Biographie
Heidi Marshall's career has spanned over 25 years as film director, theater director, acting coach, acting studio owner, and former Broadway casting director. She is the founder of Heidi Marshall Studio, which has been running for 25+ years in New York City and online. Heidi is considered a top industry acting coach for film, TV, and theater. Among other credits, she was on-set acting coach for the lead actor, René Perez (Residenté, Calle13), on Sundance 2024's Grand Jury Winner, In the Summers. She coached on-set with Perez again for Sundance 2026’s Frank and Louis.
As a film director, Heidi has received prestigious awards for her work, including THE NEW YORK DRAMA LEAGUE Theater Directing Fellowship and the AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE (AFI) Directing Workshop for Women Fellowship. AFI selected Heidi as one of eight women with professional backgrounds to support in the transition to directing film and TV. Heidi's first short film, "A Through M," played at over 22 film festivals. Heidi's short film "Muscle" has played at over 30 film festivals and won 6 awards. The film "S.P.I.C." is directed by Heidi and written by creative partner and husband Johnny Sánchez, playing over 30 film festivals and picking up over 15 top awards. The film impressed audiences with its bold and honest storytelling. Heidi and Johnny are developing and producing feature films.
Other professional directing credits from past years include an invitation from director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) to be the Resident Director on his production of La Boheme on Broadway and at the Ahmanson Theater in LA, where she remounted and directed it for Luhrmann. Luhrmann entrusted his productions to Heidi's detailed direction of acting and visual components. She was also Resident Director of the Off-Broadway hit Shockheaded Peter, artistically guiding the show through its American transfer from London's West End. This led to her collaboration as Associate Director as the same directors created The Addams Family Musical on Broadway. She has also directed live multi-media events at The Kennedy Center, Baryshnikov Arts Center, and several venues in Miami, Florida.
Follow some of Heidi's coaching clients on screen and stage: Julianne Nicholson (Emmy Award winner), René Pérez in Sundance 2024's Grand Jury Winner In the Summers (on-set acting coach), Little America (Apple TV+, on-set acting coach), Halle Bailey (Little Mermaid), Jack Harlow (White Men Can’t Jump), Jackson Wang, Fantasia, H.E.R., Thomas Doherty, Chaka Kahn, Rueby Wood (Emmy nominee), Maren Morris, Rhiannon Giddens, Danielle Pinnock, Jesse James Keitel, Raul Castillo, Saycon Sengbloh, Lily-Rose Depp, Michael Cimino, Angela Lewis, Winnie Harlow. She also has clients shining bright across countless Broadway stages.
At the start of her career, Heidi was the lead Casting Director for over 70 productions of theater, film, voice overs, and commercials while working with Bernie Telsey, CSA in New York City. Heidi's casting work ranged from Broadway musicals (RENT, lead casting director for its first 7 years; Hairspray, Aida, Paul Simon's The Capeman, and more) to Off-Broadway (award-winning LAByrinth Theater Company for 2 years) to regional theaters (La Jolla Playhouse, Hartford Stage, McCarter Theater, and more) to independent films (Downtown: A Street Tale, The Understudy) to studio films (Finding Forrester, Blair Witch Project 2).
Notable collaborators include directors: Chloe Zhang (Oscar winner), Sîan Heder (Oscar winner), John Turturro, and Baz Luhrmann. Top talent agency and manager allies include CAA, WME, Paradigm, and more. Casting Director collaborators include Carmen Cuba, Bernie Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield, Sarah Finn, and more. Collaborators team up with Heidi to get their actors across the finish line in auditions, screen tests, and throughout production.
Heidi is a decades-long advocate for diversity on film and TV, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.
While based in NYC, Heidi is the visiting On-Camera Acting Teacher at University North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). She also constantly designs and launches new classes for actors through Heidi Marshall Studio. Her coaching and teaching includes actors creating their own work, actors starring in their own projects, and directors who are developing their process and preparing for production.
