Odyssey is such a wonderful local theater. I have enjoyed attending many events there and have seen…read morenumerous plays in both English and Farsi. The Iranian-American playwright Houshang Touzie and his production company, Work Shop 79, are presenting his latest play at Odyssey this weekend, and I attended their rehearsal last night to be part of it. What I love most about Odyssey is that every seat is a "good seat." The lighting director and the sound engineer were busy setting everything up, and I sat silently in the darkness, watching everything come together in preparation for what was to come this weekend. Thank you, Odyssey, for welcoming plays from other cultures and languages into your theater.

The Service: The boxoffice is inside the theate. The service is efficient, no wait in line. There…read moreis concession counter selling snacks, beverage and even wine. You can bring them inside the theater too. The Theater: There is a big lobby waiting area with seating. There is also some patio seating with shade. Mid size theater. Every seat has a good view of the stage. The Parking: Private parking lot. Side street parking (free)

The Morgan-Wixson Theater is located in Santa Monica. Parking is on the street, but mind the signs…read more You can park without any problem right down the street at the Family Clinic for free anytime and it is not a long walk at all. This is a not for profit and it has professional actors, kids and armatures. It is small and there is not a bad seat in the house. Most of the staff are volunteers so be nice. You can order from their website. It has a great selection of plays, from kids plays (called the YES program) to musicals and some very serious plays. We have been so many times and have never seen a bad play and if you have a kid, it is a must you take them there. The prices are so fair and they a little snack bar inside. There is nothing not to like about this theater. It has nice places to eat nearby and it is a great area.

RENTERS BEWARE!!! Not reliable management. The theater…read moreitself is nice. But our dance studio had horrible experience with administration multiple years. 2026 was the worst experience. We reserved theatre for our concert a year in advance. They kept refusing to send us contact (like previous years), probably waiting for some bigger renter to offer them something more. 3 DAYS BEFORE OUR RENTAL THEY CANCELLED ON US! We had to find a new theater, change program, rearrange performances, reprint all tickets/booklets,posters, tell 40 families to change time and location of the event. This was the most stressful experience ever. It's too bad. We were ready to rent their theater every year. And we have rented twice before, having same problem- no contract till last minute! Bill(William) is not responsive. You will call, text, email and have no response. If you're up to get your hair turn grey while dealing with them, go for it.

David was one of the absolute highlights of our wedding preparation. My husband and I took private…read moresalsa lessons with him to choreograph our first dance for our May wedding at Rancho Las Lomas, and we truly could not have asked for a better instructor. We started as beginners, but David immediately made us feel comfortable. He was incredibly encouraging, patient, positive, and genuinely invested in helping us. Rather than teaching a generic routine, he created a completely custom choreography for the song we chose and thoughtfully tailored every step to match our skill level. As we improved, he adapted the routine to challenge us while always making sure we felt confident and capable. One thing we especially appreciated was how much he cared about our progress. He regularly recorded videos of our lessons so we could watch ourselves improve, which was not only motivating but incredibly helpful for practicing between sessions. Seeing how far we had come over time was such a rewarding experience. We also attended David's group classes, and he brought the same incredible energy to every lesson. He's an outstanding teacher who creates a welcoming, supportive atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable learning, regardless of experience. One of the most thoughtful things he did was arrange for us to perform our routine during the Thursday night open dance, giving us the chance to practice dancing in front of a crowd before our wedding. That experience did wonders for our confidence and made performing our first dance on our wedding day feel so much more natural. David doesn't just teach dance--he builds confidence, celebrates your progress, and makes the entire experience genuinely fun. Thanks to him, our first dance became one of our favorite memories from our wedding day, and the journey of learning it was just as special. If you're looking for an instructor who is talented, creative, patient, and truly cares about his students, I cannot recommend David highly enough. Whether you're preparing for a wedding, learning salsa for the first time, or simply looking for an amazing instructor, you'll be in the very best hands.

Lucia is our private coach for our intro sessions and she is PHENOMENAL!!!…read more She is so patient with us and encouraging all at the same time. She is always all smiles and an AMAZING teacher. She builds on to the basics and adds on skill sets based on your ability. This was our second session with her. Last time we worked on the waltz and the fox trot. This time we worked on reviewing along with some cha cha & jive. You will be lucky to get her as your coach for the private lessons! She is so great at explaining and showing you as you go for those hands on learners. She's a gem!

Amy Jo Berman has been a CD, she knows exactly what CD's are looking for, and she delivers her…read moreknowledge in the Unstoppable Actor audition sessions. Last year I auditioned for too many roles to count but received ZERO callbacks. I enrolled in Unstoppable Actor and this year I'm averaging 2-3 callbacks a week! I cannot thank Amy Jo Berman, & her fabulous team, enough for providing a program that teaches actors how to audition, catch the attention of CDs, & LAND THE ROLES!

I started with her Rockstar academy training then added the mindset program she has. I actually…read morereally love Amy Jo. She is incredibly thorough and grounded. Even the most seasoned actors can get a lot out of the programme. I have been working as a professional actor since the 90's, on camera and in voice over. I had been out of class for many years because I was just not connecting with the classes. Amy Jo is something else. Her years as a casting director really Bring another dimension. And her mindset classes are a completely unique thing I wish I had been taught years ago. I know the marketing can be a bit much for some but I promise you she REALLY IS ALL THAT... a truly great teacher. I'm super happy I joined the ongoing unstoppable actor membership. There is a good range of people in the class, Some people that just blow my mind and others that are starting out or coming back after a long break. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Rina and Leela Dance Collective are an amazing classical Indian dance company. During COVID, they…read moreshifted their classes to online classes and they were the highlight of our week. We took two series of classes with them and we plan to continue when time permits. We learned a classical Indian dance form that is seeped in tradition and it was also very fun! While I am of Korean descent, I never once felt odd for wanting to try kathak dance classes, even when I didn't know what kathak dance classes were when I saw a notice for them. I was really glad when I asked my 12 year old daughter if she would be interested and when she said yes so we signed up! We also had access to student videos so we can practice during the week and it was a terrific way of getting some exercise while we're safer at home. It was also wonderful being part of a community that is diverse, respectful, and kind towards each other. Plus, many of the students were from different parts of the U.S. and it was great to check in on them weekly. For out first online recital, my older sister was able to view it online and it was a real joy for her and us that she was able to watch since she lives in a different country. If looking for a dance class and inclusive community, I highly recommend Leela Dance Company! There are many reasons to try out their dance company.

From the owner: The Leela Academy provides comprehensive education in kathak dance for students of all ages…read more Grounded in the pedagogy of renowned kathak master Pandit Chitresh Das, Leela's curriculum creates a rich and challenging learning environment for students. In addition to weekly classroom education with resident faculty, students at Leela receive invaluable opportunities to engage with India's finest classical artists in performance and in the classroom. A range of performance opportunities - in schools, classrooms and on mainstages around the world - supplement students' training and education. Leela's educational program reflects its commitment to helping passionate and talented individuals achieve their full potential as artists, leaders, cultural ambassadors and global citizens. The Leela Academy faculty are among today's leading Indian classical music and dance artists include Artistic Director Rina Mehta and Guest Faculty Seibi Lee, Rachna Nivas, Seema Mehta, Sarah Morelli, Satyaprakash Mishra and Vaibhav Mankad. The Leela Academy offers classes and training programs in three locations across Los Angeles - West Los Angeles, Silverlake and Thousand Oaks.

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!!!…read more I was invited to attend tonight's screening by the Consul of Luxembourg. When I arrived, the gates were wide open so that anyone from the street could walk in, no one checked tickets or enforced seating arrangements, and I was assaulted by a strange woman who sat in one of the seats I purchased. She refused to move, she refused to show her ticket, and told me I was "ruining her movie." I looked for security but there was none. I spoke to the host, who rolled his eyes and did nothing. I tried to get back into my seat one last time but she again refused to move. I've requested a refund but heard nothing from the theatre. Save your money and your time.

Opening night with reception sponsored by TV5Monde and beer tasting offered by the Belgium…read moreConsulate at 7pm. Screening of " Les âmes de papier " by Vincent Lannoo at 7:30pm. We showed up 1/2 hour early and there already was a line 30 people deep. Once the gate opened, we moved at a good pace. Getting checked in and welcomed with passed trays of a gazpacho. Buffet table was loaded with salads, cheeses and bread. A side table was serving beer and white/red wines. There were also trays of cute mozzarella & cherry tomatoes roaming around. We enjoyed the opening reception as well as the movie. The short movie " Bowling killers " by Sébastien Petit Trailer shown before the main feature was hilarious.

I love the GEFFEN. Awesome plays in a world of musicals. Awesome sets. Below is the fantastic set…read morefrom "Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous Book" by Pearl Cleage. I really enjoyed the performance I saw. It was still in progress. Bravo! Excellent acting.

Still a great venue for great performances. Great staff & great intimate room with great comfort…read moreseat. Love the courtyard for drinks prior & intermission period. Big and clean restrooms. Great refreshment choices. Parking can be tricky, you can park in the garage next door for pay, or street parking for pay (depending on the hours of the day & day of the week), or you can park in neighborhood street parking (free) couple blocks away. The venue is close by market with food vendors or nearby restaurants and museum. Really enjoy every time I'm here seeing a play.

As we get older with our busy day to day routine many of us have that little kid inside us all,…read morethat just wants to be set free. If you are bored and looking for something fun to do in LA, I highly recommend that you join The Improve for the people on Pico, A friend of mine told me about this & I had no idea what to expect. The classes are Fun, Outgoing & Crazy in a nice way. The Teachers are great & the class mates are fantastic.

Professional and personal- a warm and supportive atmosphere with great lessons. Good for first…read moretimers and experienced actors

As a parent, I wanted to share my honest experience with The Playground because I know there are…read morepeople who may feel skeptical at first, just like I did. We live an hour away, but I drove my daughter there every single Sunday. At first, I honestly questioned everything. I wondered if it was too expensive, if it was legitimate, and if we were making the right decision. But looking back now, I can say with my whole heart that it was one of the best decisions we ever made for our daughter. My daughter stayed with the program for two years, graduated, walked the red carpet with so much confidence, and watched her graduation film on the big screen surrounded by people who believed in her. It was emotional for me as a parent because I saw how much she had grown, not just as an actress, but as a person. We chose to continue because my daughter truly loved acting. I worked extra hard to make the tuition possible, and every sacrifice was worth it because this is where she discovered her passion and found confidence in herself. Gary Spatz and Gayla Goehl saw something special in her before anyone else did, and I will always be grateful for that. Because of the foundation she built at The Playground, she now has incredible representation with, one of the most respected agencies in Los Angeles. The Playground gave my daughter an opportunity, guidance, and belief in herself that changed the direction of her life. For our family, it was absolutely worth it.

My son has been training at Gary Spatz's The Playground, and the growth we have witnessed has been…read morenothing short of remarkable. Through improv, scene study, and commercial sessions, he has developed skills I never expected to see so quickly. His Junior Varsity class with Gayla Goehl has been a highlight, and he genuinely loves showing up every single week. What sets Gayla apart is her philosophy. She has a gift for helping each student discover their own authentic voice rather than molding them into someone else's idea of a performer. She meets every kid exactly where they are, and the confidence my son has built under her guidance carries far beyond the stage. Gayla creates a space where he feels comfortable asking questions, talking openly, and truly being himself. Her warmth makes her more than a coach. She is a trusted mentor. As a parent, knowing your child has that kind of support system is invaluable. She does not push. She inspires. Her advice has been spot-on every time, and her open-door approach makes both students and parents feel like they are truly part of a community. Highly recommend Gayla and The Playground to any parent looking for a place where their child can grow, thrive, and love the process.