My obsevations of Directors Playhouse are not so favorable, I feel like the whole vibe of the…read morestudio is one of selling big promises and hopes of being featured on a prominent network show.. I see young hopeful children come in and working directly with good directors, but their level of training is too much to begin students with, and I think that students are told they are "Amazing", when really they are not. All for the sake of a continuing payment made monthly to keep them coming in. I have seen other studios really be honest , and teach the basics and work students into more advanced classes as needed. The studio is run by people who have not even been in the film business , EVER before.... Many of the parents are only there to network with one another, but also I see the only students that are getting ahead are the ones who keep close to the owners on a personal level.. I observed many talented kids not getting noticed , and this bothers me. The students that were getting noticed are the ones favored by the inner circle...

I have been taking classes at this studio for over a year now and I couldn't imagine ever leaving!…read moreI have made a family here and connections that will forever be a part of my life. There are so many wonderful oppurtunites to take classes with wonderful people in the industry. I have actually gotten my two agents and manager through meeting people at this studio. I LOVE my class and EVERYONE in it. The classes are intense and s definite acting work out that is only meant for those serious about thier career. They even screen classic and new movies for FREE on Sundays nights with a great sound system, large screen and FREE refresments. There have even been guest appreances of cast and crew before to these screenings! I love everything about this studio and they are very professional, welcoming, and optimistic here. I could go on for ten years about how great this studio is!

ACG us an inspiring center of excellent for young aspiring singers and actors in the heart of Los…read moreAngeles.

Just saw The Wiz. And these kids are amazing! The play was done a Crenshaw high school, it was an…read morehonor and a privilege to be in the audience,

Just a wonderful in every way if you love theater and are young. I am a parent as you've probably…read moreguessed but I'll leave a longer review later but don't even think about another place. Not that's it's the reason but even the networking for your child if that's something he or she cares about (it is Holly) is amazing and everyone from then staff to the parent to of course the kiddos. THEY HAVE MASTERED, splitting people up. It is in fast, as it should be a meritocracy. As your skills ascend, so will your roles. That said, they do manage to get everyone a something to focus on. I love this place and wish I could go back in time but instead will live vicariously will do it for me and believe me, she wants to! Thank you YADA. You have brought joy to our whole family and while that sounds over the top, it's not even near it. Greatest thing we've got Alexandra maybe since she was born. Her music, dance, gymnastics, karate and everything she did was ingredients for her musical theater gumbo and they are cooking it up real good at YADA!

I just want to say that YADA recently reached out to me, and I had the pleasure of speaking to the…read moreChief Operating Officer. He was very empathetic to our experience and acknowledged our concerns (a huge contrast to the experience we had previously). It sounds like YADA has made a lot of positive changes, as any institution working with children should continuously be doing. I wish the best for any family looking to join this community.

*** Wow, what an excellent play on childless motherhood. ***…read more When I read of this play starring Charlayne Woodard, I initially thought "omg a play on motherhood, urgh, how boring is that"? Yet this one-woman play was most entertaining to say the least. Thx Brittany and Yelp for providing a few complimentary tickets. Although tix are $20 thru 18Dec, Yelp comped a few folks today. Sweet b/c I hadn't realized the Kirk Douglas Theatre was so nice. Now back to this play ... how can a childless professional woman speak about motherhood and make it entertaining, you might ask? Well, it seems that Woodard tailors real life stories to best illustrate thoughts of conscientious LA women who have maternal instincts. She undoubtedly proves that no woman needs to bear a child in order to be complete or worthy in life. Basically ... "just be you". As a role model and aunt she is a better matriarch than many. She makes you lol a lot, and at times, she saddens you to tears. All in all I'd say "The Night Watcher" is a personal gem for sure. *** I will certainly return to the Kirk Douglas Theatre again. ***

An amazing must-see!!!!! Charlayne Woodard is absolutely incredible in her play, "The…read moreNightwatcher." Via a Yelp Elite invitation arranged by the one and only Brittany B., I was invited as a +1 by Yelp Elite Ming-Jou C. to check this play out. To be honest, I had no idea what to expect. Walking towards the theatre, we passed the uber-famous Honey's Kettle Fried Chicken, which we vowed to hit if the play sucked and we left early. Well needless to say, we never made it to Honey's............. Parking is quite reasonable even in the nearby pay structure - 2 hours free then $1/hr after that. City Hall has a good amount of free parking as well, so try that first since you'll save a couple bucks. Street parking is also no charge after 6pm, but that might be a little more sketchy to find since this is quite the bustling downtown spot with its cluster of cool restaurants and little shops. Upon arrival, we ran into super cool Yelp Elites Kent D. and Tuan C. in the lobby (who drove ALL the way from Orange County!) and did some nice Yelp catching up with them. As I looked around further, I knew this was the Yelp spot to be, as I saw quite a few other Yelpers checking in on their smartphones (with their white screens and telltale red Yelp banner across the top!) I had never been to this particular theatre before, and was pleasantly surprised by the cozy size. The staff are super polite and helpful, and the lounge and lobby areas are a great place to relax before the show. There's definitely not a bad seat in the house, and the venue was perfect for Woodard's non amplified solo performance. I purposely didn't look up the theme of the play beforehand so that I would have a fresh impression of what was going on. With that, I was immediately latched onto Woodard's intense and amazing presence on the stage. A truly phenomenal performance going on here, and that is an understatement. A single chair was her only prop, with minimal visual support from some overhead images on the screen behind her. Some background audio was also used here and there to add drama to some of the scenes, but the focus and energy of the audience was definitely on Woodard herself. The play itself is a series of stories about how this budding actress has been vitally involved with friends' and relatives' children from their youngest ages, but never having the privilege of actually having her own child. Deeply emotional scenes are retold in such detail that the audience can't help but feel as if they are witnessing these events unfold before their eyes in real time....amazing considering all of that comes from just one person standing there with some lights shining on her. One doesn't know what to expect from each scene - or even when it begins or might end - with each story painting a clearer picture of this woman's genuine and sometimes heartbroken efforts to better innocent childrens' lives. A great experience, and from what I understand, Woodard doesn't do this performance very often so definitely check out this VERY limited engagement if you have any possible opportunity to do so. Seeing it at the iconic Kirk Douglas Theatre will only make it 1000000x better! And be sure to check out other plays here too, I know I will!

I was invited by my neighbor Chris Franciosa who played Walter in Becky's new car. This was my…read morefirst time at theatre 40. Parking was free and inside Beverly high school. Not necessarily easy to find at first but I'm glad I was aware then there were signs too. The theater is pretty small with three rows in front then sitting on both sides. Perhaps a capacity of 100? Very intimate. Not sure how the view is from the sides however. I loved the play. A series of 6 plays is around $235 which is very reasonable. I'll definitely come back! The restrooms are ancient with doors that are wayyy too small, but I guess it's common for a school? Briefly met the artistic director who is clearly passionate about his job and doing his best to keep this theatre alive. I loved that.

Fabulous, hysterical, already ordered tickets for their next show, and well worth the ride from…read moreOrange County!!! "Becky's New Car" had the best cast and everyone was a seasoned actor with a long list of previous plays and TV shows they've been in. There were parts I couldn't stop laughing, and enjoyed the play so much. I've invited 6 friends to return in July for their next one, which sounds even funnier. If my SUV could fit more people I would have asked more friends to join us. Parking was so easy, subterranean, safe and you walk right into the building from their underground garage. David the Managing Director was so personable and inviting, he seemed to know a lot of the attendees by name as regulars. I could hardly wait to see their next play, "A Jukebox for the Algonquin" and I have no doubt it too will be terrific! Great evening & a fun time.

If I could give 10 stars I would. I have worked at a Non-Public School for over 22 years and today…read morewas one of the most gratifying and happiest days for me. I visited Performing Arts Studio West (PASW) today and could not have been more impressed. We took three students with us and they also were in awe of the program and left full of excitement and OPTIMISM - they found their future and their future "home." There is so much positivity and that starts with the "two J's" John, the Founder/Director and Joe, the Music Director & Producer. They talk to all the students (or maybe members is the correct term) with such affinity, respect, and joy. Speaking of joy, that is contagious here along with such incredible positivity. PASW changes lives - the expression on the students' faces told it all. This is a hidden gem. Call, visit and expect the unexpected. See untapped potential come to life! Lloyd B.

Happiest place on earth! No place like it anywhere!! Professional team of actors, singers, song…read morewriters & dancers teach their craft to adults with developmental disabilities. They produce original shows for their clients to appear in & are agents/managers, so have booked their clients in over 1,200 roles in the past 11 years in TV, film, commercials, music videos, voice overs, print ads and more. Check them out:

I've been going here on and off for years for plays. One of the things I like about seeing a…read moreproduction here is that they have a designated parking lot as well as plenty of street parking without any restrictions. As for the theatre itself, it is a decent size and any seat in the house is great! There's a large waiting area outside of the venue and separate bldg for restrooms. It appears that the bldg next to it is mixed use as many women were walking in with yoga mats.

We watched the COLD TOFU and the entire night's non-stop laughter! If you don't know who they are,…read moreCOLD TOFU is the nation's first Asian American improv & comedy group, founded in 1981. check out their website https://www.coldtofu.com/

I came here on one night of their 17th Annual Young Playwrights Festival. What? You've never heard…read moreof it? Well, let me fill you in. Every year they have a contest where kids between the ages of 13 and 18 submit their plays to this theater. The best are chosen and using guest celebrity actors, producers, and directors, they bring the plays to life. The acting is high quality and will let you glimpse a couple faces I'm sure you'll recognize from TV or Movies, much closer up. The plays themselves are not professional. These are obviously done by amateurs. However, they are not boring either. If you just remember where they're coming from, the plays can be really entertaining. I think it still going on for another week, but if you miss it, there's always next year!

The Blank produces solid work at their 2nd Stage Location or their alternate space at the Stella…read moreAdler. Production quality is very consistent, and there is always excellent talent on-stage. They also support young playwrights (19 and under) which is an amazing feat! If you are in the area definitely see a show here! There is often free street parking within walking distance of the theater on any of the side streets South of Santa Monica BLVD. Check posted parking signs thought to be safe!