“Cynthia Ashperger is one of the most influential teachers I had the priviledge of training with as a developing artist. Cynthia's unrivalled, raw, and dynamic  talent as an actor gives her a uniqe insight into the practice of Acting and Performance. This insight allows her to naturally and intuitively connect with the work she is guiding, and to the artist she is coaching. There is no part of the actor's body that is not engaged while immersed in Cynthia's pedagogy. From the physical, to the intellectual and emotional, she carefully fosters a learning environment where creativity reigns. Her knowledge and skill in connecting archetype, psychological gesture and style to text, is matched only by her innate ability to stimulate the most important component of an actor's toolbox: the imagination.      As a young actor training under Cynthia I benefitted from her skillset immensely. Now, because of her instruction, as a professional performer I have the technique and artistic foundation to make big and bold physical and emotional choices that are grounded in authenticity. The skillset I gained from her not only got me into the audition room, but it also booked me the job. 

     Cynthia is a tour de force performer, a prolific teacher, and an inspirational person. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to stand in the wake of her artistry, and I attribute much of my early success to the technique I developed while I was under her instruction. In short, Cynthia is magic, and the knowledge she imparts  is an unparalleled asset to any actor who is lucky enough to train with her.”

— Michael De Rose

Now Magazine’s Breakout Artist of 2019, Dora nominated Artist

“I had the great pleasure of training under Cynthia throughout my time at Ryerson University.  I think the first word that comes to mind when I think of the many lessons I learned from Cynthia is the concept of IMPULSE.  Tuning in to that frequency that’s always there inside of us, but that we often miss, forget, or don’t know to pay attention to.  Cynthia nurtured that sense of impulse in me, of following that inner current, and allowing myself to be surprised by where it took me.  That lesson, has been one of the most foundational tools for my work as a performer, songwriter, speaker and creator… I use it every day.  Another deeply personal gift that Cynthia offered me, was feeling empowered to honour and respect myself as an artist, to be unapologetic about my self-expression and commitment to the craft.  She demands of her students to step up and be fully present, fully committed, and fearless.  If you were willing to take her up on that challenge, then you very quickly felt like you were a peer, learning alongside her, inspired by her own commitment and fearlessness, striving to meet her there.  That energy is special and infectious.  I’ll forever be grateful for having been able to work with her, and for the fire she lit in me in those early days of my development as a performer and artist.”

— Peter Katz

Juno Award, Canadian Screen Award and 2x Canadian Folk Music Award Nominated Singer Songwriter, 4x TEDx Fellow and internationally acclaimed Speaker.

“Through Cynthia’s guidance over 4 years at Ryerson Theatre School, I was introduced to parts of my body and mind, which is to say my spirit, that I didn't know existed, or I else I knew were there but didn’t understand how to access them in a useful (and safe) way. She did this through thoughtful guidance, enthusiastic encouragement, and the generosity that only another actor can bring to this work. She worked and explored alongside us, and this I will never forget because it ensured the classroom was always exciting, buzzing with energy, and always safe.

As for the work itself, Chekhov technique above all else at theatre school set me on a path of artistic development and personal exploration. It piqued a curiosity in me that I have not yet satisfied to this day. I regularly return to the exercises Cythia taught me; such as starting with one simple gesture while sitting in a chair and then allowing impulse to lead me wherever I need to go next. Cynthia and her teaching has given me the foundation on which I have built a vibrant, disciplined, and fluid practise that has served me without fail as an artist but also as a healthy and humble individual

— Rebecca Liddiard

Actor & Writer, Lead Actor on CBC's Frankie Drake Mysteries 

“From the beginning of my time with Cynthia, it was clear to me she is a Force of Nature. I’m an actor of the Stage and Screen based out of Toronto, recently seen in the Major Motion Picture “STAGE MOTHER” working alongside heavy weights Lucy Liu, & 2x Oscar Nominee Jacki Weaver. Having been her Acting student At Ryerson’s Theatre School, an audience member to many of her shows as both an actor & writer/director, & having worked with her professionally on multiple occasions, I can attest she not only brings superb talent & integrity to everything she touches, but also courage to tell the truth. Her truth. While I was her student,  Cynthia opened my eyes to a world of imagination through her teachings of the Chekhov technique and sense memory. She made me believe in the make believe. As a performer, my mind and heart had gained access to so much I had never dreamed possible before my training with Cynthia. As an actor, she is so generously committed to each moment it’s enamouring. She brings her gut, her intelligence and above all her heart to her work as a performer that she honestly leaves you in awe. While directing, she is an effortless leader. A perfect mix of gentle and kind, but also sets a standard for work ethic that you feel encouraged to be the best you possibly can be. I can not recommend working with her enough, but beyond professional, she is a wonderful human being who I am so grateful to know personally and professionally.”

— Allister MacDonald

Stage Mother, Actor

“I thrived as an actor under Cynthia's guidance and direction at theatre school. The best work I did during those years, I did under Cynthia's rigorous care and masterful guidance. From exploring the depths of psychological gesture and the Michael Chekhov technique with Three Sisters to building highly stylized  and hysterically farcical characters of the restoration era such as in A Country Wife, Cynthia's versatility, expertise and skills as a performer, director and pedagogue paved the entire way for me during my training and provided me with a life-long toolbox and nourishing set of rituals for exploration, creativity, healing and self-care as both an artist and a human being. I can honestly say that her example alone provided the backbone and foundational pillar to my beginning as a young actor and the early success I enjoyed on the stages of Soulpepper and the Shaw Festival and behind the camera at the prestigious Canadian Film Centre. As a consummate artist herself, she is electric and fierce, deeply sensitive and simply stunning to behold - one of those rare, sublimely gifted performers you cannot take your eyes off of - and with whom you are instantly enamoured. Cynthia remains a major inspiration in my life both as a constantly evolving actor and as one of the strongest and most resilient women I know.”

— Harveen Sandhu

Soulpepper, Shaw Fest, Canadian Film Centre .

“A gifted teacher, leader, or director (and in many ways I believe these words are synonyms) has the ability to reach you exactly as you are in the present moment. They also have the ability to reach across time to dress the wounds of your past self, thereby freeing you to be present and open in the here and now, and to appeal to your future self with teachings they know, one day, you’ll grow into. Cynthia is one of the handful of people in my life who’s illuminated for me this interplanar power of truly inspired leadership. As the years press on, I am especially grateful to her for the wisdom she imparted to me long ago which makes more and more sense to me as I forge ahead on my path. The emotional and mental acuity which enables Cynthia to connect with people in this way is also what distinguishes her as an artist. As a director, she creates an environment in which the whole team, collaboratively and democratically, brings to life the world of the play. She empowers actors to pursue risk and surprise - both of which, I think, are essential to great art - and while that might sound abstract, Cynthia actually offers concrete means of doing so, which she’s developed through her lifelong study of the Michael Chekhov technique. As an actor, Cynthia of course embodies this appetite for risk and surprise, resulting in some of the most visceral, nuanced, and vividly imagined portrayals I have ever seen. She’s a constant source of inspiration to me, because I constantly return to the fount she tapped in me as my teacher and director, and I think anyone who’s so lucky as to work with her will be gifted a new and invigorated way of seeing their craft and the world." --- Amelia Sargisson ”

— Amelia Sargisson

The Stratford Festival of Canada, Canadian Stage, Centaur Theatre, Phantasmagoria Collective

“Cynthia’s unwavering commitment to her craft, her knowledge of the arts, and her sincere enthusiasm for the art of acting itself make her process exciting, inspiring and truly transformational as an actor. I have had many fine teachers but never anyone who approaches the craft of acting like Cynthia. I first met Cynthia at Ryerson theatre school in 2006. The first thing that won me over was her laser-like critiques of students' creative blocks, of their connection or disconnection to the heart of the imaginary circumstance, and occasionally her discernment of their emotional pain which she sees as a roadblock to their continuing progress as an actor. (Her dedication to mindfulness practice makes this feel safe, and well supported.) She has in so many ways changed my life. She fueled the flame in me regarding my passion for acting, and touched my life with the beauty of what it is to be human. I would recommend her technique and process not only to first timers, but also seasoned veterans of the craft.”

— Jonathan Souza

The Stratford Festival of Canada, Shaw Fest, Canadian Film Centre

“I’ve had the privilege to work with Cynthia as both a student and creative collaborator. A masterful curator of space, Cynthia’s classes, which were equal parts play and introspective pilgrimage, reconnected me to the wonder of my own imagination. Her multifaceted approach provided me with a dynamic and enduring creative tool kit that continues to serve me as an actor and musician to this day. A generous collaborator, Cynthia’s unabashed willingness to experiment, remained a constant source of inspiration to our ensemble. She has indeed remained a treasured mentor to me along the arduous and unpredictable road one faces as an artist. 

— Jake Vanderham