The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute is where the Method is taught as its founder codified it, and the West Hollywood campus is the West Coast home of that curriculum. Founded in 1969 by Lee and Anna Strasberg, the institute is now under the artistic direction of their son David Lee Strasberg. The LA campus is licensed by California's BPPE, accredited by NAST, and approved for veterans' benefits, which puts it in a different regulatory class from most studios in this directory.
Programs are structured rather than drop-in: two-week intensives roughly every six weeks (published at $1,720 tuition), twelve-week programs part-time ($2,850) or full-time ($7,600), one- and two-year conservatories ($22,825 per year), and a two-year Associate of Occupational Studies degree ($31,620 per year, fall entry only). Method Acting class anchors every program, surrounded by scene study, on-camera work, improv, voice, movement, tai chi, film fighting, dialects, Shakespeare, and filmmaking electives. Young Actors at Strasberg covers kids and teens, including summer programs.
Admission is selective but by Zoom interview, explicitly not an audition; two-week intensives skip the interview entirely. Prospective students can audit one four-hour Method Acting I class free with 48 hours notice. SAG-AFTRA members get 10 percent off, and several named scholarships exist, including the James Baldwin Scholarship for BIPOC actors. One caution: the published rate sheet was dated through early 2026 at research time, so confirm current figures.
Techniques taught
- Method (Strasberg): Lee Strasberg's Method: affective memory, relaxation, and sense work developed from Stanislavski's early system.
- Stanislavski: The root system of modern actor training: objectives, actions, and given circumstances.
- Improv and sketch: Improvisation and sketch training: agreement, spontaneity, and ensemble play.
Class types
- Scene study
- On-camera
- Audition technique
- Improv
- Commercial acting
- Film and TV acting
- Theater training
- Voice and speech
- Movement
- Comedy
- Shakespeare and classical
Enrollment and schedule
Apply online with fee and documents, then Zoom interview with admissions (not an audition); selective. 2-Week Intensive: no interview, accepted within ~3 business days. 18+ (or parental consent) and HS diploma/equivalent required. Domestic deadline 2 weeks before term; international 6 weeks. AOS deadline Aug 1 (domestic). Schedule: Quarterly sessions year-round; Summer 2026: Jul 6-Sep 25; Fall 2026: Sep 28-Dec 18; Winter 2027: Jan 11-Apr 2. 2-week intensives roughly every 6 weeks (incl. Spanish-language intensive Oct 5-16, 2026). AOS enrolls fall only. Duration: Programs range from 1-2 week intensives (18-36 hrs) through 12-week terms to 1- and 2-year conservatory/degree programs.
Audit, trial, or intro class
Yes. Free audit of one Method Acting I class (4 hours) for prospective students; request at least 48 hours ahead via the Class Audits page; max 1 auditor per class; no audits during first 2 weeks of a term; participation at teacher's discretion
Published pricing
| Program | Published price | Source, as of |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Week Intensive | $1,720 tuition (+$150 registration = $1,870) | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| 1-Week Intensive | $1,245 tuition (+$150 registration = $1,395) | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| 12-Week Program, Part-Time (8 hrs/week) | $2,850 tuition ($3,150 with fees) | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| 12-Week Program, Full-Time (22 hrs/week) | $7,600 tuition ($7,900 domestic with fees) | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| One-Year Conservatory (36 weeks) | $22,825 tuition ($23,125 domestic with fees) | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| Two-Year Conservatory | $45,650 total ($22,825 billed annually) | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| AOS Degree Program | $31,620/year tuition (2-year total $63,690-$63,890 with fees, lump sum) | 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
- David Lee Strasberg, Artistic Director; teaches monthly Alumni Classes. son of Lee and Anna Strasberg
- Rachel Bailit, Method Acting, History, Improvisation. alumna; has taught Strasberg seminars internationally
- Lona Alexander, Movement (Alexander Technique). AmSAT-certified, teaching since 1990
- Christina Beck, Working with a Director, Film History. award-winning writer/director
- Anne DeSalvo, LA faculty
- Sheldon Larry, LA faculty
- Dig Wayne, LA faculty
- Michael Yurchak, LA faculty
- Carlos Colunga, LA faculty
- Sasha Krane, LA faculty
Practical notes
Scholarships: LA campus offers need- and merit-based scholarships: Lee & Anna Strasberg Scholarship (new applicants, domestic + international), James Baldwin Scholarship (BIPOC actors; covers three 12-week part-time terms), Legacy Award (current students), Eleonora Duse Scholarship (international applicants), LAUSD Community Scholarship; inquiries to scholarshipsla@strasberg.edu
Location
Questions actors ask
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When was this information last verified?
Sources and verification
- LSTFI Contact, accessed 2026-07-16
- Tuition & Start Dates - LA Campus, accessed 2026-07-16
- Class Audits - LA, accessed 2026-07-16
- LA Theatre & Film Programs, accessed 2026-07-16
- LA Admissions Requirements, accessed 2026-07-16
- History, accessed 2026-07-16
- LA Faculty, accessed 2026-07-16
- LA Academic Calendar, accessed 2026-07-16
- LA Class Descriptions, accessed 2026-07-16
- LA Scholarships & Awards, accessed 2026-07-16
- LSTFI homepage, 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
Related by technique
Atwater VillageBerg 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.
MelroseThe Groundlings School
LA's defining improv and sketch school, run by the nonprofit Groundlings theatre company on Melrose since 1979, with an audition-gated core track that feeds the Main Company, published pricing, and teen programs.
Culver CityMichelle Danner Acting Studio
Multi-technique studio led by acting coach and film director Michelle Danner, now at the Creative Center for the Arts in Culver City, with adult classes, a conservatory track, youth programs, and international student visa sponsorship.