Brian Zane

Actor • Teacher
• Coach

Helping actors build truthful, embodied performances through coaching, teaching, and The Actor's Nervous System podcast.

Book Coaching

Listen to the 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/TV

Lady 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)

Theatre

Representation

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

Download Full Resume

Videos

Comedic Scene (Theatre)

Jaxton— The Thanksgiving Play

FSU/Asolo Conservatory Showcase

Dramatic Scene (Theatre)

Jamie— The Great God Pan

FSU/Asolo Conservatory Showcase

On-Camera Scenes

Dr. Mantell— Scientist

Leo— Family Drama Scene

Villain— Procedural Scene

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.

Contact Brian About Coaching

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.