Having received his B.A. in Theatre-Acting/Directing from SUNY New Paltz, and his M.A. in Directing and Theatre History from the University at Albany, Sandy is a Theatre “jack-of-all-trades,” so to speak. Consequently, he brings a wealth of diverse experience and knowledge to his students and clients,  emphasizing the multi-disciplined and collaborative nature of Theatre as an art form.

 

Forming Sandy Nagar Studio and becoming an Independent Educational Consultant specializing in Performing Arts is a logical next step in Sandy’s career in Performing Arts education. He has taught Theatre and English, and directed numerous award-winning Musical Theatre productions at Bishop Kearney High School; directed, technical-directed, and designed for Webster Schroeder High School and Webster Spry Middle School; and was the Technical Theater Manager for the Greece Central School District for 10 years. Most recently he taught at Rochester Prep High School for several years, where he built an active and successful Theatre Arts program and curriculum from the ground up, teaching Theatre performance and production, and Film Studies. He also established and directed a vibrant Drama Club producing innovative productions of plays, as well the RPHS house improv comedy troupe, The Underground Players. In all of these capacities, Sandy was always providing career and higher education guidance to students he taught or worked with. It was during his time at Rochester Prep that Sandy really solidified his passion and talent for helping students with the college search, application, and audition process. His more formal work with students on that process is what led to his decision to make Performing Arts College Consulting his fulltime job.

 

As an acting coach, Sandy’s approach to actor training (as well as when he directs actors in a play,) comes from his own extensive background and training in the teachings, philosophies, and techniques of pioneering, legendary, master Acting teachers Sanford Meisner and Uta Hagen. Emphasis is on actors on stage living truthfully under imaginary circumstances as their character. Under his tutelage, young actors study the craft of Acting supported by the following four pillars: Circumstances & Point of View, Listening & Observing, Reacting, and Honesty. In a “performance lab” environment, exercises, skills, techniques, and text analysis are all crafted to provide students with opportunities to explore and experiment with these pillars in a safe and meaningful way.    

 

As a director, favorite credits include Eurydice and Peter and the Starcatcher (Rochester Prep HS); Chicago and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Webster Schroeder HS); The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) and Hellcab (Working Class Theatre Co.); A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night (Webster Shakespeare Festival); Little Shop of Horrors and Godspell (Bishop Kearney HS.)

 

Sandy has also worked as a Theater administrator and production manager in several regional theaters across the country including the Mercury Theater in Chicago, Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, and Rochester’s very own Geva Theatre. Additionally, he was the founding Producing Artistic Director of both the Webster Shakespeare Festival and Working Class Theatre Company.

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When he’s not busy helping young aspiring Actors, Singers, Dancers, Musicians, and Technicians get into college, or directing, or teaching kids acting, Sandy is an avid film-buff (exceptionally well-versed in all things Star Wars and Marvel,) a lover of jazz, and a one-time marathoner. He lives in Webster happily with Becky, his wife of 25 years(!), their daughter Maggie (a freshman Music Ed major and Dance minor at SUNY Fredonia,) their son Sam (a junior at Schroeder HS., and an aspiring actor/director/producer,) and their 6 year-old Goldendoodle, Bella. He is eternally grateful for all their love and support in pursuing this latest round of new endeavors,