work with Margie Haber confirms what she has experienced as a teacher, student and artist; as an actress builds creative confidence, she enriches every part of her daily life as well.