Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio

This is the studio long known as the Aaron Speiser Acting Studio, and that history matters: Speiser, who built his name coaching Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez, handed the teaching to his chosen successor Shannon Sturges when the studio became Speiser/Sturges in 2015. Speiser is now professor emeritus and does not teach here; he teaches separately at The Screen Acting Studio on Melrose, a different business. If you come looking for Speiser himself, know the difference.

The La Cienega studio runs a full weekly slate: a nine-week technique course (published at $900), Sunday technique classes, two scene study levels on weeknights and Saturdays, a Monday master class, and rotating specialty workshops covering improv, voice, stage combat, audition technique, and commercials. Scene study is sold in blocks, with three months at $900, six at $1,600, and a year at $2,800; a twelve-week online technique and scene study bundle runs $600. Private sessions and self-tape support are available.

Prospective students can audit for a published fee, $35 for the first audit and $50 for a second, limited to one technique and one scene study visit. All regular classes are adults 18 and up. The published pricing and audit path make this one of the easier premium studios to evaluate concretely.

Techniques taught

• Eclectic / multi-technique: Schools that draw on several lineages and fit the tools to the actor, not the reverse.

Class types

• Scene study
• On-camera
• Audition technique
• Improv
• Commercial acting
• Film and TV acting
• Voice and speech
• Cold reading
• Movement

Enrollment and schedule

Prospective students are encouraged to audit before enrolling; no published audition requirement. Schedule: Sun Technique 12-3pm; Mon Master Class 7-11pm; Tue Scene Study 1 7-10:30pm; Wed specialty classes + 9-Week Technique 7:30-10:30pm; Sat Scene Study 2 7-10:30pm; audit page also references Scene Study Mon/Thu 6:45pm (pages slightly inconsistent). Duration: Technique runs as a 9-week course (in person) or 12-week online bundle; scene study sold monthly, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year blocks.

Audit, trial, or intro class

Yes. Paid audits: $35 first audit, $50 additional; limited to one Technique and one Scene Study audit per person; book and pay online (speisersturges.com/audit)

Published pricing

Prices are the school's own published rates on the dates shown. We never estimate prices. Always confirm before enrolling.

Instructors

• Shannon Sturges, Owner / Lead Instructor. Trained by Aaron Speiser in all aspects of his teaching; leads the studio since the 2015 partnership
• Aaron Speiser, Founder / Professor Emeritus. Not currently teaching at this studio; on-set coach for Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez; now teaches at his separate venture, The Screen Acting Studio on Melrose

Location

Questions actors ask

Sources and verification

• Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio - Home, accessed 2026-07-16
• About Us - Speiser/Sturges, accessed 2026-07-16
• Contact - Speiser/Sturges, accessed 2026-07-16
• Class Schedule - Speiser/Sturges, accessed 2026-07-16
• Pay for Classes - Speiser/Sturges, accessed 2026-07-16
• Audit a Class - Speiser/Sturges, accessed 2026-07-16
• Aaron Speiser - Wikipedia, accessed 2026-07-16
• About Aaron Speiser - The Screen Acting Studio, 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

Downtown Santa Monica

Baron Brown Studio

Meisner technique studio in downtown Santa Monica, established 1975 by Joanne Baron, teaching a traditional two-year sequence plus intensives, on-camera audition work, and master classes.

MeisnerCulver City

Michelle 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.

Eclectic / multi-techniqueMeisnerConservatoryYouth programs$$Santa Monica Airport

The Ruskin School of Acting

Meisner school at the Santa Monica Airport founded in 1986 by John Ruskin, a Neighborhood Playhouse apprentice of Sanford Meisner, with a cohort-based two-year program, youth classes from age 8, and published tuition.

MeisnerYouth programs$$

Related by technique

La Crescenta-Montrose

3-2-1- 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.

On-camera techniqueEclectic / multi-techniqueYouth programsAudit / trial$$Hollywood

AMDA 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.

Eclectic / multi-techniqueConservatoryYouth programs$$$$North Hollywood

The 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.

Eclectic / multi-techniqueMeisner$