LA ACTING SCHOOLS

Century City (corner Santa Monica Blvd & Beverly Glen, Westwood/Century City border) 路 Stanislavski, Meisner, Method (Strasberg)

The Playground: A Young Actors' Conservatory

Century City young actors conservatory founded 2005 by Gary Spatz, the on-set coach of the All New Mickey Mouse Club generation, with age-banded on-camera training from 7 up, an on-camera tryout, and a free intro class.

NeighborhoodCentury City (corner Santa Monica Blvd & Beverly Glen, Westwood/Century City border)
TechniquesStanislavski, Meisner, Method (Strasberg), Chekhov, Hagen, Improv and sketch, On-camera technique
Founded2005
Price band$$
Audit / trialYes

Gary Spatz coached the Mickey Mouse Club class that produced Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Ryan Gosling, spent seven seasons coaching on Roseanne, and taught fifteen years at the Young Actors Space before opening The Playground in 2005. It has become one of LA's default answers for serious kid and teen on-camera training.

The conservatory runs age-banded divisions, kids 7 to 8, preteens 9 to 12, teens 13 to 17, each at beginning through advanced levels, with young adult and adult divisions added in recent years. Purpose-built studios at Santa Monica and Beverly Glen feature HD cameras, professional lighting, and theater seating; weekend classes with weekday make-ups fit school schedules. Sessions sell in 12-, 24-, and 48-week blocks, with site-published averages around $2,250 for a six-month plan.

Admission is rolling, by in-person application and an on-camera tryout that places the child at the right level, and a free introductory class is offered through the site. Alumni claims include Joel Courtney and India Eisley. For families weighing the investment, the published price ranges and the free intro make the evaluation unusually concrete.

Techniques taught

  • Stanislavski: The root system of modern actor training: objectives, actions, and given circumstances.
  • Meisner: Listening, repetition, and truthful response under imaginary circumstances, in the lineage of Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse teaching.
  • Method (Strasberg): Lee Strasberg's Method: affective memory, relaxation, and sense work developed from Stanislavski's early system.
  • Chekhov: Michael Chekhov's psychophysical approach: imagination, gesture, and atmosphere.
  • Hagen: Uta Hagen's substitution and object exercises, grounded in truthful behavior.
  • Improv and sketch: Improvisation and sketch training: agreement, spontaneity, and ensemble play.
  • On-camera technique: Camera-specific craft: frame awareness, stillness, commercial and film/TV set behavior.

Class types

Enrollment and schedule

Admission requires an audition. Rolling admissions; in-person application plus on-camera tryout to assess level and placement. Schedule: Youth classes on weekends with weekday makeup sessions; adult classes Thursdays; Summer 2026: three 2-day sessions in July (7&9, 14&16, 21&23), 10am-1pm. Duration: Sessions sold in 12-, 24- and 48-week blocks; discounts for full-year advance payment; payment plans offered.

Audit, trial, or intro class

Yes. Free introductory acting class/workshop offered via official site pages (theplayground.com/free-acting-class/)

Published pricing

ProgramPublished priceSource, as of
Conservatory six-month payment plan (site-stated average)about $2,250source 路 2026-07-16
One-year program (range, depending on curriculum)$2,000-$4,500source 路 2026-07-16
Per-class rate (site-stated)$100 per classsource 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

  • Gary Spatz, Founder / head coach. Mickey Mouse Club coach; 30+ yrs young-actor coaching
  • Gayla Goehl, Director. Listed with direct email on contact page
  • Terri Treas, Coach. Listed on about page staff roster
  • Bodie Newcomb, Coach. Listed on about page staff roster
  • Kelly Galindo, Coach. Listed on about page staff roster

Location

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Questions actors ask

Where is The Playground: A Young Actors' Conservatory located?
10390 Santa Monica Blvd #100, Los Angeles, CA 90025 (Century City (corner Santa Monica Blvd & Beverly Glen, Westwood/Century City border)).
What acting technique does The Playground: A Young Actors' Conservatory teach?
Stanislavski, Meisner, Method (Strasberg), Chekhov, Hagen, Improv and sketch, On-camera technique.
Is The Playground: A Young Actors' Conservatory suitable for beginners?
Yes. The school lists beginner-level entry points (Rolling admissions; in-person application plus on-camera tryout to assess level and placement).
Does The Playground: A Young Actors' Conservatory offer on-camera training?
Yes, on-camera work is part of its published class list.
Can I audit or try a class at The Playground: A Young Actors' Conservatory?
Free introductory acting class/workshop offered via official site pages (theplayground.com/free-acting-class/)
How much do classes at The Playground: A Young Actors' Conservatory cost?
Published prices as of 2026-07-16: Conservatory six-month payment plan (site-stated average): about $2,250; One-year program (range, depending on curriculum): $2,000-$4,500; Per-class rate (site-stated): $100 per class. Confirm current rates with the school.
Does The Playground: A Young Actors' Conservatory teach children or teenagers?
Kids 7-8 (occasionally accepts 6); Preteens 9-12; Teens 13-17; Young Adults 18-30; Adults 28+
Is admission to The Playground: A Young Actors' Conservatory by audition?
Admission requires an audition. Rolling admissions; in-person application plus on-camera tryout to assess level and placement.
Who teaches at The Playground: A Young Actors' Conservatory?
Gary Spatz, Gayla Goehl, Terri Treas, Bodie Newcomb, Kelly Galindo.
When was this information last verified?
2026-07-16, from the sources listed on this page. Spotted something out of date? Use the correction link on this page.

Sources and verification

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.

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