Confidently Navigate the Musical Theatre Industry and Thrive

Through personalized guidance, career insights, and proven techniques, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence to succeed.

What many performers say when they come to me:

  • I’m getting auditions but not booking roles—what am I missing?

  • I don’t understand how online casting profiles and submissions work—or where to even start.

  • My headshots and resume don’t seem to be getting me noticed.

  • I’m confused about how to build a personal brand in the industry.

  • I’ve lost confidence in my abilities after so much rejection.

  • I’m unsure how to balance survival jobs and my passion for performing.

  • I’m overwhelmed by the idea of creating a website—where do I even start?

Sound familiar? Let’s change that.

I’m Ashlee, the founder of the Empowered Actor, and I’m here to help.

Navigating a career in musical theatre looks completely different now than it did four years ago. When I first moved to NYC in the early 2000s, we had only one way to find auditions—by buying the printed version of Backstage newspaper. Yes, it was in print back then!

Now, there are dozens of ways to find, submit, audition, and book work, most of which are online. As a currently auditioning and working musical theatre actress, I know how the industry functioned before the shift in 2020, but most importantly, I know how to navigate it now because I’m doing it myself.

I've dedicated my entire life to this industry, and I understand where you are, what you're going through, and the challenges you'll face, both as an artist and as a person.

Armed with a BM and an MFA in Musical Theatre, and backed by decades of experience as an actress, performer, professor, coach, and mentor, I'm not just providing you with information—I'm offering you a transformation.

And that’s why I created The Empowered Actor—to provide performers like you with the tools, strategies, and mentorship to confidently navigate the challenges of the musical theatre industry.

Why Join The Empowered Actor

  • Gain Confidence & Clarity in Your Career Path

    Stop second-guessing yourself and gain the confidence to move forward, knowing exactly what steps to take next in your career. From auditions to self-tapes, you’ll have a clear roadmap and the tools to feel in control of your journey, removing the fear of the unknown.

  • Stand Out & Get Noticed in Auditions

    Confidently approach every audition—whether in-person or through self-tapes—knowing you’re fully prepared and presenting your best self. Your headshots, resumes, and audition book will be curated to showcase what makes you unique.

  • Build a Sustainable, Balanced Career

    Create a career that not only fuels your passion but also supports your lifestyle. With strategies for finding support jobs that align with your goals and guidance on how to balance your personal and professional life, you’ll stop feeling burnt out and overwhelmed.

“I feel like I’ve taken control of my career.”

Vanessa Evans (LA)

“Her support and kindness is a very vulnerable part of our lives.”

April Audia (LA + NYC)

“This program has kept me balanced, determined and focused on my goals.”

Kenedi Chriske (NYC)

How It Works

Step 1: Enroll in The Empowered Actor

Join the program today and take the first step toward building a sustainable, fulfilling career in musical theatre. Enrollment is easy—just click the button, sign up, and you’ll gain immediate access to the tools, strategies, and support you need to get started.

Step 2: We’ll Do the Work Together

Once you're in, we’ll dive right into creating a plan that works for you. Whether it's refining your audition materials, mastering self-tapes, or setting career goals, we’ll tackle each challenge together with personalized coaching, group sessions, and practical strategies. You'll start seeing real progress as you take actionable steps toward your dreams.

Step 3: Build the Career You Love

With your plan in motion, you'll feel more confident, empowered, and in control of your future. You'll have the clarity to navigate the industry, the skills to stand out, and the support to keep moving forward—even through the tough times. This is where your hard work pays off, and you'll finally be living your happily ever after—a career that fuels your passion and supports your lifestyle.

In Their Own Words

  • "I have opened up my YouTube page to the public, I revamped my Instagram page and started posting more about the work I’m doing, and I started logging my auditions again. But I feel like what I use the most is your infectious positivity! It really helped me take things on with a more positive mindset and I feel like that’s the biggest change for me. I have received 3 job offers, lots of callbacks, and submitted to some agencies since starting the program. You inspired me to keep trying and I was able to let go a little more, I think that’s really helped a lot. I don’t dwell on missed jobs any more and definitely not missed opportunities because I rarely let those go by now!"

  • "The struggle I overcame the most is I've gained a lot of confidence working with Ashlee. I am learning not to sweat the small stuff, that my feelings are shared/validated, and how to not let negative thoughts affect my work. I have gotten things done that I have been meaning to do for years. Things like creating a YouTube channel, reel, new headshots, and website. Ashlee lays everything out in a clear and concise way. I couldn't help but follow through. Now because of it I feel like I have taken control of my career and I am able to run it like more of a business. It feels good."

  • "Ashlee creates the most welcoming and safe space for actors to find themselves in their art and explore! Being in her program has helped me immensely in building upon the foundation of my acting career and beginning to thrive in NYC's crazy theatre industry. Her course has kept me balanced, determined, and focused on my goals."

  • "I have been lucky enough to work with Ashlee for the last 3 years, from the classroom to now the Empowered Actor program. Ashlee has helped me regain confidence in who I am as a performer, and has guided me to have a more professional profile, auditions, and career path. She also cultivates such a supportive environment where all of us in the program care and really help one another."

  • "Ashlee is one of the most compassionate and informative artists I have ever had the pleasure of working with. In the midst of calls for change within the arts, she not only embodies this work- but puts it at the forefront of her practice. Ashlee is throwing down the ladder for others to follow and empowering them to discover their true self as a human and artist. Her leadership and example have led me not only to discovering what I want for my craft, but has equipped me with the tools to do so. Because of her, I have found the courage to take bold risks on myself that are blooming!"

  • "Ashlee's Empowered Actor is everything an actor needs to define what your success is. I was confused, unaware, and unorganized in this field and 2 weeks into the course I had 7 auditions from having nothing. Finishing the course I can happily say I've had 13 auditions, 3 bookings, and a happy me. Thank you Ashlee for your guidance. Your audition tracker is everything to me!"

  • "The most impactful part of the training is the ability to check in with our progress every week, get feedback and adjust. I’ve learned that boundaries are important and need to be prioritized. I’ve began implementing them and it has brought a positive change in my life. The biggest takeaway from this is the ability to have you as a mentor. That is something very unique and will help me stay motivated as I continue on this journey."

  • "The greatest value that I've learned is literally the single mantra of done is better than perfect, it's changed everything for me. The second thing is that what you look like doesn't always matter, for example I'm biracial but I look white, however, I am Puerto Rican, so I can audition for those roles if I want too because I can represent the people accurately, my skin tone doesn't matter. I've built a demo reel which is poppin! I also have had a national tour call back which was cool, and started to build up more confidence in submitting."

  • "Before I started working with you I just felt stuck for reasons I didn't even understand. I believe the progress over perfection way of thinking gave me permission to just do. Getting away from thinking it all had to be perfect to go forward, but the going forward and doing it is really not about getting the job (although nice if you do) it's about building the momentum of doing. The program is designed in a way that gives you tangible tasks to go from point A to point B. I started singing again, auditioning for musicals and finding my way back to that part of the business that I love."

  • "I am learning so, so much from you. I think what makes it more comprehensive is the community and communication you provide. Since the start of my process, I’ve discovered alot more about what I want and where I need to push myself. I’ve taken new headshots, been applying new daily habits, I’m in the process of creating my own website, I’m making plans to move to NY, I’m gonna be picking out material soon to film and upload to my YouTube, I’ve cleaned up my main social media profiles, I’ve made an account with actors access and backstage, and generally I’m talking much more positive to myself."

  • "My biggest struggle before working with you was feeling out of touch with the musical theater community after not working for a few years. The biggest struggle I’ve overcome so far is definitely getting back on stage and being able to book work. The greatest value is that you as a person and teacher are incredibly driven and devoted to your work and to your students. You’ve allowed me to work through my crap SO efficiently in the space you create for me individually and for the community. Since joining EA a few months ago I booked a six month contract doing shows as a singer/dancer/actor."

Enrollment is currently full. Contact me for 1:1 coaching.