Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio

Rarely do you find a teacher that is affordable, fair, professional, intelligent and extremely good at their job. Aaron stands at the top of the heap. His ability to communicate and articulate his method makes it so easy to grasp and get involved. He has a wonderful sense of humor and creates an encouraging environment that makes exploring the craft fun and simple. If you’ve been discouraged by teachers in the past, are new to acting or have tons of experience and want to improve you’ll find a warm home at Speiser Sturges. They are more than fair and make a diligent effort to help and communicate with students both in and out of the studio. I don’t have enough words to describe my satisfaction with these guys.

There is NO BETTER ACTING SCHOOL PERIOD!!! This is by far the BEST! Being coached by Aaron is the best thing that ever happened to me because I learned so much from him it’s unbelievable. And Shannon Sturges is the best teacher he could have teamed up with. I would highly recommend this school because I have studied there myself for 13 years. Would never see myself go to another because I always aim for the top of the top and I found it.

If you are reading this, you are trying to decide on an acting studio. Stop! Look no further. You probably have already checked out at least ten of the hundreds of acting studios that are offering their services to make you a star.
They all promise wonderful things. So how does one decide? This one works for me and it will probably work for you if you are serious about learning the craft and putting in the work.
I’m not going to write a detailed review of why Arron Speiser and Shannon Sturges are giving me the insight, tools and skills to have a chance of success In this crazy business. Just my taking the time to write this should give you some sense of my motivation. Want more detailed reviews? The 24 reviews that you can read below mine will do that more eloquently that I can.
So, complete your review and investigation — make a decision that (no pressure here) may have an effect on the rest of your life. I chose Speiser /​Sturges. You should as well. Thanks for reading this.

This is possibly one the best acting school in LA. If you can I would pay for the full year and then spend as much time there as you can. Like most acting schools you will be challenged not only in scene study. But also in the ability to enjoy school for what it is. Learn to be happy for others. And learn God still loves you even if you say, the F word. (Thats going to be an issue if your from the south. Trust me I know)
Aaron is better than coaches like «Howard Fine» because if he sees good work, He likes to talk about it. He cares about the business side of you career as well. Your not just an ass in the seat to keep the doors open. Which is a feeling I have felt at other schools. Hope to go back in 2016.

Hands down «The best acting coach» Amazing! I’ve learned more in the past year than all the years I’ve been an actor. I’m truly thankful and lucky to have found him…

This studio and its staff are truly amazing. I attended a performing arts high school, CalArts, and several acting studios throughout Los Angeles and I can honestly say I’ve grown more in my short time at Aaron’s studio than anywhere else I have studied. Living in LA, we tend to get caught up in the hoop-​la and business side of acting that we actually forget to the most important thing of all: knowing how to act! Aaron respects the craft of acting and views all his students as Picassos. This studio will help you no matter if you are advanced or a beginner. I always leave their classes feeling inspired. I have come to view Aaron not just as an acting coach but a life coach as well. Once you start moving up to the scene study classes, you can still attend the «Technique» class (taught by Aaron’s amazing protégé, Shannon) as well as the «Homework» class (Taught by the wonderful Indrani) so that’s up to 3 classes a week you can participate in! For $ 275 a month, I consider that quite a deal.

I have been studying with Aaron Speiser Acting Studio for a little over a year now, and I am so thankful to have found such a welcoming and supportive environment to be a part of. I started out in the technique class with Shannon and I’m now in scene study with Aaron. Both Aaron’s and Shannon’s knowledge and teaching are unparalleled and I have already grown so much as an actor and a person since joining.
Aaron, Shannon, and the entire staff truly care about every student, and will do anything possible to help with whatever you may need, whether it be career-​related or personal. I have studied at a few other studios and none of them come close to the level of excellence at Aaron Speiser’s.

Finding this studio has been blessing. I can truly say that each time I go to class whether it may be Technique with Shannon or Scene study with Aaron, I become a better actor. If you allow yourself to be open, Aaron and his team will inspire and transform you. Not to mention, the studio has an amazing culture filled with great people.

I started at the Aaron Speiser Acting Studio about a year and a half ago and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. This class has brought such joy to my life and I have grown as both an actress and as a person. Shannon and Aaron are more than just brilliant teachers, they genuinely care about and invest in their students.

Aaron Speiser is the greatest acting coach of them all. He is presiding over a younger select group of acting coaches like Shannon Sturges and Indrani DeSouza whom he has inspired and who have trained under his rigorous techniques and methods. His presence is a constant force that demands young actors to learn from their artistic forebears, build on what they have done, and keep building. The sense of artistic continuity and creative endeavor feels real and palpable. It’s impossible to imagine that any other studio is offering a learning model in acting like his that works and produces successful working actors.

To my mind Aaron Speiser is an acting teacher without peer. He is smart, perceptive, analytic and like all great coaches, wise. I am a working actress studying with Aaron for the past five years. He has changed my life and helped me become a far more powerful actress. Aaron is a true master.

He is honest. He is worth it.

As a film producer, I can honestly say Aaron is the best acting coach I have ever seen on a set. His easygoing manner along with his commitment to being the best enables him to create magic that brings out the best in everyone on the set — not just the actor he is coaching. I’ve witnessed firsthand many times the brilliance with which he stepped in and worked (played!) with Will Smith to get to the truth of a scene that even the writer and director were surprised to discover. I advise any actor who wants to work with the best and who wants to take his or her personal life to the highest potential possible to enroll in Aaron’s classes immediately. Jump in and see for yourself. And be ready to laugh and cry and feel life in a way you haven’t felt it before. You’ll thank me afterwards.

I’ve been with this studio for about 6 months now, for the past month I’ve been in scene study 3 with Aaron and I can honestly tell you it will change your life for the better. My whole life I have wanted to be an actress and I was terrified of it. I knew it was what I was born to do, I knew that in the deepest part of my soul but I didn’t know what I was doing, I was lost but I am not anymore. I always thought acting was just a talent, something you have and pursue in life but it is so much more than that. You will learn that at this studio. You will learn what it takes to create a character that is apart of you, that you can truly portray in his or her truest form. Every single one of the teachers at this studio will help you learn about this industry, about acting, but most importantly about life. Because isn’t that what acting is? Portraying the most true and real behavior to whomever you’re portraying, freely outside of your minds limitations? Learn to get the hell out of your mind and learn to become one with your character. This is where you go to follow your passion and dreams. This is where you gain confidence to do what you were born to do. This is where you go to learn what it takes to make it in this industry. Thank you Aaron, for helping me gain the knowledge and confidence to become someone in this industry. I can’t wait to learn more from Aaron and his incredible teachers, including the amazing students that go to this studio!

I’ve been with the Aaron Speiser Acting Studio for about a year and half now. Even though I had 3 years of prior training from another studio in the Los Angeles area, I decided to start with the beginning technique class so that I could get the full experience of Aaron’s Studio. I am now in the advanced class and the journey so far has been a lot fun. Both Aaron and Shannon have a way of working with their students that brings out the best in the students. And when they practice a little «tough love», which may seem harsh from an outsider’s view point (outsider = auditor), what they are doing is teaching their students a stronger work ethic which will only serve them when they start booking.
Aaron and Shannon’s truth, honesty and insight are invaluable. If you are ready to do the work, then you will learn a lot from the Aaron Speiser Acting Studio.
Audit a class to experience it for yourself.

Having too much fun everytime come here. It does not feels like a class I just laugh so hard for 3 hours and get involved all the activity. Hey we can all be actor one of these days. Things are start happening to me lately. Thank you ! I learn myself more coming here taking work shop. It has been a journey

I’ve just finished Technique with Shannon and it was so amazing! Technique completely caught me off guard, but in the best way possible. It’s weird, fun, and the most bizarre thing ever. Shannon had a gift for teaching, she really does. She’s able to give precise feedback in a way that just clicks. I just paid upfront for my next 3 months of classes and I can’t wait to learn from Aaron in Scene Study 1. I highly recommend

Best Acting class in LA! I’ve been apart of the studio for 4 ½ years and it definitely is the best decision of my career. Started with no formal acting lessons and now have co stars and 18 national commercials under my belt! Would definitely recommend auditing! Come see for yourself!

I’ve been at the Aaron Speiser Acting Studio for almost 2 years now and I won’t ever leave. There’s an energy of the studio that captivates you in your very first class. Aaron and Shannon are amazing teachers. If freeing up your instrument and getting out of your head is your problem then Shannon’s exactly who you need. And with Aaron’s truth, honesty, compassion and attention for detail, this studio has all the tools to refine your talent with an amazing skillset, and not only make you a better actor but a better human being.

Aaron Speiser is the person you should see regarding acting whether you are a beginner or advanced.

Can I be honest here? OK! Aaron and the Aaron Speiser Acting Studio truly changed my life. I learned so much about myself and who I really am in ways I never could have imagined. Aaron’s ability to bring out your truest you, is remarkable & priceless. To have a coach who is as passionate about acting as you SAY you are really pushes you to be your best you… on and off set. I am so thankful for this place. The quality of training and the other actors that you get to work with and learn from just heightens the overall experience. If you are looking for a place where you can learn, grow and be challenged to develop into the actor you have to become to do what you came here to do then this place is for you! Thanks, Aaron for everything! My life will NEVER be the same! :)

There’s nothing pretentious about this class. At the end of the day it’s about an honest performance. I can’t give you an actor’s perspective because I’m not one but I do work in the industry. I audited this class to see what actors go through to hone their craft. Aaron is captivating to watch with his students. A lot of the actors are top notch. Throughout the night there were certain scenes that stole the room, when the lights went down and came up I was left wondering why certain actors were even there when it was clear they didn’t need improvement. That was until Aaron stepped in. He’s definitely seeing things from an angle that non of us are and manages to improve even the best actors. I also felt ignorant for assuming that the really talented actors were just naturally talented after later talking to a few of them and finding out that they had been in his class for quite awhile.
While driving home later that night I was thinking about what I had just experienced. Many directors step in and try to craft a performance only to get negative results. The key to teaching an actor is not making them feel like they’re being taught, which is much easier said than done. Acting is about embodying honesty. Aaron somehow creates an environment that embraces reality and I watched the phenomenon happen several times that night.