The following institutions and individuals train young people exclusively, or nearly so, but many schools and coaches in all fields, listed elsewhere in this issue, also offer programs for young people. Check other categories for details.
ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
APA is a magnet school of the Huntington Beach Union High School district. Admission is by competitive auditions for students grades 9-12. APA offers courses in instrumental and vocal music, pop recording, dance, theatre, and media arts. Courses cover acting, acting styles, actor's repertory, orchestra, voice, film history, playwriting and directing, several dance disciplines, musical theatre, video and TV production, AP music theory, as well as technical theatre with costuming, design, and construction. Most courses are approved by the UC system. Some courses are offered for college credit. Auditions are in February or March for the following school year. 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach, CA 92648. www.hbuhsd.k12 .ca.us/hbhs. (714) 536-2514, ext. 302.
ACTING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS
Elizabeth Bauman is an actor, teacher, writer, and drama therapist. She graduated NYU with a bachelor's degree in fine arts in theatre, a master's degree in educational theatre, and a master's in drama therapy. She said she specializes in developing students' natural abilities by carefully guiding them to their full potential. She has taught privately, as well as at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, both in New York and L.A., for the past six years. She says she credits her success to "a naturalistic, here-and-now approach that combines the integration of each student's unique self into the imaginary world of the character and the patient nurturing required for this simple yet effective process," which, she says, "becomes our launching pad for trust, growth, creativity, and untapped potential." All levels, beginners to professionals. (323) 656-0552. See ad on page 12-A.
ALL ABOUT KIDS PERFORMING ARTS CONSERVATORY
Felecia Scott, who has more than 15 years of experience working in the entertainment industry and producing children's theatre, founded All About Kids in 1996. Honored with the 1996 NAACP Community Award, All About Kids offers six-month sessions in acting, audition technique, improv, voice, speech, dance, and magic for the theatre. An interview and audition are required for admittance (213) 389-7287. See ad on page 14-A.
TONI ATTELL/FUTURE STARS
Attell's background as an actress and acting coach includes work at the American Conservatory Theater and the Los Angeles Theatre Center, as well as international tours as a mime/comic/actress, a stint as choreographer for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and training with Jean-Louis Barrault and Mamako Yoenyama. She is trained in improvisation and started the Comedy Store Players at the Comedy Store. She has toured the U.S., China, and Japan with her comedy shows. Attell teaches an ongoing workshop called Mommie and Me and Showbiz Makes Three, a class for children ages 7-11 and their parents, as well as a teenage and adult on-camera workshop, both for $200 a month. She is also teaching improv, acting, and comedy workshops for children, teens, adults, and senior citizens in Hollywood and Orange County. She also does private coaching and teaches acting for writers at USC's School of Cinema-Television. She is very supportive in assisting students in finding agents. Attell is also a certified hypnotherapist and uses hypnosis with actors to help them positively succeed. www.attell.com. (818) 787-8685 or (949) 224-2324.
BB's KIDS ACTING WORKSHOP WITH BELINDA BALASKI
Balaski has been acting since the age of 5, which gives her more than 40 years experience in the business. For the past 18 years, she has been teaching youngsters in a variety of eight-week classes: a commercial workshop for ages 4 and up; beginning (8 and up), intermediate, and advanced teen acting classes; musical theatre (8 and up); tots acting (4-8), a sitcom class (10 and up), and a new cold reading and scene study class (10 and up). Classes are limited to 10-16 students. All classes are taped, with live/taped showcases at graduation for parents and agents. Balaski said what keeps her going is "the never-ending surprise of each unique spirit and the gift of watching their individual potential rise like cream to the surface." BB's Kids has January, April, July, and October sessions, annually. www.BBsKids.com. (323) 650-5437. See ad on page 26-A.
CLASS ACT—THE YOUNG ACTORS' STUDIO
Class Act offers coaching and training for young actors, age groups 4-17, through the basics of the Stanislavski system, teaching young actors to learn to use their own unique qualities in their acting. Available are either a full conservatory day or a choice of individual classes, including stage combat, comedy improv/voice, acting technique, and production. Students are given the opportunity to act in a variety of productions, including new original plays at the Noho Actors' Studio in North Hollywood. The full faculty includes Jeff Alan-Lee and Kerry Muir, who taught kids and teens at Lee Strasberg in New York and L.A. for six years. Auditing is allowed. www.youngactorsstudio.com. (310) 281-7545.
MARNIE COOPER SCHOOL OF ACTING, INC.
An acting teacher and coach with more than 13 years experience, Cooper offers advanced classes (ages 3 to 21), private coaching, on-set coaching, and weekend workshops. She specializes in audition preparation. Commercial casting director Stuart Stone also does workshops at the school. Cooper's students have appeared in film, television, theatre, soaps, and commercials, have won Emmys, and have been nominated for Cable Ace and Tony awards. Cooper most recently served as acting coach on Touched by an Angel. Cooper also coached young actors on the film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, as well as Cradle to the Grave. Raved the film's director, Ron Howard: "Marnie is passionate, knowledgeable, and a wonderful teacher. Her integrity and enthusiasm are exemplary and, in the most positive way, infectious." (818) 760-8009.
SONIA DARMEI-LOPES AT WESTSIDE CASTING
Darmei-Lopes has worked with kids for more than 15 years. She was a drama consultant for the Santa Monica Board of Education, as well as a director of productions for the LAUSD and the NYC board of education. She has worked in casting with agents and managers, which gives her a unique insight into the business. She has worked as a professional actress in television, film, and theatre, and has coached hundreds of kids, many of whom have gone on to work professionally. Classes include commercial and theatrical, and are geared toward "turning the creative potential of the individual student into a successful audition." All classes include camera work, and Darmei-Lopes teaches all ages and all levels. Private coaching is available. (310) 358-5942.
FAIRY TALE CHILDREN'S THEATRE PROGRAM
This after-school program for children presents its fall/winter Broadway Musical Camp 2002, "Fame: The Musical." Ages range from 4 to 16. The 10-week course features a show at the end of camp. Classes run Tues.-Thurs. in the afternoon. Children are taught voice, choreography, acting, props, set design, scenery, and costuming. Tamarind Theatre, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood. (323) 461-1047.
DIANE HILL HARDIN'S YOUNG ACTOR'S SPACE
Since 1979 founder Diane Hardin has taught children, teens, and adults her own in-depth scene study and truth-oriented improvisation. She has 22 years of industry experience and recently taught a master class at the School for Film and Television in NYC. Many Y.A.S. students have gone on to become high-profile actors, and Hardin is proud to have influenced such talents as Leonardo DiCaprio, Molly Ringwald, Robin Wright, Kellie Martin, and Jessica Biel, among others. Hardin and faculty offer a 13-week session with age-appropriate classes of limited size. Instructors include Nora Eckstein, Carol Locatell, Patrick Day, Bruce Ducat, and Jaime Donnelly. Private coaching is also available at 5918 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys. http://young-actors-space.com. (818) 785-7979.
IMAGINATION UNLIMITED GROUP ACTOR'S STUDIO
IUG's Actor's Studio offers professional acting training in the Inland Empire: Acting for Film/TV, which incorporates on-camera scene work, Meisner technique, cold reading, improvisation, scene analysis, audition technique, and the Alexander Technique, as well as an Improvisation Performance Workshop, where students develop their own acting style and explore their comic timing, culminating in a public performance. The company also presents corporate team-building weekend retreats and a school-based, interactive, improv theatre program for kids, grades K-12. www.dramasports.tv. (909) 672-1838 or (310) 493-4240.
THE KYER WORKSHOP FOR ACTORS
Kristopher Kyer and his staff established this school in Burbank nearly 10 years ago, primarily for young actors. Kyer was the acting coach on the sets of Boy Meets World, Grace Under Fire, and Maybe This Time. Classes are four-week sessions covering on-camera commercial audition techniques, scene study for film and TV, and improvisation. Classes are grouped by age and limited in size. Advanced registration is required. Kyer is also available for private coaching. 850 Hollywood Way, Burbank. www.kyerworkshop.com. (818) 845-5578.
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE
This acclaimed regional theatre offers ongoing classes for youth from ages 6 to 18 years. A variety of acting and creative drama classes are taught by theatre professionals in 10-week sessions after school. The summer institute program, called Summer Stars, offers month-long classes in music theatre and acting each July. The Laguna Playhouse Conservatory and Repertory accepts students by audition once a year for its yearlong Resident Theatre Training program that includes classes, performance, and technical theatre experience. Contact Donna Inglima, (949) 497-2787, ext. 202.
ERNIE LIVELY STUDIO
These are ongoing workshops and special seminars on cold reading and improvisation, but for the past 25 years the folks at Ernie Lively Studio have been especially emphasizing the business of acting for children and teens. (818) 546-2289.
TRACY MARTIN
Since these classes began four years ago, more than 20 agencies and managers have been referring young students to Martin, she said. Some of her students have become series regulars, guest stars, and co-stars on TV, or leads and co-leads in films; some have been seen in national and regional commercials. Martin works one-on-one, she explained, "to get your child to where he or she needs to be quickly." She also offers an 8-week semi-private professional audition technique class. Same-day audition coaching is available. Classes in Toluca Lake. mstracyco@aol.com. (818) 752-8487.
DERREL MAURY'S YOUNG ACTOR'S WORKSHOP
"My motto is: Encourage your kid to act like a kid," said Maury, who started as a child actor on film, TV, and stage. He now teaches classes and offers private coaching for young talent and teens to prepare them for TV and film work. He said he also works with many agents in Los Angeles. "With my 33 years of experience, I know that to mix talent, hard work, and a professional attitude with fun is the recipe for success," he said, adding that kids in his classes "learn to build confidence while perfecting their professional skills." Maury currently teaches six-week sessions and allows auditing. A director of children's theatre (he recently directed Guys and Dolls and portrayed McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the Palos Verdes Playhouse), Maury also offers a summer musical workshop for kids. (818) 609-0135.
OUR HOUSE STUDIOS
Our House Studios teaches on-camera acting classes to kids and teens, as well as young people with special needs. Barbara Hale is the director and co-founder, teaching all her own classes. Having been an actress for many years (and the mother of actors), she knows the ins and outs of the business and is happy to share her knowledge with the students' parents, even helping with career choices. Weekend classes include on-camera commercials, film and TV for ages 3-18, as well as private coaching, career counseling and periodic talent showcases. According to Hale, it's reasonably priced and recommended by many agents. She likes to keep classes small to allow for more personalized instruction for each student. (323) 939-7559.
MARLENE PEROUTKA WORKSHOP
Originally a performer with the Pittsburgh Playhouse and graduate of the UCLA theatre arts department, personal manager Peroutka has been teaching acting classes for children, teens, and adults for the past 20 years. Her eight-week sessions, offered in Fountain Valley, focus on interview techniques, improvisation, cold readings, and studying commercial copy and theatrical sides, and include a parents' workshop on business and parenting issues starting at $110 for the eight-week workshop. Peroutka coaches privately for $50 per hour. She allows auditing for $20. She also teaches a beginning adult acting class that's $165 for eight weeks. (714) 965-6771 or (714) 965-4446.
TOTAL IMPROV FOR KIDS
Linda Fulton, with 30 years experience in improvisation, performing, producing and directing, now teaches children, ages 8-18, the art of improvisation. Her students have been seen in such venues as The Icehouse and various coffeehouses and will soon be seen at the Hollywood Improv and Second City. Fulton has trained with some of the world's greatest improv masters and teaches Spolin/Johnstone techniques. She believes that children are just as capable, if not more so, as adults in performing improv. (818) 895-2074.
TRILOGY PLAYHOUSE DRAMA WORKSHOPS/ CHILDREN'S THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
These workshops provide a "nurturing learning environment" for children, said its leaders. All workshops are offered year-round, meeting once a week for eight weeks, and culminate in two performances of the play being studied. Enrollment is limited to 22 and classes are divided by age ranges: 6-10 and 10-14. Each student has a speaking part in an age-appropriate play based on a classic fairy tale, legend, or classic children's novel. Cost is $125, plus a $20 costume fee. (714) 957-3347, ext.3.
VIBE PERFORMING ARTS STUDIOS
VPAS offers a variety of acting and musical theatre classes designed for all levels and ages, including choosing an agent, on-camera basics, and theatrical training. Industry instructors specialize in creating a "relaxed and fun atmosphere," said organizers. Students are encouraged to perform in showcases, productions, and other performances held several times a year in VPAS' own theatre. Private instruction is also available. 24460 Lyons Ave., located just off the 5 Freeway in Santa Clarita. www.vpasonline.com or (661) 255-7464.
DAVID WELLS and SALLY PIPER
Wells, an experienced actor and instructor who studied with Wynn Handman, Peggy Feury, and Jeff Corey, shares his studios with Piper, who has worked in casting, management, and as an on-set coach for a popular daytime drama. The duo teaches a class for kids on cold reading, audition techniques, improv games, and business advice. Classes are offered at West End Studios in Studio City. Auditing is allowed, and private coaching is available. (818) 753-5393.
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL'S ACADEMY
(310) 927-7719. See ad on page 26-A.
YOUTH ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS
YADA offers instruction in acting, dance, voice, and full-scale productions. All ages and levels of talent are welcome. Said its leaders: "From the most shy to the consummate professional, YADA has something for every young performer." www.yada.org. (323) 655-9232.