Cincinnati Actors Studio - Cincinnati, Ohio

royshunta

I have always held aspirations and dreams of becoming an actress, and due to the limited choices of acting instruction in Cincinnati, and I decided to give Cincinnati Actors Studio and Steve Francia another chance despite my first run not going so well in 2020.
Steve promotes himself as being culturally competent, but my experiences here in both instances have led me to believe this is not necessarily the case. Steve had portray “joy” during an exercise. I chose to dance as an expression of my joy. Steve proceeded to tell me that dancing doesn’t convey “joy”. In my culture, joy is often conveyed through families and others dancing together. As I tried to explain this to him, he still did not agree.
I tried again in 2025 because things can change but, it didn’t. I had a scene where I had to do CPR on a moving boat. I was told that I was doing it wrong because he is certified in CPR. I am certified as a Paramedic and have unfortunately had to perform CPR in numerous situations that require you to modify the way it is done. This can be due to hoarding situations, environmental concerns, or crowd control. It’s not always going to look pretty because every situation is different. There are differences in a controlled environment versus uncontrolled environment. At the end of class, he told me to stop trying to be cool because of my creative choices in using real life situations to portray a scene.
The next class which was in February which was “love month” which was my best class so far. After class Steve gave me props on it being my best class in front of the class. Steve stated “I did a great job being vulnerable and he talked to me about being “an angry black woman” last class. I was taken back by the comment especially because that was never a conversation we had. If Steve was as culturally competent as he states, he would know of the negative connotations this has with African American women. I didn’t say anything right away as I was actually trying to process how to deal with it.
It continued to bother me, so I waited till I was able to tell Steve face to face how it affected me. When I brought it to Steve’s attention, he instantly became apologetic, and then proceeded to try to deflect and explain himself. The moment you say “but” in an apology, it becomes an attempt at a justification. Steve said to me “but everyone else in the class agrees with me, they come up to me saying it”. I asked “how is this the case when I have never played an angry role and I’m always ready, willing, able to do whatever anyone suggests. He proceeded to say “yea I apologize, after I said I was like why did I say that, I shouldn’t have said that or pulled you to the side”. He then goes on to say “hey don’t worry about it I get calls and people coming up to me how they want to work with you, that’s the biggest compliment”. The issue that I have is the fact that he said that he knew he was wrong for saying it immediately, but didn’t attempt to apologize at all until I brought it to his attention a week later. I believe if you are going to apologize, apologize. Don’t try to justify what you are apologizing for. The fact that he threw the class under the bus by saying that they thought the same thing isn’t right when the issue is with you. I’m naturally reserved and shy until I get to know people and I feel as though I was stereotyped as the “angry” black woman.
With these experiences, I concluded that this is not a safe place for me to learn and grow and to achieve my goals. I feel like Steve does not take well to criticisms, suggestions, or ideas unless he thinks of them himself. I also can’t see myself working with or learning from people who think so poorly of me based on acting or just sitting by myself. It is my honest belief that you should be wary in deciding to join if you dream of being an Actor/ Actress.

Aurelia G.

Steve is not only a great coach, he’s an amazing person overall. He is not someone who is there to collect your money and run with it or feed you lies. I honestly believe he deserves more! Steve works hard for us in and outside of the class. C.A.S welcomed me with open arms when I first moved back home which was a rough period. My life has changed for the better since joining. I love you C.A.S! Thank you for everything Steve. I owe you that steak when I get my first big check! 😂

Kameron A.

After 8 months of going to the safest acting class in the city. The Cincinnati Actors Studio is like a 2nd home. Steve administers such a well-rounded class where he ACTUALLY lets us as actors, act. That means everyone has different ideas and everyone learns and adapts to everyone around them. In my 8 months I haven’t felt threatened or felt like racism or sexism was a play. There are scenes that are brilliant, and there are scenes that just don't work, but they never cross the line. I advise you try it out, not one class is the same so you can’t make a decision on a class based off one night. Highly recommend to anyone and everyone.

Mary M.

Steve is an incredible instructor. He has over 40+ years of experience in the industry. Every class is challenging and fun. I have been coming to class several times a week for over a year and always take away something new. He works with you on your goals and he will push you to be the best actor you can.
The family and energy he creates is awesome. You’ll view life in a more positive way after each class and I must warn you now, you’ll want to keep coming back!
If you having been acting for 20 + years or just starting out you need to try Steve’s class you will not be disappointed.

Deon H.

My experience thus far at C.A.S has been nothing short of magnificent. 05/16 marked 7 months of attending, and I feel like I've known the instructor Steve for years. He is very welcoming and admirable. An attentive man with a sharp intellect and a wisdom that transcends any other acting experience I've had in the Tri-state area. The others in attendance made me feel welcome immediately. They are family that encourage and support your desires in the arts. The space is very welcoming, judgement-free, diverse, and simply fun to be apart of! This is a place you come to where you're passionate about acting. Where you desire to learn not just the history, but the passion behind acting. A place where you can release your emotions, discard your inhibitions, and truly dive into what it means to be an actor. Being able to establish and create amazing relationships with Steve and the others while going on fun adventures, is just the icing on the cake. Thank you Steve, for curating an extraordinary space for extraordinary people!

Malarie W.

Moving to Ohio from South Carolina, I was looking for classes to take for acting and Cincinnati Actors Studio was the first one on the list. I was hesitant to take the first step to take the first step towards the “unachievable”. But I am so glad I did!Cincinnati actors studio has been the most encouraging, welcoming, and challenging class i’ve ever taken…in all the best ways. Steve Francia is an amazing coach with a lust for life and his passion of the craft can easily be felt by all in the room! When I’m bawling my eyes out at the Oscar’s, accepting my awards; I know that I will be thanking CAS for being the wind beneath my wings for this career i get to have!

Kaden K.

When I first attended this class (on a whim!) towards the beginning of the year, I was timid, heartbroken, and somewhat directionless in my life to be honest. Initially upon entering this class, I found the environment at the studio somewhat intimidating. It seemed like everyone was intense and serious, and I felt a bit in over my head. Right at the beginning of class, I was told to stand up in front of everyone and talk to them about myself! And the teacher, Steve, even said not to say, “um” or “uh”! It was a nerve-racking experience, but within a few seconds, a switch flipped in my brain as I thought, “You got this!!” For the rest of that class, I tried as hard as I could, truly focusing on everything I had within me. A significant portion of our time in class is dedicated to hands-on practice – performing, critiquing, and refining scenes. On my first day, I was terrified to perform in front of everyone, especially with just 2 minutes of preparation, but somehow, my scene partner and I nailed that first scene. My confidence increased, if only a little and I realized the importance of jumping in and trying your best.

By the end of that first class, Steve called me over to talk to him one-on-one as he does with every new person. During that conversation, Steve complimented me but also told it to me how it was, explaining all the hard work required to be a career actor. I realized in that conversation that this man wasn’t in it for the money, he was there to see ME succeed, and he’s there to see YOU succeed, too. To be in that 1%. I went home that day motivated and inspired in a way I honestly haven’t felt before.

Suddenly, acting and my life had become one. I had a vision board covered in my ambitious dreams, as per Steve’s recommendation. I was writing, auditioning, and performing one script or another. I even got signed to the best agent in town after just a couple of months! And who was my mentor through all of this? Steve, who not only helped me as an actor, but listened to me talk through all of my heartbreak, my problems, and all my crazy ideas.

One thing I think makes the class great is that I feel like Steve has struck the balance between giving positive feedback and giving the criticism you need to hear. He tailors his guidance to match each actor's skill level, ensuring that everyone, regardless of experience, gets the most out of his classes. In class, your “isms” (all your little idiosyncrasies that make you stick out) will be pointed out and criticized. For example, I had a tendency to walk without bending my knees. Steve and others made sure to criticize me on this point whenever it happened. Over time, I became more self aware and skilled as a result. Thanks guys!

I was surprised to hear that Steve has been running this class for over 33 years, starting at just 20! He was always ambitious even as a young man, and he rubs off that ambition on all his actors. It’s no wonder that the class has exactly the right components to prepare me for all my auditions and the first time I was behind a camera, I felt right at home. I’ve personally seen what Steve has created for precisely what it is - a fine-tuned machine for training actors of all skill levels. Actually, let me go one further: Steve, you have created more than just a class, but a family of actors where our wildest dreams are manifested and our confidence honed.

As 2023 comes to a close and I reflect upon it, I feel incredibly grateful that Cincinnati Actor’s Studio has been a part of my life for the past 9 months. I can feel myself changing from boy to man and I couldn’t have done it alone. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m on the path I’m meant to be on. I mean, I think I have truly found what I was meant to do with my life. I can literally see the path I need to take to get to Hollywood. Merry Christmas, Steve. Thank you for everything.

Kendall W.

This studio has become one of my favorite things to look forward to each week. Each class is well thought out and focuses on specific topics planned out by our acting coach, Steve, who is so incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about acting. I highly encourage anyone who might be thinking of starting or continuing their acting journey to join a class and let loose cause it’s well worth it!! It’s such a brilliant and fun space for all people regardless of race, age, gender, etc to grow and enjoy the art of acting.

So yeah TLDR: 5 stars lol