EAST Acting Studio
Train Truthfully. Listen Deeply. Act Fully.
What Is EAST Acting Studio?
EAST Acting Studio is a place for actors in Nashville who want to return to honest, alive storytelling.
Our focus is simple: get out of your head, listen deeply, and respond truthfully in the moment. Drawing from Meisner-based training and grounded ensemble work, we help actors build presence, trust their instincts, and grow in confidence.
We are creating a steady training home — one where actors can work seriously, feel supported, and develop their craft over time. A place to begin, and to keep going.
What We Practice:
Listening.
Acting begins with paying attention. We train actors to truly hear and respond to what is happening — not what they planned.
Connection.
Story lives between people. We build ensemble trust and strengthen the ability to relate honestly to a scene partner.
Instinct.
We work to quiet self-judgment and overthinking so that response becomes natural and alive.
Presence.
We develop the ability to stay grounded and fully engaged in the moment — especially when emotions rise.
Consistency.
Craft deepens through return. Growth happens when actors come back week after week and continue the work.
Our Belief
We believe acting is a deeply human experience — not reserved for “serious” actors alone.
Learning to listen.
Learning to quiet the mind.
Learning to connect honestly with another person.
These are not only performance skills. They are human skills.
At EAST, we welcome beginners, returning artists, and anyone curious about strengthening their presence and connection. You don’t have to claim the title of “actor” to begin.
Now Offering…
Meisner Foundations I: The Art of Listening
Length: 8 Weeks, Summer Cohort starting June 8
Class Duration: Mondays, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Tenn Little Birds, East Nashville
Enrollment: Limited to preserve depth and ensemble trust
Who It’s For:
Adults (18+) — beginners and returning actors alike. No prior acting experience required.
Meet the teaching artists
Allison Link
Founder & Teaching Artist
Allison Link is the founder of EAST Collective and Tenn Little Birds, East Nashville's longest-running early childhood music studio. She trained at Westminster Choir College and pursued post-baccalaureate work in music therapy at Belmont University. She studied Meisner-based technique at the Matthew Corozine Studio Theatre in New York for several years and served as Matt Corozine's teaching assistant, working alongside him to support students through the foundational stages of the work.
A performer, educator, and mother of two, Allison brings a decade of teaching experience to EAST — building a steady, supportive home for truthful actor training in Nashville.
Ryan Link is a Broadway and touring performer, musician, and Meisner-trained teacher based in Nashville. Broadway credits include RENT and HAIR, and he spent 2013-2015 on the first national tour of Once. He trained—and later taught—Meisner-based technique at the Matthew Corozine Studio Theatre in New York, guiding actors to build truthful connection, presence, and instinct through deep listening and partner work.
A dad of two and a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association, Ryan auditions regularly for film and TV productions across the Southeast and continues to train on-camera in Nashville. Recent credits include Harley Coates in the world premiere of May We All (TPAC).
Co-Founder & Teaching Artist