Los Angeles is the center for aspiring actors looking to learn the craft of acting and pursue a career in television and film. With so many schools and classes to choose from, finding the right one can be very confusing.
To help you on your journey, we’ve compiled a list of 7 great acting programs in Los Angeles with exceptional training, supportive community, and inspiring mentorship.
Best University Acting Program
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OF DRAMATIC ARTS
817 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, California 90089-6230
The USC School of Dramatic Arts —formerly the USC School of Theatre, is a private drama school at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. It is ranked one of the top 10 dramatic arts schools in the world, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The BFA in Acting for Stage and Screen is a 4-year curriculum that connects the foundation of classical theatre with innovative training for the contemporary performing artist in the digital landscape — including on-camera techniques, voice-over, and much more. This degree must also complete a series of general education courses required by the university.
To audition, applicants should send in a videotape of one classical monologue and one contemporary monologue. Each piece should be no longer than 90 seconds in length, memorized, and performed in the context of the entire play.
University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts
213-821-2744
https://dramaticarts.usc.edu/programs/undergraduate/bfa-in-acting/
Best Acting School to Study Technique
THE ELIZABETH MESTNIK ACTING STUDIO (EMAS).
4713 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91602
For 23 years Elizabeth Mestnik has been fostering a supportive and comprehensive training program for aspiring adult actors looking to hone their craft and build their careers. Based in The Meisner Technique, EMAS focuses on developing the skills needed to strengthen the actor’s imagination, expand their emotional range, find their voice, and discover what it takes to be a great actor. Classes are conservatory level without having to be enrolled full-time.
Students come from a variety of backgrounds, creating a diverse and inclusive environment that engages different perspectives. This allows students to deepen their understanding of the world and the characters they will be asked to play. The EMAS community is more collaborative than competitive with alumni coming back to help current students navigate the industry.
Students benefit from personalized attention and a curriculum that covers Meisner Technique for those pursuing acting professionally, Scene Study for professional actors who want to keep working on their craft, and Acting for Beginners classes for those who have little to no acting experience but want to explore the process and see where it takes them. Their faculty includes experienced professionals who have worked in film, television, and theater and mentor their students through the unique challenges involved in pursuing an acting career.
The Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio is ranked as the Top Acting Program in Los Angeles by CBS, Backstage, and other industry publications.
The Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio
323-528-6280
Best Youth Acting School
THE YOUNG ACTOR’S STUDIO
5215 Lankershim Blvd.North Hollywood, California 91601
The Young Actor’s Studio is an acting school dedicated to developing the young actor’s craft through classes, workshops, and productions. Founded in 1996, TYAS was created as a supportive and nurturing environment for young actors to develop acting skills. Their focus is on the storytelling process- whether it be for television, film, or theater. Students dedicate themselves to learning the craft of acting so that they may fully serve the story. They concentrate on students developing a solid technique that can take them wherever the industry demands.
Acting programs are divided into Kids’ classes and Teens’ classes. They are both centered around encouraging and praising each student for who they are and merging this into their work. They offer technique classes that teach how to approach a performance as well as a performance-based class that teaches students how to apply the technique to a scene or monologue.
TYAS also offers a three-week summer program in July. This program includes acting technique, voice/movement, on-camera work, improv, and the opportunity to work on a full production.
The Young Actor’s Studio
https://www.youngactorsstudio.com/acting-classes/
Best Full-Time Acting Conservatory
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS
1336 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
This Full-time Associates Degree program provides students with an immersion in acting. In addition to acting classes, students will also study theatre history, world civilizations and culture, script and character analysis. And of course, students also receive a practical study of foundational acting techniques, including Strasberg, Meisner, and Hagen. Other required classes include Movement, Vocal Production, Speech, Stage Combat, Period Styles, and Stage Management.
AADA’s instructors are invaluable mentors as actors, singers, writers, and directors with a wealth of professional and educational knowledge. They provide support to the students throughout their educational experience.
AADA also offers a 4-week summer intensive for students ages 12-16. This program is taught by the same professional instructors who oversee the full-time Conservatory.
Famous alumni include Jessica Chastain, Danny DeVito and Adam Scott
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Best Commercial Acting Class
KILLIANS COMMERCIAL WORKSHOPS – online
Commercial Acting is a very specific skill set that requires you not only know how to act, but how to improvise, slate, deliver one-liners, or do a scene without dialogue. Killian’s Workshop offers live online classes to help actors navigate commercial auditions in the ever-evolving industry. Killians offers a 4-week program to fine-tune the self-tape audition process so you can start booking jobs. The work is still out there, so it is important to hone those skills and give the client BEYOND what they are hoping for with your submissions.
Killian McHugh, the creator of Killian’s Workshop, began working in commercial casting in the early 2000s. He has worked for most of the top commercial offices in Los Angeles and worked with most of the top commercial directors as either an on-camera principal actor or through the casting process.
Killian’s Workshops
ONLINE
https://killians-workshop.myshopify.com/collections/classes
Best Voice-Over Training
KALMENSON & KALMENSON
KALMENSON AND KALMENSON is known to the actors and agents as a premiere training facility for those performers who are seriously committed to a successful career in voice-over. They have been in the voice-over business for over 50 years. Their daily contact with producers keeps their finger on the pulse of the industry, keeping current with trends and attitudes that are in demand.
They provide voice-acting training relevant to commercials, animation, narration and interactive video gaming. They are proud that they have a range of classes and can guide each prospective student to the voice-over class that best fits their skill level.
Kalmenson & Kalmenson
818-377-3600
https://kalmenson.com/voice-over-education/
Best Improvisation Class
THE GROUNDLINGS. 7280 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, California
The Groundlings has taught improv and sketch comedy for 50 years to hundreds of Los Angeles actors each year and boasts some of comedy’s best improvisers. Actors like Melissa McCarthy, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig and Lisa Kudrow have earned their stripes there, graduating from their progressive curriculum.
Their mission statement is to endeavor to produce the highest quality shows and educational programs that amplify and showcase performers and students’ individual points of view. They seek to build a diverse community of unique comedic actors, writers, improvisers, teachers, and students who perform material with an emphasis on characters.
People new to Improv can drop into a one-day class such as Improv for Beginners and work their way up through their Core Track and Lab Tracks, with a fortunate few to be selected for the Main and Sunday Companies. Students have the opportunity to perform once a month in the Groundling Student Performances (GSP).
The. Groundlings
