After graduating from UCLA Extension I felt very scattered, and a bit lost in Los Angeles as I continued to seek my acting career, in 2016. I knew I needed to find a studio to be part of and practice the craft constantly. I audited so so so many studios around and found AMAW, which was the one that I was attracted to and intrigued by the most. I have been studying so many technics whether in Brazil or here in LA and I was still not feeling I was improving as I believed I could. The school helped me to regain my confidence because of the simplicity of the work they do. It is not easy, but it is very simple! All based on using the truth of who you are and what you are feeling in the moment applied to the script you have in hand. And, so... let the magic be revealed. There is so much I discovered about myself! This is the safest school you can get. The staff and teachers are phenomenal and they will take care of you! You will find lots of students shooting TV shows as well as working producers who partner with the school and build workshops where you can develop your professional skills and actually book work. I love and recommend the school to anyone, whether you are pursuing an acting career, or just looking to develop your power of expression, so you can thrive in sales, public speaking, or any other area of your interest. I made a lot of friends a had a lot of fun! read more

Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Rather fortuitously the dog's *vet happens to be v near the fab @anthonymeindl's @amawstudios new *location. So the #beagle & I popped in and met Jennifer, who very kindly gave us a tour. Wow, such an upgrade on their former Melrose Ave location. This bespoke facility is bang smack in #Hollywood- you can see the sign- and surrounded by Studios' studios- which gets the blood going! The streets around here are quiet & great for #skateboarding and it's on good bus routes too. I'm intending to really up-the-ante on my #acting experience, auditions, training & to 'Book the fu*King job' (as Mr Meindl says in his book, one of a number!), in 2022. In 2021, I so loved being surrounded by (transmasc) #actors on our retreat with @michaeldcohen. Now I'm hungry to train weekly. The theatre studio space here is GREAT! I want in! There's some nice communal spaces too to hang and get to make new friends. Background.. I post on my IG @angelsareintersex about the mental health crisis in our #intersex youth shows how important it is to increase visibility of Out & Proud intersex people. Until there are lots of healthy, happy, young intersex actors filling the acting schools & #casting rooms of Hollywood, #RiverGallo is our great hope for global success. And I'm representing the older, been around the block a few times, got the scars, guard! Anthony Meindl is a proud member of our LGBTQiA+ community and this feels like a very safe space to come as a non-binary, trans & intersex person. PS all genders WCs too! read more

Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop - Seven Graham (in a skateboarding helmet I never take off, it seems). - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

I have left reviews before and I will always leave new ones, confirming how much I appreciate this acting studio and my fav teacher, Geri! This studio has helped me grow an unmeasurable amount as an actor, and simply as a human. Geri makes her classroom environments a very safe space to push your limits and work on breaking down your walls to lead you into those beautiful and vulnerable performances we all want. I highly recommend taking classes here and specifically taking class with Geri. You won't regret it! read more

I have been working with Geri Courtney-Austein for close to two years-- during that time my work has become clearer and more effective. She has an uncanny ability to see what could be, and figure out a course of actions to get you there. Her class is filled with regulars who come back month to month because of the safe container she has created for us to be vulnerable. She's quite the best. read more

Terrible school. See that someone else agrees that Nina Rausch is a wannabe Stella Adler. No technique and over priced. Don't waste your time and money here. read more

Decent place. Lindsey Buss is their lifesaver. But their master class is like a CULT.

Be very careful which classes you take at this school. Anthony and Eric are both excellent teachers. Their auditioning class, however, was the worst class I've ever taken in my entire life. The teacher, Nina, basically discouraged me from acting and put herself on a pedestal as if she was Marilyn Monroe. Even worse was her assistant. He basically acted like it was his class, on a power trip like a cop, and tried to disgrace me in front of everyone. If you go here, stay away from their side teachers. read more

I feel so fortunate to have found this acting studio, it is such a great community to be part of. I have come a long ways in not just my ability as an actor, but also as a person. My growth and self-awareness are very evident. There is no bullsh*t or flakiness at AMAW. The approach used there is based in reality... The reality of who you are, the situation, and the life between you and your scene partner. Anthony, Lindsay, Jonathan, and Sean are masterful teachers of evoking the students ability to break through personal walls to let the life of the scene live truthfully. I have witnessed and been part of some powerful scene WORK here. For an actor in Los Angeles looking for a scene work class (actually, I've even seen out-of-staters come there) AMAW should be at the top of their list to come audit. There's so much to gain . . . read more

Geri Courtney-Austein is one of the best acting teachers I've ever had, and I've been in the game a long time. I've seen so many people grow and reach new levels in her classes. Geri takes a modern approach, honoring body boundaries, inclusivity, and triggers. All that said, her class is FUN and it's actually interesting to watch other scenes because her teaching style is so engaging. I highly recommend getting in her class if you can! read more

I just finished my first year working with AMAW and I cannot recommend it enough. The folks at AMAW are so welcoming and great to work with. I've spent the last year working primarily with Geri Courtney-Austein and she has done wonders for me. Geri really understands the craft but also has such a nous for understanding her students and what is coming up for them while they perform in class. That understanding makes our work better and it's such an important aspect to Geri's teaching. Highly recommend this studio, and highly recommend Geri! read more

If it was possible to rate negative stars you better believe that I would. The CFO is absolutely horrible. She treated me with such a level of disrespect I don't know how the owner chose her to begin with. And to be honest he is not much better. And his actions are questionable as well. I used to think Anthony Meindl is such a genius I can't wait to be a part of his master class. Looking at it now, the only one who seems qualified to teach there has been Geri. Her classes are great. I won't lie and say I was the proudest of my work in the 6 week course, and that's mainly because you have hardly any time outside of class to work as you are working with busy actors and or models. My last week my partner who is a busy working model with Wilhelmina, such a sweet girl but very busy her dog was sick. So my friend Amber god bless her, helped me. It wasn't her fault at all but it did not go well. It could have been better. Moving past that. I really enjoyed Geri's classes. She actually cared about her students and is hilarious, and more genuine than anyone else who works here. Still trying to get my refund from the emotional pain distress and suffering the CFO and CEO have caused me. Don't worry I have my legal team. And I'm sure this studio won't hold up. I'm not the only one who has complaints about this shady place. Won't be the last either. read more

Don't waste your money or your hopes on this place!! I'd heard great things about this place from an actress that I had worked with so I decided to audit Anthony's master class and was very impressed with his work with the students! So I decided to try to enroll, got accepted and started classes. I knew that I would have a different teacher in the beginning but that Anthony would come and join one of the two classes that we had per week. He was there at the first class and he gave me some great pointers but the problem is, he never came to another class again! The teacher that we had seem to not understand any of my needs and my requests and was putting me in the same character over and over again and even though I had asked him numerous times to let me work on something else that I felt was my weak spot. He eventually decided to listen to me and gave me something new only to change his mind last minute and give me the exact same thing again!! It felt like a cruel joke!! I decided to quit his class and try another teacher only to find out that this other teacher started acting two years prior to that, as he was a photographer for the army.. I am not going to sit there and pay a lot of money to take lessons from somebody who has less acting experience than me! Anthony only cares about celebrities and a potential of associating with them which is why he's not interested in any of the other students! I managed to get my money back for the rest of the classes that I had but it was an enormous waste of my time and all the hopes that I had pinned on this class. Oh and to add insult to injury, they made us buy Anthony's book!!! What a rip off!!!! Stay away and try somewhere else please! And I forgot to add that they don't let you have your lines before class, to be able to rehearse anything, instead you're supposed to "act on the spot", whatever that means! What it actually does is that you have no idea what your character is feeling, what you're going to be doing, or how you're going to react. It's incredibly stupid! read more

This studio was in the top 3 when I typed in "Meisner" to yelp but when I audited the class it was anything but Meisner technique. Anthony seems to teach an anti-technique because when answering questions he said that he wouldn't recommend a class that required rehearsals outside of class. My great teacher in NYC would roll over dead if she heard that. Of course cold reading is a great skill where you think on the fly - but scene study classes should have a lot more substance. I commend a studio that is supportive and clearly has a loyal student following, but I'm looking for an environment that asks for consistency in your performance and demands something out of you every time you work. The approach at this place is "lets work with what you bring today" which shouldn't be acceptable, especially in a business as competitive as this one. From what I observed students are complacent about their work but think they are improving slowly by just being present. Anthony seemed like a nice guy, but I'm looking for a great teacher, not someone to be my friend. I'm looking for a teacher really rooted in technique - an incredible Meisner teacher will get you to deep emotional places fast. This is not the place for me. :( read more

I will TRY to keep this brief... I met Anthony when I was 15 and began training there, only to stop when I was admitted to the Theater school at UCLA. Without any preparation or training other than Tony I made it into the top theater school in the nation. People have always commented on the truthfulness of my roles in plays and scenes: and that is all Tony. Once college was over I came right back and now can't stand the 6 days in between classes. Tony, Jonathan, and Lindsay have such different ways of opening us up and allowing us to explore and discover parts of ourselves we didn't know were there, or maybe were afraid to face. AMAW has become more than just my acting studio. It is my home and my sanctuary. Anthony is my guru. read more

Tony is a master. Do not let his wonderfully child-like demeanor and flamboyant joyfulness mislead you into thinking that he is lackadaisical in the craft. The way they work the craft here is subtle, but fundamentally significant, and this is the nature of acting: to listen with your being. This studio will teach it to you if you are open. Tony has the heart of a child, but the wisdom of a snake. Listen carefully to what he says, and also to what your partner says for god's sake, and you will find a window into your soul. Get some of that bacon, you beauty. read more

As a career consultant for actors in addition to being an actress myself, it is my job to learn what acting classes are out there for my clients. Having taken classes at or audited over 30 studios in town, I've discovered that AMAW is THE place for new and seasoned actors to create breakthroughs in their craft. I was sold when I audited last year and I saw a cold reading of a Shakespearean scene (most scenes in class are contemporary) which was better than most rehearsed performances of Shakespeare I had seen. Through working with Tony, I've come to realize that "I am enough," and that everything I needed was already inside myself, I just had to get out of my own way. I discovered that I was actually a bit of a comedian! Under the keen guidance of Tony and amidst such inspiring actors in class, I've reconnected to the joy of performing again. After one of Tony's lectures on going towards what we fear, I came across information about the Miss California USA pageant. My first thought was, "Oh, I could never do that. That's impossible.". However, after replaying Tony's words over in my head, I then realized, "Shit. That means I have to do it.". After being chosen amongst 5000+ candidates, I achieved what I formally thought was "impossible.". Thank you, Tony, for reaffirming for me that impossible just doesn't exist. read more

This studio has changed the way I live life in general...in a more positive way, that is! Through exercises both inside and outside of class, I've become more truthful to myself, others, and more open to new (even if intimidating) experiences. Haha. There are a number of teachers, and each of them has a different way of teaching the lessons and providing direction/criticism. There's a teacher for every learning style, so everyone is bound to find someone that works for them. I guess you could say that AMAW teaches you cold reading techniques, but more importantly and more decisively, it guides you into getting to know who you are and become more confident and compassionate as an actor and a human being. At AMAW you learn how to put your best foot forward and land the acting jobs you deserve. read more

Anthony's passion & joy for acting is inspiring. His studio is filled with impassioned actors of all ages and types; from teenagers to seniors, leading men and ladies to character actors alike. As a teacher he has the uncanny ability to cut right to the core of what you are contending with in the work and push you to face it head on. His approach to acting is beautifully simple yet challenging. As a working actor I have studied at different studios over the years and I have never witnessed such amazing growth in actors in any program as quickly as I have seen them with Anthony Meindl. read more

I am so proud to be a part of this acting community! I audited other acting schools in Los Angeles, but never felt they were "speaking my language." At AMAW, the work is transformative and courageous. The work is based on radical honesty and a fierce commitment to the truth. No "acting" allowed. The process is simple, yet profoundly challenging. And the growth I've observed in myself and my classmates is nothing short of breathtaking. Tony has real working actors in his classes, and is VERY well respected by professionals in the industry. His name looks really good on my resume. AMAW also hosts CD and Agent workshops, offered exclusively to their students, and the people they bring in are top notch. If you're serious about challenging yourself as an actor, and building your career with a smart, well-connected acting coach, you should definitely audit a class here, and find out what everyone's talking about. read more

My experience at this acting school has been extremely eye-opening and refreshing. This studio has been the first environment that I've ever been in in terms of the craft of acting which has expanded me, hit me straight to the core and released the human within which is the most crucial part of acting. The teachers, the technique, the classes and Anthony himself are a true testament That you don't need to try so hard and follow mindless rules that work for one but don't work for another in order to become a good artist. The answer is in learning who you are as an artist, Focusing on your development and hard work and Anthony Meindl's Actors Workshop helps you do that amazingly. read more

Ok let me just start this review off by saying trying to find a great acting class in Los Angeles is probably one of the hardest things to do...ever! There are so many different schools, workshops, classes etc that sometimes it is just easier to go with the first school you find. After auditing and trying out three different places I was ready to give up, then I went to a free audit here at Anthony's and it was amazing, after taking the six week introductory class I learned so much about being present and committed to myself and to my acting. I learned that" real acting " doesn't look like acting at all, it is just being yourself and being real. I am now six months into the next phase of classes at this studio and my work has improved so much, the teachers really do want you to do your best and they are all very encouraging and helpful. I've never heard or seen anyone get yelled at. I suggest that anyone who really is passionate and wants to make a career out of acting or if you just want to try a new hobby and meet some amazing people to come check out this wonderful studio! read more

This studio is more than just an "acting studio" its a second home. Not only do you grow as an actor, but as a person. Every class reminds you why you are an actor. All the work you do will strengthen your skills and allow you to become more open and willing to challenge yourself than ever before. Its not your normal "here's a technique to act and this is how you do it" sort of class, it goes to the core of who you are and brings that out in your work. Its really a magical, addictive, place. Not to mention the awesome (cheap) industry workshops! read more

LOVELOVELOVE Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop It is a great place for actors to grow their creative unique selves! I love how he has just finished renovating an all new beautiful professional space for actors to work on their "craft". They have AMAZING, enthusiastic experienced teachers. Anthony really loves what he does and if you get to meet him in person around one of your classes here... like I have...you will get to experience his genuine smile, authentic warmth and pure joy and pride of what he has built for himself and the creatives who study at his workshop read more

By far, the best acting class i've had in LA since i've moved out here 4 years ago. i've been to a bunch of different workshop studios and classes and Tony's is by far my favorite. reasonable prices and class sizes, talented people, teachers who actually get to know you and care about your progress, great CDs and agents brought in on a constant basis and the best part (for me) is that i don't have to wait an hour on the 101 to get there (i used to take a lot of classes in studio city). Finally, the most important quality i take away from AMAW is the method of making actors be comfortable. other places have tried to drill new vocabulary, methods and cultish ideas that suggest if your not crying or shouting, then YOU'RE NOT ACTING. that kind of stuff was never for me and Tony's (along with his staff) simplistic and unique approach helps people remember why they love acting, taps into your truthful voice and doesn't muddy everything up with the typical BS that plagues so many other studios. do yourself a favor and audit. seriously. do it. read more

My daughter did a one one one coaching via zoom with Ben Hodge and he was amazing! She is just getting back into acting after years off and Ben made her feel so comfortable. He explained things in a way that totally made sense to her. Very friendly and so Genuine. Also the staff was great at commicating and Emailed back very quickly. read more

Whenever I moved to Los Angeles, I audited several acting classes before a friend told me about Anthony Meindl's Actors Workshop. From the minute I stepped in the studio I knew it was where I needed to be. In the 9 months I've been taking class, I have grown so much professionally, as well as personally. Every week I look forward to going to class because I know that I will learn something new not only through my own work, but also through observing my classmate's work. The studio is such a loving and supportive community of artists that truly want the best for each other, which is so nice to find. All I can say is I'm a much more honest and happier person than I was before I walked through the doors of Anthony Meindl's Actors Workshop. Tony's passion for his students is unparalleled, and I feel truly lucky to not only find a place that pushes me to go beyond what I thought was possible, but a place to call home. read more

Exceptionally grateful for the studio and the results I'm seeing as a result of the work invested.

I just audited a master class with Tony tonight and was absolutely floored. My standard of good art is when it makes you feel something and tonight I felt so many things I did not expect while watching the students work. They were really really good and Tony was absolutely masterful at directing them and pulling things out of them with love and compassion, sometimes tough love, but never mean spirited as I've seen in other classes. I am so impressed just from auditing one class. It felt like there was more than acting going on in that room. It was amazing. I can't wait to study here, if you're considering it, go audit a class, you will not be disappointed. I am actually sitting in my car writing this review because I had to get this out, I rarely write reviews but I left so inspired. read more

Teachers are fantastic, challenging work and killer classmates! Every week I'm excited to come to class and continue to learn. The class may not be the format the traditional actor is used to so I encourage you to audit first and be sure it's what you want to get into. I'm definitely glad I made the decision to attend :) You should never stop learning! read more

Anthony is a great teacher, artist, and human being whose mission in life is sharing his gratitude and love of acting with each and every one of his students. He has been such inspiration in my artistic life. He has a curriculum that allows actors to work in an environment that breeds creativity. To this day, before and audition or performance, his guiding voice remains with me, providing support and allowing my truth to to create my truth and shine. Very rare teacher who has a the true gift and passion for his work with a lifetime of dedication. I've been to many studios in Los Angeles, and he is top of the line. read more

I've been to 5 acting schools in LA and definitely AMAW has been the best of them all.

Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop isn't really an acting school. They do not teach any kind of acting technique whatsoever. It is a school for the lazy actor. The first thing you'll notice if you enroll in classes here is that you are not allowed to memorize your lines or rehearse scenes outside of class. In every class you hold the script in your hands which never allows you to be physically free or own the words in any way. This lack of technique is extremely frustrating and because of this when you perform your scenes in class the feedback teachers will give you is "be more in the moment" or "just trust yourself." It all sounds good but it is lazy on the teachers' part and it encourages the students here to focus on fame and success rather than on the actual craft of acting. If you just sit in on one of Meindl's lectures you'll see that this school celebrates anti-intellectualism and promotes pseudo-science. Though Meindl is kind and charismatic he is less of a teacher and more of a motivational speaker, intent on selling you his self help books. If you look at his bio on the school's website you will see that he hardly has any credentials to be an acting teacher. He doesn't hold a degree in Acting or Drama. Instead he's written and directed a couple films. Now, if you think this makes him credible to be a teacher in the art of acting be my guest and sign up for his class but wouldn't you rather have an acting teacher who has a degree in acting or at least has had a long venerable stage and film career? In the school, there is a poster for Meindl's first book and on this poster are photos of Meryl Streep and Albert Einstein, as if to say that these people would endorse the kind of thinking taught at this school. This is laughable. Meryl Streep, a graduate of Yale Drama School would never in her life endorse a school that discourages preparation, text analysis and knowing your lines. One day in class, after doing a scene I told my teacher that this lack of technique and the requirement that I hold my script in my hands was getting in the way of me being able to act. My teacher scolded me for not getting used to this lack of technique but at the same time didn't challenge me or my classmates to really grow. After feeling that I wasn't growing at this school I quit. When I first started out here I thought is was great but once I woke up to the fact that my acting was stagnating here and that the teachers here hardly have any credentials to be teachers I quit. I realized that I do not want to be a lazy actor. I made some friends here and became a little more confident in front of people but this school did not stimulate growth in me as an actor. If you find that motivational speaking can be helpful to you then this might be the place for you but if you want to truly learn about the craft of acting and grow as an actor do your research and pick an actual acting school. read more

I studied there briefly. Everyone who attends loves this place. I am in the minority. It just felt very rah rah borderline cultish to me. And while Anthony is awesome, the other teachers were not as great. read more

I felt the need to update my review to address some of the things the negative reviewers say. The point of not rehearsing outside of class is so that you'll be PRESENT and LISTENING during the scene instead of waiting to speak and waiting to do whatever thing you practiced for hours the week before---it's the difference between realism and the actors simply "talking at" each other. And we still work on scenes for a month usually, so it's not like we're not exploring deeper each week, but it's just different than what everyone else teaches. Whatever, this place has a crazy long waiting list and amazing students anyway, and it's not like I need any more competition, so good luck and good riddance to those cranky folks. (who, strangely enough, either have no other reviews or very few--REAAAAAL trustworthy) Anyway end rant. Also, Sean has saved my life. I adore adore adore him. read more

I actually learned about AMAW though Yelp, so went I to audit a class and loved what I saw and how I felt being there. Even though, after auditing there's a bit of a wait period, once I was in it changed my life for the better. Since I'm sick right now and don't want to write a novel about how much I love this place on cold meds I'll use bullet points. 1. The students I've never been in a such a supportive environment before. Whether they are famous, working away, or just starting off, egos are left at the door and everyone is there to support each other and help one an other to improve. When you don't have to worry about what others think of you, you feel free to experiment and try things which helps you grow as an actor. I've learned, that good things happen when you are in a place where you are comfortable to f-up. It's actually hard and I'm still working on it. I became Facebook friends with my classmates, and while some of the messages on the on going message chain are hilarious and disturbing, it's amazing to feel connected. 2. Teachers I've had a few different teachers so far and have not been disappointed once. Each teacher has their own style and insight which is awesome. Each of them are so precise in what you are going through and your particular needs it's pretty phenomenal. It's great when you don't to worry about disappointing them with your performance because they don't care so much about what you did wrong more so than what can be done to make the scene a million times better. 3. The Insight I've learned from this school that acting is more than technique and practice it's also SO mental. Even though it can get a little emotional in class, it's so interesting to see how much an actor changes for the better once psychology comes into play. Usually the teachers are the ones to notice it, but it's so crazy to see when an actor does a scene that could be better and after a few questions from the teacher about the actors life, fears, and opinions the actor revives something about themselves that conflicts with being able to do the scene fully. Even though it feels invasive at first, you start to think about yourself differently afterwards and learn how to over come your personal conflicts so that you can contribute all of yourself for the character. There are other thoughts coming from this school that I enjoy as well, but the psychology aspect for me seems to be incredibly innovative. Oh yeah, and I'm now a better listener.. which can be good and bad depending on who I'm talking to. :) Other than that bring a sandwich and hide your coffee... I mean water, since no food is allowed in the classrooms and class can run long sometimes. read more

I've been at this studio for 5+ years now (holy moly, time flies!) and I love it. It has transformed my acting, my approach to storytelling and characters and honestly my life. Every teacher has a different flair and insight, but the basic premise of getting everything from your partner and listening in each moment is inherent with each class. I've been in the master class for over three years and worked with almost everyone and it's been a rigorous and joyful experience that has pushed me beyond my limits as an actor and as a person. I'm currently studying with Cynthia Levin whom I love dearly and learn so much from every single class!! I highly recommend this studio . read more

Anthony removed my review. He was my teacher and he took a project we were working on together got it copyrighted. He's also threatened legal action against me, but quickly stopped when my lawyer told him we had a paper trail of evidence that he'd stolen characters and story arcs that we created together. read more

The lessons you learn here are not exclusive to actors; they're for anyone looking to know themselves better. The instructors and students here are among the most genuine group of people I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll be scared shitless. But you'll never feel uncomfortable. Enrolling in Anthony Meindl's Actors Workshop was the best investment I've made in myself. read more

I came to AMAW thinking it was just another studio where I would just go up and do a few scenes. But after the first class that was clearly not the case. Anthony gets you to work from a place of truth, pushing you to be open to whatever comes up without judging it. He's so invested in his students and it shows in their work. I have never come across an acting studio where I felt safe enough to be as free as I've been here at AMAW. I've learned so much from each teacher and I only wish I found the studio sooner. Best studio in Los Angeles! read more

I canNOT say enough great things about this studio. Such a supportive atmosphere yet you are still challenged to go deeper and get "messier". LOVE all of the instructors... Tony is amazing and one of a kind, not just in his teaching method (which he is) but also as a person. He is such a forward and progressive thinker, teacher, and artist. If you want to be inspired as an actor and want to explore your creativity as a human and actor, check this place out. Also, let me just say that I come from a training that is strictly method acting and that never got me to the depths and honesty that Tony's teachings have gotten me to. read more