ACTOR Teacher Director writer tubaplayer private acting coach

MENTOR, COLLABORATOR, WHALE,

FACILITATOR OF FUN & TRANSFORMATION!

LET'S CO-CREATE MAGIC TOGETHER!

Next workshop is May 14th 2025 6pm-8:30pm

PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH IMPROVISATION WORKSHOPS ON MAUI!!!

LIFE HAPPENS OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE! The ART OF ALLOWING WORKSHOP is for anyone who desires to cultivate the ability to flawlessly and spontaneously create magic on stage or off, as well as in life. Discover and learn to get out of your own way or what we call ELIMINATE SELF. “IT” comes from a place of joy and connection to one’s source intuition, and is attained by giving yourself to the art form through LISTENING rather than thinking, from ALLOWING rather than forcing, from being FULLY PRESENT in the moment and FOCUSING on CONNECTION with your partner and your environment. You will understand why making your partner look good makes you in turn look twice as good and makes the work flow. Ultimately, you will understand that this is how ensemble is created. You will learn to strip away the layers you have put up to protect yourself rather than simply BEING YOUR MOST AUTHENTIC SELF!!!

$40 per class

Come join us for a night of Transformation through Improvisation.

Click here to RSVP with Joel Roth

WHO AM I YOU ASK???

A Lifetime of Acting

MARK BELTZMAN has been acting, writing, and directing since 1981. He is the Co-Founder of Maui Improv in 2014 and also one of the founding members of Improv Olympic in Chicago where he worked with the legendary group, Barons Barracudas. Mark has worked and directed at the famed Second City in Chicago. He directed many improvisational and theatrical productions at Second City in Chicago and Los Angeles, including the Second City Alumni Jam. He was also instructor/ director at The Second City Training Center, Improv Olympic West and the Upfront Comedy Showcase, as well as NYC, Denver, Seattle, Detroit, Chicago, and all over the United Kingdom, London, Brighton, Bristol, and Paris, France.

Mark has also acquired a great deal of knowledge about the creative process of producing, writing and directing while performing in such notable productions as: Mo Money, Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, Speed 2, Star Maps, Lovely and Amazing, and Employee of the Month, Factory, Seinfeld, Rosanne, Norm, Curb Your Enthusiasm, According to Jim, Cold Case, House, True Jackson VP, The Young and the Restless, Pretty Little Liars, Life in Pieces, Brooklyn Nine Nine.

TESTIMONIALS

Words from Colleagues & Students around the world

Mark you taught me more than any teacher ever taught me. Thank you buddy!

Clint Culp, Los Angeles 30+ year Veteran Character Actor 2021

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Mark Beltzman’s class is the bomb! I learned things in his class that I never thought I would learn. By the way, I have loads of experience with improv and acting, and thought this would solely be for play, but it was much more! He exercises you with games and scenes, but will chime in when perhaps you aren’t mastering the objective. I had so many a-ha moments, but probably the biggest one for me was not waiting to let it happen to you...don’t wait to bring something to a scene...don’t hold it in and wait for the “moment.” Start the scene with gusto! I also love that his classes are based around making your partner look good because it takes the energy off yourself. Mark Beltzman is an incredible and fun teacher, and while he teaches how to be a better actor, he teaches how to be a better lifer!

Laura Cole, Maui, Hi 2021

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You are an awesome person and the things I’ve learned in your class have enriched my life in a lot of ways. It really has changed how I look at basically everything.

I think improv is like when you’re a kid and get to make out with a girl for the first time. It’s awkward and nobody knows what you’re doing. You wrestle with unsnapping her bra and it sucks.
But after a few sessions you’re one hand snapping it off and the next time she wears a front snapping bra and you’re like, “That definitely wasn’t in the handbook.”
But you’ve already conceptualized your technique so you roll with it like a champion. I’m a champion now. You can call me Lebron.
Joseph Milne, Maui, Hi 2021

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This is Valerie Matsunaga, having attended 3 classes so far. Thank you for having made those possible, corralling all of us. (I have been called to duty on Sat to help immunize masses, so will be unable to attend the last class of 2020.) Through Mark's classes, I've experienced fear and elation, noise and silence, and learned where to focus and not to focus....An application: this AM during my Christmas bicycle ride, I had to pass through two poles - the old me would've focused on not crashing through the poles and would have kept looking at the poles as I was passing through - after Mark's classes, instead, I didn't see the poles, and instead looked through the passage way which suddenly opened up WIDE in my minds eye and I looked at the road ahead. Smooth, calm passage - I attribute that solely to Mark's coaching! ***Transformation*** I look forward eagerly to 2021 classes and beyond.

Last night, I reflected on these Key take-aways: Mark-isms, I call them;

"Going fast, rushing, creates stress, tension, anxiety and fear" My mindset approaching the training session took away from my normal systematic, rhythmic control. I had enough time, yet allowed time to distract my focus.
"Slow down, be patient and enjoy the moment": in preparing for our lifts, energy and force generation is maximized through slow acceleration; rushing to grip and rip the weight off the floor leads to energy leaks.
"Immerse yourself into the process, instead of worrying about the product/outcome.": as athletes, we tend to aim for personal records/bests and aim for heavy weights rather than wisely train at lower manageable weights, trusting the training program,
"Slow down, find your rhythm.": Olympic weightlifting is not just about strength, it's 50% mental, 30% technique, 20% strength (according to Tommy Kono, former Olympian). Technique is timing and rhythm.
"Ensemble work requires paying attention:" Our coach doesn't always have his eyes on us 100% of the time, yet he is coaching from across the room, paying attention to every athlete present. Yesterday, Coach knew that I missed a lift because of the sound of the weights as the bar left the ground and crashed on the platform.

Conclusion: The greater we embrace, immerse ourselves in the principles (Mark-isms) we become honest, truthful, real and authentic.

VALARIE MATSUNAGA MAUI, HI 1/2021

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"Mark Beltzman is the funniest and most talented improvisor that I have ever worked with. I have worked on stage with him at Second City, done radio shows with him, we did movies like "Red Heat" together, and half a dozen episodes of "According to Jim." Our scenes always got the biggest laughs."–

JIM BELUSHI

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“Mark Beltzman walks the walk and listens to the talk. You WILL have fun. And that’s what it’s all about!” – GEORGE WENDT

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"Mark is one of the best. He helps one find a joyful approach to acting like no other teacher. A true gem. I am Grateful for his technique ."

JUSTIN CHAMBERS (DR. ALEX KAREV GREY'S ANATOMY)

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"When I was still in my improv diapers, Mark Beltzman was already hitting homers out of the park. I love this man and his work.

SUSAN MESSING

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"Mark Beltzman teaches acting, feeling, connecting, communicating, listening, awareness, mindfulness, and joyfulness. Oh, he also teaches improvisation!"

DAVID RAZOWSKY FORMER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, SECOND CITY LOS ANGELES

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Dear Mark,

I deeply appreciate your qualities as a teacher and your generous ways. I've had such fun and gotten such joy from these experiences with you and the community. I look forward to the next session.

JOEL ROTH MAUI , HAWAII

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Dear Mark,

Here is my testimony!

I discovered Impro(v) over 10 years ago. I became highly passionate about it, and voraciously seeked the best teachers, attended a ton of workshops, festivals, read all the classical works, organised open nights, started several troupes… and finally came across Mark Beltzman this weekend.

Mark guided me/us to find the JOY I/we had been struggling to find again through Impro(v), and empowered me/us to find it over and over again. I had the most JOY I have had in a workshop since the very beginning of my discovery of this art. I had started giving up on it, since so much of the Impro(v) had become so boring to me, I had become blazé with it.

Furthermore, he achieved doing so while our group included absolute beginners, and on the very first morning he had bestowed “all there is to know”. Super-efficient & so refreshing!!! Indeed, Mark created an environment of trust and ensemble work with the group, which ALLOWED each of us to be free to live scenes that were HONEST, TRUTHFUL and REAL, which I feel were transformative. Thus demonstrating that Vulnerability is in fact a Strength, that Connection leads to the organic emergence of narratives, and for me literally uncovered the Alchemy of the art. We spent pretty much the entire workshop playing with the simple principles, being side-coached, and we all could FEEL the energy change in the room, and experience the JOY of playing scenes where the audience is included is the BIRTHING of scenes. Whether comedy or drama, the IMPACT was powerful, and I emerge from the weekend inspired and supercharged for more.

In short, Mark blew me away. What I used to believe was the end of a whole scene, I came to realise was only the beginning!!! And therein lies the intensity that I had been seeking so desperately. No more watered-down scenes is an exhilarating prospect for the future and I’m back on the Improv wagon! Finally, I also admired his expertise as a workshop facilitator, setting solid bases for us in terms of the acting AND ensemble work, which empowered each one of us as co-creators, which in turn unleashed in each of us all the essential qualities for LIFE, as well as for IMPACTFUL scenes to emerge.

I am so grateful to Mark for this amazing weekend, and all he shared with an incredibly contagious generosity: his passion, his excitement, and his humanity.

Much love guys!

Ralph, thank you for making this weekend happen! 😉

Josh

Paris, France

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"When I signed up for Mark’s workshop, I knew I'd get the chance to work with an amazing improv pro.

What I didn't know is that in just two days Mark would completely transform my notion of what improv can be.

He is a gifted teacher who creates a safe and fun environment for learning skills that apply to acting and life!"

Sharon Mann, Paris, France

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Mark,

I can't tell you how impacting your presence was at John Rosenfeld Acting Studio last night. I love how you take your teaching well beyond improv, and especially that you walk your talk. I hope to stay in touch, good sir.

Good tidings,

Clayton Los Angeles, Ca

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Hi Mark,

Mahalo again for our connection in Honolulu. It's been a wonderful reactivation of a joyful vibration. I'm so enjoying life and creating theater in a renewed way. Mahalo nui. Hope this finds you having a blessed day!

Aloha,

Cindy Honolulu, Hi

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Hi Mark, I loved taking your workshop in Honolulu. It really changed me. Thanks for being you.

Anonymous Honolulu, Hi

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Hello Mark ! It was great, I've learned a lot I really enjoyed the workshop ! I hope to see you soon again in Paris ! Best regards, Sophie Lo

RESUME

MARK BELTZMAN

SAG/AFTRA

FILM ROLE DIRECTOR

Bliss Supporting Joe Begos

Una Great Movie Supporting Jennifer Sharp

The Marshmallow Mystery Tour Lead Jeffrey Beals

Harvey & Dick Lead Jaymes Camery

The Thinning: New World Order Supporting Michael J Gallagh

Panofsky’s Complaint Lead Peter Mackey

The Homeless Detective Lead Alan Shearman

Jet Lag Supporting Rachel Avery

The Company Lead Kevin McDermott

Charlie Wilson’s War Supporting Mike Nichols

Passed the Door of Darkness Supporting Peter Mervis

The Wedding Singer Supporting Frank Coraci

Lovely and Amazing Supporting Nicole Holofcener

Employee of the Month Supporting Mitch Rouse

Star Maps Supporting Miguel Arteta

Speed 2 Supporting Jan DeBont

Billy Madison Lead Tamara Davis

Mo’ Money Lead Peter McDonald

Home Alone Supporting Chris Columbus

TELEVISION

Brooklyn Nine Nine Supporting Stephanie Beatriz

LA Confidential (Pilot) Supporting Michael Dinner

Life in Pieces x 2 Episode Arc Supporting Angela Gomes/Jude Weng

Feud: Bette and Joan Supporting Liza Johnson

I Love Dick Supporting Jill Solowa

The Young and the Restless Supporting Owen Renfroe

You’ll Be Fine Recurring Jaymes Camery

Pretty Little Liars Guest Star Chris Grismer

The Young and the Restless Guest Star Sally McDonald

True Jackson Guest Star Gary Halvorson

House Guest Star David Straiton

The Factory Recurring Mitch Rouse

Cold Case Guest Star John Peters

According to Jim Recurring Mark Cendrowski

Curb Your Enthusiasm Guest Star Robert Weide

Seinfeld Guest Star Tom Cherones

Rosanne Guest Star Rosanne

The Nick Cannon Show Guest Star Mark Farrell

Charlie Lawrence Guest Star Andrew Tsao

Norm Guest Star Steve Zuckerman

Working Guest Star Andrew Tsao

The Sweet Spot Guest Star Joel Murray

THEATER

Without Annette Sam Waterson Jeff Doucette

Re-Animator the Musical Dr. Gruber/Chorus Stuart Gordon

Second City Chicago Resident Company ’85-’91

IO (Improv Olympic) Chicago/LA Baron’s Barracudas Del Close

Mark Beltzman

ACTOR Teacher Director writer tubaplayer private acting coach

MY PHILOSOPHY