The acting classes here are so great and the teachers are so helpful. I find the classes here are…read moreso much more helpful than just being a better actor. You get so much more out of it than that and my speech is clearer and more confident and everything. Insightful guidance in the classes.

I am not sure of others' experiences but after talking to someone twice, I decided the place isn't…read morewhere I would pay money for my son to learn anything. No matter what the subject of any classes are, professionalism is the key success factor but these guys lack professionalism so I figured they can not teach it either.

I grew up attending the theater and I consider myself very lucky. Community Little Theater in…read moreAuburn, Maine is still around today. I had two brothers who both performed in the theater and one of them is still teaching theater arts now. I usually attend the Broadway musicals at the San Jose Performing Arts Center a couple of times every year and I go alone. John is not a fan of musicals. But he agreed to go to a play last year in SF with me and he enjoyed it. So, when we saw the synopsis of "Running After Shadows," we decided to check it out. The second I walked inside, City Lights Theater reminded me of those wonderful memories I had as a teenager at Community Little Theater. City Lights is smaller than I'm used to but I loved its compact, intimate space. Every seat seems to be a good one and comfortable as well! I loved that the manager spoke to the audience before the show and that they pick a non-profit to donate to that matches with the theme of the play. They also have a little get together after every performance. They have refreshments and you have the chance to talk to the actors. We didn't stay afterwards but maybe next time. John surprised me by wanting to get tickets for the next show. Maybe I can get him to try musicals one day...

It's All an Act…read more Foreword: So, it turns out I kind of like plays. I mean, I recall enjoying watching theater friends perform at school and college back in the day, but I've never actually gone out to see a real live play with professional actors. Anyway, if you're on the fence about coming to see one, then you should definitely do it once. And if you really dig it, do it twice. :) OK, onto the review... The City Lights Theater Company has been supporting local actors and theater makers for forty-five years (ca. 1982) now, and have been in this space since 1991--despite a looming threat from developers... The Good: *Very small intimate venue of ±100 seat theater. There is no bad seat in the house, as even in the back row you still feel like you're practically front row. *Tickets are fairly inexpensive at ±$50-80/ea with season passes available. There's also afternoon matinee shows available for us old farts. *Staff was very friendly *They have a small snack bar and even serve wine *A chance to interact with the performers at the end of the show. *We watched "Running After Shadows" by Vincent Terrell Durham and it was excellent. Great story telling, fantastic acting, and it takes the crowd on a wild range of emotions. The Meh: *Street Parking only but it's free on the weekends. The Ugly: *They must start cutting onions in there at some point, cuz I swear my eyes started watering for no reason. That's right. No reason whatsoever. Conclusion: Intimate venue with great storytelling means a great time out by all. Good spot for a date nite or afternoon (see aforementioned "old farts" mention above).

TVYPA is an amazing program for young people that want to perform in a variety of different…read moremusicals. I've been to several different shows and always have been highly entertained, and impressed with how the director Brian has worked with these kids to help show them how to perform on stage.

TVYPA is a blessing to the families of young children in the Tri-Valley East Bay Area. We have…read moreknown the Director Brian for a few years now. He is really passionate about drama and high performance. Since he is a full-time Elementary school teacher, he really knows how to get the best out of these kids. He has a team of excellent choreographers and directors working with him. Their whole team works really hard and the result is a phenomenal production. Drama improves a child's self-confidence in public speaking and provides a great platform for team work. After every performance we are totally awed by the enthusiasm and perfection of the whole team. The only negative I would say is that we are spoilt with TVYPA and would have a tough time doing drama with any other company.

What an amazing place for the children to learn, be creative, gain confidence and have fun. The…read moreperformances the students put out is very good. My son did a couple of camps and enjoyed it. He played various roles as well as learn behind the scene backstage work. Come see a show!

A place where talent is identified and given center stage. NOT a place where kids are "coached" to…read moresing, dance and act. I have enrolled my child a couple of times. And he was NOT "taught" anything. He's a naturally good singer, so he sang well. They did NOT provide any voice training. I was hoping they would coach him on movement and dance basics but they did NOT. In summer camp, kids with smaller parts just sit around, there is no coaching to fill their time. They just "play games". In short, it's a lot like everything else. They provide a platform. If the child is naturally talented, motivated and lands a good part it's great. For the rest, it's an activity to check off.

My family and I frequently visit this theatre for all different plays and school events. We love…read morethe energy of the staff and how the plays are organized. The enthusiasm is just mind blowing. Very clean and well maintained theatre for the young students and parents to enjoy . A big shout out to all the staff and sponsors for this theater in San jose .

Had both of my kids participate in season 58, and both my husband and I could not be happier with…read morethe community and experience that our children had. I cannot stop singing praises for CMT.

Whether you're just starting out or have had experience onset, this is definitely the place you'd…read morewant to checkout! Acting Coach Giovannie ("Gio" for short) offers a number of classes where your young actors will learn and grow their acting chops. And most importantly have fun while learning their craft. Thanks to Gio! From SF to Hollywood, our young actors have landed some major roles, short film, commercials and more..

Giovannie's coaching and guidance helped me get signed with Look Talent Agency in 2008 and she also…read morehelped me book a role on NBC's Trauma coming this Fall! She's both honest and professional while giving instruction and critique. Giovannie can give you the advice necessary to succeed in auditions as well as actual film/tv roles. I've learned that the audition process is a different animal than the the work you do once you get the role. Sometimes auditions will give you very little info - those running them will expect you to know what to do! If it weren't for Gio's instruction, I wouldn't have been mentally prepared for a lot of auditions. And as much as I would like to hear "great job" everytime, there is great value in having an instructor/coach who challenges you to become better than "good" - good reads are good but "great reads" get the part!!!! There are a lot of good actors out there so you need to have an edge! Giovannie is great with kids too as she is a mother herself! Some parents posted some testimonials on her website: (read the student reviews on the right) http://www.desertrosemedia.com/client_kudos Some of Gio's credits include a recurring role on ER (4 episodes), a role on BONES, and GILLMORE GIRLS. She was also recently nominated along side Alfre Woodard for Best Supporting Actress in the 2009 Method Fest. http://sfactorsworkshop.com/

First time attending Santa Clara First Baptist's annual Bethlehem (Christmas nativity) production,…read morewhich runs 12/11-12/15 from 6:30-9pm. They transform their church parking lot into ancient village of Bethlehem (a lot of sand!) with real actors, animals, activity booths showing life at the time. Free entry and free hot chocolate. We arrived after 8pm so got to check out a few booths and watched the last re-enactment (once every half hour). Overall neat immersive experience, great for families. If parking lot at high school is full, street parking in neighborhood is available.

We used to come here every year until pandemic hit. So good to be back!…read moreCame here on a Friday night and it wasn't too crowded. Love how they make it like you traveled back in time and experience the night when Jesus was born! It's such a great production and it's our favorite family tradition Last day for this year is 12/16 Monday! Highly recommended!

Enrolling in Empowerhouse Acting Studio's 2-Year Meisner training program was one of the best…read moredecisions of my life!!! My Experience:I've grown so much as both an actor and an individual through Melissa Thompson Esaia's 2-year Meisner program at Empowerhouse. She created a safe and supportive space where I could be vulnerable and explore parts of myself that I don't normally express in my daily life. Her feedback is thoughtful, empowering, and always focused on growth. She understands that we're learning and we're not here to be "good" and"perfect." We're here to show up, do the work and do the best we can, and trust in ourselves (and also have fun)! On days when the work felt thin, Melissa acknowledged my efforts and gave helpful feedback and suggestions for what I can try next time and how I can make the work feel more earned and strong. I appreciate Melissa's sensitivity and gentle approach to teaching! Melissa assigned scenes that stretched me beyond my comfort zone. I'm naturally soft, fun-loving and bubbly, so I really appreciated being given characters that were messy, complex, and emotionally rich. It helped me discover sides of myself I didn't even know I had. I've taken her teaching with me to my personal life, and that has helped me feel more free, present, and grounded. If you're an actor looking to take your craft to the next level, I highly recommend Empowerhouse Acting Studio!! I've also taken Improv Workshops with Otis Gates, and they were so much fun! It was my first time ever taking an improv class, so I was definitely nervous, but Otis brings a vibrant energy and created such a warm, welcoming, and joyful environment. His class helped me loosen up and feel more at ease in my body. I highly recommend Otis's Improv workshops regardless of your experience level. Whether you're trying improv for the first time or you're an experienced improv-er wanting to continue working on your craft, you'll definitely enjoy the class! The Breath and Body Workshop with DeAnna Driscoll was another amazing experience. Her class was incredibly grounding. We worked with breath and movement to connect more deeply with our bodies. I've always wanted to explore and expand my vocal range, and this workshop really helped with that. I was shocked to hear myself accessing a vocal range two octaves lower than I normally speak! This workshop was only 2 days, but those were 2 powerful days! I felt so grounded and present in my body, and have continued to use her teachings in my daily lives. I highly recommend the breath and body workshop! Overall, you're in excellent hands at Empowerhouse. Whether it's Meisner, improv, or breath and body workshop, the quality of the training and the heart behind it is unmatched. I can't recommend it enough! Logistics:The 2-year Meisner program consists of 6 sessions, each about 3 months long, all taught by Melissa. Classes meet 1-2 times a week for 3 hours each. You're paired with a scene partner every session, and outside rehearsal with classmates is essential for getting the most out of the work. The Improv Workshop runs for three days, with each class lasting three hours. The Breath and Body Workshop is two days long, also three hours per class. Bonus: there's plenty of street parking and pricing is very reasonable!

I will begin this review by addressing all those actors and aspiring actors out there looking for a…read moresolid training program that builds a strong foundational craft in the art of acting and provides a suite of tools to use when building a truthful character and scene. If this is why you are reading this review, I can assure you that you will find all this and more in the Empowerhouse Acting Studio Meisner Program. I was fortunate to enroll in a class led by the founder of the studio, Melissa Thompson Esaia. Melissa is a kind and supportive teacher, while also holding her students to the high standard required to grow as an actor. This class requires commitment and trust and if you are willing to make this commitment you will surprise yourself with the growth you will see as an actor. The program breaks the process of acting down to its simplest form and then builds on itself in beautiful and surprising ways. Each of the six sessions provides unique gifts that build on each other as the program progresses. Session 1 taught me what it means to be truly present and connected to a scene partner. Session 2 taught me how to build a life in my imagination. Session 3 taught me how to bridge the gap between myself and a character who is radically different. Session 4 taught me how to truly find the meaning behind a character's words. Session 5 taught me how to embody a character in both body and mind. Session 6 taught me how to bring it all together to collaborate with a partner in the truthful experience of living out a scene. After completing the program, I feel comfortable in calling myself an actor and feel armed with the tools of craft needed to take on any role. Beyond the Meisner Training program Empowerhouse Acting Studio also offers other classes and creative events that I have found incredibly rewarding. The Business of Acting and Audition Class is a must for anyone ready to take their skills into the professional world. It was a wonderful class to take after the Meisner Program. I have also taken breath and movement classes that have allowed me to more deeply connect with my own body when working on stage and camera work. I have also participated in fun events like a 24 hour film festival that is a blast and improv jams that are welcoming of improvers of all levels. While I have taken classes at several of the other major Bay Area Theatre companies that offer them, the classes just don't compare to the dedicated attention I received at Empowerhouse. I came to this studio and the Meisner program looking to become a better actor and it delivered on this many times over. I was not expecting to gain a deeper understanding of myself as a person. The greatest gift and superpower an actor can receive is a greater understanding of themselves. Beyond the tools and the craft, this deeper understanding of myself is the greatest gift Melissa and the Empowerhouse Acting Studio Meisner Program gave me.