I took many acting classes, courses, and private coaching sessions, but I became frustrated with feeling like I wasn't progressing. With every class I took I felt like I was starting from the beginning. I realized I didn't have a foundation and I wanted to find a program that would teach me a structured acting approach that I could develop skills from. I found the Meisner Center after it was recommended to me by a friend who is a working actress. She informed me that it was the best training she had received out of all the programs she had taken. After graduating from the Professional Acting Certificate Program a year and a half later I could not be more satisfied with my training. This program was exactly the professional training I was looking for. The Meisner technique challenged me to be fully present, to connect deeply with my scene partners, and to respond authentically in the moment. Rajiv's teachings were practical and applicable, enabling me to bring depth and truth to my performances. Ranjiv constantly pushed our class to realize our own potential, and helped me discover many different aspects of humanity, interaction and myself. I enjoyed the many opportunities to work with my classmates and witnessed remarkable growth in my whole class. I highly recommend this program. read more

I am a proud graduate under Martin Barter. I graduated in 2002 and it was the best experience I have ever had! It's intense and you have to be able to listen and get over your ego. Cheers to you if you can actually make it through the full 2 years. read more

First, let it be known that I write this review as a former PROSPECTIVE student, and that this review does not have anything to do with the actual quality of the teaching at this studio. I contacted the school recently, and was met by an email from Mr. Martin Barter, requesting that I contact a different person. Having contacted said person, I scheduled an interview appointment. (ALSO NOTE: Mr. Barter is actually in Seattle, and so a different person is teaching the classes) When I showed up to the studio, the lights were off and the doors were closed. I was 20 minutes early, so I figured this wouldn't be an issue and that my interviewer would be there on time. This was not the case. I waited around five minutes after my scheduled appointment, and left thereafter. I was asked why I didn't wait around long; personally, I believe in professionalism. If someone doesn't do business the right way, especially in an industry where professionalism is essential, then I don't want to be "learning" from that person. I received an email later in the evening (apology included), confirming that he had indeed missed the appointment altogether and extending the opportunity to reschedule. I will not be rescheduling. read more

This school changed my life. As far as acting is concerned, until you learn to stop acting and completely live a life on the stage, you are just lying. This school forces you out of your boundaries and pulls anything you are hiding out of you to the forefront and the spotlight. After you are finished being embarrassed, you find yourself. And once you've found yourself....ooooooooh. This school is the best. read more

Taking the two-year program at The Sanford Meisner Center is the best thing I've ever done for myself. Though it is not for the faint of heart, I would recommend it to any actor serious about deepening their craft and bringing meaningful artistic truth to the world. Ranjiv Perera is an excellent teacher. I knew right away when I interviewed for the class that he was reading me like a book and would call out my truths (and my bullsh!t) even when I wasn't even fully aware of them. In class I was challenged to break out of shallow social niceties and behavioral habits and instead to not only recognize my own truths, but to live them deeply and fully, show them to the class and most importantly to trust them. I had no acting training before this class, but even after the first year I was receiving genuinely positive feedback from seasoned actors I had the privilege of working with. It was also encouraging to hear my classmates who had taken other classes continually praise this program as being the best they had experienced. It all helped reaffirm that I was studying at the right place. As a graduate, I really feel that I know how to do my work to prepare and show up at an audition or on set ready to have fun and bring it rather than getting caught up in my head. That being said, I see very clearly how far I still have to go to really develop myself as an artist, but I'm definitely off to a good solid start! Something I really valued about this school in particular is the sense of connection to the legacy of Sanford Meisner and all the actors who have gone through his two-year program in completion. Having Martin Barter, who assisted Meisner in opening the school, occasionally come and teach especially contributed to that feeling. And he is just an incredibly inspiring teacher who always showed me how much farther my work could go. This class was the most challenging thing I have ever done and the most rewarding. It's impossible for the work done in class to not spill over into one's "non-artistic life." I grew stronger as a person as I explored and got to know myself more and through my relationships and work with my fellow classmates. It was a privilege to see the growth in them as we we all took this journey together. Nothing can really compare to this experience. read more

The experience within my two year journey with the Sanford Meisner Center was Liberating and amazing. I started there as an actor and left there as an artist ,an artist of my craft. I learned my strengths and my weaknesses and the tools to keep me sharp in any given situation. A true challenge and commitment , it was the best decision i made for my career thus far . With my talents and now the tools to really master my craft , i'm ready to use what i've learned to master my career. i just have this new found appreciation for what it really means to me an artist , a human being and the world that exist in between . Thanks Sandy , Marty, and Ranjiv , for this wonderful technique, seriously changed my life. read more

I recently started the program with Martin Barter. He is an amazing teacher. He is tough... but brilliant. I highly recommend The Sanford Meisner Center to any serious actor. read more

Martin Barter is a teacher and as a teacher he does his job aggressively effective. He has had years of practice. He knows exactly what he is doing to get you, the student to open yourself from the inside and find out who you are. Then Barter teaches you how to reach down to your core and pull those emotions out and USE them, Barter is an incredible instructor and uses integrity and perseverance to show you the way to act. This would never happen if it weren't for his indomitable spirit and commitment to Sanford Meisner and the school! Because of this school, I have done set photography, casting director, product placement, location finding and yes, have even been acting in front of the camera. (bow) Thank you, Martin! read more

Truthfully, any serious performer should feel completely justified in supporting the Meisner Center. My two years there were challenging, yet loaded with constant growth and discovery. If you respect the method and are willing to endure whichever emotional realm you may end up in on any given day, you will change. You will grow. You will begin to notice your skills sharpen; your taste refine. It isn't about your comfort - thats entirely besides the point. Whether you like what you discover in yourself or not is entirely up to you (albeit you probably should). It was to my observation that students who took issue with class were often the same students fighting the process, or coming in with ego or their own preconceived expectations. Many of those types came and went. Don't be that person. I recommend The Sanford Meisner Center to any individual passionate enough to truly endure the actors journey. Period. read more

I just completed the two-year traditional program and all I can say is wow - what a game-changer. I used to be SO self-conscious and doubtful of my acting abilities but not anymore. This school has not only made me more confident and stronger but I've gained more skills. Accents, impediments, improvisation. I've come out with so much more to offer. I'm observing everything and everyone around me in greater depth. I can really read people now, and I always thought I was perceptive before. It's just enhanced. I'm indebted to Ranjiv - and Martin when he visits and sits in on our classes once a month or so. For years I was convinced I had stage fright and wouldn't do theater. It's all I want to do now. This technique shows you how to get out of your head and takes all that away. Thank you for helping me grow and evolve both personally and in my art! xx read more

He might be for some people but he wasnt for me. He yelled at us constantly! Then I found out he was sleeping with one of the students, so I left. I would not recommend. read more

I completed the two year program about 6 years ago so I've had lots of time to reflect on this. And I wasn't surprised that the two positive reviews were from men and the negative view from a woman. I ultimately am glad I went through this program, and I believe that the Meisner technique is amazing, and learning the technique made me a better actor than I ever was before. Having said that, I also have to state that I find Marty to be quite a chauvinist, with a very 1950's sitcom view on women. At the time it hurt my self confidence and hindered my ability to really play and experiment with what I was being taught. On the positive side, it helped me develop a thick skin early on in my career (and as an actor you will have to learn to do your work regardless of the personalities of directors, actors, etc, so I also developed that extra skill). I do think that a man will have a better experience in this class than a woman, and will have a better student/teacher relationship with Marty (if he's still the teacher there, I haven't checked the website lately). Also, a lot of people claim that he's a hard ass, but I personally think he wasn't enough of a hard ass in general. There were certain student that obviously were favorites, and he would stroke their egos. His least favorite students, he would just not really work with them and just let them go up on stage and then sit down without much feedback. I fell somewhere in the middle of that, which is probably why I feel like I did grow from the program- I wasn't coddled or ignored. But when all is said and done, Marty is still probably one of the best acting teachers in LA if you want a serious education in the technique. For all the complaints, there were also plenty of magic days in that room. I spent the entire second year of the program swearing to my friends that I couldn't stnd Marty any more and that I was going to quit. But I stayed on until the end so I guess that says something about the value I placed on the experience at the time. The Meisner technique is solid, and all teachers are going to have their own issues. So if you can deal with Marty's personality, you may gain a lot from this program and learn in a place that still has Sandy's energy radiating through the room. read more

Wouldn't go here. Was in a small class of only 6 and we all eventually left. It couldn't be that all of us weren't good. Martin led us all to believe that he was the only one authorized to teach the Meisner Technique, found out this isn't even close to being true. He's very desperate for students and other classes keep folding, too. Martin is very difficult to understand and work with. He doesn't explain things well and if you have a question it's best to not ask because he gets extremely defensive and angry. A very short fuse on this man. No compassion or empathy. From what I saw he's living off of Sanford Meisner's name. I'd recommend Playhouse West or The Sanford Meisner Studio over this place. read more