LA ACTING SCHOOLS

5 schools · verified listings

Acting Classes in Eastside and Downtown

The Eastside and Downtown scene covers Atwater Village, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, East Hollywood, and Downtown including Little Tokyo. Every listing is researched from official sources and dated; see our methodology.

Berg StudiosAtwater Village

Berg Studios

Atwater Village studio founded in 1998 by Yale School of Drama graduate Gregory Berger-Sobeck, teaching a Yale and Stanislavski-derived system through a gateway technique intensive and three levels of scene study, with free audits.

StanislavskiYouth programsAudit / trialEast West PlayersLittle Tokyo, Downtown LA

East West Players

The nation's longest-running Asian American theatre (1965) in Little Tokyo, whose Actors Conservatory track offers open-enrollment Acting I through III with a public showcase, plus a playwriting institute and youth outreach.

Eclectic / multi-techniqueConservatoryYouth programs$Impro TheatreLos Feliz

Impro Theatre

The school of Impro Theatre in Los Feliz, LA's home of narrative long-form improv: full-length unscripted plays in literary genres, a C.O.R.E. curriculum, published pricing, and a $40 drop-in playground.

Improv and sketchAudit / trial$Pack TheaterLos Feliz

Pack Theater

Los Feliz improv and sketch theater grown from the Miles Stroth Workshop, with $330 eight-week classes taught by SNL and streaming-credit writers, shows six nights a week, and no-prerequisite house team auditions.

Improv and sketchComedy technique$University Park

USC School of Dramatic Arts

USC's drama school, founded 1945: BA and BFA programs including Acting for Stage and Screen, a three-year MFA, filmed pre-screen auditions, a high school summer conservatory, and published university tuition.

Eclectic / multi-techniqueConservatoryYouth programs$$$$

What this training is

Training here leans toward theater companies, university programs, and independent studios rather than the commercial on-camera market. The area has a strong small-theater culture, and several listed programs are attached to producing companies.

Who it suits

Eastside residents, actors oriented toward theater and ensemble work, and students at the universities in the area.

What these listings show

Counted from the verified records on this page when the site was last built, on 2026-08-15.

  • Published pricing. 4 of 5 publish enough pricing to place them in a band: $ (3), $$$$ (1). The other 1 does not publish rates, so you have to ask.
  • Audit or trial. 2 of these 5 offer an audit or a trial class, which is the cheapest way to judge a teacher before committing.
  • Audition required. 1 requires an audition or placement before you can enroll, so plan for a step before the first class.
  • Levels. 4 accept complete beginners and 4 run advanced work.
  • Online options. 4 of 5 offer an online format as well as in person.
  • Private coaching. 1 also offers one-to-one coaching alongside classes.
  • Young actors. 3 of these serve kids or teens as well as adults.
  • Techniques taught. Most commonly Eclectic / multi-technique (2), Improv and sketch (2), Stanislavski (1).
  • How established. 5 publish a founding year, the earliest 1945 and the most recent 2015.

How to compare them

Public transit is more usable here than in most of the training map, particularly Downtown. Parking varies sharply by pocket, easy in Atwater and difficult in parts of Los Feliz and Downtown. Ask the studio what their students actually do about parking.

Related

Theater TrainingHollywood and Mid-City
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