Cady McClain Honors Michael Howard Studios Class of 2025
Daytime Emmy winner shares tips on graduation night, applauding final student performances
Image: Instagram
Emmy-winning actress Cady McClain took to Instagram to salute the graduating class of 2025 at Michael Howard Studios, praising their dedication and on‐stage chemistry. In a post shared with her followers, she wrote, “Such an amazing and dedicated group of actors. They all did a fantastic job with their scenes. I was wildly proud to help them on their journey. ⭐️💕🌹”
Established Mentor Joins Esteemed Faculty
McClain, best known for her stirring daytime performances on shows like “All My Children” and “As the World Turns,” joined the Michael Howard Studios teaching roster earlier this year. The school, founded in 1953 by actor‐teacher Michael Howard, has long been celebrated as a nurturing ground for rising talent. McClain’s involvement brings a fresh perspective rooted in more than three decades of professional experience and multiple Daytime Emmy wins.
Behind The Graduation Curtain
The featured Instagram image shows McClain standing amid a semicircle of beaming graduates in a bright New York City studio space. Clad in casual black attire and smiling broadly, she raises her arm in triumph alongside her students, who clutch their scene scripts and class certificates. The scene captures a mixture of relief and exhilaration—a fitting close to months of deep‐dive scene study and on‐camera exercises.
Many of the 2025 graduates arrived at Michael Howard Studios with theater diplomas or film backgrounds, seeking to strengthen their on‐camera technique. Under McClain’s guidance, students worked through emotional monologues, partnered scene work, and improvisation drills. According to the school’s website, this cohort logged more than 120 hours of hands‐on training, culminating in filmed showcases for industry guests.
Insights From A Soap Veteran
In her Instagram remarks, McClain stressed the importance of vulnerability. “Every actor’s strongest work comes from a place of truth,” she told her class. “Don’t be afraid to look ridiculous. That’s where the magic begins.” This advice echoes her own career trajectory, which has ranged from a breakout turn as Dixie Cooney Martin on “All My Children” in the 1990s to recent supporting roles in independent films.
On her Wikipedia profile, McClain is credited not only as an actress but also as an author of children’s books and a playwright. Her multifaceted career informed a teaching style that blends storytelling fundamentals with technical camera skills. “Working with Cady means you get equal parts discipline and heart,” says studio director David Darlow. “She holds students accountable while reminding them why they fell in love with acting in the first place.”
Alumni In The Spotlight
Past Michael Howard Studios graduates have gone on to notable film and TV roles, from network dramas to Netflix originals. This year’s class includes several emerging talents already in talks for commercial and streaming projects. One student, whose filmed scene landed him an agent, credited McClain for helping him “own the moment” and stay grounded under pressure.
Beyond the New York studio, McClain remains active across the country. A recent Instagram post shows her directing a staged reading in Los Angeles for the Entertainment Community Fund, featuring Broadway and screen actors such as James Patrick Stuart and Sophia Vassilieva. Earlier posts underscore her industry connections, including a lunch with Lorraine Broderick, the head writer of “All My Children,” whom McClain praised for her “gorgeous and generous spirit.”
McClain’s summer plans, teased on Instagram, hint at more masterclasses and industry panels. Yet no matter where she teaches, her message stays consistent: excellence in acting arises from honest collaboration and fearless risk‐taking.
As the confetti settled and the applause faded in the New York studio, graduates of Michael Howard Studios Class of 2025 walked away not just with diplomas but with a renewed confidence—and a few key life lessons from one of daytime television’s most respected performers. They’re now poised to carry those lessons onto casting calls, film sets, and theatrical stages across the globe.
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