Are you serious about comedy? Kind of a funny question (ha,) but there's a lot of weight to it when you're on the other side after taking numerous classes here. There are multiple criteria that is addressed when attending ACS, but I'm going to sum it up to 3: comedy, camera, career. The comedy portion will break down what the characters of comedy are, and how we can apply them in not only shows we watch, but to ourselves in the shows we want to be in. Additionally, you'll grasp and get the hang of what, why, and how things become humorous, within a stress-free environment that is encouraging and accelerating. The camera teaches on-camera techniques for not just basic acting focus, but also comedy itself. Single and multi-cam have very different approaches, and you're going to want to become familiar with how to apply these when you are auditioning (and updated to self-tapes during these covid times.) Finally, the teachers here really care and cater to where you're at in life, giving you guidelines and roadmaps to be the best business person you can be (which I feel like colleges never really care to explain about.) Knowing what to focus and prioritize on has been incredibly helpful (and alleviating) without having to second guess where my investments should go into. Plus, casting directors and agents occasionally make appearances to give you their insight on the industry, where it's heading, and what we can do about it. Gunnar and Lauren have built an amazing home for all actors, and I owe them everything. Thanks for giving me hope these past few years in this difficult industry. read more

Not a good class. TODD (his actual name) is not a good teacher at all and most of the stuff you do here are theatre games type stuff. Not recommended. read more

Gunnar is amazing! He offered a free workshop when I saw him live with Bactalent on Instagram, and I decided to sign up and take it after 10 mins I was hooked! Then I decided to sign up for his Comedy Essentials class I've taken 2 classes with him and I'm not disappointed. Sign up! read more

Really loved the comedy essentials class with Gunnar. He knows everything about comedy tv and character. Every class we got new scenes to work on and a new lesson plan on how to further break down the script and find the characters and punch them up. I feel much more confident and clear with the characters on the page and I feel like I have the tools to make them real people and make clear decisions. I really recommend this class. If you still feel unsure buy his book! read more

Just finished my first course with Gunnar and needless to say I feel like I have new lens for acting. The comedy essential is really essential. I look forward to the next course. read more

This is the most thorough comedy class you can imagine! Gunnar sees comedy under a microscope, and he generously shares all his knowledge! I loved his class! He is a tough teacher: he does not beat around the bush, he goes straight to the point and gives you his honest assessment, to benefit you, so you can become the VERY BEST OF THE BEST! He trains actors for the Olympics in comedy! And that's exactly what I was looking for, and feel infinitely grateful for this chance on my way up in my career. Also: Gunnar knows everyone in Hollywood, the in's and out's of what, who, where, when... All the trends, past and current, all the details in what to do and say, when and why... It is just mind-boggling to see how this man can fit all this knowledge in one brain, and I was happy to learn every single bit of it! Finally, I got this incredible confidence from being in his class. My doubts, my fears about not being enough, about not knowing how to be,--they all just dissipated, and the class left me wanting more and more of this confidence! I seriously feel like I can reach the stars now! :) AD ASTRA PER ASPERA! Gunnar makes the "aspera" easy, because he dissects each one of them and teaches you how to overcome them. Just a huge THANK YOU!!!!! I FEEL UNSTOPPABLE TODAY AND FOREVER!!!! :D read more

I've spent thousands of dollars on improv classes. But Comedy Essentials is the class I've been waiting for. It brings out the best part of improv and sketch and teaches you the acting skills you need to be in front of a camera. I felt like I was back in school in the best way. From character archetypes and want statements to emotional choices and scene work, this class taught me more about comedic acting than any improv class ever. If you're a comedian looking to sharpen your acting skills, this is the class for you. read more

Actors Comedy Studio was recommended to me by an actor friend/coach, and I'm so glad I followed through on taking this class with another friend. I went into Comedy Essentials thinking that I was only going to learn about being funny. I got so much more! I learned about myself, breaking down a comedy script, archetypes, how to deliver lines in comedy, and more--thanks to Gunnar's teaching and his awesome book. I highly recommend Actors Comedy Studio to everyone who wants to learn about comedic acting! read more

Beyond excellent class and a brilliant instructor, Safe and Easy Sitcom Writing with Gunnar Rohrbacher. Highly highly recommend. Gunnar taught me how to write fast, aligned, and with depth thanks to his Heroes of Comedy and terrific class. The last class is WILD! No spoilers. Loved my experience with ACS and will be taking more classes there. Buy his book The Comedy Code -- it will teach you how to write comedy AND drama. Thanks, Gunnar! read more

My daughter loves the class. We returned for ongoing sessions. Can't wait to see her get better at comedy acting.

Great whether you want to do comedy or not! Everyone who interested in taking their acting career to the next level should study here.

Tiffany have worked with my son on dramas has been amazing online zoom classes! She is so patient, kind and encouraging and knew how to feel comfortable from the very beginning. She was also able to get her understand the characters as well as different audition techniques. Would absolutely recommend her your kids coaching. read more

Gunnar is an amazing teacher. If you are looking to improve on your comedy whether you are acting or doing stand up- the class and his book will provide alot of value and tools you can add to your tool box read more

Just took a Masterclass with Gunnar and Lauren. They were kind, constructive, honest, and full of very valuable feedback. As soon as my schedule opens up, I plan on taking more of their classes! read more

Tiffany has worked with my daughter on both Disney comedy and indie dramas and has been amazing! She is so patient, kind and encouraging and knew how to make her feel comfortable from the very beginning. She was also able to get her to really understand the character as well as different audition techniques and was super flexible and accommodating with our last minute schedule requests. Would absolutely recommend her for your kids' coaching needs! read more

If comedy is your thing, Gunnar's Comedy Essentials is a great place to gain perspective and sharpen script-analysis skills and work on scenes LIVE with him. If comedy is not your thing, Gunnar's Comedy Essentials is a great place to gain perspective and sharpen script-analysis skills and work on scenes LIVE with him. Either way, you will gain persp.... you get it. It is worth the time and money commitment. It is an incredible value and you will absolutely know how to act and audition afterwards from a trusted, respected, WORKING teacher, writer, and author. Highly recommend. read more

Did my first coaching with this company today! Had Erin Coleman - have so many positive things to say about this experience. It was for a comedy co star audition and as one teacher once told me - I have an unnatural fear of comedy! Erin made me feel so at ease. So capable: her insights into the short scenes was priceless. She helped me turn what could've been a bland co star tape into something I am proud to submit. read more

I just took the one-day Comedy Intensive class and my game has been raised in several areas of my career because of this class. I do also need to mention that I'm still day dreaming about the lunch, it was fantastic, not some greasy cheap pizza. The salads were phenomenal. HA! The class was FANTASTIC. Gunnar and Dorian were a an outstanding team, they both CLEARLY care about actors and their collective success. I have taken workshops where the clear objective is to tear your down a bit so you'll sign up for more classes and this was the exact opposite. They didn't blow an ounce of smoke in giving honest feedback and yet stayed positive, both offering great insight on where to focus our individual areas for growth. This is also a workshop that would be worth taking multiple times. Thank you Gunnar and Dorian! read more

I love Gunnar! He is very knowledgeable and you can tell he cares about his students. I am taking his Comedy Essentials class and have learned so much! This is not necessarily an acting class, although there is some acting. This class is more about setting a strong foundation and teaches you how to analyze scripts and how to exercise the new skills and knowledge Gunnar gives you. Gunnar breaks the information down in a way that is easy to understand. He makes everything seem simple, but when we do the exercises in class, you realize it is not as simple/easy as it appears, and that a lot of thought has been put into his class materials. I have not even finished this set of classes, but I am excited to take the other classes that Actors Comedy Studio offers. I have shared Gunnar's (free!) workshops with my friends, and those who have attended are also big fans of him. His workshops give you a taste (actually more than just a taste) of what he has to offer, and I dare say I have learned more in some of his free workshops than paid workshops elsewhere. read more

Love ACS! I've been a student on and off for a number of years. It is a great workout to brush up on skills and learn new ones. I love the technicality that the instructors focus on in your performance. Every class you are able to see a playback on your progress too. read more

This review is for Gunnar's Private Session. I went in for career counseling with 2 topics to chat about. Not only was Gunnar prepared, on-time, and patient when listening to my questions, he was specific on his recommendations, gave reasoning based on experience, and was generous enough to extend honest advice based on my personality. We had plenty of time for me to ask 2 more questions I've pondered for a while. I'm an actor with 3.5 years of experience in LA looking to level up. I would highly recommend a private with Gunnar. Go with your specific questions prepared and you will come out of the meeting with answers to them, and then some. read more

My daughter is back for her second class with Lauren and Tiffany! She always has fun and is learning how to get better at comedy (without being over the top, lol) and how to navigate the new way to audition. She is loving class! read more

I absolutely recommend training here! I have trained at various comedy studios/classes and this one is hands down my favorite. Gunnar knows what he's talking about. He breaks down scripts brilliantly. He pushes you to be your best and tells it how it is from a place of love. He treats everyone equally and trains you no matter your skill level. He has helped me understand which comedic characters I play best and how to identify the archetype on the paper. He makes you feel confident with cold reads and how to audition at the top of your emotional intelligence. If you are a comedy actor, you must take! read more

I found Actors Comedy Studio through Yelp when I was looking for a self-tape service. I signed up for the wrong day, and luckily still found the teacher there. I had such a great session with Gunnar Rohrbacher that I signed up for the classes. He is a master teacher who invests in his students' success. The whole school is a great environment for any actor in Hollywood (or outside of Hollywood), wherever they are on their path. Gunnar has learned the ropes and also braided some of his own. Can't wait for his book to come out. His study of archetypes changed the way I approach auditions and made them a much more enjoyable experience. read more

Love the feedback, sooo helpful for someone who is new to the comedy industry. Gunnar really knows his stuff and is friends with all the right people, so his opinion is valid. Learned a lot, friendly staff, lots of free info/workshops- he really wants to help! Can't wait to continue my journey here. read more

Our son has been taking the virtual Teen Comedy Essentials class from ACS for a few weeks now and has had an absolute BLAST! Despite having to join the session a couple classes in, coaches Tiffany and Lauren were incredibly accommodating and made him feel welcomed with their enthusiasm and sense of humor. Each class has helped teach our son foundational industry knowledge and lingo, which is especially helpful as newbie stage parents still learning the ropes! The sides/scripts they practice in class have felt fresh and relevant and they often elicit belly laughs from us while we listen in from an adjacent room. Because of this class, our son is eager to find a role on a comedy series. Tiffany and Lauren are very encouraging and supportive of their young learners. They have created an environment where kids can take risks and learn from their mistakes. They continue to bring the best out of our son. Tiffany and Lauren are well-versed in the industry and their informational sessions, guest instructors, and advice have helped our son's new professional career gain momentum! Thank you ACS!! read more

I cannot imagine a better place to learn about comedy and acting! Gunnar is so incredibly knowledgeable and communicates everything so clearly. Obviously he loves teaching and working with us humans! His book, The Comedy Code, is a virtual encyclopedia of knowledge about scripted comedy and the biz. The Comedy Essentials class really made it all clear:) Very inspiring! I learned more in one class than 3 other acting classes put together. Can't wait to do more! read more

This review is long over due. I took the Intro to Acting class back in October-November 2016. I am new to the entertainment industry and was overwhelmed with the variety of class choices that are offered in LA. I was referred to the Actors Comedy Studio by another actor and was told that everyone there (instructors and classmates) were all very supportive. I audited a class and decided to go ahead and sign up for their first Intro to Acting class. It was so informative, non-threatening, supportive group. I enjoyed that there were ice breakers/warm ups at the beginning of each class and the encouragement we each received. I learned a lot about the business and how to audition. Lauren was our instructor and I cannot go on enough about how wonderful she is as a human being. After the course was completed, I landed my first national commercial and was lost when it came to contracts. I had been introduced to an agent who seemed like they were not working for my best interests. I called Lauren to seek her advice and she steered me in the right direction. I decided to not go with that agent and read over the contract myself. Lauren was kind enough to be on standby for any questions I had the day of the commercial shoot. In a world that is business cut throat, it is fabulous to know that the folks at Actors Comedy Studio will always have your back! THANK YOU LAUREN!!! read more

Our daughter just completed the online "Zoom" Summer Camp and we could not be happier with the experience. We were initially hesitant to enroll in an online class, but Lauren put together a well collaborated 1 week program that engaged and challenged the students daily and offered not just one, but two much appreciated Q & A sessions for the parents with industry experts. Highly recommended! read more

I completed the Word Party class and it was a fun, and liberating experience! This class really helped to exercise some creativity during social distancing. It guided me to some of the most interesting creative writing I have produced. I highly recommend this class if you are looking to express yourself freely, without any judgement at all. Quarantined or not! read more

If you're anything like me, you've discovered the hardest thing to do in Hollywood - harder than getting an agent, harder even than finding employment as a waiter - is finding a reputable, trustworthy and effective acting instructor. It took me over a decade to find an on-camera audition instructor worthy of my time and money. His name is Todd Rohrbacher. Though his class focuses on comedy, Todd knows it's not enough to be funny. His class builds comic actors by focusing first on acting fundamentals, in a manner that is not only comprehensive and easy to understand, but easy to implement. Most importantly, I've learned to trust the preparation I do before an audition, so that I can relax into my best self during the audition. Last year, after over a decade slowly building my acting career, I booked my first AFTRA co-star role. I directly attribute my current success as a working actor to the lessons I learned from Todd. read more

Love Actors Comedy Studio!! My son has been taking the teen comedy class with Miss Lauren and Miss Tiffany for a few months. They are very invested in each persons success. He has noticeably enhanced his audition skills. He really enjoys the class and seems to be having lots of fun. He gave up an easy background role close to home this weekend so he wouldn't miss class. LOL read more

I've been going to ACS for the last 4 months and I love it!!! I moved here from NY, and one of the things I quickly realized is how much sitcom comedy is valued in this town. Todd's brilliance comes from his passion for comedy and specifically his love for sitcoms. He breaks down sitcom comedy into a very actor-friendly approach. I came from a 4 year theatre program in college, and found this to be a very useful segway into the world of tv comedy. His 10 characters of comedy is brilliant, and very user friendly. I'd highly recommend this class to anyone coming from a theatre program, improv background who wants to transition sitcom comedy, or anyone who wants to dive in and take some comedy classes. One of the other very useful things I found about the studio is it's practical tools and networking opportunities. Todd also offers private coaching, which I used multiple times during pilot season. The studio also offers workshops with some awesome people like Dorian Frankel(CD for "Parks and Recreation", "The Office") and Scott David ("Criminal Minds") for very reasonable prices. ACS is a great place to grow as an actor, but there are also awesome networking opportunities to segway you directly into the business. Highly, highly recommmended!! read more

I'm not a student of this facility, but my best friend goes there and LOVES IT. He told me about the upcoming Scott David Workshop, so I decided to try it out. When I was told that I was going to have to find my own sides on the Actor's Comedy Studio website, I assumed I was going to have to shuffle through a list of uncategorized sides for an hour and still wind up frustrated that I couldn't find anything interesting. HOWEVER. The way they have sides posted on their site is absolutely PERFECT and ORGANIZED. I found sides within 5 minutes of looking due to how they have things categorized. Went to the workshop, it was run very well by the peeps who work there and it was awesome finally meeting Scott David and I had a friggin' blast. It was a great group of talented humans and it was a seamless workshop. Thanks, guys! read more

I just completed the Sitcom Script Analysis class with Gunnar and I have to say it was absolutely a great investment in my career as an actress and producer. Gunnar has found a way to use his years of experience to provide useful knowledge and insight. This mixed with his compassion, intelligence, and encouraging spirit helped our class to feel valued and inspired to get better at what we do - every day! I can't wait to study further at Actor's Comedy Studio. Tip: Parking on the streets can be very difficult at certain times of the day in the area - it appears to be OK to park your vehicle at the park down the street. read more

ACS is awesome. I had Gunnar guide me and WOW. First, he's very passionate about comedy and helping us. He's blunt and caring and that's something we need more of. This course really opened my eyes and mind about preparing comedy sides. I fully recommend and so happy I took this course. read more

I was studying at the Groundlings for several terms and kept seeing postcards and fliers for the Actors Comedy Studio and would take them thinking I'll call when the time is right. It took a while, but boy am I glad I finally called! I had heard about a different comedy coach teaching a similar style and met with him first. I found him pompous, rude and it took his staff weeks to call back to schedule me into a class. Thank heavens for that because I am much happier in the presence of the exceedingly bright, straight forward-without-being-rude, freaking FUNNY Gunnar, who takes comedy very seriously. He studies it, eats, lives and breathes it...to my benefit! My husband and I were actors 15 years ago and left for the wine industry and have just recently come back. This makes me feel like I have sooo much to catch up on and do, but just not enough time. What I dig most is that with Gunnar, we have have eeked out a plan for my career. So much has changed since I was previously in it, so it might seem lame to appear that I am not doing the plan entirely on my own, but I am not too proud to say that I appreciate Gunnar's expertise and SO appreciate the help. Now, among other things, we have a production company and my husband and I wanted help with our scenes in the film. I had worked with a couple of people whom I felt were not really that helpful. I made an appt. to meet with Gunnar to see what he had to offer. We clicked! I joined the master class, filled with all sorts of inspiring talent, and my husband and I did privates with him as well. Things that just weren't clicking at read-throughs were fixed in a NY minute with Gunnar (who used to be known as Todd, just for clarification.) We fleshed out our characters, bringing them to a much deeper level. Good stuff! I love being in the presence of people who are constantly working as well. Class opens with "good news to share", and there's often a boat load! There are so many things offered such as $20 workshops, 10 week Comedy Intensives, an Industry Showcase with nothing but top-notch attendees. I very much recommend the Actor's Comedy Studio to youth and adult actors and look forward to carving out another career for me doing what I love! Thank you to Gunnar and your entire staff! (They are very efficient and good to work with) read more

Todd is a great teacher!! He helped me fine tune the funny in me! I found an acting teacher I trust to give constructive criticism. He's really amazing! I love to watch him work with other people as well... because no tweak goes unnoticed. The class is high energy and I love that you get to go up 2-3 times per class! read more

I just completed the 10 week Sitcom Essentials class, and it's really quite true that nothing else like this is offered in town. While taking improv at UCB/Groundlings/etc. is great, if you really are looking to be a comedy master on Film and Television, this studio is what you need to set your sights on. The owners Gunnar and Lauren are very knowledgable and create a positive and exciting atmosphere. There was no intimidation or judgement which is so great! In this particular class we covered everything from script analysis to differences between multi cam and single cam to representation and how the market sees you. You also get partnered up and perform a multi cam scene in front of an audience with three cameras rolling and writers on the side who are giving you joke rewrites. No other place I know of gives you this experience, and I think it is important because if you're getting sent out for multi cam show auditions and have never been on one, you want to be as prepared as possible for how everything runs. The community at the studio was warm and friendly from the teachers and guests to the students. At the end of the day, Gunnar and Lauren want to help actors and it shows. I highly recommend checking it out! read more

I took the Comedy Cast Intensive with Gunnar Rohrbacher and Dorian Frankel. A very productive and fun day with lots of do's and don'ts. Real insight into the casting office through Dorian. Gunnar's take on comedy opens up a lot of new specifics for an actor to apply to any audition. Very helpful informative day. read more