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GETTING PHYSICAL Changing the Narrative How Yvonne Landry is helping create a troupe of superhero actors By Mi cha e l J . Pa l l e r i no Changing the Narrative How Yvonne Landry is helping create a troupe of superhero actors By Mi chae l J . Pa l l e r i no
D on’t tell Yvonne Landry she can’t do something. If you need to know anything about the founder of Yell Studio and the Super Hero Training Center from the jump, start there. Want more? Let’s go. She is a dancer, improv performer, former casting associate, stunt driver, and award-winning director. After receiving a degree in dance and musical theater from Columbia College in Chicago (with a couple of stops in between), she decided to study improv at Chicago’s iO Conservatory, Second City, and the Annoyance Theater. For eight years, she performed in different shows at all three places. You might think that Landry’s story ends there. Not a chance. After moving back home to New Orleans, she opened her own place, the La Nuit Comedy Theater, where she produced the internationally known New Orleans Comedy Arts Festival for 15 years while consulting on multiple other comedy festivals around the world. She trained and directed thousands of improvisers. Her love of improv led her to teach abroad, eventu- ally finding her way to the Atlanta film market. While there is much more to the background story of how and why Landry ended up in this place at this moment, the most important takeaway is that the Super Hero Training Center she created is a one-of-a-kind program that helps get actors ready for any and all opportunities. “I think it’s important because we are the only people on the planet doing a program like this,” says Landry, who most recent- ly guest starred on TNT’s widely successful Claws . The Center focuses on creating well rounded actors—ones that can perform all kind of roles. The eight-month, acting intensive program keys in on com- The Center’s ensemble classes include ballet, improvisational comedy, voiceovers, and tactical training styles (think sword fighting, and SWAT and military maneuvers). D on’t tell Yvonne Landry she can’t d something. If you need to know anything about the founder of Yell Studio and the Super Hero Training Center from the jump, start there. Want more? Let’s go. She is a dancer, improv performer, former casting associate, stunt driver, and award- winning director. After receiving a degree in dance and musical theater from Columbia College in Chicago (with a coupl of stops in betwe n), sh decided to study improv at Chicago’s iO Co servatory, Second City, and the Annoyance Theater. For eight years, she performed in different shows at all three places. You might think that Landry’s story ends there. Not a chance. After moving back home to New Orleans, she opened her own place, the La Nuit Comedy Theater, where she produced the internationally known New Orleans Comedy Arts Festival for 15 years while consulting n multiple other comedy festivals around th world. She trained and directed thousands of improvisers. Her love of improv led h r to teach abroad, eventually finding her way to the Atlanta film m rket. While there is much more to the background story of how and why Landry ended up in this place at this moment, most i portant takeaway is that t e Super Hero Training Center she cr ated is a one-of-a-kind program that elps get actors ready for any and all opportunities. “I think it’s important because we e the only people o the pla et doing a program lik this,” says Landry, who most recently guest starred on TNT’s wi ely success- ful Claws . The Center fo uses on creating w ll round d acto s—ones that can p rform ll kind of roles. The eight-month, acting intensive pr gram keys in on mba ves, tactical, voice, improvisation, Shakespeare, script analysis, on-came a, and much more. “I have spared no expense to get the bes -of-the-best teachers in the world—not the coun ry, the world.” Landry’s goal is to create a multi-disciplin ry, Europea -styled training center with American classes
Current pandemic crisis aside, Landry is eyeing the future with the same kind of passionate commitment that has served her over the years. For starters, the Center will have its own building soon, as Yell Studios is purchasing a 4,200-square-foot space. She is also looking for her students to start creating their own content, much like she did when she put together the critically acclaimed long-form group: “God’s been drinking”, in New Orleans. “I’m so proud of what we’re doing,” Landry says. “It might be self-serving for me because I also get to take these incredible classes. Twenty-plus years into my career, I am still training and training, trying to get better. So keep watching us, because we are going to keep changing the narrative.”
batives, tactical, voice, improvisation, Shakespeare, script analysis, on-camera, and much more. “I have spared no expense to get the best-of-the-best teachers in the world—not the country, the world.” Landry’s goal is to create a multi- disciplinary, European-styled training center with American classes laid on top of it. That means teaching her students how to do whatever it is they are asked. “I want to get them to the point where nobody can turn them down because they are so extremely well trained.” For example, the Center’s ensemble classes include ballet, improvisational comedy, voiceovers, and tactical training styles (think sword fighting,
Yvonne Landry
How to apply: superherotrainingcenter.com/audition
and SWAT and military maneuvers). This year, they are performing Chekov and Shakespeare, and will include classes that focuses on accents and dialects. “We have so much cool stuff planned. It is going to be so much fun.” And if you are thinking COVID-19 has interrupted any plans, you were not paying attention earlier, i.e., never say no. The Super Hero Training Center currently plans to hold a series of Zoom training classes. “The program is not necessarily designed for beginner students. It is for the people looking to take their careers to the next level—the ones who want to work their asses off nine-plus hours a week. It is really hard work, but there is nothing like it. I want our students to walk into a casting room, and floor the people there. I want them to be able to do anything they are asked. They should be able to compete with the Liam Hemsworths of the world.” Current pandemic crisis aside, Landry is eyeing the future with the same kind of passionate commitment that has served her over the years. For starters, the Center will have its own building soon, as Yell Studios is purchasing a 4,200-square-foot space. She is also looking for her students to start creating their own content, much like she did when she put together the critically acclaimed long-form group: “God’s been drinking”, in New Orleans. “I’m so proud of what we’re doing,” Landry says. “It might be self-serving for me because I also get to take these incredible classes. Twenty-plus years into my career, I am still training and training, trying to get better. So keep watching us, because we are going to keep changing the narrative.” laid n top of it. That means teaching her students how to do w atever it is they are aske . “I want to get th m to the p int where obody can turn hem down because they are so extremely well trained.” For example, th Center’s ensemble classes nclude ballet, impr visational com dy, voiceovers, and tactical trai ing styles (think sword fighting, and SWAT and military maneuv rs). This year, they are performi g Chekov and Shakespeare, and will include classes that focuses on accents and dialects. “We have so much co l stuff planned. It is going to be so much fun.” A d if you are thinking COVID-19 has interrup ed any plans, y u were n t paying atte tion earlier, i.e., never s y no. The Supe Hero Training Center currently plans to hold a series of Zoom training classes. “The program is ot necessarily designe for beginner students. It is for the people loo i g t take their careers to the next level—th ones who want to work their asses off nine-plus hours a week. It is really hard work, but there is nothing like it. I want ou students to walk into a casti g r om, and floor the people th re. I want them to be able to do anything they ar a k d. They should be able to compete with the Liam Hemsworths of the world.”
SNAPSHOT ON THE SUPER HERO TRAINING CENTER THE TEAM • On Camera Instructor: Andrea Frankle • Tactical & Combatives Instructor: Matt Clanton • Acting Technique: Jason Kirkpatrick • Improv Instructor: Yvonne Landry • Vocal & Dialect Coach: Cara Reid • Swordfighting Instructor: AJ Gagliardi THE SCHEDULE Daytime Class Schedule • Day 1: Improvisation+Ballet • Day 2: Voice+Tactical Movement/ Krav Maga (alternating weekly) • Day 3: Shakespeare/On-Camera (alternating weekly) • Pricing: $379/month Evening Class Schedule • Day 1: Improvisation+Ballet • Day 2: Voice+Tactical Movement/Krav Maga (alternating weekly) • Day 3: Shakespeare/On-Camera (alternating weekly)
superherotrainingcenter.com/audition
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