Mary Anna Dennard
College audition coach for performing arts applicants and their families
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students, Parents and Creatives |
| Based in | United States |
| Sessions | Online and in person |
| Practice | College Audition Coach |
Mary Anna Dennard is the founder of College Audition Coach. Mary helps high school performers and their parents with college applications and auditions for acting and musical theater programs. Mary has worked in this field since 2000 and wrote two college audition guide books. Mary's team has coached hundreds of students across the country, and many were accepted to programs in the US and Europe. The practice also runs Moonifieds, an in person audition event in Dallas.
What Mary helps with
Dennard and Mary's team guide performing arts students and families through college applications and auditions. They coach the audition material and help students choose schools.
- Preparing for college acting and musical theater auditions
- Coaching monologues and songs one-on-one
- Practicing with mock auditions led by college professors
- Advising families on the performing arts application process
- Meeting selective programs at early audition events
- Finding access to audition prep through a diversity initiative
Who Mary works with
The practice works with high school performers who plan to apply to college acting and musical theater programs. Parents and families are part of the process through family advising. A diversity initiative that began in 2020 supports performers from underrepresented communities, including students who are neuro-diverse or disabled.
How Mary works
College Audition Coach offers several ways to prepare. Online prep is built for performing arts applicants. Private coaching is one-on-one and covers monologues and songs. Consulting is advising with the whole family. Master classes are held in person on campus, with mock auditions led by college professors. Moonifieds is a weekend event in Dallas each November where 35 colleges hold early auditions in person.
Background and qualifications
Mary Anna Dennard founded College Audition Coach in 2000. Mary and President Mark Christine have helped students and families with the college performing arts application and audition process since then. Dennard is the author of two college audition guide books. Their students have been accepted to well known college programs in the US and Europe. Many have gone on to work in recording, TV, film, national tours and on Broadway.
Mary Anna Dennard pricing
Programs and services
- Online prep for performing arts applicants
- Family consulting
- One-on-one private coaching for monologues and songs
- In person master classes with mock auditions
- Moonifieds audition event in Dallas
- BIPOC and diversity initiative
Mary Anna Dennard reviews
The CoachVouch take
Runs Moonifieds, an in person event where 35 colleges hold early auditions in Dallas each November.
Best for high school performers and their families preparing for college acting or musical theater auditions.
Common questions
How much does Mary Anna Dennard charge?
Coaching with Mary runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Mary from this page for an exact quote.
What does Mary Anna Dennard help with?
Mary Anna Dennard helps with preparing for college acting and musical theater auditions, coaching monologues and songs one-on-one, practicing with mock auditions led by college professors and advising families on the performing arts application process.
Does Mary Anna Dennard coach online?
Mary is based in United States. Sessions are online and in person.
What is Moonifieds?
Moonifieds is an in person college audition event in Dallas held in November. 35 colleges take part.
Does College Audition Coach offer help for underrepresented performers?
Yes. Its diversity initiative began in 2020 and has helped over 105 young artists with coaching, guidance and access to Moonifieds.
How do I contact Mary Anna Dennard?
Send Mary a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
Similar coaches to compare
Tick "Compare" to message several coaches at once.
Irene Garcias
Irene Garcias is a college admissions consultant who works one-on-one with students in grades 10 to 12. She helps them apply to highly selective US and Canadian colleges. She plans the high school years, builds college lists, and guides essays and applications. She also teaches SAT, ACT and TOEFL prep. Her clients come from top Sao Paulo high schools and The American School of Paris. She takes only a limited number of students each semester.
Spark Admissions
Spark Admissions is a college admissions consulting firm that helps students and their parents. It is led by Rachel Rubin, who has a Harvard doctorate. While at Harvard, she published a study on how admissions officers at the top 75 American colleges make decisions. The firm builds its plans on that research. Each family works with one consultant, and a committee reviews every student's application. The team includes former admissions officers and PhD researchers.
Timothy O'Hair
Timothy O'Hair is an admissions consultant who helps students and families apply to selective colleges in the United States, the UK and Ireland. He also guides film school and MBA applicants. Tim spent twenty years in the film business and uses that skill in storytelling to shape applications. He holds a UCLA college counseling certificate and British Council training in UCAS and Oxbridge applications. He visits campuses in the US, England and Scotland.
Ralph Becker
Ralph Becker is an independent college admissions counselor who works with high school students in grades 9 to 12 and their families. He is the director of Ivy College Prep, LLC. He covers the full admissions process, from college lists to essays and aid. His students have been admitted to all the Ivy League schools, Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech and Carnegie Mellon. He also knows the application paths for studio arts, nursing, BS-MD and engineering.
Browse related
Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.