By Cristal Perriello

Students from Worcester and across Central Massachusetts often have to travel far to get formal acting training ~ but not anymore! Central Mass Dance Academy recently opened a brand new Actors Loft, a full scale acting school and vocal training facility located in the heart of Worcester’s Canal District.

“I aggressively pushed this project along as I believed that as an advocate of the arts, and Worcester, that Central Mass was seriously lacking a place for aspiring actors and singers to go where they could get some real serious professional training,” explains Anthony Vorres, director of the Actors Loft, Worcester native, and an experienced actor, writer, director and producer.

With two acting instructors (including Vorres), one vocal instructor and two crew production teachers, the Actors Loft will be offering a variety of classes including Acting for Beginners (Adults), Acting for Teens, Acting for Kids, Cold Read, Scene Study, Commercial/Monologue, Beginners Vocal, Advanced Vocal, Film Production, Film I and Film II. “While we pride ourselves on the fact that we offer the long time traditional coursework that many other schools offer, we are very excited to be offering them in a non-traditional and unconventional way,” says Vorres.

For example, Film I & Film II are about learning how to act specifically for film, how to hone the very special skills involved. “But why should we stop there?” asks Vorres. “Why can’t we take it one step further and take all of what the students have learned in class, and actually apply it in a hands-on environment.”

Now they offer a class that is all about making and starring in your very own short film. While Film I is all about learning the craft and studying film acting, Film II is all about actually going on location in and around the city and shooting a short film that all of the students actually star in and can use as a resume builder and footage for their reels!

They also have another unique class that merges actors and filmmakers. “In our film production class, we have actors learning how to act for TV and film and aspiring film students shoot them and learn what it takes to become a successful film director/crew member,” explains Vorres.

Another element that makes this school unique? “All of our classes take place in what is basically a plush live-in loft! Students study and train in a gorgeous space that overlooks not only the Canal District, but 290 and Worcester’s downtown skyline,” Vorres explains with pride in his voice.

If you need more arm twisting, twice a year (once in Los Angeles and once in New York City) there is a nationwide competition called IMTA (International Modeling and Talent Agency), an event at which a group of the biggest and best casting directors come together to watch students from schools all across the country as they compete in an acting/modeling competition. “The convention has discovered such people as Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel and Eva Longoria, says Vorres. “This year my students went out to LA and basically beat every other school in the country! They walked away with a total of 122 callbacks from agents and directors, 100 awards, and one of my students walked away with the coveted ACTOR OF THE YEAR award!”

If that’s not enough to sign up for a class, Vorres has some advice for aspiring actors: “Don’t allow yourself to get embarrassed by anything! Let go, have fun and don’t over think it. If you can find a way to work through the discomfort, the awkwardness and downright pain of it all, you can accomplish anything. Because once you beat embarrassment, really, what’s left to stop you?”

Vorres, who grew up and lives in Worcester, has also lived in LA ~ and has been acting since his late teens. He has starred in numerous independent and short films and is completing work on a film this year that he has written, directed and produced, titled One Cruel Day. He has also worked as the development coordinator and house manager of the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.