Creative Writing Teacher

Join bestselling Irish author ‘the Queen of Hearts’ Emma Heatherington, whose work to date been published in the UK, USA, Ireland, Canada, Holland, Germany, Hungary and Italy, in a six week online writing course which will guide you through the basic steps of penning your very own book!

Emma’s latest release Secrets in the Snow spent five weeks at the top of the prestigious Bookseller Heat Seeker Chart and was a Fern Britton Pick with Tesco UK. She is also an ebook chart topper in the USA with her novel The Legacy of Lucy Harte.

Emma is published internationally by HarperCollins and she has also worked with Penguin Ireland, Poolbeg Press and The O’Brien Press. She is represented by Sarah Hornsley at The Bent Agency who are based in Brooklyn, NYC and London, UK.

Songwriting Teacher

Ultan Conlon joins The Players Conservatory to teach our songwriting class.

For many songwriters there is one occurrence which has such significance in their lives that they will always point to it as the time of transformation or moment of epiphany. For the Galway born singer-songwriter, that shift happened at age 13 when Ultan Conlon’s father passed away. Ultan’s earliest memories are that of his dad singing along to old standards as they crackled through the car radio. While always drawn to music, until this time Ultan had never felt the need to create his own. A proficient guitarist who’d been taught traditional folk tunes, he had suddenly tapped into his creative well and took to the process with voracity. Says Ultan, “I write as a form of comfort. I know when I start to feel a bit off there is potentially a creative period ahead.”

His songwriting foray resulted in four acclaimed albums recorded in a span of ten years. While still based in Galway, Ultan recently found a haven for his unique sound and sensibility in Los Angeles, CA with Nickel Creek’s Grammy Award-winning Sean Watkins producing his latest record, There’s A Waltz (2020).

Ultan Conlon has shared the stage with the likes of Jackson Browne, Shelby Lynne, John Fogerty, Mavis Staples, Bryan Ferry, John Grant, Eddi Reader, Patty Griffin and Richard Hawley, among others. Ultan has also performed duets with Glen Hansard and John Martyn, and Martyn recorded Ultan’s song “Really Gone” in 2005. Many of Ultan’s lauded songs have received extensive airplay in Ireland (RTE Radio 1, Lyric FM) and the UK (BBC). RTE Radio 1, Marty Whelan (Lyric FM) and Eve Blair (BBC Radio Ulster) all deemed There’s a Waltz as their recommended Album of the Week.

Guest Acting Teacher/Workshop Instructor

Hailing from Virginia Beach, Jarvis has made indelible marks on both the stage and in front of the camera.

A proud graduate of Howard University, Jarvis’ career began in 1999, starring in NBC’s Homicide Life on the Streets: The Movie, opposite Andre Braugher and Kyle Secor. Before that dust had settled, he had also starred on two of HBO’s iconic shows, The Wire and The Corner, both created by David Simon. While working the local film/tv circuit, he also spent his time on the stage starring in Romeo & Juliet and Sam Shepard’s Fool For Love.

He then left the DC/Baltimore area to receive his MFA at Penn State University.

During his three years at Penn State, Jarvis received his classical training and creating his one-person show Born To A Time Of Fire: The Men Of August Wilson. Jarvis also continued to work professionally, returning to Baltimore for The Wire and to Philadelphia starring on CBS’ Hack opposite David Morse.

Jarvis then made the journey west to Los Angeles, where he hit the ground running landing starring roles in NCIS, Criminal Minds, The Shield, Stargate SG-1 and Lakeshore’s Gamer opposite Gerard Butler.

Most recently, Jarvis has been seen on FX’s Dave opposite Lil’ Dicky, NCIS, The Bold and The Beautiful and Peacock’s A.P. Bio.

Also a writer and producer, Jarvis is working with his brother, Jason George, on creating and shepherding socially relevant, crowd-pleasing entertainment of all genres that speak to the human condition while focusing primarily on diversity and inclusion.

Jarvis currently resides in Los Angeles and enjoys time with his wife and son.

Directing Teacher

Steve is a highly accomplished and sought-after drama director, boasting 20 years of experience in the industry. Over this time, he has helmed more than 100 hours of content, consistently demonstrating his exceptional talent and creative vision. His illustrious career has seen him win every major UK award, a testament to his outstanding contributions to the world of drama. Steve's expertise extends beyond the UK, as he has successfully directed dramas for networks across Europe and the US, earning him international acclaim.

One of Steve's most significant achievements has been his work on the BBC's flagship medical drama, "Casualty." His contributions to the series have been nothing short of remarkable, particularly his direction of the landmark 30th and 35th Anniversary episodes. These episodes have not only resonated with audiences but have also earned critical acclaim, securing prestigious accolades such as Best Continuing Drama at the BAFTAS (2021, 2023 and 2024), RTS Awards (2015 and 2022), and Broadcast Awards (2022). The judging panel specifically commended his masterful handling of the drama's COVID-19 episode, which showcased his ability to bring intense realism and emotional depth to the screen.

Jamie Kessler is a writer who grew up on a houseboat in Key West, Florida, learning the value of no wake zones and hurricane preparedness at an early age. 

Jamie has spent the last three years writing on 9-1-1: LONE STAR for Fox. Previously, she worked as the Showrunner's Assistant on YouTube's IMPULSE and TNT's SNOWPIERCER. 

Jamie attended Duke University where she studied English and Media. She started her career in the UTA mailroom and currently lives in Los Angeles.