T e s t i m o n i a l s
“I feel like I was lost and didn't really know who I was when I first started working with Morgan, but she gave me the space and tools I needed to grow not only as an actor, but as a person—teaching me to embrace challenges, leading with determination and compassion, and inspiring confidence in others.
The impact she has had on me is invaluable.
— Natalie Connelly, BFA Acting
University of Colorado (Boulder)
Morgan is the first person who taught me to believe in myself. I am an Asian American who grew up in a predominantly white institution, so the opportunities at school auditions were always limited to me. I met Morgan when I felt like giving up on performing completely, because I was so discouraged by the fact that my directors didn't believe in me and therefore I felt like I couldn't believe in myself. Since I was little, I would walk into auditions knowing there were only a few roles (if even that many) that I would even be considered for because of how I looked. Morgan saw past my insecurities and hesitations, and gave me opportunity after opportunity to indulge in this passion that I love so much. She repeatedly cast me in roles that would challenge me and stretch me as an artist. I remember feeling terrified after seeing what roles she would give me, because it was always the role I was too scared to play. Morgan once told me she could put me in any role because she trusted that I could bring them to life. Her trust in me inspired trust in myself, and helped me to develop a sense of confidence that I have carried with me ever since.
— Jessi Delfino, BA Advertising
University of Texas
“Morgan is one of the strongest female influences in my artistic and personal life. She has made a lifelong impact on me and it makes me thrilled to know she can go most anywhere and make a positive impact on others.
I think that’s her magic— she’s irreplaceable, and I know I’ll never meet another like her.”
— Madeleine Norton, BFA Acting
Otterbein University, ‘21
I remember once we were in a rehearsal for Les Miserables. I was playing Cosette, and that day was the first time I would rehearse "In My Life" in front of the full cast. I was absolutely dreading it. I felt that I wasn't NEAR good enough, that I didn't deserve such a big role and that I would be judged. The time came, and I was visibly shaking. I started to sing, and my voice was weak and trembling from my nervousness. Morgan noticed my change in behavior almost immediately, and nonchalantly asked everyone to take 5. She pulled me aside and asked what was wrong. At this point, tears were welling up in my eyes. I told her that I felt like I wasn't good enough, and that everyone in the cast would judge me. She looked me in the eye and told me that I was given that role for a reason—that she wouldn't have trusted me with the role if she didn't think I was "good enough." She told me that I was incredibly talented—and more importantly, hard working. She told me to try and keep my mind off of whether I was "good" or not, and to focus on telling a great story. I never really had many problems with worrying about talent-related judgment from my peers after that.
— Ariana Kelly, BM Musical Theatre
Oklahoma City University
Morgan has impacted the way I view myself and others’ opinion of me. She has taught me and consistently shows in her own life how it is important to be your own number one fan first, but how equally important it is to be able to reflect and evaluate yourself.
We can blossom beautifully only if we allow ourselves to grow.
— Michelle Garcia, BFA Acting
Emerson College
“By the time we finished class, Morgan made sure our actor tool belts were filled up with as much as possible. She teaches her students great acting techniques—lessons pulled from some of the great educators of theatre like Stanislavski, Meisner, and more—but most importantly she teaches trust, confidence, and resilience. Trust for your peers and yourself. Confidence to fail big. And resilience to continue trying knowing that you will succeed.”
— Hayley Stone, BA Communications
Collin College
My most valuable takeaway [from Morgan] is to respect the flaws and imperfections that are inherent to the theatre. She uses each one as an opportunity for education, and this skill applies not only to better my acting but also my personal life. I attack everything I do now with a profound respect not only for the final product but the process and every step that leads there. I would not be the artist I am without her influence to my mindset.
— Violet Forbes, BS Physics and Math
University of North Texas
“Morgan is one of the most important people in my life. I have never met someone who is so passionate about what they do and also so fiercely determined to help others find their own passions. I am now a singer-songwriter living in Dallas, and I know I would not be where I am without the confidence she instilled in me over the years. She taught me that if it scares you and if it seems impossible then you should try it, and that's what I'm doing to this day.”
— Ashleigh Smith, Alumni
Southern Methodist University, ‘20
Morgan's been one of the most influential and inspiring people in my life as a leader, teacher, and an artist; she helped reinforce my principles and build a strong foundation to the start of my journey as an artist and an educator, and everything I've learned since has been built on top of it.
— Keleman Szabo, BA Music Education,
University of North Texas
“Morgan trained me to explore characters and their motivations on a deeper level. I took classes from her because I wanted to give better performances and needed more individual training in order to understand layers in character and text. Morgan taught me Shakespeare at an in-depth college level, encouraging me to seek out his works. I learned about scansion, meter, and rhythm, and how they add tone to a work.”
— Alex Duva, former student
“I had gotten into the rut of every aspect of my acting being more like choreography in order to tell a story. Morgan helped me find the truth in my performance, which made my storytelling skills better than they ever had been. After being taught by Morgan, I learned to forget my own idea of ‘performing’ and giving the audience what I thought they wanted, and instead diving head first into a character. My acting became more about living the truth instead of performing a lie.”
— Natalie Dickerson, former student
NTPA Academy
My first ever show with Morgan was The Drowsy Chaperone in August of 2017. I was not the strongest singer, but I was cast as Robert Martin. I was really struggling to hit the final note and harmony in the song "Accident Waiting to Happen," but Morgan stuck by my side and coached me through it until I felt I could do it. She never quit on me. She believed in me and trusted me. Over the next 2 years I worked on my singing and improved a lot just in time to do my final show with her which was Newsies. I was cast as Jack Kelly and was fully able to hit the final note in the song "Santa Fe" every time.
I owe so much to Morgan for believing in me, never giving up on me, and trusting me.
— Alec Welhouse, BFA Theatre
Lawrence University
“I took coaching from Morgan when I was starting to learn what professional theatre looked like as opposed to theatre as an extracurricular, hoping it would improve my skills with auditioning—and it definitely did! Learning from Morgan made me take theatre seriously.
I owe my future career to her.”
— Madelyn Magson, BFA Musical Theatre
Viterbo University
“Morgan has had a large impact on me as a person. She’s shown me what it means to be yourself and that it is okay to be quirky and different from those around you. Morgan is always there to support me through every new adventure and is an encouraging voice during difficult times, which is always helpful. She is always there to listen and gave feedback that could change the way you look at a situation.”
— Danielle Miracle
Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
University of California San Diego
“My most valuable takeaway from my time with Ms. Morgan is she teaches you the importance of text work and how this helps with the understanding of a scene and the character. She teaches you how each word a character speaks counts.”
— Karsen Clarabut, current student