ATW is an amazing acting studio! I first found out about the studio during the pandemic when we were all staying home and what struck me was the new and different approach to working with scenes - by using energy and chakra work to harness the journey of the character. I joined classes online and loved them! I've tried a lot of different acting schools and methods and ATW helped unlock a laser focused and fresh way to understanding the script and bringing out my best performances. This year I also worked with Murisa on Authentic Branding and deep dove into the characters I can play and prepare for headshots to represent these. Since trying this approach, I've felt more confident in submitting for roles and have had a lot more success getting auditions and bookings and even landed a commercial agent during the strikes. ATW studio is also feels like a family, there's First Friday get togethers and other social connection events which is a fun way to connect IRL with other actors at the studio. So thankful for this studio and the wonderful teachers who really care about the craft and their acting students! read more

About the Work Actors Studio - ATW 10 Year Celebration event - Drama Schools Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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ATW is a caring and supportive community for all level actors and humans alike. In this journey, you will feel challenged, inspired and ready to tackle your life with a whole new perspective of your unique individuality and inner power as a human storyteller. Now, come and tell us your story, we want to hear it :) read more

I can't talk enough about this studio and the coaches. Since working with ATW my confidence has grown tremendously, I'm learning to take more risks and have more FUN. My auditions are stronger. The process used to breakdown scripts really streamlines the process and makes it less daunting and your performance more engaging. The Branding work is mind blowing and helped me create some of the best headshots I've ever taken. The studio has become my family. The support you receive not just from the coaches but from your classmates is just so special. Joining ATW not only makes you a better actor but most importantly a WORKING one! (No pun intended, haha) read more

Murisa and staff have been transformative in my acting process. She has created and honed her own technique(s) which has proven itself to be invaluable in my own work. Murisa's method includes using the body in a way no other teacher is teaching. I just booked my first network television role on a procedural, and it was very emotionally challenging. She coached me and helped me create a repeatable, physical choreography with my breath-work that I knew I could not only use in my performance, but could fall back on in case my prep work, substitution, imagination, emotional recall, etc. became exhausted after so many takes. THANK YOU, MURISA and SAVANNAH! Highly recommend this studio!! read more

Hands down - the best damn acting school in Los Angeles. All on camera, great environment to learn and grow. Very friendly community. What I think I love the most is the strong sense of support. I am definitely planning to continue to study there. Thx, EP read more

Great first day experience, these people at this organization is genuine and super supportive of you and your goals. I pray that I can come aboard and get my training here. read more

I highly recommend training with Murisa. I've been studying acting for the last 3 years and I will have to say I've grown significantly under the teaching of Murisa Harba Durrant! She is not only a talented actress, director, and dancer, choreographer, but she's extremely gifted in understanding the casting process and what will make you standout. She is also extremely patient and works out any confusion and mental blocks you can't quite pinpoint. I was lucky enough to receive a referral to her class being completely brand new to LA. She will give you a solid footing and confidence boast (If you need one, coming from someone who was quite intimidated by a new major city and the idea of starting off as a newcomer in this business). She is hard working, patient, enormously talented individual as well as a mentor you would surely benefit from. Numerous times, she has also coached me for last minute auditions. She makes sure to be available ASAP and dives in the script with you. Her ability to analyze the script in a couple of seconds was certainly remarkable. Murisa can also be your secret weapon for auditions and roles! Definitely set-up your audit to see for yourself! read more

When you find an acting coach that works for you it's really special. I've had many great coaches and teachers over my fairly long acting career, but over the last 3 years the rapport I have with Murisa is truly unique. Whether its her detailed eye, exceptional knowledge of craft or her utter joy of collaborating she has made me a more relaxed, specific and competent performer. She is a terrific director with an incredible intuition into the human condition. Technically she'll walk you through all the nuts and bolts of the craft and the business . Pretty much any "annoyance" an actor has with auditioning, performing or the business in general is addressed and worked on in her class. Cold Reading, camera technique, ease of emotional access (through chakra work), how to break down a scene, and even how to "look better" on screen is addressed specifically for each actor's personal makeup. Most of all she roots for you. And in this business having someone that special in your corner is priceless. read more

Murisa Harba, About The Work Studio, is an AWESOME teacher/coach. She has created a safe and welcoming space for actors to learn, experiment, create and grow. She guides you to doing your best work in an on-camera format -- totally invaluable. I wish there was an option for ten stars on the rating -- then again, perhaps that still wouldn't be enough. read more

About the Work Actors Studio is an excellent place to train and grow in your career

I recently attended one of About The Work's classes and was very impressed with not only the knowledge that Murisa has about the craft and industry, but also her ability to connect with everyone in the class on an individual level. I highly recommend any emerging actor and also any established actor to attend one of Murisa's classes, such a wonderful and soulful experience. read more

Coaches who are emotionally present, creative and constructive in their collaboration with actors are the ones I seek to work with and learn from. I've studied in conservatory at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and worked with Linklater, Meisner, Strausberg and other respected method acting teachers over the passed 10 years. When I met Murisa 3 years ago, I was in complete humble gratitude of her intuitive, constructive and compassionate energy. Murisa Harba is a true "Empath." She feels where I am at as a student, artist and human being before giving me any notes, direction or improv. She's amazing at gauging the energy and needs of each artist she works with and gives EVERYONE as much time as they need to work their scenes in class. She constantly challenges everyone from the level they're working at and EVERYONE is respected and treated with kindness. About the Work is one of the most sacred spaces I've acted in. Some of the most powerful acting experiences I've ever had have come out of this class. Personally, I consider it working in a master class even though Murisa doesn't turn anyone away based on their level of experience. Over the last 3 years, I've formed close bonds with many of the students here who I now consider family. We film webseries and short together because we trust each other implicitly. There is no competition at About the Work, only love and craft! Its a space of positive transformation to hone your skills, create an artistic family and and release your fears to create from the infinite potentiality your life experience has to offer. read more

I have worked with Murisa on and off throughout the last few years and she is one of the best coaches I have ever had the pleasure of working with! read more

In the LA world of classes and workshops and seminars designed to help you audition better, or look good on camera, or handle copy or whatever whatever, an actor can get frustrated trying to find a class where they can really work on their sh*t. Like, reeaaallly work on it. About the Work and Murisa fill that gap. Murisa provides an affordable, laid back environment where an actor can stretch and grow and be pushed well beyond what they find safe. In a good way. In a really good way.If you have a technique, she allows you the freedom to practice your technique while keeping you on track and pushing your further. If you are new and you don't have one, she guides you to one. The end result? You're a better actor. And you've had an awesome, fun, scary, exciting time to get there. read more

I love About the Work Studios!! With Murisa's fun and challenging approach to her classes she definitely pushes you to your limits while making you feel safe to explore, and take risks. She not only gives you a place to work, develop, and learn, but I love that she gives you a community of actors that support each other in class, AND outside of classes. So if you have a play, tv show, movie you'll have their support in the audience, watching online or whatever it is. I started at About the Work Actors Studio with a free Audit, where I thought I would just be watching the class.... but no I was welcomed straight in to be a part of the unique Chakra warm up which Murisa leads (which this alone was a new skill I learned on the first day), followed by scene, and script work. After being in class for a bit, and getting some great auditions I went to Murisa for private coaching (which she was really flexible with working around what time I needed). I love going to a coach that I take class with as they already know my quirks, vulnerabilities etc, which Murisa is great at pin pointing and coaching you to push past those boundaries and challenge yourself. If you want a place to exercise, play, learn, and be challenged this is the Studio to go to!! read more