Richard Seyd ran San Francisco's Eureka Theatre and served as Associate Artistic Director of American Conservatory Theater before building his own school, opened in San Francisco in 1991 and extended to Los Angeles in 2003. His system centers on the Trigger Approach, a thought-by-thought breakdown of text, plus Character Memory Work and Stretch Work designed to expand an actor's range beyond type.
The LA studio in Valley Village runs two rooms: a Thursday night Master Class taught by Seyd himself, restricted to professional actors and covering scene study, audition technique, and cold reading, and a Tuesday night Beginning and Intermediate ongoing class taught by Ted Mattison, a commercial specialist with the studio since 2014, published at $70 per class pay-as-you-go. Classes cap around ten to twelve actors and everyone works weekly.
Auditing is permitted by arrangement, with a headshot and resume in hand. Master class tuition is not published, and the site's schedule is standing rather than dated, so confirm current sessions by phone. For working actors who want a serious text-analysis discipline from a director's brain rather than a personality cult, Seyd's rooms have a loyal following in two cities.
Techniques taught
- Eclectic / multi-technique: Schools that draw on several lineages and fit the tools to the actor, not the reverse.
- On-camera technique: Camera-specific craft: frame awareness, stillness, commercial and film/TV set behavior.
Class types
- cold-reading
Enrollment and schedule
Master Class restricted to professional actors; enroll by phone/email. Schedule: LA: Master Class Thursdays 7:00-10:30pm (Richard Seyd); Beginning & Intermediate Tuesdays 7:00-9:30pm (Ted Mattison). Ongoing/continuous enrollment, pay-as-you-go.. Duration: Ongoing weekly classes, no fixed terms.
Audit, trial, or intro class
Yes. Auditing permitted by contacting the studio; some classes may restrict audits; bring headshot and resume (studio policies page)
Published pricing
| Program | Published price | Source, as of |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning & Intermediate Ongoing Class (Ted Mattison, Tuesdays) | $70 per class | 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
- Richard Seyd, Founder / Master Class teacher (LA & SF). 35+ years directing/teaching; created the Trigger Approach and Stretch Work
- Ted Mattison, Instructor, LA Beginning & Intermediate Ongoing Class. At Seydways since 2014; commercial acting specialist
- Bobby Weinapple, Instructor (San Francisco). Teaches Professional Acting Lab and Acting for Singers in SF
Location
Questions actors ask
Where is Seydways Acting Studios located?
What acting technique does Seydways Acting Studios teach?
Is Seydways Acting Studios suitable for beginners?
Can I audit or try a class at Seydways Acting Studios?
How much do classes at Seydways Acting Studios cost?
Does Seydways Acting Studios teach children or teenagers?
Who teaches at Seydways Acting Studios?
When was this information last verified?
Sources and verification
- Seydways Acting Studios home, accessed 2026-07-16
- About Richard Seyd, accessed 2026-07-16
- About Us, accessed 2026-07-16
- Seydways Master Class LA, accessed 2026-07-16
- Beginning & Intermediate Ongoing Class, accessed 2026-07-16
- Studio Policies, accessed 2026-07-16
- Studio Calendar, accessed 2026-07-16
- Contact Us, 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.
Guides for choosing a school
- Acting for beginners: how to start
- How to choose an acting school in LA
- Types of acting classes, explained
- What acting classes cost in LA
Career resources for LA actors
Practical next-step guides from the LA Actor Guide.
- Actor headshots: the complete LA guide
- How auditions and casting work in LA
- How to find and sign with a talent agent
Nearby schools
Actors Workout Studio
NoHo Arts District institution of 30-plus years run by Emmy-winning coach Fran Montano, teaching Meisner-based ongoing classes with two in-house theaters and a genuinely free participating audit.
Studio CityAlan Feinstein Acting Studio
Studio City scene study and trademarked True Cold Reading classes taught by Broadway and TV veteran Alan Feinstein, whose Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire was chosen by Tennessee Williams himself.
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.
Related by technique
La Crescenta-Montrose3-2-1- Acting Studios
On-camera school for ages 2 to adult in La Crescenta, founded 2007 by Mae Ross and now under new ownership, with tiered TV commercial and scene study classes, published package pricing, and a free trial class.
Hollywood9th Level Acting Studios
Small Hollywood on-camera studio run by working actor Alex Boling, built deliberately for new and nervous actors, with Thursday classes, a free audit, and published $200 monthly tuition.
Sherman OaksThe Acting Center
Sherman Oaks school founded 2006 teaching its own proprietary technique in a strictly no-criticism classroom, with published 2026 session dates and pricing for scene study, intensives, and improv.