Stephanie Jones is a professional actor, playwright, artistic director, and theatre educator who splits her time between the Niagara Region, Toronto, and New York. She is the founding Artistic Director (Emerita) of Essential Collective Theatre (ECT), a Niagara-based company devoted to the development and production of new Canadian work.

Stephanie trained in Toronto, studying improvisation with Alan Guttman and scene study with Baumander, Reiss, and Uta Hagen. Her introduction to the Meisner Technique through Jacqueline McClintock was a turning point that inspired her to establish the Niagara Region’s only Meisner training program for emerging actors. She trained extensively at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater—the home of the Meisner Technique—where she was mentored by Ron Stetson, Richard Pinter, and Pamela Moler Kareman. From 2011 to 2014, she served as an apprentice, and from 2014 to 2019, she taught at the school, delivering Sanford Meisner’s original curriculum. Since 2017, she has also brought her Meisner-based teaching to the Canadian Film Centre’s Acting Conservatory.

Currently, Stephanie teaches Acting at Niagara College and is completing her PhD with a concentration in performance excellence at the University of Guelph. An award-winning educator and artist, Stephanie has toured nationally with her workshops and is available by request. Her artistic achievements include winning Best Supporting Actor at the New York Film Awards (2024), among other recent recognitions for her work in film. Her contributions to the arts have also been honored with the YWCA Women of Distinction Award (2010) and the St. Catharines Established Artist Award (2014).

Classes with Ms. Jones

Join Stephanie Jones for dynamic actor training designed to challenge, focus, and inspire. She offers both introductory workshops and six-week intensives in Canada and the United States.

Sessions are grounded in authentic, moment-to-moment performance and tailored for dedicated actors who are ready to engage deeply with their craft. In addition to core training, Stephanie offers individual audition technique sessions and production-based on-camera acting coaching, helping actors refine their skills and deliver truthful, compelling performances both in the room and on set. Each class emphasizes concentrated focus and behavioural freedom as the foundation for authentic work. To view upcoming opportunities, visit the Upcoming Sessions page. All actors should expect an initial screening process as part of registration.

MINDSET
”I believe every actor already possesses the creative tools they need—it’s simply a matter of dedicated, focused practice. The right coach doesn’t impose something new, but helps reveal what’s already within, guiding that discovery through behaviour-based work. I’ve had the privilege of being both a working actor and a teacher. My own training and mentorship with master teachers—each with decades of experience—have given me a sharp, compassionate outside eye and a deep respect for the craft. The exercises I offer are just that: practice tools, meant to build trust in your instincts and connection to the moment. Whether you’re brand new to acting or a seasoned professional, every actor deserves a space where freedom and focus can co-exist. I’m grateful to help provide that space.”