A Quest Actor's Studio staff are working professionals in the performing arts.

Inspired by passion and a dedication to excellence, Debra Crosby founded A Quest Actor's Studio in 2005.
Ms Crosby's successful career includes acting, acting coaching, improvisation, writing, producing and directing.  Ms Crosby has a vision of turning Salem, MA into the next Sundance.

In January of 2007 & 2009 Debra Crosby participated in humanitarian trip to Senegal, West Africa and documented the whole project on film.  Her short documentary film “Peace, Love & Hope…….You make them happen!” was  shown in the Martha’ Vineyard International Film Festival ifrom the 2009 trip to Senegal and is entitled: "From Salem to Senegal."

 Ms Crosby is the executive producer and host of the monthly award winning Debra Crosby's Talent Quest TV show that has already attracted a following in New England and beyond.   Since the year 2000, Ms Crosby has directed a number of short  films.  In June of 2007, Debra Crosby produced a music video for the MAMADOU band entitled "MAMADOU Live at Avalon Boston, MA.  Ms Crosby has been filming the band leader Mamadou Diop since 2005 with the long term objective of producing a documentary film on Mamadou Diop the musician, teacher and humanitarian.  In collaboration with Film North Consortium and Bev Cam, in July of 2007, Ms Crosby was involved in the casting of the TV pilot: “Everyone’s Business”  

Debra Crosby’s student Kara Doherty landed a principle role in the Hollywood film “Evening” starring Meryl Streep and Vanessa Redgrave.  Some of Debra's students have landed lead roles in the independent the films "Commission", "Echoes", "Mockumentary" and “The Winter Men” and have been the principles in commercials such as I Party, Mass Millions, Monster.Com, Vapoblaster and Yoplait Yogurt.   Her students have also performed in star roles in Greater Boston theater productions such as: "The Grapes of Wrath," "The Story of Salt," "King Henry the Fifth," "State of Grace," "One Hundred and Three within the Veil,"  "Jack and the Beanstalk", “Peter Pan” and “The Queen of Bingo.” Her students have been seen on stage in North Shore Music Theater productions and community theater productions, as well. She is always encouraging and supporting her students to achieve their highest aspirations on stage and in life.

Debra Crosby is on a quest to making a lasting contribution to society and feels film is a great medium for change.  In January 2009 Ms Crosby  produced a Talent Quest Show in West Africa with young African performing artists.  She has a dream of having a film crew come with her on the next trip to Senegal West Africa to produce another documentary film on the continuation of the humanitarian projects she is involved with in the not for profit organization African Development through Drum & Dance (A3D, Inc.) .

Bill Aydelott

Has 35 years of experience producing and directing television commercials for broadcast clients in major cities throughout the US and Canada, with a clientele that includes WABC/New York, WGN/Chicago, KABC/Los Angeles and The Discovery Channel. As the founder and President of his own company, Waverly Motion Pictures, Mr. Aydelott works regularly with Paramount, 20^th Century Fox and Warner Bros., producing location sequences for a long line of highly-rated episodic TV series (Boston Legal, The Practice, Boston Public, St. Elsewhere, Ally McBeal, Cheers, Wings, Newhart, Becker, The Gilmore Girls, Fringe, The Unit, Bones). A four-time Emmy winner, his productions have won multiple Gold Awards from the prestigious New York and Chicago Festivals. He also co-produced and shot a much-heralded independent feature movie with writer/director John Sayles, The Return of the Secaucus Seven. His particular expertise lies in drawing winning on-camera performances from celebrities and experienced professionals, as well as first-time “real people.” Aydelott holds a BA from Dartmouth, graduating as both a Senior Fellow and the college’s first Special Major in Film Theory and Production.

(photo of Bill Aydelott available soon)

David Totty is a highly respected professional improv artist and esteemed improv instructor. He has studied and performed improv, stand up, and sketch comedy in and around the Boston Improv and Comedy scene for over a decade. He is the top instructor in ImprovBoston’s training program and was instrumental in designing the ImprovBoston curriculum as well as the improv course at The Boston Center for Adult Education. As a co owner of Urban-Interactive, he creates alternate reality adventure games, and as the former Artistic Director of Dinner and a Show and The Mystery Café, David has written, produced, directed, and acted in many Boston area dinner theater productions. He is pleased to be joining the faculty of Debra Crosby's A Quest Actor’s Studio to bring a new improv training curriculum to the North Shore

(Photo of David Totty available soon.)

Kim Hyder

In 2007 Kim was inspired to take an acting class to sharpen her skills as a public speaker.

Early on in her training she discovered her passion for acting and since then has been dedicated to what Ms Crosby refers to as the ‘Hero’s Journey’ when one is committed to the craft of acting. In class Ms Hyder's remarkable ability to grasp the Meisner Repetition Exercise and live authentically in the moment as an actor had not gone unnoticed.

In 2008 Debra Crosby was impressed with Kim’s enthusiasm and dedication to her studies and invited her to participate in A Quest Actor’s Studio intensive teacher training certification program. In the A Quest teacher training program Ms. Hyder was immersed in the practical philosophy and result oriented innovative approach to the studies of acting that Ms Crosby offers.

Kim is a working actor continuing to be cast in lead roles CrosbyQuest TV short film productions with a very promising career in the works.

Her teaching manner is fun, warm, compassionate, engaging and focused.  Kim’s passion for the success of each and every one of her students radiates through the entire class.  She is a true role model and superb teacher.  Many of her students go onto the advanced training offered at A Quest Actors Studio. Ms Hyder’s students have been seen in Debra Crosby’s Talent Showcases and are successfully working in the acting industry, as well.

Most recently Ms Hyder was cast in a Beverly Bank commercial and in a NESI voice radio spot.

Prior to working as a teacher Ms. Hyder career was solidly based in the Recruitment Sales industry as an Account Manager.  She excelled at collaboration and gaining the trust of her established clientele.  In 2007 she had made company history and was voted in the top 10 account managers in the country. Most recently Ms Hyder was reconnized as one of the top 10 sexiest vegans over 50 years old.

(photo of Ms Hyder will be available soon.  Stay tuned.)

Keisha Conigliaro

Founder: La Chic Modeling & Charm School www.lachicmodeling.com

Debra Crosby was impressed with Keisha Conigliaro’s succsseefull career but more importantly her integrity and the respect and interest she has shown to what the studio has accomplished. As a result Ms Crosby invited Keisha Conigliaro to teach at the studio.

Keisha's Conigliaro's natural beauty and stature made her an obvious contestant for the Miss Bahamas beauty pageant and after winning the Miss Photogenic Category and taking a top finalist position; she went on a follow-up promotion and speaking tour, which included all the Islands of the Bahamas. She represented her country well and realized she had what was required to succeed.

She moved to Florida and settled in Orlando. Aggressively attended open auditions where she could showcase the outstanding attributes that had been so quickly recognized in her own native land.  While in the US, she caught the eye of  Digital Imaging Concepts, a professional photography company based in Boston. The owner, William Conigliaro promptly signed on as Keisha’s agent, enthusiastically promoted her in the Northeast. 

After a long professional friendship and flourishing modeling career, Keisha married her greatest supporter and champion, Billy Conigliaro. She has enjoyed modeling for the past 8 years as Mrs Conigliaro. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States, and the Caribbean at the request of various, illustrious modeling agencies to walk an array of glittering runways and pose at flashbulb-intense, high-fashion photo shoots. Knowing the ins and outs of the industry and desirous to support and give back to aspiring, yet young and inexperienced models, Keisha decided to open La Chic Modeling & Charm School in 2007. 

There will be an intentional focus on confidence building and attitude growth. Keisha will also pay specific attention to the importance of interpersonal relationships, hence her current undergraduate degree studies in Social Work at Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts.. 

Joanna Herrington
Joanna Herrington's years of experience as a working actor bring a real-life perspective to her teaching. Her practical knowledge of the industry is invaluable to the student who is interested in the field of commercial acting, voice-overs, industrial video, TV, film, and even commercial print.

Her career began as a part-time hobby in commercial acting and print. She learned the "ins and outs" of the profession through auditioning, working on shoots, and networking with other actors and crew members (outside of her career as an architect.) After many classes and years of hands-on experience her hobby became a full-time career.

Now, Joanna is thrilled to be sharing her knowledge with students who are eager to improve their craft or who want to know what it takes to work as a professional actor. Her fun-loving, nurturing personality creates a safe and energetic atmosphere in which to learn. Through her clear and direct instruction, both the beginner as well as the professional actor gain a wealth of useful information and a broader knowledge of the industry.

Joanna is currently attending the renowned "William Esper Studios" in New York City. In addition to her work in voice-overs, industrial video, TV, film, and print, she has been cast in over fifty national and regional commercials, including Dunkin Donuts, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and HGTV.