We frequently refer to “breaking the fourth wall” when connecting directly to the audience. The “fifth wall” takes this concept one step further. You deepen your connection to ALL THINGS in the artistic process. The actor, the playwright, the inspired, influenced creations; the audience, and their delicate place within the whole creative process. The subjective nature of art itself, and how to navigate freedom of play and creation without judgement. Most importantly, breaking down being a human being in the place of all things creative and created.

Multi-layered Training, for Multi-layered Actors

“Your curse is that you have chosen a form that requires endless study .... It means you have to read, you have to observe, you have to think, so that when you turn your imagination on, it has the fuel to do its job.”

-Stella Adler

“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.”

– Joseph Chilton Pearce

My Approach

My approach to working with actors begins with the actor themselves. I believe in putting the actor’s autonomy first, their individuality and their uniqueness.

I bring my years of training in acting, movement and voice to my work.

I fell in love with acting at a young age and received my BA in Theatre and Dance from Western Michigan University. I continued on to the University of California, Irvine, where I earned my MFA in Drama.

I work with actors from all over the world, both in person and online, helping them deepen their craft while refining a process that feels embodied and sustainable.

There are so many incredible acting teachers and coaches out there, and not every teacher is the right fit for every actor, and that’s okay.

What I bring is decades of experience in this field, years of professional training, and extensive experience coaching hundreds of actors at many different stages of their own artistic journeys. My goal is not to mold actors into one specific way of working, but to help each actor deepen their connection to their own instincts and process.

Throughout my own career as an actor, teacher, and coach, I’ve been fortunate to study with extraordinary mentors and artists who profoundly shaped the way I approach the work. Studying Lecoq mask work in England, Clowning in California, Puppetry from Handspring Puppet Company, Grotowski Movement Work (in his own barn), and Fitzmaurice voice work from Catherine herself, is just a fraction of the experiences that make up my teaching. Each teacher expanded my understanding of craft, presence, movement, voice, imagination, and storytelling. I continue to stay curious and continue to be a student of life myself.

I love actors. I love working with actors. And I love helping actors become the freest versions of themselves. 

-Kelsey Cally

What People Are Saying

  • Kelsey is one of those people whose energy is radiant while also remaining extremely grounded. When working with Kelsey both as an actor and a mentor, I feel safe to be open creatively. She has a way of sensing the unseen, and is someone I feel honored to work with and learn from.

    - Brittany Brown (Scottsdale, Rooms, America’s Next Top Model)

  • Kelsey is patient, insightful, and encouraging. Truly, she is one of the few people I've worked with where I feel there is truly no judgment or agenda—she focuses solely on helping me get to where I want to go. Kelsey is a deeply empathetic person. Working with her feels like...you're being taken care of. She tends to my artistry, and she is so mindful of my heart and ego, all with a kind and patient smile.

    — Eden Lee (Zero Day, Twisted Metal, Parish, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law)

  • As a coach/teacher I like Kelsey's insistence on acknowledging what the actor is trying to do! It’s very “let’s deepen by acknowledging the work you’ve already done!” It’s VERY supportive, but in a highly constructive and brave way. To this day even in school it’s my favorite style of teaching. It's very "yes" model/ abundance rather than scarcity, and encourages the actor to take ownership over their work. She treats actors like artists in cahrge ofthis craft, and i'm learning that your process is all you have when you're out in the world.

    — Jaris Owens (MFA Candidate at UW School of Drama)

  • Not only does Kelsey have the knowledge, expertise, technique and education…but most importantly (in my opinion) she can organically foster greater freedom, autonomy, specificity, and kindness/curiosity in her students. It is a true gift! This was the most I’ve show up authentically for a class, with no expectation of how acting “should” feel.

    -Julie Pope (Earlybird, Nelly Don The Musical Movie, 90 Seconds)