Penny's back story begins at the age of seven when she fell in love with acting while touring with a children's repertory company in her home state of Kentucky. This affair with the theatre pushed her forward into obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Kentucky University from WKU Theatre Department and to working with the Fountain Square Players, a local theatre company.
Since moving to Los Angeles, in 1989, Penny has worked in all aspects of the entertainment business beginning by producing theatre with Gene and Toni Bull Bua at The Acting for Life Theater in Burbank, In 1999, she became the Managing Director of the The Actors Group, expanding their services and classes and developing their staged plays. Over that early three year period, as a producer, she created over 100 free theatrical performances for the NOHO Theatre and Arts Festival.
In 2001, Penny founded The Actors Repertory Theatre where she still serves as its Artistic Director today. Over the years, she has been recognized and awarded for her directing and producing by many theatre awards' programs including the prestigious NAACP Theater Awards and the LA Weekly Theatre Awards. In 2007, having examined all walks of life, the LA Weekly named Penny Moore one of the "Top 100 People in Los Angeles." In 2009, Penny moved The Actors Group to Burbank, transforming the old Third Stage Theatre into the Missing Piece Theatre, and then opening The Actors Group Studio next door. In 2011, Penny was recognized by Women in Theatre for her more than 20 years of service to the theatrical community in the San Fernando Valley.
Penny's other entertainment experiences run the gamut from Talent Agency Assistant at ICM, Writer's Assistant on the daytime drama, Santa Barbara, Casting Director for independent films and stage productions, director of over 20 full theatrical productions, as well as returning to her first love, acting in numerous feature films and television projects.
As an actress, she counts her early influences coming from her very first acting teachers in Kentucky, Ken Jenkins (Dr. Kelso on Scrubs) and Patrick Tovatt (As the World Turns). After arriving in Los Angeles, her acting philosophy was most greatly influenced by Gene and Toni Bua (Acting for Life) and Brian Reise (Brian Reise Acting Studio).
Gene and Toni Bui’s acting technique was an adaptation of Charles Conrad’s non-traditional method of “really no method at all,” but instead of pure honesty in the work.
Penny found that this technique of no script analysis and no objectives afforded the actor a freer environment to flourish. Director John Cassevetes calls this the “the ability of not knowing.” Having less awareness puts the actor in the realm of “all possibilities.” One of the most common complaints from industry professionals is that actors cannot take direction and that they’re too locked in the way they’ve rehearsed. Extensive rehearsal can sometimes get in the way of an actor’s originality. The openness Penny teaches allows the actors to take direction and fly with it. “The lack of forethought will heighten your instincts and intuition, and as you train to trust this, your emotions will become more detailed and accessible. This is vital.”
Most actors quickly become aware that this unique way of working is perfectly suited to the chaotic process seen in television production and filmmaking. Most importantly, if an actor is fortunate enough to be getting out on auditions, they will find their booking percentage will improve. This is the key to Penny’s philosophy: that being a great actor will not necessarily translate into being a working actor. Her years at a top talent agency, as well as her many years of running Casting Director Workshops, has given her an insight into the business side of acting, a subject most acting instructors refuse to delve into. Thus, by sharing her many lessons and stories, Penny’s students gain an insight that will not only help them become talented actors, but talent working actors.
