Biography

• Theatre
• Television
• Film
• Night Club
• Commercials

• Vocal Groups

• Special Workshops

• Adjudicator

• Certification

• Affiliations

• Education and Training

Theresa Hayes, (Sophisticated Ladies, Dreamgirls, The Tap Dance Kid, Menopause The Musicial, Sweet Charity, Man of La Mancha, Bye Bye Birdie, A Chorus Line, Get Happy, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Gershwin) is a Cum Laude graduate of UCLA where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts at the age of 19. Since then she has enjoyed the challenge of balancing performing, directing, choreographing, teaching and family life.

She is currently providing professional instruction in two “Acting for Beginners” classes at the Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio. The classes are “Acting Technique” and “Character in Performance.” She is also providing instruction in “Acting for Beginners” at Los Angeles City College Extension.

Ms. Hayes is past Director of Instruction and Managing Director of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. While at the Academy she developed and mastered the “I CAN” method of instruction which language actors (and singers) can utilize for rapid technical improvement. Maintaining the joy of creative self expression, eliminating fear, enhancing performance skills, increasing casting possibilities, gaining the tools to succeed, as well as encouraging each person’s talent and unique personality to shine, are priorities.

She has motivated, educated and inspired hundreds of students, working as a guest instructor and choreographer at several college theatre festivals, including the Lee Strasberg Institute (working with renowned agent Martin Gage), Theatre West, Occidental College, Joe Tremaine Studio, Enchainement Studio in British Columbia, Canada, and the Long Beach CLO to name a few. Most recently she instructed soap star Jackie Zeman, actress and singer Stepfanie Kramer, comedienne Judy Tenuta and Channel 5 newscaster Gayle Anderson before their appearances in Menopause the Musical in Los Angeles, California.

With friends Cheryl Baxter and Beth Bowles, Theresa co-founded HBB Productions, a production company specializing in the training of youths for Musical Theatre auditions. Their workshops were conducted at numerous locations across Wisconsin and Illinois, ending with The Wisconsin Singers at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

“Too many actors and singers put limitations on potential job opportunities by declaring to the world they can’t dance. Or they are too intimidated by professional dancers to walk into a dance class. Now, through Dance for the Actor private instruction, there are exciting opportunities where artistic adults can continue to grow and shine.”

Movement with intention means everything.

Resumé Index

– RESUMÉ –

THEATRE

• A Complete History of The American Musical in 90 Minutes or Less – Parson’s Nose Theatre
• Menopause the Musical – Power Woman, Soap Star, current national understudy
• Sophisticated Ladies – Judith Jamison role (opposite Harold Nicholas)
• NAACP Best Actress Award
• Blue and White Foundation Hall of Fame for Fine Arts 2013
• Dreamgirls – Deena Jones (6 companies)
• The Tap Dance Kid – Carole opposite 3 time Tony Award winner Hinton Battle
• Man of La Mancha – Aldonza opposite Robert Goulet
• A Chorus Line – Cassie (1st African American woman to have Equity contract for this role)
• Jesus Christ Superstar – Soul Singer with Carl Anderson
• Bye Bye Birdie – Rosie Alvarez
• West Side Story – Anita
• Sweet Charity – Helene with Donna McKechnie
• At Long Last Cole – with Carol Burnett
• Lucky Stiff – Dominique Du Monaco
• Get Happy – Featured Artist, understudy for Donna McKechnie
• Boys From Syracuse – The Courtesan
• Les Ms. – Maddie
• Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – Angelette
• Love and Marriage
• Roaring 20’s Revue
• Let’s Call the Whole Thing Gershwin – Featured Artist, Dance Captain
• Voices of Broadway – Featured Artist

Resumé Index

TELEVISION

• Bea’s Bakery (pilot) – Bea
• Opening Credits for “B Positive” Season 2
• The In-Laws
• The Charmings
• In The Beginning
• Matlock
• Dynasty
• The White Shadow
• The Mississippi
• Eight Is Enough
• Finder of Lost Loves
• Fighting Back (The Rocky Bleier Story)
• Hill Street Blues
• Days of Our Lives
• General Hospital
• Buck and Barry (Pilot with David Keith and Bill Nunn)
• Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and Blues
• The Cheryl Ladd Special

FILM

• “Pure O” – Role of Penelope; film nominated Best Picture at SXSW Film Festival
• “Red” – Role of Pickle
• “Valley Girl” – Role of Cindy
• “Ice Pirates”
• “The Ambulance”
• “Grease 2”
• Mobil Oil (educational film)

Resumé Index

NIGHT CLUB

• Juliet Prowse’s Act – Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe
• Perry Como 25th Anniversary Tour- U. S.

COMMERCIALS and INDUSTRIALS

• A&W Root Beer
• McDonalds (6 separate commercials)
• New Orleans Race Track
• IBM
• 7 Eleven
• Dial
• AT&T
• Prudential
• Texaco
• Bell Telephone
• Hewlett Packard
• Edison
• Mobil Oil
• Jaffra
• Vidal Sassoon
• Harrah’s Hotels

Resumé Index

VOCAL GROUPS

• Licensed to Sing (currently – Broadway, Jazz, Contemporary)
• Double Date (acappella 50’s DooWop)
• Les Ms. (all female 40’s, 50’s, Broadway, Classics)

SPECIAL WORKSHOPS

• Actors in Action – Movement
• EMAS Studios (2021)
• The Groundling (2022)

ADJUDICATOR

• Showstopper International (continuous)
• Showstopper National Dance Championships
• Emerging Young Artists Foundation Scholarship Awards
• Carol Burnett Musical Theatre Awards UCLA
• Prince George Dance Festival, British Columbia

CERTIFICATION

• The Alba Method (Level 3)

AFFILIATIONS

• SAG•AFTRA
• Actor’s Equity Association (AEA)
• Association for Theatre Movement Educators (ATME)
• IDEA Health and Fitness Association
• American Academy of Dramatic Arts:
  Head of Movement Department,
  Director, Choreographer 1993 to 2014;
  Interim Director of Instruction 2005-2006, 2009-2011;
  Director of Instruction 2011 to 2014;
  Director of Instruction/Managing Director 2014 to 2022.
• Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio Instructor: Acting for Beginners. 2 Classes: “Acting Technique” and “Character in Performance” (currently)
• Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio: Movement for the Actor (currently)
• Los Angeles City College Extension: Acting for Beginners (currently)

Resumé Index

EDUCATION and TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts, UCLA
• Acting: Sir Ben Kingsley (Shakespeare Workshop), Lenore DeKoven, Robert Carnegie (Playhouse West), Darryl Hickman
• Alba Method Certification Level 3 – Rocco Dal Vera
• Dance: Gina Chappell Lynch, Joe Tremaine, Claude Thompson, Tony Stevens, Danny Daniels, Billy Goodson, Jackie Sleight, Michael Peters, Lee Theodore, Onna White, Hama, Lester Wilson, Joe Bennett, Jaime Rogers, Doug Caldwell
• Voice: Carlos Noble, John Peck
• Movement for the Stage: Tom Orth, Anthony DeLongis