Demo Reel? Demo REAL! Meet Susan Cohen DeStefano

Every so often, I meet an actor whose background doesn’t just zigzag — it cartwheels. That’s exactly what happened when I first sat down with Susan Cohen DeStefano to talk about building her new voiceover demo.

Most people describe their career path as “checkered.” She described hers as “rainbow-hued plaid,” which honestly might be underselling it. She started at Sarah Lawrence, then headed into the very first uptown class of Circle-in-the-Square’s theatre program. From there she took a surprising — but very her — turn into labor and employment law. And not just the corporate version: we’re talking the Department of Health and Human Services, back when it was finding its footing, followed by work with nonprofit hospitals.

And while most people would stop there and call it a full life… she didn’t. Somewhere in between legal briefs and policy meetings, she was privately training to become a synagogue cantorial soloist. Not only did she do it — she thrived.

Then, during a break between cantorial positions in the early 2000s, she wandered into a community theatre audition for The Sound of Music… and walked out as the Mother Abbess. And yes, she really is one of the few humans who can say they look equally good in a wimple, a veil, and a yarmulke. A very specific flex, and she owns it.

Musical theatre led to more acting, which eventually brought her to voiceover. She trained with a variety of coaches — Maggie Phillips, Paul Liberti, Andy Roth, Anna Garduño, Lisa Fischoff, Stacy Seidel Tea — building the toolkit she uses today. Up until now, most of her bookings have been in healthcare e-learning, which makes perfect sense given her background… but also doesn’t even begin to show what she can really do.

That’s where I came in.

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Susan signed up for one of my small group reading classes (Circle of 7), and having consulted with her on her gear and booth- I was familiar with her voice. I crafted a spot specifically for her and that class knowing how great she would sound. Not only did she hit it out of the park- it became the first spot for her new commercial demo! She’s got this grounded authority from her legal and medical world experience, sure — but she also has warmth, musicality, and a theatrical command that you just can’t fake. My job was simply to hear it, shape it, and give her the space to explore possibilities she hadn’t let herself lean into before. And (and important note) it was all recorded remotely from her home studio!

This new demo? It’s her stepping into the version of her voice that has been waiting to be heard.

And I can’t wait to see where she goes next. If you're ready for your commercial demo- or just want to add something new to your existing one- reach out! To learn more about Susan- click here!

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Frank Verderosa is an award-winning audio engineer and voiceover casting director with decades of industry experience. As the owner of POV Audio, he casts, sound-designs, and mixes television, radio, and promo campaigns for leading ad agencies and networks. Outside the studio, Frank supports the voice actor community through coaching, consulting, and demo production for talent at every level. To connect or learn more, visit www.frankverderosa.com and use the chat tab or explore the Voice Actor Services section.