SHAUNA MARKEY

Star You Already Are Founder | Trifecta College Prep Co-founder | Instructor

With a BFA in acting from USIU in San Diego, Shauna is proud to say she’s has been a working professional actress (Stage, Radio & TV/Film) for the past 23 years.  She’s been on Broadway and has traveled the world doing National Tours, working side by side with such stars as Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt, Joanne Worley and Cathy Rigby.  She’s starred in over 70 National & Regional commercials, including her DISNEY, XFINITY, SOUTHWEST, WOW CABLE and KMART spots that are currently running.  You regularly hear her on your radio and TV doing Voice-Overs, plus several films and animation film projects. You may also recognize her from her DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (playing opposite Eva Longoria) and PARKS AND RECREATION (playing opposite Amy Poehler).  She’s a proud member of the Musical Theatre Guild of LA where she’s apart membership committee and has co-produced their Educational Outreach Programs.  She has also directed and choreographed main stage shows at Musical Theatre West, 3-D Theatricals, Sacramento Music Circus, Cabrillo Musical Theatre, and the Starlight Bowl… just to name a few.

Working with children is a great passion of Shauna’s which is why, in 1997, she opened THE STAR YOU ALREADY ARE (formally known as THE BIZKIDZ) to coach kids and teens in TV/Film, commercials, musical theatre, and voice-overs.  Through this, she's had the privilege to also teach along side other outstanding performing arts programs: LA Unified Educational Outreach, Take the Stage Long Beach, The Norris Theatre, Orange County Song & Dance, Musical Theatre West, Center Stage Utah and San Diego Musical Theatre.  

"I’m often times cast as “the mom” in commercial and TV spots I book, giving me not only the opportunity to see and know firsthand exactly what’s expected of kids & young adults on the set, but to also develop an effective technique on how to prepare young actors to have strong, competitive auditions!  Thus in turn, giving the casting director and producers exactly what they’re looking for and landing our clients the jobs!” 

MUSICAL THEATRE COLLEGE AUDITION PREP

Shauna is deeply passionate about guiding teens towards their dream BFA programs. With a keen focus on storytelling, she ensures her clients are telling compelling stories in both their songs and monologues that resonate on a personal level.

Of the 45 clients Shauna has coached from 2020-2024 to get into BFA, BA, and BM programs, all have been accepted into the following Renowned Programs studying either Musical Theatre, Music or Acting: 

  • University of Michigan (5 currently attending)

  • Carnegie Mellon University (2 currently attending)

  • NYU Tisch School of The Arts  (3 currently attending)

  • Yale University (1 currently attending) 

  • Boston Conservatory (1 currently attending)  

  • Northwestern University (1 starting in 2024) 

  • Baldwin Wallace University (3 currently attending)

  • Elon University  (1 currently attending)

  • Rider University (4 currently attending) 

  • Berklee School of Music (2 currently attending) 

  • Texas Christian University (1 currently attending) 

  • Marymount Manhattan College (1 currently attending)

  • USC  (1 currently attending) 

  • Oklahoma University  (1 currently attending) 

  • Shenandoah University (1 currently attending) 

  • Wagner University (2 currently attending) 

  • Coastal Carolina (1 currently attending)  

  • LIU POST  (2 currently attending) 

  • University of Arizona (2 currently attending) 

  • NYU Steinhardt School of Music  (1 currently attending) 

  • UCLA (1 currently attending)  

  • CU Boulder (1 currently attending)  

  • Slippery Rock (1 currently attending)  

  • Emerson (1 currently attending)  

  • Manhattan School of Music (1 currently attending) 

  • Emory University (1 currently attending)

  • American Academy of Dramatic Arts (1 currently attending) 

  • San Diego State University  (1 currently attending) 

  • UC Irvine  (1 currently attending)

ADDITIONALLY Shauna’s Clients have been accepted to: Penn State University * Cincinnati Conservatory of Music * Ithaca College *  American University * Webster University * Oklahoma City University * Chapman University * Pace University * London Academy of the Dramatic Arts * Syracuse University * University of North Carolina School of the Arts * Pepperdine University * UC Santa Barbara *  USD * San Diego State University * Fullerton State * Guildford School of Acting *  among many many others.  

For more about Shauna visit:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ShaunaMarkey  | or visit www.shaunamarkeyactingstudio.com  

SJAAN TROWBRIDGE

Program Director & Instructor

Sjaan has been working for the Walt Disney Company for 20 years as an entertainer in a variety of shows, special events, and is currently a Teaching Artist for the Disney Performing Arts Program at Disneyland.  She choreographed the “Land of Enchantment Parade” for the 2002 Winter Olympics, and has been seen in shows such as “Damn Yankees”, “Suds”, and “Ruthless” to name a few. However, her greatest passion is to inspire, transform, and educate young performers from all over the globe in areas of Dance, Musical Theater, and Audition Techniques. She shares a parental perspective as she helps her own daughter navigate through the ups and downs of being a young aspiring actress.  With her sunny disposition, sense of humor, and genuine approach she tackles the adventure of the “Biz” one day at a time and with a great big smile. 

SCOTT DREIER

Special Guest Instructor & Consultant 

Scott Dreier has been making his living as a professional performer for over 20 years in TV, voice-over, commercials, theater, recording, and cabaret. 

TV credits include: Harold the Herald on Disney's The Suite Life on Deck, I Carly, The First Family, Malcolm in the Middle, Greetings from Tucson, General Hospital, and Enchanted Go West (Film). 

Theater credits include: Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (12 Productions), Forever Plaid (San Diego Company), and JP Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (4 years--Old Globe Theatre). Scott was also the official voice of Knuckles the Echidna in the Sonic the Hedgehog Sega game series for many years. 

Scott has been successfully coaching young artists for over 15 years, helping them to hone their craft to book the job. Scott coaches for TV, Film, Voice-over, Theater, Musical Theater, and for college auditions for performance programs. BEING PREPARED for your auditions frees you up to be relaxed, creative, and confident. Scott's coaching style is always motivating and comes from such a positive place. You will quickly learn to break down a scene, dig deeper into character to make the richest choices, learn to take direction, and strengthen your auditions skills to help you give your best audition. Scott's coaching also includes helping to demystify the "audition room" so that you are better prepared for every situation that you may encounter. 

"It has been my wonderful honor to get to work with young actors to better prepare them for their auditions and for the journey into the world of becoming a professional actor. "