Essay Prep
Essay Prep
If you’re auditioning for college theater programs, you know you’re doing a lot on top of the normal application process. You’re preparing songs and monologues, working on your dance skills, and recording prescreens — but one thing no one tells you is just how many essays you’ll be writing. In addition to your Common App essay, you’ll be answering what can feel like a hundred variations on “why musical theater?” and “why our school?” Whether you’ve painstakingly completed your first draft or you’re staring at a blank screen, our essay coaches can help.
Meet Our Essay Prep Coaches

Isabel Pask
Essay Coach
BFA in Acting and a Minor in Creative Writing, Carnegie Mellon University
Certificate in Classical Acting, The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
AEA
She/Her
Isabel Pask is a Brooklyn-based, Texan-born writer, actor, and producer. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon with a BFA in Acting and a minor in Creative Writing, receiving University and College Honors and making the Dean’s List all eight semesters.
Her work has been recognized by numerous international film festivals and publications, including Big Apple Film Festival, Madrid International Film Festival, Venice Shorts, Toronto Indie Filmmakers Festival, Women’s Voices Now Film Festival, Ms. Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Isabel is a member of the theatrical collectives The Bellwether Project and Notch Theatre Company, and is a contributing artist for CNT Productions. She is the Producing Associate for the latiné theatre initiative The Sol Project.
Regional/NY Theatre: McCarter Theatre Center, Ars Nova, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Dorset Theatre Festival, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ. Film/TV: Revelations of Divine Love, Life and Beth (Hulu), Succession (HBO). Isabel recently wrote, produced and starred in the short film GET LOST (dir. Victoria Pedretti), currently in post-production.
Having earned admission to multiple Ivy League schools while being deeply involved in the arts during high school, Isabel is passionate about sharing her love for both academia and creativity and where they intersect.

Lea Sevola
Essay Coach
BFA in Musical Theater from Ithaca College
She/Her
Lea Sevola is an actor, singer, and dancer from Randolph, New Jersey. She has performed across the country and internationally, with credits including Vivienne in Legally Blonde (U.S. National Tour) and Sarah in Present Perfect (Workshop, New York City), where she worked alongside Broadway’s Mauricio Martínez in a new musical by Jaime Lozano. Internationally, she portrayed Wonder Woman in Justice League Live across four Middle Eastern countries.
In addition to her performance career, Lea is a passionate educator and academic. She tutors middle and high school students in humanities, standardized test preparation, and college readiness. As an SAT/ACT and essay prep coach for MTCA, Lea works to ensure students present applications that are as compelling academically as they are artistically. She is a proud MTCA alumna.

Natasha Warner
Essay Coach
MFA from Juilliard
BA from Barnard
AEA, SAG-AFTRA
she/her
Natasha received her BA from Barnard, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, and her MFA from Juilliard. While at Juilliard Natasha received the Laura Pels Award, the Bill Irwin Scholarship, and the prestigious Goldman Fellowship for her teaching work. In the writing sphere, Natasha worked as a writing fellow at both Barnard and Juilliard; as well as working as a copywriter and grant writer. As an actor, Natasha has appeared at New York theaters including HERE Art Space, MCC, The Civilians, The Lark, and New York Performance Space (formerly PS 122). Regional credits include New York Stage and Film, SPACE on Ryder Farm, The Geva theater, Merrimack Repertory Theater, The White Heron, The Cape Playhouse, Boston Court, and the Gulfshore Playhouse. TV: Ground Floor (TBS); and Betas (Prime). Film: Odyssea (Slamdance) and Farah Goes Bang (TriBeCa). Upcoming: Space Cadet (Prime). Natasha also worked as a producer and on-set acting coach for the film The Unknown Country which premiered at SXSW in 2022. As a director and teaching artist, Natasha has worked at Juilliard, PlayMakers Rep, The Vineyard, Shakespeare at the Manor, Luna Stage, Bellarmine Jefferson High-School, and with community programs like 52nd St. Project and Hunts Point Alliance for Children.