Brian Zane
Actor • Teacher
• Coach
Helping actors build truthful, embodied performances through coaching, teaching, and The Actor's Nervous System podcast.
AEA
Chicago/New York
5’11”
Actor
Brian Zane
Grounded, intelligent performances in comedy and drama.
Demo Reel
Selected Credits:
The Truth of the Game— Lead — Lillian Tiemeyer
Proper No. Twelve Whiskey— Supporting— Pardon My Take/ Barstool Sports (Corey Rutledge)
I Suspect— Lead— Alors Belovicz
Film/TVLady Molly of Scotland Yard (World Premiere)— Pianist/Reverend Grimes — Asolo Rep (dir. Peter Rothstein / wri. Ken Ludwig)
Clyde’s— Jason— Asolo Conservatory (DeAnna Wright)
Anything Goes— Moonface Martin— Music Theater Works (Rudy Hogenmiller)
Master Class— Manny u/s— Timeline Theatre Company (Nick Bowling)
Far from Heaven— Stan Fine— Porchlight Music Theatre (Rob Lindley)
TheatreRepresentation
NV Talent
TV/Film: Debby Kotzen (debby@nvtalent.com)
Theatre: Alexa Lushetsky (alexa@nvtalent.com)
Piano (expert)
Baritone
Demidov Technique
Stage Combat (SAFD certified unarmed)
Music Directing Experience
Dialects (New York, British RP, Cockney, read IPA)
Special Skills
Industry Profiles
Videos
Comedic Scene
Jaxton— The Thanksgiving Play
FSU/Asolo Conservatory Showcase
Dramatic Scene
Jamie— The Great God Pan
FSU/Asolo Conservatory Showcase
On-Camera Scene
Villain— Procedural Scene
Classical Monologues
Benedick— Much Ado About Nothing
Antonio— The Tempest
Music
Singing Reel— Into the Woods (Baker)
Piano Reel— Rhapsody in Blue
Coaching
One-on-one coaching for actors seeking greater freedom, presence, and truth.
MFA-trained actor and teacher Brian Zane offers coaching rooted in Nikolai Demidov’s approach to acting, combined with contemporary scene study and on-camera practice.
Whether you’re preparing for an audition of exploring a role more deeply, the focus is on developing trust in your instincts, releasing self-consciousness, and creating conditions where authentic behavior can emerge.
Audition Coaching
Prepare for stage and screen auditions through text exploration, character circumstances, and moment-moment responsiveness.
Rather than forcing choices, we work toward a freer, more spontaneous performance built from your own impulses.
Self-Tape Coaching
Create self-tapes that feel grounded, connected, and alive.
We focus on presence, listening, circumstances, and letting the camera capture your work rather than trying to “show” the performance.
Scene & Character Work
Explore a role through circumstances, imagination, sensation, and relationship.
Using Demidov-inspired practices, actors develop deeper trust in their creative instincts and learn to respond freely in the moment.
About Brian
I'm an AEA actor, teacher, and coach based in Chicago.
I earned my MFA in Acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, my MA in Educational Theatre from NYU, and my BA from the College of William and Mary.
My work explores the intersection of acting, psychology, and the nervous system through performance, coaching, teaching, and The Actor's Nervous System podcast.
Whether I'm preparing actors for auditions, teaching in the classroom, or interviewing guests on the podcast, my goal is the same: helping people become more present, responsive, and truthful in their work.
The Actor’s Nervous System
Created and Hosted by Brian Zane
A podcast and writing project exploring acting, embodiment, psychology, and the nervous system.
Podcast
Conversations about acting, creativity, presence, and performance.
Substack
Essays exploring acting technique, embodiment, and the creative process.
Youtube
Video clips, podcast episodes, and conversations about acting.
Follow along for clips, thoughts, and behind-the-scenes moments.
Let’s Work Together
Interested in acting coaching, podcast collaborations, teaching opportunities, or just want to connect? Send me a message and I’ll get back to you.