The Imagined Life is Diana Castle's school and philosophy in one: acting as the art of the empathetic imagination, taught since 1995 from a 5,000-square-foot complex with two studios and a 70-seat theater at San Vicente and Hauser. Castle and her husband Steve Tietsort built the studio into one of the more quietly influential rooms in Los Angeles.
Ongoing classes work scenes and cold readings from every medium and genre, with no outside rehearsal required, an intentional design that keeps the work spontaneous and in the room. Sections run Monday through Thursday, several on Zoom with students joining from New York, Atlanta, Canada, and New Zealand, plus in-person evening classes early in the week. Enrollment is by invitation: submit a headshot and resume, then attend a four-hour introductory workshop (a requirement the studio's summer 2026 offer temporarily waived).
Class tuition is not published, so budget conversations happen with the studio directly; a $25-per-month lecture subscription offers a cheap window into Castle's actual thinking before you commit. Classes run larger than boutique rooms, 14 to 36 participants, worth weighing against how often you want to be up.
Techniques taught
- Eclectic / multi-technique: Schools that draw on several lineages and fit the tools to the actor, not the reverse.
Class types
Enrollment and schedule
No audition is required. By invitation: email headshot + resume, attend mandatory Introductory Workshop, evaluated on participation and industry experience; intro-workshop requirement waived under current 'Summer Offering'. Schedule: Ongoing weekly classes: Mon 4-9pm PST (Zoom) and 6:30-11:30pm (in-person); Tue 4-9pm PST (Zoom) and 6:30-11:30pm (in-person); Wed 12-5pm and 4-9pm PST (Zoom); Thu 4:30-9:30pm PST (Zoom). Intro workshops usually Thursday or Friday, 4 hours.. Duration: Ongoing enrollment classes; 4-hour introductory workshop normally required before joining.
Audit, trial, or intro class
No audit offered on site; entry path is the Introductory Workshop
Published pricing
| Program | Published price | Source, as of |
|---|---|---|
| TIL Lectures online subscription (weekly writings + audio) | $25.00/month | 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
- Diana Castle, Founder / head teacher. Teaches classes and online intro workshops; author of the studio's 'empathetic imagination' approach
- Steve Tietsort, Co-founder / acting coach. Diana Castle's husband; co-opened the studio in 1995
- Faline England, Associate teacher / acting coach. Leads in-person Introductory Workshops
- Lacy Fisher, Acting coach. Listed on About page
Location
Questions actors ask
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What acting technique does The Imagined Life teach?
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How much do classes at The Imagined Life cost?
Does The Imagined Life offer online classes?
Does The Imagined Life teach children or teenagers?
Is admission to The Imagined Life by audition?
Who teaches at The Imagined Life?
When was this information last verified?
Sources and verification
- The Imagined Life, About, accessed 2026-07-16
- The Imagined Life, Classes, accessed 2026-07-16
- The Imagined Life, Workshops, accessed 2026-07-16
- The Imagined Life, Lecture subscription (Memberful), accessed 2026-07-16
- Instagram @theimaginedlife, 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.
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