Welcome to TASA
The Actors Studio Academy, founded by Joe and I, has since nurtured thousands of artistes, many who are regarded as the crème de la crème of the industry today.
Our very first class in 1992 comprised luminaries such as Tiara Jacquelina Eu, Patrick Teoh, Leslie Dawson, Ramli Hassan, Jeffery Nicholson and Fawziah Nawi.
Today, students from as young as three years old have a clear pathway to grow with us, learn from industry professionals and enjoy klpac’s full-fledged professional facilities.
Besides our year-round Speech and Drama programmes, we also customise specialist training programmes for arts groups, schools, drama teachers as well as corporates under our corporate training arm.
After two years of disrupted learning, let’s inspire our creative minds to BE EXTRAORDINARY again through much-needed physical interaction, creative play time and a safe space to express themselves.
Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican & Joe Hasham OAM
Co-Founders, The Actors Studio Academy
Head of Academy
Kimmy Kiew, Head of Academy
“I’m glad to be back at klpac, working alongside many familiar faces and old friends — and of course, Joe and Faridah — at The Actors Studio Academy @ klpac.
I’ve enjoyed working onstage and offstage in many capacities over the years. Since becoming a mother, nurturing young creative minds has become my passion, which is why I’ve focused on arts education over the past decade.
I look forward to getting to know you and your children in the coming weeks.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
See you at klpac!”
A theatre graduate of the Malaysian Institute of Arts, Kimmy has over 20 years of experience in the arts, having worked as a front-of-house supervisor, publicist, producer, educator, actor, and director.
She was formerly the Publicist and Associate Producer at Gardner & Wife Theatre Company before joining klpac as Director-in-Residence from 2010 to 2012. Her international experience includes participation in the ASEAN-Japan Exchange (2003) in Tokyo, CPI (2007) in Seoul, and the Tamsui Arts Carnival (2010) in Taiwan.
Her 2003 production of The Bear won Best Production at the 2nd ADA Awards, and she was named Best Actress at the BMW Shorties Awards in 2008.
Since becoming a mother, Kimmy has turned her focus to arts education. She has served as a speech and drama facilitator with The Actors Studio Academy @ klpac, Never-ending Story Education, Earth Tone Dance Academy, and various education centres.
In 2018, she directed Journey of a Baby Butterfly, Malaysia’s first baby theatre production, presented by Hong Jie Jie Workstation.
Pre-school Facilitators
Teacher Vicky Ang
Vicky specialises in working with young children, through creative English classes with speech and drama components, private tutoring, school holiday programs, special needs homeschooling, class presentations, year end concerts, and live shows! Passionate about educating young minds, Vicky strives to make the world a better place through embarking on educational journeys with the future generation.
Teacher Lennard
LENNARD OUNG ‘s love for all things performance began when he was in high school, where he participated in many drama competitions and shows all around his home state of Penang. After graduating with a Diploma in Drama & Visuals from New Era University College, he has since performed in various shows such as “Goodbye Mr. Detective” and “Ah Ma”, the latter of which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 17th ADA Drama Awards. He is also a member of ACT-ion Theatre, a Mandarin-language community theatre troupe based in the Klang Valley which has produced children shows such as “Earth·Water·Fire·Wind and “The Lower Depths”.
When he is not performing, Lennard shares his fondness for the stage with his students as a part-time lecturer at New Era University College and as a Drama Coach of Chung Ling High School, the place where it all began. Now, he looks forward to sharing his passion for the arts with The Actors Studio Academy @ klpac’s students.
Teacher Suba
SUBA MAGAS, a vibrant woman who thrives in the teaching industry. With a deep passion for educating young minds, she finds immense joy in teaching kids.
During her precious spare time, she indulges in captivating activities like dancing and acting, allowing her creativity to soar. Additionally, Suba’s adventurous spirit knows no bounds as she embarks on thrilling escapades, such as diving and hiking. It’s truly inspiring to witness her zest for life and dedication to both teaching and exploring the world.
Assistant Teacher, Aishwarya
Aishwarya (Aish) firmly believes that the formation of kind, intelligent and creative adults starts by encouraging children’s curiosity and passions in language and arts. She has been a volunteer teacher for primary school English and Science at the Selayang Harmony Refugee School and tutored pre-school English and Maths, primary Science and BM and SPM English Literature at Pro-Ed Education Centre Petaling Jaya. She has always been passionate about literature and creative writing and was awarded a first-class Bachelor’s degree in English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia, before going on to put her skills to work as a writer at a local arts magazine (The Daily Seni) and publicist at a food bank (The Lost Food Project).
Assistant Teacher, Lee Yi Chen
Yi Chen has always had a tender heart for caring for younger children. Her love for playing with and engaging children led her to volunteer and assist at various children’s holiday camps even before graduating from Sasana Waldorf International School. Her passion for drama sparked early in her childhood, leading her to The Actors Studio for the Speech and Drama programme. Yi Chen is now pursuing her dream at New Era College, majoring in Theatre and Performing Arts. With a deep passion for learning and the performing arts, Yi Chen is on a mission to navigate the stages of life with style and grace. She has graced the stage in school dramas such as “Where Is the Cat” (2019), directed by Kimmy Kiew, and the eurythmy drama “Shadows of Mordor” (2023), in collaboration with Germany’s Waldorf School director, Peter Schmidt.
Speech & Drama Programme Facilitators
Teacher Jeremy
A young and energetic educator, JEREMY ANG, has been involved in numerous theatre performances since he was in high school. He has also trained under the programme of one of the pioneering children’s theatre companies in Malaysia, Greenhopper Theater. After finishing his internship in Taiwan’s theatre company, Jeremy returned homeland to complete his final year at the Drama and Film Department of New Era University College, specialising in stage production and children’s theatre education.
Jeremy appeared in various performances and productions, including “開心死了” (2018), “迴家” (2019), “Game On” (2019), “babebibobu 2.0” (2019), “蠶豆” (2022), “The Swordfish Then The Concubine” (2022), “Black n White”（2022），”King Lear” (2022), “The Curious Incident of The Dog at the Night-time” (2023), and “Grasstraw Festival” (2023).
He has been awarded several times for their accomplishments: First-Class Male Actor award in the High School Drama Awards (2013), Second-Class Male Actor Award (2014), Second-Class Music Composition Award (2018), and Second-Class Director Award (2018).
Teacher Axyr
AXYR HANZ WILLIAM is a theatre practitioner with a passion for all forms of storytelling, both creative and corporate. He is an alumni of klpac’s iconic Theatre For Young People (T4YP) programme which he joined in 2017 and has since starred in and directed multiple works for SHORT+SWEET Malaysia in 2017 and 2018. His other notable works include starring in TheatreThreeSixty’s production of “The Fall Of The House Of Usher” and “A Man For All Seasons”.
Teacher Farah Rani
FARAH RANI is an actress based in Kuala Lumpur. In her career spanning 18 years, Farah has been an avid theatre practitioner, having performed in Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Adelaide, Brisbane and New York City. A six-time recipient of The Boh Cameronian Arts Awards, Farah is most known for her roles in Instant Café Theatre’s ‘Parah’ (as Melur), ‘Nadirah’ (as Maznah), Playground Productions’ ‘Projek Disko Baldi’, The Actors Studio’s ‘Kandang’ (as Bintaga), ph7 Productions’ ‘The Language Archive’ (as Emma) and Instant Café Theatre’s ‘Gold Rain & Hailstones’ (as Amy). Her film credits include Dain Said’s ‘Iman Untuk Bulan’ (as Ida), Amanda Nell Eu’s ‘Tiger Stripes’ (as Ustazah), and Liew Seng Tat’s ‘Flowers In The Pocket’ (as Cikgu Dara). Farah was trained at the Michael Howard Studios in New York City.
Farah is currently a part-time lecturer at Sunway University and has taught for BluBricks, ThinkCity, TheatreSauce, Hush The Theatre and The Language Studio.
Teacher Sally Lee
Sally Lee is a passionate Speech & Drama instructor with a lifelong background in the performing arts, having begun performing at the age of four!! Now in her twenties, she brings over two decades of experience in theatre, dance, music, and public speaking to her work as an educator.
A First-Class Honours graduate from the TUTAS Performing Arts programme, Sally has performed, taught, and directed both locally and internationally — including serving as Head Dance Specialist in New York City.
Since 2022, she has been inspiring students at The Actors Studio Academy with her energetic, creative, and nurturing approach. Drawing on her training in acting, movement, and Montessori education, Sally creates dynamic classes that help students build confidence, communication skills, imagination, and emotional intelligence.
She believes every student’s voice matters — and is passionate about helping each one shine on stage and in life.
Musical Theatre Voice Instructor, Joe Loy
Joe Loy is a dynamic figure in the music industry, balancing roles as a producer, educator, and performer with remarkable versatility. Initially gaining recognition as a contestant on Malaysia’s Akademi Fantasia, Joe transitioned to focus on music production and education. His career spans diverse roles such as sound engineer, session musician, and contributor to musical theatre.
He was part of the team behind “Follow the Light,” which won Best Musical Theatre at the 18th Boh Cameronian Arts Awards in 2023, and “Fortune Kooky,” which received multiple nominations.
As the founder of Brightlights Music in Kuala Lumpur, Joe has fostered creativity on a global scale, leveraging grants to develop impactful educational content for children in collaboration with institutions like Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia and NetEase. His initiatives, such as “Groove to English,” have enriched events like the Georgetown Festival, reflecting his commitment to innovative, interactive learning experiences. Joe’s dedication extends further as an adjunct lecturer at UCSI University and through workshops across the Klang Valley.
In his latest venture, Joe is celebrated for his involvement in the hit children’s animated series, “Anna & Hanna,” collaborating with Universal Music Malaysia to create this lighthearted series filled with fun sing-alongs for the entire family. It is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Dance Choreographer, Sharyl Perera
Teacher Sharyl is a professional dancer and dance teacher based in Kuala Lumpur. Sharyl started her ballet journey at the age of 6 and continued her dance education at Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan (ASWARA), where she completed her diploma and degree in dance.
Since 2023, Teacher Sharyl has been teaching ballet, contemporary dance, and Bollywood dance to kids at Sri KDU Subang. She has also been involved in many fun workshops, projects, and events over the years. Some of her exciting performances include the Southeast Asian Games 2017, Hari Unesco Malaysia 2018, Malam Konsert Hora Horey Live Didi & Friends 2019, Bollywood Workshop for Lite.fm 2022, and Yuvan Live in Singapore: HIGH ON U1 2023, among many others.
Come meet Teacher Sharyl at klpac, who will always greet everyone with a cheerful and sweet smile!
Dance Choreographer, Ang Zhen Wei (Teacher Z)
Meet Teacher Z, also known as Ang Zhen Wei! She loves when children call her Teacher Z. Ang started her dance journey in her 20s and hasn’t stopped dancing since. She graduated with a diploma from ASWARA’s Dance Faculty and later earned her Master of Dance from University Malaya.
Teacher Z has danced her way through many performances both inside and outside ASWARA, including shows like GELOMBANG BARU, JAMU, and klpac’s Short and Sweet and Dance Box. Even during the MCO period, she kept the dance spirit alive by participating in online productions like Be a pART and Dance Showcase 2.0 with WuXu Dance Troupe.
She didn’t stop there! Teacher Z also joined online competitions with ChoreoArts’ Studio and shined in the International Dance Competition “Golden Dance” – Online Edition, earning a Gold Diploma. She also won second place in the Virtual Intervarsity Traditional Dance Competition.
Assistant Teacher, Janusha Laxmi
With a strong foundation in performing arts and a deep passion for creative expression, Janu is a multifaceted performer and educator dedicated to nurturing young talent. She holds a Diploma and an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts, with a minor in Psychology to better understand human development and character growth. As an actor, singer, and creative storyteller, she has performed in numerous productions, including “Kaleidoscope” and “Her Story” at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, as well as various commercials and festival performances. She was also a representative of Malaysia at the Asian Youth Theatre Festival 2021. Her diverse experience extends to hosting, voice work, and commercial acting, with projects such as RTM’s Be Your Best Self and advertisements for brands like Libresse, Maggi, and RAV Design.
Beyond performing, Janu is passionate about arts education and creating a space for children to explore their creativity with confidence. She has taught creative arts in summer camps across institutions such as KDU Subang, KDU Kota Damansara, and REAL School Shah Alam, helping students discover their strengths, build self-expression, and develop their own artistic voices. With her background in psychology, she brings a deeper understanding of how creativity fosters personal growth and confidence in young learners. Now, as an assistant teacher at The Actors Studio Academy, she is excited to guide and inspire the next generation of performers, encouraging them to embrace their uniqueness through the magic of theatre and storytelling.
Assistant Teacher, Jerry Pang
Jerry Pang is a passionate and dedicated performer currently completing his Bachelor of Performing Arts degree at TUTAS, having joined the programme in August 2022. He made his stage debut in “5:4:3:2:1” and has since appeared in numerous productions including “Wherefore Art Thou, Juliet”, “Jebat”, and “Mariam”. In 2024, Jerry played H.H. Kung in “The Sisters Soong” (The Actors Studio) and made his vocal debut in “Golden Melody 5: Kings Meet Queens” (The Actors Studio). Most recently, he starred in his musical theatre debut “Searching…” as part of his final year showcase in 2025.
Beyond the stage, Jerry has acted in short films such as “Fall Out” and “The Inclusion Experiment”—the latter of which he also directed. He was selected to represent Malaysia at the Asian Youth Theatre Festival 2023 in Iloilo, Philippines, and was one of two Malaysian performers chosen for “Grief Unanswered”, a theatrical performance based on true stories of the stateless, presented at the 2024 World Conference on Statelessness. Jerry’s work was also recognised at the 2024 Short & Sweet Festival, where he received the Best Overall Production Award in the theatre category.
