Testimonials
To say Mari has been a help to my career would be a serious understatement. She has truly helped me transform as an actor, and I can’t thank her enough. I’ve been training with her for 10 years now, from my teens into adulthood, and there’s no one else I’d rather have by my side. She is someone who is passionate about seeing her students grow. Her amount of care and attention to detail is proof of that. She has a gift for connecting with an actor and then using that connection to bring out the best in them. I can’t say enough positive things, and I trust her completely. All of her advice and guidance has never steered me wrong. So many of my career wins I owe to her.
Mari Ferguson was my first acting coach, and 20 years later still coaches me today. She’s kind, sweet, but also doesn’t mess around when it comes to teaching what it takes in this industry to separate yourself from the rest. She’s helped me push past emotional ceilings, breakthroughs in my performances, and has taught me being an actor is more than just about your on screen performance no matter how great it is. It translates into regulating and controlling your own emotions as we all must learn on the stage of life. Mari is a dear friend, mentor, and colleague that I’ll always be grateful for and am so lucky when I was 11 years old and walked into her studio as my eyes widened looking at my first script. Thank you Mari!
Mari always gives you everything she's got. As a voice talent, her fresh, cheerful, confident sound works well for both acting and announcing. Plus, she's a pleasure to work with: she's smart, fast, and fun to be with. If Mari were in baseball. she's be a five-tool player.
Voice-over Director and Coach
Daria has been Mari’s student for over three years, and during this whole time, we've had a great experience! Mari has a wonderful approach to working with kids, handling both their good and bad days with ease. She always knows the right words and techniques to help Daria get into character, and I can say she is much more patient than I am. After years of regular classes, I can see how Daria has grown as an actor. Scenes that used to take much longer to record are now done in just a few takes. Daria has learned to quickly understand her character, their background, and the context of the scene. She has been able to land interesting projects that she enjoyed participating in and is proud of her achievements. Additionally, auditions sometimes come with very short notice, and Mari always does her best to help us with preparations. She is not only a coach but also a great support for my daughter and me in this acting roller coaster.
Mother to Daria Droteva
We are so lucky to have found Mari Ferguson. She is such a sweet person, but more than that she is an incredible acting coach. She is able to develop a child's natural acting ability and help them to understand acting needs to always seem "real". Our son, Braden, would not be where he is today without Mari's coaching. In three simple words: "We love Mari!"
Parents of Braden Fitzgerald
Mari Ferguson has been Matt's coach for the last ten months. Matt had never been coached before and after working with her, he went to Los Angeles and was able to acquire an agent and a manager, which rarely happens on your first trip out and even rarer with less than a year's worth of training. In the last month, he has auditioned for pilots, commercials and print jobs. We have Mari to thank for getting us ready for the L.A. market and for being such a great friend! We love you, Mari!
Mother to Matt Prokop
I look forward to her classes every week! Her positive attitude and nurturing environment continues to make me a better actor. She is a working actor and knows the steps to breaking into the business. I would have never guessed that I would be moving to L.A. with confidence in my training before I started working with Mari. She is dedicated to her students and pushes them to their full potential.
Student
When Amanda discovered her passion for film acting and we began researching possible coaches in Houston, there was one acting coach who came recommended by industry professionals above all others—Mari Ferguson. Within a period of months, Mari transformed our 12-year old from a theatrical actor to a film/TV actor who became competitive enough to receive representation by a prestigious agency and win commercial auditions. Mari takes a very personal interest in her students and goes the extra mile to see that they have the tools to succeed. I have also worked with a number of Mari’s young students in my role as a movie producer, and they stand out in the crowd due to their polished auditioning and performance skills, and their confidence in their craft. Parents often ask me to recommend an acting coach for their children, and without hesitation, I provide them with Mari’s name because of her talent, dedication, and terrific results.
Writer/Producer
Mari is one of the top acting coaches in Houston that we refer all of our young actors to. She gives them all the self confidence they need to land an audition. She also inspires them to get to the next level. Thanks for being there for our kids.
APlus Actors of Texas
My daughter, Piper, loves working with Mari. Weekly private instruction has helped Piper build confidence and improve her acting and auditioning skills. Mari has that special touch that truly brings out the best in young actors. She cares about my child and her continued success and her perseverance and patience with her has resulted in some great bookings. We are LA bound, but will always consider Mari her coach. Thanks Mari.
Parent of Student Piper Harris