Darius A. Journigan is a New York-based actor, director, and acting coach with more than two decades of performance experience and nearly a decade of coaching actors of all ages and experience levels. His work spans stage, film, immersive theatre, and actor training, with credits including performances in Greece at the Athens & Epidaurus Festival, Off-Broadway productions, regional Shakespeare tours, independent film, and new play development. As an educator, Darius has worked with students across the globe, helping performers develop stronger craft, confidence, communication skills, and professional readiness. He is the founder of the Working Actor Masterclass and is passionate about bridging the gap between acting training and the realities of a professional career, empowering artists to turn their creative goals into achievable milestones.

Katherine Banos is a bi-coastal actor/writer/producer. Katherine is an MFA Acting candidate at Columbia University (Class of 2029). She has her BFA in acting from NYU Tisch [Experimental Theater Wing & Stonestreet Studios]. Her extensive training also includes Terry Knickerbocker Studio, BADA’s Midsummer in Oxford, Shakespeare & Company’s January Intensive, Upright Citizens Brigade, the Groundlings, and clowning with Christopher Bayes. She has over a decade of industry experience, including working for NBCUniversal, Glickmania Entertainment, Scott Rudin Productions, CBS Primetime Casting, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Her original short film, RING OF FIRE, was an official selection of over 25 film festivals nationally and internationally, nominated for over 30 awards, and won 14. Katherine is currently developing a clowning show slated to perform later in 2026. She is represented by Brandi Lee at ST8RM.

Merlin McCormick is a performer and filmmaker originally from Raleigh, North Carolina and is thrilled to be teaching at WAM this year. He has performed Off Broadway, in Regional Theatres across the country and in many commercials. Merlin is proud to be an alumnus of the MFA in Acting program at University of Tennessee Knoxville and a certified teacher of the 7 pillars of Acting. He is honored to be part of this intensive and looks forward to creating a space where artists can take risks, grow, and discover new possibilities in their work. Merlin is also proud member of the Actors Equity Association.