Our Story

Lea Marlene

 Artistic Director  & Founder

It was during a time of deep introspection after Lea was diagnosed with melanoma in 2010 that she found her true calling and began to allow her gifts and talents to be of service to the world in a whole new way.  It was at that time the seeds for The ACTASANA Technique, Lea Marlene Actors Studio and The Namastage Theatre planted.  She is happy to say that she is 100% healthy today and she is tremendously grateful to be living her dreams that are continuosly  blossoming into reality.

A native Coloradan, Lea earned a degree in Journalism; Broadcast News & Television with a minor in Theatre from Colorado State University. There she hosted a campus television show and  interviewed several  famous bands such as Outkast , Tribe Called Quest and The Black Eyed Peas. While in college she also wrote, directed, produced  and acted in her first short film.

After college Lea moved to Hollywood where she landed roles on stage and screen while also studying the Meisner Technique with two of the finest Meisner certified teachers in the country, Bill Alderson of the Alderson Acting Studio. and John Ruskin of Ruskin School of Acting.  At both prestigious schools Lea was invited into their master classes where she received accolades from legends such as David Mamet and Sir Anthony Hopkins.

While in LA Lea she became highly skilled at Directing, Producing and Writing as well.  She  developed a stand up comedy act; producing, hosting and performing in numerous comedy venues in The US including the world famous Improv and The Comedy Store. She earned her business savvy while working as The Director of Events at Michael’s Restaurant in Santa Monica.

Yoga has been a significant part of Lea’s lifestyle. She received her Yoga Teacher Certification from The American Yoga School in Santa Monica in 2012.  She moved home to be close to family that same year. This was a time she was called to cultivate presence with her health and give back to the community where she grew up.  She answered the call because she feels that Denver actors should be on the same level as New York, Chicago or Los Angeles and her training and dedication to this craft gives them just that. She teaches you to be one hundred percent authentic, how ‘not to act,’ but rather how to embody Mr. Meisner’s definition of acting which is; the ability to live truthfully under given imaginary circumstances.  This approach is transformational for the actor and non actor alike and that is why Lea’s mission and vision helps so many people in various personal and professional areas of life. She opened up what was originally called ACTASANA Acting Studio and Theatre in 2012 and it grew into what is Lea Marlene Actors Studio and The Namastage Theatre today, home of the revolutionary Actasana Technique whereby yoga is integrated into the acting curriculum to get the actor out of their head and into their heart.   Lea is thrilled to support and co- create with artists from all over the world right here in her home town of Denver.