3-2-1- Acting Studios is the family-oriented on-camera school of this directory, taking students from Tiny Tots at ages 2 to 4 through kids, teens, and adult classes. Founded in 2007 by Mae Ross, the studio changed hands recently: Amanda Peter and Luis Castro now own and run it, with Ross credited as founder, and the studio's banner is upfront about the transition while keeping the same program structure.
One geographic honesty note this directory cares about: despite marketing itself as acting classes in Los Angeles, the studio is physically in La Crescenta, in the Crescenta Valley about 15 miles from Hollywood, at the Palms Plaza on Foothill Boulevard. For Valley and foothill families that is a feature, not a bug.
The class ladder runs TV1 Commercials and Improvisation, TV2 Scene Study and Audition Technique, and a TV3 Adult Master Class, in age bands of 4 to 7, 8 to 11, teens, and adults. Published pricing is package-based: $745 for ten classes plus two bonus sessions usable over six months, with Tiny Tots at $372 and private coaching including a self-tape at $150 per hour. Youth classes run Wednesday evenings and Saturdays, adults on weeknights, and live online sections run nationwide. A free trial class for new students makes sampling easy, and Backstage readers have named it a best kids' acting school.
Techniques taught
- On-camera technique: Camera-specific craft: frame awareness, stillness, commercial and film/TV set behavior.
- Eclectic / multi-technique: Schools that draw on several lineages and fit the tools to the actor, not the reverse.
Class types
- On-camera
- Commercial acting
- Improv
- Scene study
- Audition technique
- Cold reading
- Film and TV acting
- Comedy
- Musical theater
Enrollment and schedule
Entry via free trial class; no audition indicated for entry-level classes. Schedule: Youth: Wed 4:30-8:00pm and Sat 9:30am-5:00pm blocks in-studio; adult TV3 Tue/Thu 6:30-9:00pm, singing Mon 6:30-9:00pm; online classes Wed 4:00-5:30pm and Sat 10:00am-12:30pm PT; office closed Fri and Sun; drop-in basis for many classes. Duration: Classes sold as 10-class packages (+2 bonus classes, 12 total) usable over 6 months; youth sessions 75 min to 2 hrs, adult sessions 2.5 hrs.
Audit, trial, or intro class
Yes. First class free (free trial class for new students, in-studio or online)
Published pricing
| Program | Published price | Source, as of |
|---|---|---|
| Core class package (all TV1/TV2/TV3, musical theatre, online), 10 classes + 2 bonus (12 total), 6-month access | $745 | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| Tiny Tots (ages 2-4), 10 classes + 2 bonus | $372 | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| Private coaching, 60 min incl. self-tape | $150 | source 路 2026-07-16 |
Prices are the school's own published rates on the dates shown. We never estimate prices. Always confirm before enrolling.
Instructors
- Amanda Peter, Owner / Studio Director. Current leadership after ownership transition from founder
- Luis Castro, Owner / Managing Partner. Current co-owner
- Mae Ross, Founder. Founded the studio in 2007; listed as Founder, no longer owner/director
- John Walcutt, Acting coach. Faculty of ~15 working-actor coaches
- BJ Lange, Acting coach
Location
Questions actors ask
Where is 3-2-1- Acting Studios located?
What acting technique does 3-2-1- Acting Studios teach?
Is 3-2-1- Acting Studios suitable for beginners?
Does 3-2-1- Acting Studios offer on-camera training?
Can I audit or try a class at 3-2-1- Acting Studios?
How much do classes at 3-2-1- Acting Studios cost?
Does 3-2-1- Acting Studios offer online classes?
Does 3-2-1- Acting Studios teach children or teenagers?
Is admission to 3-2-1- Acting Studios by audition?
Who teaches at 3-2-1- Acting Studios?
When was this information last verified?
Sources and verification
- 3-2-1 Acting Studios - Home (official), accessed 2026-07-16
- 3-2-1 Classes (official schedule & tuition page), accessed 2026-07-16
- 3-2-1 Acting Studios - Contact (official), accessed 2026-07-16
- 3-2-1 Acting Studios - Instructors (official), accessed 2026-07-16
- Mae Ross - 3-2-1 Acting Studios (official bio), accessed 2026-07-16
- 3-2-1 Acting Studios - Yelp (updated July 2026), accessed 2026-07-16
Researched 2026-07-16, last verified 2026-07-16. Facts above come only from these sources. Anything we could not confirm is simply not shown. Report incorrect information or claim this listing if you represent the school.
Nearby schools
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Burbank on-camera acting school run by David Gray, successor to the closed Gray Studios NoHo, with age-banded classes from 5 years old to adult, hybrid Zoom options, and a 10-day summer film camp.
Burbank Media DistrictNew York Film Academy, Los Angeles
The Burbank campus of the film school founded in 1992, offering Acting for Film degrees from a one-year conservatory program to an MFA, WSCUC-accredited, with backlot production work at Universal Studios.
Related by technique
HollywoodAMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles
WASC-accredited performing arts college at Hollywood's Yucca and Vine, offering BFA and AOS acting degrees with audition-based admission, published tuition of $49,500 per year, and scholarships reaching 95 percent of students.
North HollywoodThe BGB Studio
North Hollywood on-camera and audition studio founded in 2012 by casting director Risa Bramon Garcia and coach Steve Braun, with application-based entry, a free intro session, and flat $295 monthly ongoing classes.