LA ACTING SCHOOLS

Hollywood · Meisner

Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory

NAST-accredited Hollywood conservatory founded 1996 by Natalia Lazarus, offering Meisner-based degree and certificate programs on a quarter system with F-1 visa sponsorship for international students.

NeighborhoodHollywood
TechniquesMeisner
Founded1996

The Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory began life in 1996 as the Promenade Playhouse on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade and has grown into a degree-granting institution now based on Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Founder Natalia Lazarus still leads it.

Its credentials distinguish it among private conservatories in this directory: accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Theatre, California BPPE approval as a degree-granting institution, and Homeland Security authorization to issue I-20s for F-1 student visas, with programs of six, twelve, and twenty-four months qualifying and post-study OPT work eligibility available. Degrees include an Associate of Occupational Science in Acting and in Screenwriting, plus certificates in acting, screenwriting, and filmmaking, all on a year-round quarter system with 2026 dates published. Core acting training is Meisner-based, in small classes open to all levels.

Tuition is not currently published (only a stale international rate sheet exists), so pricing conversations happen with admissions, and applications are due about three months before a quarter starts. International actors comparing visa-sponsoring conservatories should weigh this school directly against the larger degree institutions in this directory; its NAST accreditation is the differentiator among the boutique options.

Techniques taught

  • Meisner: Listening, repetition, and truthful response under imaginary circumstances, in the lineage of Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse teaching.

Class types

Enrollment and schedule

Apply at least 3 months before desired quarter start; international applicants: separate process with I-20, SEVIS I-901 fee, mandatory international student insurance. Schedule: 2026 quarters: Jan 12-Mar 27; Apr 13-Jun 26; Jul 13-Sep 25; Oct 13-Dec 11. Duration: Programs: 6, 12, 24 months (conservatory); 2-year AOS degrees; 6-12 week short courses.

Published pricing

This school does not publish tuition on its website. Contact the school directly for current rates. We never estimate or invent prices.

Instructors

  • Natalia Lazarus, Founder / CEO / Director. Actor, director, stage producer; opened Promenade Playhouse in 1996
  • Nicolette Chaffey, Faculty. Role/subject not stated in readable text
  • David Conolly, Faculty
  • Brian Connors, Faculty
  • Alex Feldman, Faculty
  • Shon Le Blanc, Faculty
  • Jeremy Tardy, Faculty

Location

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Questions actors ask

Where is Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory located?
1534 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (Hollywood).
What acting technique does Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory teach?
Meisner.
Is Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory suitable for beginners?
Yes. The school lists beginner-level entry points.
Does Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory offer on-camera training?
Yes, on-camera work is part of its published class list.
How much do classes at Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory cost?
The school does not publish tuition. Contact it directly for current rates.
Does Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory teach children or teenagers?
No, its published classes are for adults.
Who teaches at Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory?
Natalia Lazarus, Nicolette Chaffey, David Conolly, Brian Connors, Alex Feldman and 2 more listed teachers.
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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