◈ Homepage — http://www.bhplayhouse.com/NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP Classes Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Resources Contact Beverly Hills Playhouse One of LA’s oldest and most respected acting schools Welcome To The Beverly Hills Playhouse The Beverly Hills Playhouse is one of LA’s oldest and most respected acting schools. For over forty years, we’ve offered ongoing scene-study classes to both professional and aspiring actors at all levels. Founded by the legendary Milton Katselas, and currently owned and run by Milton’s longtime student, director/playwright Allen Barton, the BHP is well known for delivering a unique and practical approach to addressing Acting, Attitude, and Career Administration. Our Alumni Amy Martin Monica Barbaro Academy Award Nominee Gage Skidmore Jorge Garcia Lost Hawaii Five-0 James Bianchi Brandon Sklenar 1923 It Ends With Us Angela George Giovanni Ribisi Avatar The Way of Water Bill Ingalls Michael Peña Ant-Man The Martian Gage Skidmore Jenna Elfman Fear of the Walking Dead Dharma & Greg Melanie Nelson Catherine Bell Good Witch Army Wives Harald Krichel George Clooney Two Academy Awards Joy Parris Michelle Pfeiffer 3 Academy Award Nominations Eric Garcetti Stana Katic Castle Absentia More Alumni On Free Speech and other essays Since 2020, the theatre community has been riven by issues surrounding free speech, identity, and ‘cancellation.’ Here are a few essays by BHP owner Allen Barton about these and other topics from the modern world of training. Read More BHP Approach The Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School instructs its students through the unique, down-to-earth, three-pronged approach developed by its founder, Milton Katselas, one of the foremost teachers... Read More Why Study? I’ll go ahead and say it: Acting is a profession more tolerant of lack of ability than perhaps any other. You can actually make a fair sum of money in acting without knowing much about… Read More Teaching Staff All teachers at the BHP are homegrown, with a minimum of ten years as a student at BHP as first prerequisite for becoming a teacher. This ensures a very consistent application of the BHP approach… Read More FAQs Get answers to your questions: Why are acting classes twice a week? How often do you get to work in class? Will I be doing a lot of exercises? Can I audit classes? Who assigns… Read More Our Classes The main focus of the Beverly Hills Playhouse is on-going scene study acting class. These meet twice per week with an emphasis on acting scene work and the occasional exercise. In addition to these acting… Read More Live Theatre Throughout its 45+ year history, the Beverly Hills Playhouse has not only been one of LA’s most important acting schools, but also a prolific producer of Los Angeles theatre. The BHP is responsible for hundreds of productions... Read More TICKETS ON SALE NOW: LA & NY YEARS TO THE DAY When old friends Dan and Jeff reunite after six years, YEARS TO THE DAY explores—with sharp humor—whether friendship can survive when two people see the world so differently. BUY TICKETS LEARN MORE Our Books The BHP currently uses two primary books to supplement the work happening in class. First is Milton Katselas’ “Acting Class: Take A Seat,” which has been part of the program here for decades. Originally it was handed out as a three-ring binder that allowed Milton to add and delete articles as he chose. In 2008, Milton and Allen Barton re-worked the entire book from cover to cover for its first hard cover publication that fall. That version is still in use today. In 2017, Allen wrote his own book, “The Oasis of Insanity.” Part 1 of that book a memoir of his apprenticeship with Milton over 18 years, in the form of various stories about what Milton was like and the goings on at BHP over those years. Part 2 is a collection of essays that originated as blog entries over 8 years, and then were edited, refined and grouped into topics covering Acting, Study, Career, and Life as an Actor. What Our Students Say Previous Slide Next Slide The teaching is not only insightful but also supports and challenges me. It continually inspires me as an artist and has given me ALL the tools I need to create, have and maintain a successful and rewarding career. Catherine Bell Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ Classes Teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School ◈ Interior Pages — 28 pages crawledBeverly Hils Playhouse - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Beverly Hils Playhouse --> Beverly Hils Playhouse The Roebuck Theatre @ 357 W 36th St, #202, New York, NY 10018 646 200-5790 Acting Classes New York Classes are Tuesday’s from 6:30-10:30pm. The Beverly Hills Playhouse expanded its universe to the Big Apple in September of 2008. BHP New York acting school mirrors the Los Angeles acting classes in both the operation and method of teaching. Students studying at the BHP in Los Angeles who get a job in New York would be able to sign up for the New York acting class and his/her training and school environment will be consistent. The same will be true for students studying in New York and traveling to LA. The NYC Acting School takes place on Tuesday nights and classes are taught by Neal Matarazzo. Beverly Hils Playhouse The Roebuck Theatre @ 357 W 36th St, #202, New York, NY 10018 646 200-5790 --> Tuesday’s from 6:30-10:30pm. Neal Matarazzo is a Film, Television and Stage Actor as well as an in demand acting teacher and coach. He attended and graduated with a BFA in Acting from one of the top programs in the nation, Ithaca College. He then moved to NYC and auditioned and was selected to study with legendary acting teacher Uta Hagen. Just six months after arriving in NYC, he landed his first commercial. It not only got him his SAG card, but it put him on his first professional film set. He was hooked. Since then he has appeared over 100 commercials as an actor or as a voice-over artist. While working in off-off Broadway theatre productions, he landed work in some Daytime Dramas, which further piqued his interest in working with the camera. He moved to Los Angeles and immediately started studying with renowned acting teacher Milton Katselas. It was here, during a decade at the BHP that his career started to take off. By learning and applying Milton’s techniques on Acting, Attitude and Administration he landed his first studio film “Free Willy 2” and Stephen Bochco’s new series “Brooklyn South” and has continued to work ever since. Some of his TV work includes Guest Starring roles on “The Blacklist”, “Boardwalk Empire”, “Blue Bloods”, “Law & Order: SVU, “White Collar”, “24”, “Damages” and the recently completed pilot “Blanco” for 20th Century Fox. Films include “Coming Up Roses” opposite Bernadette Peters, “Domino”, “The Clique”, “Murder By Numbers”, and “Desperate Measures”. He has worked with directors Tony Scott, Barbet Schroeder, Robert Zemeckis, Jeannot Szwarc, Michael Zinberg, Paris Barclay and Juan Carlos Fresnadillo to name a few. He and his wife Pam have three children and they live in the same small town they grew up in just outside of NYC in Northern New Jersey. The Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School’s Acting Classes NYC are held at The Roebuck Theater @ 357 W 36th St, #202, New York, NY 10018. Phone: (646) 200-5790 BHP Testimonials --> - Alec Baldwin 30 Rock, The Cooler, The Departed Milton Katselas is everything you need in a professional acting teacher. Smart and opinionated. Creative and caring. But most of all, Katselas is clear. Of all the teachers I worked with, Katselas was the most clear in his evaluations. Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Theatre Rental - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> . Theatre Rentals The Beverly Hills Playhouse offers the best equipped small theatre rental in Beverly Hills. We have the BHP Mainstage and the BHP Research space – at 80 seats and 35 seats, respectively. Perfect for four-wall theatre rental. The theatres are also equipped for video screenings; perfect for small or mid size corporate meetings as well as film festivals. Contact Allen Barton ( [email protected] ) or call 310 362-3045 --> Gallery Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Oasis of Insanity Study and Pursuit of Acting - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Oasis Of Insanity Study And Pursuit Of Acting DOWNLOAD PREVIEW PURCHASE @ AMAZON The Oasis of Insanity: The Study & Pursuit of Acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse Upon the recommendation of a pretty girl, a young Harvard grad reports to a small theatre on a chilly November evening in Los Angeles to begin an acting class. So begins his unique apprenticeship with a brilliant and temperamental teacher, an apprenticeship lasting fully 18 years until that young student takes over the school upon the master’s death. The apprentice is Allen Barton, today an esteemed director, teacher and playwright. The master is Milton Katselas, one of the most renowned acting teachers of his era. The school is the Beverly Hills Playhouse, the famed training ground for thousands of working actors over the last 40 years. “The Oasis of Insanity” is the story of Barton’s coming of age under Katselas unique tutelage, as well as Barton’s own valuable guidebook to the study and pursuit of acting in the 21st century. Oasis of Insanity: The Study & Pursuit of Acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse Allen Barton Beverly Hills Playhouse First Edition0998996807 HOWARD DEUTCH The Beverly Hills Playhouse has been an oasis for me for most of my career, and Barton perfectly captures why. He nails with stark humor and honesty the talents and mercurial temperament of our esteemed mentor, Milton Katselas, whose most lasting contribution to the industry may end up being in the teachers he created. Forged by his unique apprenticeship with Katselas, as well as his own singular work as a director and playwright, Allen’s perspective is one from which any actor can benefit. “The Oasis of Insanity” is personal, practical, and at times profound. Read More JORGE GARCIA For years I’ve admired the surgical precision with which Allen was able to cut to the crux of what a scene needed to succeed. Here he lays out the secret to his skill as well as show us where the rest of us may have veered off course. I know this is a book I’ll be coming back to again and again. Read More BRYNN THAYER The Oasis of Insanity examines the complex relationship between a teacher and his student. Allen Barton weaves a compelling and gut-wrenching story filled with difficult life lessons, surrounded in humor. He chronicles his apprenticeship with the iconic acting teacher, Milton Katselas, and allows into the mind of a genius. Allen hears life differently from us mortals. When he writes, you feel the music of his words and get lost in his story telling. I couldn’t put it down. Read More KATE SIEGEL Before coming to the BHP, I was fumbling in the darkness. Allen Barton turned on the lights. His approach is more than acting technique -- it prepared me for the business of acting and how to behave on a set. He gave me the tools that I use everyday, and his approach to teaching and acting is truly one-of-a-kind. Read More KATRINA LENK Allen Barton has one of the most brilliant, intuitive, thrillingly witty and unsentimental minds I know. Whatever comes out of it: gimme. Read More SAMANTHA SLOYAN The lessons inside “The Oasis of Insanity” hit me in a new way each time I revisit it. It is the heart of what has kept me returning to the BHPand to this teaching. It is simple, solid, direct, and most importantly, applicable to all facets of my life as an actress. Read More HOWARD DEUTCH The Beverly Hills Playhouse has been an oasis for me for most of my career, and Barton perfectly captures why. He nails with stark humor and honesty the talents and mercurial temperament of our esteemed mentor, Milton Katselas, whose most Read More JORGE GARCIA For years I’ve admired the surgical precision with which Allen was able to cut to the crux of what a scene needed to succeed. Here he lays out the secret to his skill as well as show us where the rest of us may have veered off course. I know this is a book I’ll be coming back to again and again. Read More BRYNN THAYER The Oasis of Insanity examines the complex relationship between a teacher and his student. Allen Barton weaves a compelling and gut-wrenching story filled with difficult life lessons, surrounded in humor. He chronicles his apprenticeship with the iconic acting teacher, Milton Katselas, and allows into the mind of a genius. Allen hears life differently from us mortals. When he writes, you feel the music of his words and get lost in his story telling. I couldn’t put it down. Read More KATE SIEGEL Before coming to the BHP, I was fumbling in the darkness. Allen Barton turned on the lights. His approach is more than acting technique -- it prepared me for the business of acting and how to behave on a set. He gave me the tools that I use everyday, and his approach to teaching and acting is truly one-of-a-kind. Read More KATRINA LENK Allen Barton has one of the most brilliant, intuitive, thrillingly witty and unsentimental minds I know. Whatever comes out of it: gimme. Read More SAMANTHA SLOYAN The lessons inside “The Oasis of Insanity” hit me in a new way each time I revisit it. It is the heart of what has kept me returning to the BHPand to this teaching. It is simple, solid, direct, and most importantly, applicable to all facets of my life as an actress. Read More --> Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Acting Class' by Milton Katselas - Books For Actors - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Acting Class’ by Milton Katselas – Books For Actors Acting Class: “Milton Katselas is everything you need in a professional acting teacher.” –Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock, The Cooler, The Departed   Acting Class: Take a Seat brings to every reader Milton Katselas’ renowned approach to both the craft and career of acting. Katselas is the founder of the Beverly Hills Playhouse acting school in Los Angeles and for decades one of America’s foremost directors/teachers. Acting Class is the book that has helped change the careers of George Clooney, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alec Baldwin, Kate Hudson, and thousands of actors. Katselas’ Acting Class takes the reader inside the legendary classes he has taught for over forty years. You will feel as if you have taken a seat in the theatre, as much of its material is adapted directly from actual critiques of professional actors in the classes. Down-to-earth, accessible, funny, and conversational, Acting Class is the culmination of 40 years of teaching that has helped thousands of actors achieve both the art and the careers they’ve had in their dreams.   Acting Class: Take a Seat first guides the reader through practical, relevant techniques that can be applied immediately. The Acting portion of the book delves into Katselas’ approach to the craft, which is based as much on Katselas’ early experience as a basketball player and manager of his father’s pool hall as it is on his apprenticeship with Strasberg, Kazan, Logan or Meisner. Katselas has distilled a uniquely down-to-earth look at what actors need in any given moment to be a real person as opposed to an actor. Acting Class marks the first time this approach has been available to anyone outside the Beverly Hills Playhouse.   The second part of Katselas’ Acting Class discusses the important role that Attitude plays in being an artist. While developing the artist’s talent is job number one of any good class, Katselas’ experience has taught him that the attitude of the artist acts as the aperture on a camera lens: a negative attitude, like a small aperture, allows only a small amount of the light – the talent – to come through. Conversely, a bright attitude – open, willing to learn, getting along with people – acts as a large aperture and lets all the talent of the artist come through. This is why you see the phenomenon that less talented actors can sometimes be very successful and happy, while the most talented can be bitter and seemingly stuck. Katselas delves into this area extensively and provides many examples of both sides of this important equation.   In the third and final section of Acting Class, Katselas discusses the importance of Administration, which he defines as “the choices you make regarding the enhancement of your career and your life, and seeing to it that you complete these choices, get them done.” Katselas believes that most actors fail not for lack of talent, but for lack of properly administering their careers. Katselas encourages actors to be “artistic killers” and not dilettantes with regard to their careers.   Like students in Milton’s classes, the reader will have a full understanding of how to attack a career in acting from every angle. With these techniques put to use, and a healthy dose of motivation and desire, anything is possible.   CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Beverly Hills Playhouse - Acting Classes Los Angeles NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> --> Beverly Hills Playhouse One of LA’s oldest and most respected acting schools --> --> Welcome To The Beverly Hills Playhouse The Beverly Hills Playhouse is one of LA’s oldest and most respected acting schools. For over forty years, we’ve offered ongoing scene-study classes to both professional and aspiring actors at all levels. Founded by the legendary Milton Katselas, and currently owned and run by Milton’s longtime student, director/playwright Allen Barton, the BHP is well known for delivering a unique and practical approach to addressing Acting, Attitude, and Career Administration. Read More --> Our Alumni Amy Martin Monica Barbaro Academy Award Nominee Gage Skidmore Jorge Garcia Lost Hawaii Five-0 James Bianchi Brandon Sklenar 1923 It Ends With Us Angela George Giovanni Ribisi Avatar The Way of Water Bill Ingalls Michael Peña Ant-Man The Martian Gage Skidmore Jenna Elfman Fear of the Walking Dead Dharma & Greg Melanie Nelson Catherine Bell Good Witch Army Wives Harald Krichel George Clooney Two Academy Awards Joy Parris Michelle Pfeiffer 3 Academy Award Nominations Eric Garcetti Stana Katic Castle Absentia More Alumni On Free Speech and other essays Since 2020, the theatre community has been riven by issues surrounding free speech, identity, and ‘cancellation.’ Here are a few essays by BHP owner Allen Barton about these and other topics from the modern world of training. Read more BHP Approach The Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School instructs its students through the unique, down-to-earth, three-pronged approach developed by its founder, Milton Katselas, one of the foremost teachers... Read more Why Study? I’ll go ahead and say it: Acting is a profession more tolerant of lack of ability than perhaps any other. You can actually make a fair sum of money in acting without knowing much about… Read More Teaching Staff All teachers at the BHP are homegrown, with a minimum of ten years as a student at BHP as first prerequisite for becoming a teacher. This ensures a very consistent application of the BHP approach… Read More FAQs Get answers to your questions: Why are acting classes twice a week? How often do you get to work in class? Will I be doing a lot of exercises? Can I audit classes? Who assigns… Read More Our Classes The main focus of the Beverly Hills Playhouse is on-going scene study acting class. These meet twice per week with an emphasis on acting scene work and the occasional exercise. In addition to these acting… Read More Live Theatre Throughout its 45+ year history, the Beverly Hills Playhouse has not only been one of LA’s most important acting schools, but also a prolific producer of Los Angeles theatre. The BHP is responsible for hundreds of productions... Read More TICKETS ON SALE NOW: LA & NY YEARS TO THE DAY | See what the New York Times Calls "a hilarous yet profound tragedysmothered in comedy!" --> When old friends Dan and Jeff reunite after six years, YEARS TO THE DAY explores—with sharp humor—whether friendship can survive when two people see the world so differently. BUY TICKETS LEARN MORE Our Books The BHP currently uses two primary books to supplement the work happening in class. First is Milton Katselas’ “Acting Class: Take A Seat,” which has been part of the program here for decades. Originally it was handed out as a three-ring binder that allowed Milton to add and delete articles as he chose. In 2008, Milton and Allen Barton re-worked the entire book from cover to cover for its first hard cover publication that fall. That version is still in use today. In 2017, Allen wrote his own book, “The Oasis of Insanity.” Part 1 of that book a memoir of his apprenticeship with Milton over 18 years, in the form of various stories about what Milton was like and the goings on at BHP over those years. Part 2 is a collection of essays that originated as blog entries over 8 years, and then were edited, refined and grouped into topics covering Acting, Study, Career, and Life as an Actor. Read More --> What Our Students Say Previous Slide Next Slide --> The teaching is not only insightful but also supports and challenges me. It continually inspires me as an artist and has given me ALL the tools I need to create, have and maintain a successful and rewarding career. Catherine Bell --> The level of the teaching and work in class is very high quality. I take notes during everyone's critique--learning by observing as well as doing. Every class is a gift I give myself. Lifelong learning conquers complacency and infuses my artistic goals with excitement and deep satisfaction Edie McClurg --> If you study at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, and read Milton Katselas' book, you will know exactly what to do to be the greatest actor you could ever hope to be, and achieve everything you ever wanted. -- Larry Miller Larry Miller Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Why Study? - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Why Study? I’ll go ahead and say it: Acting is a profession more tolerant of lack of ability than perhaps any other. You can actually make a fair sum of money in acting without knowing much about how to act, and I take no satisfaction in making that statement. It’s frankly embarrassing. But there is such a thing as proficiency, and in the end, proficiency will win. If you’re serious, if you want to last more than a year or two in show business, if you have any sense of professional ethics, then proficiency is what you should be pursuing first and foremost. But yet these days, more and more, serious study can be devalued as something outdated and unnecessary, and “competence” measured not by your demonstrated ability, but by whether you have listed on your resume some in-vogue piece of micro-training that is seen as potentially linked to being hired. Or you might get a certain job purely because of how you look, and after that you are judged competent because, well, someone hired you already for that job. The jobs keep coming without your ever really having known why or how. Part of the Big Frustration with pursuing an acting career no doubt comes from this rather tenuous relationship between competence and employment. The writer starts the ball rolling with a script, and actors are among the last hired to complete the team in charge of getting this story to the public. There are a million stories, of infinite quality, across an increasingly crowded spectrum of content delivery. Many of those stories simply don’t require “high achievement acting” to do their job or make a lot of money. But in any case, the lead character who is in every scene? Actor. The guy who pops his head in with one line? Actor. The background players? Actors. The film that just won 15 Oscars? Full of actors. That daytime soap? Full of actors. That sketch comedy show? Actors. All considered to be professional, they’re all being paid something, but the range of actual competence is staggering. The number of actors who are being paid something to act in something every day far exceeds the numbers in other professional art forms, or in sports. The entire NFL is fewer than 2,000 players. The entire NBA is fewer than 500 players. You gotta be good — clearly, demonstrably, seriously good. Now, how many actors do you think are being used across the entire spectrum of storytelling and content delivery — just domestically? It has to be at least many, many thousands, every day. It’s hard to get your head around it, because in just about any other field of endeavor, a proven level of competence would seem clearly to be a necessary prerequisite for getting paid, and usually that competence is easily identified through a known, highly visible technique: Hey! Look at that violinist! She must have spent a bazillion hours of practice to get that good. Hey! Look at that athlete! Imagine how much dedication and training it takes to be that good. Medicine, technology, cooking, the various building trades — could anyone make an argument to the contrary? I don’t think so. Joining a union in some other skill usually requires a certain number of years, with measured hours on the job in various capacities. In acting? You can join SAG-AFTRA by being a background player, and the single union now covers actors, radio deejays, and TV meteorologists. The union has zero proficiency requirements, and the notion of acting proficiency itself is highly subjective. With acting, the better the technique, often the more invisible it is, and you just see a “person” in a story. In the near term (under 5 years chasing acting professionally), it can appear that actual competence has little role to play in your career. It just seems too much a lottery, and that some lucky new person who’s been in town three weeks gets a great audition or books a swell job or signs with that perceived awesome agent/manager, while you, perhaps trained and responsible and caring and artistic and dutifully having adhered to the latest diet regimen – you are unfairly left behind, unrewarded for hard work, talent and sacrifice. Hence one can see a hell of a lot of randomness in the actions of actors in the early chapters of this strange novel – constant changing of teachers, approaches, philosophies, desperate grabs at weird projects, too many bad plays, too many bad comedy skits, a sudden veering toward improv workshops, no, sitcom workshops, no, on-camera workshops, no, such-and-such a motivational speaker, no, a new Significant Other, no, back to the old Significant Other, no, New York, no, Los Angeles, no, writing, no, new agent, no, new manager… On and on it goes. Actors can veer from one major decision to another along the steep, jagged slopes of morale and inspiration that mark the early part of the journey. There’s always a nice little high you get from making a decision, implementing some sort of change, but around the bend awaits the same old discouragement when this change didn’t yield the desired result: regular acting work, a feeling you’re breaking through at last. But as you move past five years in the profession, I’ve observed that the business does become more and more a meritocracy. Yes – there’s always politics, celebrity, vapidity, nepotism and money at work (as they are in all industries), but overall there is a meritocratic response. If you look at actors you admire who have been at it for 20 years or more – they really do know how to act, and how to comport themselves in professional situations. Even the character types who aren’t celebrities but work all the time – they know what they’re doing. You rarely see a total no-talent boob who ends up ‘making it’ over the long haul. In the end, I believe talent, or frankly more importantly, professional competence, wins. Certainly for Type-A super-achievers, who are used to being recognized as such in more conventional environments like job-jobs and fixed-size organizations where their competence shines quickly and is rewarded, the morass of The Biz and its seeming non-responsiveness to their intelligence, responsibility, and work ethic is particularly infuriating. But proficiency will win. In the end, it will win. It’s a proficiency with acting on a technical level, but also with managing your own morale, and building a career, managing that. A lot of success is just built on being there, day after day, being good at the little things day after day, having people walk away from working with you glad for the experience, day after day. A few years in the business will bring that much more certainty about the various skills, what to do, how to do it, who can help, how you can get them to help – perspective. Some actors have an innate maturity that lends itself better to older parts, and their 20’s may just be a long training period as they wait for their look and their casting to match up with the music inside. Others need to break out of bad 20-something romances, or get off the parental dole, or develop a stronger work ethic, or knock off the [insert non-optimum life situation here] – all of this in addition to developing their skills as actors. Don’t indulge the manic panic. You’ve set upon a course as a performing artist, and while it can feel as if career certainty has gone out the window, the wheel slowly turns and you get better, wiser, more connected to the business – and the business will respond. Li Beverly Hills Playhouse - Acting Classes Los Angeles NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> --> Beverly Hills Playhouse One of LA’s oldest and most respected acting schools --> --> Welcome To The Beverly Hills Playhouse The Beverly Hills Playhouse is one of LA’s oldest and most respected acting schools. For over forty years, we’ve offered ongoing scene-study classes to both professional and aspiring actors at all levels. Founded by the legendary Milton Katselas, and currently owned and run by Milton’s longtime student, director/playwright Allen Barton, the BHP is well known for delivering a unique and practical approach to addressing Acting, Attitude, and Career Administration. Read More --> Our Alumni Amy Martin Monica Barbaro Academy Award Nominee Gage Skidmore Jorge Garcia Lost Hawaii Five-0 James Bianchi Brandon Sklenar 1923 It Ends With Us Angela George Giovanni Ribisi Avatar The Way of Water Bill Ingalls Michael Peña Ant-Man The Martian Gage Skidmore Jenna Elfman Fear of the Walking Dead Dharma & Greg Melanie Nelson Catherine Bell Good Witch Army Wives Harald Krichel George Clooney Two Academy Awards Joy Parris Michelle Pfeiffer 3 Academy Award Nominations Eric Garcetti Stana Katic Castle Absentia More Alumni On Free Speech and other essays Since 2020, the theatre community has been riven by issues surrounding free speech, identity, and ‘cancellation.’ Here are a few essays by BHP owner Allen Barton about these and other topics from the modern world of training. Read more BHP Approach The Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School instructs its students through the unique, down-to-earth, three-pronged approach developed by its founder, Milton Katselas, one of the foremost teachers... Read more Why Study? I’ll go ahead and say it: Acting is a profession more tolerant of lack of ability than perhaps any other. You can actually make a fair sum of money in acting without knowing much about… Read More Teaching Staff All teachers at the BHP are homegrown, with a minimum of ten years as a student at BHP as first prerequisite for becoming a teacher. This ensures a very consistent application of the BHP approach… Read More FAQs Get answers to your questions: Why are acting classes twice a week? How often do you get to work in class? Will I be doing a lot of exercises? Can I audit classes? Who assigns… Read More Our Classes The main focus of the Beverly Hills Playhouse is on-going scene study acting class. These meet twice per week with an emphasis on acting scene work and the occasional exercise. In addition to these acting… Read More Live Theatre Throughout its 45+ year history, the Beverly Hills Playhouse has not only been one of LA’s most important acting schools, but also a prolific producer of Los Angeles theatre. The BHP is responsible for hundreds of productions... Read More TICKETS ON SALE NOW: LA & NY YEARS TO THE DAY | See what the New York Times Calls "a hilarous yet profound tragedysmothered in comedy!" --> When old friends Dan and Jeff reunite after six years, YEARS TO THE DAY explores—with sharp humor—whether friendship can survive when two people see the world so differently. BUY TICKETS LEARN MORE Our Books The BHP currently uses two primary books to supplement the work happening in class. First is Milton Katselas’ “Acting Class: Take A Seat,” which has been part of the program here for decades. Originally it was handed out as a three-ring binder that allowed Milton to add and delete articles as he chose. In 2008, Milton and Allen Barton re-worked the entire book from cover to cover for its first hard cover publication that fall. That version is still in use today. In 2017, Allen wrote his own book, “The Oasis of Insanity.” Part 1 of that book a memoir of his apprenticeship with Milton over 18 years, in the form of various stories about what Milton was like and the goings on at BHP over those years. Part 2 is a collection of essays that originated as blog entries over 8 years, and then were edited, refined and grouped into topics covering Acting, Study, Career, and Life as an Actor. Read More --> What Our Students Say Previous Slide Next Slide --> The teaching is not only insightful but also supports and challenges me. It continually inspires me as an artist and has given me ALL the tools I need to create, have and maintain a successful and rewarding career. Catherine Bell --> The level of the teaching and work in class is very high quality. I take notes during everyone's critique--learning by observing as well as doing. Every class is a gift I give myself. Lifelong learning conquers complacency and infuses my artistic goals with excitement and deep satisfaction Edie McClurg --> If you study at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, and read Milton Katselas' book, you will know exactly what to do to be the greatest actor you could ever hope to be, and achieve everything you ever wanted. -- Larry Miller Larry Miller Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: The Making of Romeo & Juliet Video - Beverly Hills Playhouse - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> --> The Making of Romeo & Juliet The breathtaking production is the concept of Milton Katselas and he succeeds in opening up Shakespeare’s play to an electric, pulsating, breathing story of young love with all its frustrations, passions and intense sexual desires… Seldom has Shakespeare been given such a totally alive production. Its sensuality is vibrant, its fight scenes evoke anger and daring while its characters are not mere stolid relics of blank verse, but people who live, breathe, and feel. Thomas Harrison is simply great as Romeo. His physical agility is startling; he conveys the utter ecstasy of first love… Linda Purl, who alternates with Laurie Walters, is a fragile, child-like, dreamy Juliet who fully reveals her wonder and love. This is an alive Shakespeare with the kind of force, impact, and clarity too often missing in productions of the play. It is a Romeo and Juliet to cherish and certainly one that must be seen. Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: SHOWS & TICKETS - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> SHOWS & TICKETS No Events Beverly Hills Playhouse is a vital theater hub that celebrates and advances the craft of acting, directing, and playwriting. We produce a diverse array of works that highlight the skills of our artists and provide a platform for original voices. We believe in the power of theater to enrich cultural conversation and drive artistic excellence. PAST PRODUCTIONS --> Phone Numbers for New Student Enrollment: Beverly Hills: (310) 855-1556 New York: (646) 200-5790 Main Business Office: (310) 855-1556 Admissions email: [email protected] BHP Box Office: (310) 620-1134 [email protected] STAY CONNECTED JOIN OUR MAILING LIST Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Milton Katselas - Founder of The Beverly Hills Playhouse - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> --> ' Milton Katselas Milton Katselas began his directing career in the 1960s with the original off-Broadway production of Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story. From there he went on to direct over sixty plays and eight feature films. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Butterfli es are Free. Un der his direction, Blythe Danner won the Tony Award, Eileen Heckart the Academy Award, and Bette Davis her only Emmy Award. Milton has directed such actors as Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, Goldie Hawn, Christopher Walken, Burt Reynolds, George C. Scott, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, to name just a few. The son of Greek emigrants, Katselas was born and raised in Pittsburgh, graduated from Carnegie-Mellon Institute. Milton studied with Lee Strasberg at the Actor’s Studio and was mentored by such great film and stage directors as Elia Kazan and Joshua Logan. It was through these influences and his extensive directing experience that Milton ultimately created the technique that is taught at the Beverly Hills Play house. Milton was also an award-winning painter and sculptor, and has had solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, New York, Paris and Tokyo. As an author, he penned two books: Acting Class, his renowned book on acting technique, and Dreams Into Action, a New York Times bestseller about getting the ca reer you want. Milton was also an architectural designer, and his LA-based firm has both renovated and built from scratch several Los Angeles homes. A consummate artist, Milton was forever looking to unlock and rehabilitate the potential that is lying under the surface, not only in himself but also in everyone who crossed his path. “Put the word on the street that you’re writing about Milton Katselas, and every student he has ever had will want to tell you about the best acting teacher in the world…. They were born with the talent, but he gave them careers.” –New York Times ' --> Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: FAQs - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> FAQs --> Frequently Asked Questions What is the Approach? The BHP utilizes the technique developed by its founder, Milton Katselas, which not only addresses the question of “how to act,” but also “how to live as an actor.” The BHP Approach focuses on three areas: Acting, Attitude & Administration. See the section on “ BHP Approach ” for more information. Who Teaches? The BHP does not hire teachers from outside our ecosystem – all are developed from within BHP over at least a decade, and have been fully immersed in application of the BHP Approach and how we deliver it. All the teachers have experience as professional actors, writers and/or directors, and many of them are highly trained in other artistic areas as well. (See separate page on Teaching Staff .) What is the Tone? The tone of classes at BHP is professional and enthusiastic – we want you to feel challenged, but safe. Students are expected to be on time, awake, alert, ready to learn, and are to remain so for the entire class. With regard to attendance and all issues related to attitude or deportment, the BHP has what it nicknames the “Robert Redford” concept: Whatever you would do to make it to the set to shoot your scene with Robert Redford, do that for class. For Redford, you’d be on time, that fight with your significant other would recede into distant memory, your family issues would be blocked out, and you probably wouldn’t be holding your cell phone and updating social media while you spoke with him. Ditto for class. What is the technique used in the acting classes of the BHP? The BHP utilizes the technique developed by its founder, Milton Katselas, which not only addresses the question of “how to act,” but also “how to live as an actor.” The BHP Approach focuses on three areas: Acting, Attitude & Administration. See the section on “ Our Approach ” for more information. What do I get as an acting student of the BHP? A lot: The best, most practical, down-to-earth, non-intellectual, non-exercisey training there is. Additional emphasis in the areas of Attitude and Career Administration – what to do to get this whole thing moving, and how to keep yourself sane and focused over the long haul. Access to BHP’s “Admin Groups,” each consisting of 5-10 actors who meet weekly to advance their career administration goals. Access to BHP Professional Workshops – wherein the BHP brings LA-based industry professionals to our theatre to moderate discussions on casting, marketing and related fields. Class meets in one of the most famous theatre buildings in Los Angeles, including one of the best 99-seat theatres in the city, as well as a smaller black-box space. Access to inexpensive rehearsal space in either of our theatres, which can be booked and paid for online, 24 hours a day. Digital audio recording of all critiques in the scene-study classes, accessible to you for streaming or downloading 24 hours a day via a secure website. Membership in a full, varied, passionate community of actors, many of whom would consider the BHP the basis of a rich artistic, social and professional life in Los Angeles. Will I be doing a lot of exercises at the BHP? No. The training of the BHP is very down-to-earth, and it was the point of view of our founder, Milton Katselas, that actors should best spend their time in training doing what they will do professionally: Scenes! We do have some exercises at the BHP, but their emphasis is vastly reduced in comparison to our concentration on scene study. We have about 5 exercises, including a cold reading/audition exercise, and you might do all of these exercises once or twice in a year. Who teaches at the BHP acting school? All the current teachers at the BHP were personally trained by Milton directly during his life, and all boast between 20-30 years’ association with the BHP and its specific kind of training. The BHP does not hire teachers from outside our ecosystem – all are developed from within BHP over at least a decade. All the teachers have experience as professional actors, writers and/or directors, and many of them are highly trained in other artistic areas as well. (See separate page on Teaching Staff .) What is the tone of acting class? The tone of classes at BHP is professional and enthusiastic – we want you to feel challenged, but safe. Students are expected to be on time, awake, alert, ready to learn, and are to remain so for the entire class. With regard to attendance and all issues related to attitude or deportment, the BHP has what it nicknames the “Robert Redford” concept: Whatever you would do to make it to the set to shoot your scene with Robert Redford, do that for class. For Redford, you’d be on time, you’d pretend your headcold didn’t exist, that fight with your significant other would recede into distant memory, your family issues would be blocked out, and you probably wouldn’t be holding your cell phone and updating social media while you spoke with him. Ditto for class. Can I audit classes at the BHP? Yes. You can audit the classes by invitation of a current student, or through the process of interviewing at the school. For the latter, you would schedule an interview and if that goes well, an offer to audit a class will be extended at that time. What are the typical acting class sizes? We generally run at about 35-50 people enrolled per class. Keep in mind that most of our classes are 2x-a-week, with ideally 10 scenes each week, and so a certain enrollment is what fuels that rate of scene production. How often do you get to work in acting class? Totally up to you. We do not divide scene slots by the number of students in class. The highly motivated student will do many scenes, the less motivated will do fewer. An interesting observation is that those students with high scene production are generally those who are able to move forward in their career as well. Work ethic is work ethic. The BHP is designed to reward work ethic. If you took an average across the BHP, 2-3 scenes a month would be a nice clip, but it relies heavily on your intention, and there may well be times when you are working on a play or film and your scene production is down, balanced by other periods where you dive in more aggressively. How do I choose material for scenes? The best training occurs on the best material. Boxers don’t spar with partners who are weaklings – they train with partners who challenge them. Musicians don’t train on easy music – they train on the best. Actors should seek out writing that is interested in humanity, rather than in cleverness or glib emotion. Many actors think that because much of the writing for their contemporary auditions is subpar, they should train on subpar material, as if there is a specific, learnable way to pull off subpar material that will get you more jobs on TV. Don’t think this way. Many actors are simply not knowledgeable about scripts from the theatre and film history available to them. This is simply a shame, and indicative of the deterioration in education and the work ethic of actors. Imagine the aspiring pianist who didn’t know the work of Chopin, the young writer who’d never read Tolstoy! And yet many young actors do not know their own history – the actors, directors and writers who have shaped everything Acting Rehearsal Space - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Acting Rehearsal Space Posted on May 13, 2022 (September 16, 2022) by beverlyhilldev --> The BHP operates two theatres, the BHP Mainstage and the BHP Research space upstairs. Both are available to current students, when class is not in session, for scene rehearsals. You can rent rehearsal space at any of the theatres for $15 an hour. Access to the online theatre booking system can be found at BHP Connect . Post navigation  Acting Administration Groups The Acting Checklist  Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: The Acting Checklist - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> The Acting Checklist Posted on May 13, 2022 (September 16, 2022) by beverlyhilldev --> What follows here is referred to by the students in class as “The Checklist”. It has evolved over my years of teaching as a series of tools any actor can use to help approach their work on a scene. A very successful actress who has been a student of mine for a long time insists she uses this checklist on every gig she gets. It is not strictly necessary to dwell upon the entire checklist every time you work–any one of the tools may be the one that unlocks a scene for you. –Milton Katselas, Acting Class, Take a Seat 1. What is the event? What’s going on in this scene? Not the theme. Just what’s going on. Have I experienced anything like that? Yeah. And how did I behave? Some ideas there. Okay. 2. Evaluation Am I on fire? Are the choices hot enough, alive? This scene is loaded. The stakes are high. Am I ready for that, or do I need to assume the position? Okay. 3. Behavior What am I doing physically in this scene? I can’t allow myself just to sit here and say lines. What else can I do to be more alive? Push-ups? Clean the room? Put on makeup? Okay. 4. Physical/Emotional State Am I drunk? Enough? Do I feel sexy? Am I drugged, in pain? Or am I supposed to be feeling great? Just had good food, feeling exhilarated? Am I really nailing this? And is the state consistent throughout the scene? Is it cold the entire time? Or do I warm up during the scene? How do my emotions vary in the scene? I’ve got to figure that out specifically. Okay. 5. What happened before the scene? Did I just finish the New York Marathon? Did I just get fired? Is it raining outside? So am I wet? Out of breath from the stairs? And how does that change now that the scene has begun? Am I tracking that clearly and logically? Okay. 6. Creative Hiding Can I play part of the scene into the tablecloth? Weep into it? Play with my hat as I woo her? Or play the sunset instead of her eyes? Can I be freer through fiddling with the scarf? Okay. 7. Be a person Am I like an actor on a stage or am I like a person? My character is a person. Is my behavior coming from the real life of the character? Am I just trying to be emotional, or am I a person trying to control their emotions, as on the six-o’clock news? Okay. 8. Inner and Outer Life “The Cover” Play the clown for her and pretend the pain inside is nothing? Or play the pain more and less charm? Get more personal and specific with inner turmoil? I know I’ll lose her– feel that? Or play more the social, easy behavior and attitude and let the inner pop out later, surprise myself and them? I need to ensure I’m not “playing the cover” without anything cooking underneath. Okay. 9. Who’s the author? Who wrote this? Woody Allen? Bertolt Brecht? Tennesse Williams? What is this author after? What is his or her specific point of view on life? What is her style? What is his sense of humor? What other works are there by the author? Have I read them for clues? Okay. 10. Improvisation I’ll pretend I’m going to marry Ophelia, and we’ll improvise my proposal and see where that takes us. Shakespeare’s language is tough– let me say it in my own words for a while, then get back to the Bard. Let’s improvise the first night of our honeymoon, see what that does for the scene. Or just be silent for a while, let hte scene be within us. Loose and easy, don’t push for the scene. Okay. 11. Humor Am I using humor? People use humor all the time to deal with hardship– am I doing that? Is it too much to suddenly act lIke Noel Coward, as Brando did at the end of Last Tango in Paris? Cover that pain with a put-on, humorous. English accent? Joking with her? Yeah, that can work. All the great performances have humor, they have charm, they have irony. Okay. 12. Trust So I believe in my choices? Am I having fun? Am I confident in what I’m doing? I know it will be there, I will make it be there. I’ve got my choices. I understand this guy. Let’s go. Okay. 13. Being Personal Am I personally involved in this scene? Am I telling the right story? Being personal doesn’t mean I decide the character is from my hometown. This needs to cost me something: My emotional involvement. 14. Pathology How sick is this character? How compulsive? Am I giving in to the violence? I have some seed of this in my life. Use it. Expand on it. Remember, he will do anything to possess her. Okay. 15. Objectives The character wants to be king, don’t deny it. Do I want it enough? I know what it means to want something. Go for it. Remember, at any cost, he wants to seduce her, so am I doing all I can to get her? Caution is not my friend. Okay. 16. Specifics Is this my Hamlet, personal and specific? Do I have the father? Is he real to me? The image of my mother in bed with my uncle– do I have that? It’s late at night. Do I have the specific feeling of late at night; not tired, but hyper? The choice of Hamlet’s angry explosion, do I have that nailed? Really? Okay. 17. Use of Objects Am I using physical objects to connect myself with this environment? Maybe some of my own personal objects will make me more comfortable. Or how about one that has more emotional value for me? Yeah, let me use one of those. Any inner objects I can think of that will help me connect with moments in the scene? Okay. 18. Arbitrary Choices Kazan says, “Character is revealed through contradiction.” What inner struggle is my character going through that might be revealed through an arbitrary choice? Some kind of illogical choice that actually fits the truth of this guy? Okay. 19. Moment to Moment: Belief Can this scene be tracked? Am I responding to things moment to moment? Am I really listening, taking the time to respond as a person would? Am I discovering each moment as it happens? The more I experience, the more I’ll believe, and the more I believe, the more I’ll experience. Okay. 20. Moment to Moment: Alternatives. The script says my character leaves his wife. But have I explored the opposite? That he stays? Maybe he tries to stay, but at the last second he can’t. Real people go through tough decision making before choosing the way to go. So as an actor, I need to go through that process, even though the final action has been determined by the author. I have to participate in the process. That needs to be part of my performance. Okay. Post navigation  Acting Rehearsal Space Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Contact Us - Beverly Hills playhouse Acting School - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Contact the Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School Admission to the Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School is by interview only (no audition required). Interviews are held several times each week and take 45 minutes to an hour. Please click the "Schedule an Interview" tab or call us to schedule yours! Phone Numbers for New Student Enrollment: Beverly Hills: (310) 855-1556 New York: (646) 200-5790 Main Business Office: (310) 855-1556 Admissions email: [email protected] BHP Box Office (310) 620-1134 [email protected] First Name Last Name Email Mobile Phone Description How did you hear about us? Request Interview: Management Team Allen Barton Owner/CEO [email protected] Art Cohan Director of Student Affairs [email protected] Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Classes - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Classes --> Scene Study BHP’s Scene Study classes are the legendary beating heart of the program here. At all levels, the structure of the classes is the same. Each night will see 4-6 scenes presented in a master class format: The actors bring in as finished a performance as they can manage for their level of experience, perform it for their classmates in the audience, and the scene is then critiqued by the teacher. It is in these critiques that almost all the teaching happens at BHP across all areas of Acting, Attitude and Career Administration. Actors rehearse acting scenes outside class until they feel they have a finished product to bring into the class, and only then will a critique be delivered. Playing a cop? You’d better look and act like a cop. Playing a hooker? You’d better go walking along Santa Monica Blvd. and find one who you think is right for this part – nail the costume, the walk. We expect mastery of the script, knowledge of the story’s context, and any research necessary to fulfill the specifics of your role. So, if you want a casual approach to scene study, where you run some lines until you have a scene memorized and kind of throw it up there and see what happens, the BHP is not for you. Most acting classes at the BHP meet twice a week, for about four hours per class. Acting classes are taught on three different levels – Orientation, Intermediate, and Advanced – based on the experience of the applicant. Orientation would include anyone from beginners to college-level arts training, and Intermediate and Advanced are for actors and directors with more professional experience, with an eye as well to union memberships and representation being in place. Currently, our scene study program operates in Beverly Hills and New York City. Audition Several times a year, the BHP offers an Audition Class to all its current students, taught by Art Cohan. Students have the unique opportunity to focus on their individual auditioning issues. Similar to auditions in the industry, students are emailed scripts up to two days in advance. They are asked to prepare their auditions just as they would for any top casting director. Art works on everything involved in the process: the entrance into the room, the attitude presented by the actor, the actual reading, and leaving the room. It is more than just a cold-reading class. It is the specific application of the BHP Approach to the audition process. Plus, since this class is only offered to current students of the BHP, the terms used are readily understood and applicable by everyone in the room. The Audition Class is usually formatted as a twelve-week intensive workshop covering all aspects of the audition process: 1. What you need to do when you get the sides. 2. How do you prepare fully and completely. 3. What do you need to do when you're waiting to "go in". 4. How do you takeover the room and make it your own. 5. What do you need to do to "leave your work in the room." 6. What do you do if it's a cold reading? 7. What happens when there's a camera in the room? Working on-camera is included in the workshop. 8. Self-Tapes * *While Self-Tape auditions have taken over a larger percentage of total audition opportunities, particularly during and since 2020, we still believe that working on and drilling the ‘live audition’ process is the best way to develop those skills and then bring them to the self-tape process. It’s no different from our ‘live theatre’ scene study training as the best prep for the slice-and-dice pixellated world of TV/film shoots. It’s about learning fundamental skills that you will then apply to a variety of formats. Kids / Young Adults The BHP offers ongoing acting classes for kids in the age range of 7 to 17. Taught by Emmy Award Winner Melissa Hayden, our acting school for kids is one of the most highly regarded and respected in all of Los Angeles. Many distinguished and successful young performers choose to train at BHP, where they can learn every skill they need to be excellent film, television, and commercial actors. When a young actor joins our studio, he or she can expect the most professional and experienced instruction on all elements of the craft, such as: improv, scene study, on camera training, cold reading, audition technique, and interview skills. We also foster confidence, encouragement and support along with providing career counseling based on the BHP's approach to attitude and administration. In addition to providing one of the industry’s most recommended and demanding acting class for kids, we also offer individualized instruction and professional support for young working actors. Our teachers are available for private coaching and on-set coaching, so you can be confident that you will always get the help you need to develop your talent and career. The BHP Kids/Young Adults program is taught by the esteemed Melissa Hayden, a “Youth In Film” and Emmy award winner who is best known for starring in the daytime drama Guiding Light. She began as a working child actor, racking up extensive credits in film, TV, and plays. In addition to her long acting resume, she is one of the industry’s most in demand acting teachers and coaches. Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Essays On the Modern World of Acting Training - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> --> Essays On the Modern World of Acting Training --> Essays On the Modern World of Acting Training On Free Speech, Social Justice & Identity “Nobody has the right to not be offended. That right doesn’t exist in any declaration I have ever read. If you are offended, it is your problem, and frankly, lots of things offend lots of people. I can walk into a bookshop and point out a number of books that I find very unattractive in [...] Read More... from On Free Speech, Social Justice & Identity Regarding Online Training ― By Allen Barton Zoom acting classes. Meh. Pardon me if I go throw up now in a nearby bathroom. Sorry, we’re not going to do it. Ever. Period. If there is to come another moment when live acting classes were banned, without hope of getting back into the theatre, we’ll fold up shop and [...] Read More... from Regarding Online Training On Cancellation & Mandated Enlightenment So… That person who has been determined to be irredeemable, and you’d like us to announce our public repudiation of them? We’re not gonna do that. That organization, which did that thing that everyone is up in arms about, and now the mob is demanding that it be boycotted? We’re not gonna do that, either. The [...] Read More... from On Cancellation & Mandated Enlightenment Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Beverly Hills Playhouse - Acting Classes Los Angeles NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Alumni --> Our Alumni Amy Martin Monica Barbaro Academy Award Nominee Gage Skidmore Jorge Garcia Lost Hawaii Five-0 Kevin Payravi Kate Siegel Gerald’s Game Haunting of Hill House David Shinbone Autumn Reeser The O.C. Entourage James Bianchi Brandon Sklenar 1923 It Ends With Us Angela George Giovanni Ribisi Avatar The Way of Water Bill Ingalls Michael Peña Ant-Man The Martian Gage Skidmore Jenna Elfman Fear of the Walking Dead Dharma & Greg Melanie Nelson Catherine Bell Good Witch Army Wives Harald Krichel George Clooney Two Academy Awards Joy Parris Michelle Pfeiffer 3 Academy Award Nominations Eric Garcetti Stana Katic Castle Absentia Showtime Jim Carrey 2 Golden Globes The Truman Show Kevin Payravi Kate Hudson Almost Famous Running Point George Pimental Kim Cattrall Sex and the City, How I Met Your Father Alan Light Patrick Swayze Dirty Dancing Ghost Kingkongphoto Sean Astin Lord of the Rings Goonies Gage Skidmore Amandla Stenberg Hunger Games The Hate U Give AbhiSuryawanshi Alec Baldwin Saturday Night Live (Trump) 30 Rock Dominick D Tom Selleck Blue Bloods Magnum P.I. 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Californication iDominickt Justina Machado Six Feet Under One Day at a Time Mark Coggins Valerie Bertinelli Hot in Cleveland One Day at a Time Red Carpet Report Miguel Ferrer Robocop Twin Peaks Red Carpet Report Jeffrey Tambor 2 Emmy Awards SAG Award Comedy Series State Farm Larry Miller Mad About You 10 Things I Hate About You John Matthew Smith David Cassidy The Partridge Family Man Undercover Out and Ready Michelle Clunie Queer As Folk Make It or Break It Angela George Bryan Callen The Goldbergs The Hangover RavenU Joan Van Ark Knots Landing Dallas ABC Television Robert Blake Emmy Award Winner Golden Globe Winner Chrisa Hickey Mary Hart Entertainment Tonight Lee Bey Priscilla Presley Naked Gun Dallas Alan Light Anne Archer Patriot Games Fatal Attraction John Mueller Edie McClurg Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Planes, Trains & Automobiles Alan Light Markie Post Night Court Fall Guy iDominick Beth Grant Donnie Darko Little Miss Sunshine Melissa Hayden Melissa Hayden Emmy Award Guiding Light Neshamasheli Tovah Feldshuh The Walking Dead Golda Meir Gage Skidmore John Glover Smallville Tony Award James Cromwell James Cromwell Six Feet Under Babe Angela George Doris Roberts 5 Emmy Awards Everybody Loves Raymond Raven Underwood Anthony Head Buffy the Vampire Slayer Merlin Patcave Fiona Gubelmann Wilfred The Good Doctor Mumofthreedevils Jeff Conway Grease Taxi Joel Schumacher Joel Schumacher Batman (Director) The Lost Boys (Director) ABC Television Robert Urich Spenser: For Hire Vega$ Chris Devlin Brynn Thayer One Life to Live Matlock Joop van Bilsen Sonny Bono Sonny & Cher Lamonarchey Lamon Archey The Goldbergs The Hangover Mathieu Bitton Tara Buck True Blood Ray Donovan Biltmore Theatre Penny Fuller Anastasia All the President’s Men Angela George Don Swayze True Blood The Bridge John Mathew Smith Donna Pescow Saturday Night Fever Out of This World Calliopejen William Schallert The Patty Duke Show SAG Ralph Morgan Award Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Milton katselas Memorial Video - Beverly Hills Playhouse - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> --> Milton Katselas Memorial Video Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: ACTING CLASS SCHEDULE & TUITION - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> ACTING CLASS SCHEDULE & TUITION HOURS 8am to Midnight – 7 Days a Week. Students have Co-Working style building access.   TUITION COVERS 7+ Hours weekly for the night classes, with extra training available. Your personal Key to access theatre facilities, courtyard, self-tape room, conference room, etc. Membership on BHP Connect (our school networking website) Downloadable critiques from your acting class Low-cost theatre rental for scene rehearsals and self tape room BHP Career administration groups Monthly Scene Lab with Advanced teacher Allen Barton The ability to audit any BHP class in Beverly Hills and New York ORIENTATION / INTERMEDIATE – Twice a Week* Startup Fee: $500.00 (Includes first month’s tuition, books, and registration fee) Ongoing Tuition: $350.00 per month   ADVANCED — Once a Week* Startup Fee: $750.00 (Includes first two month’s tuition, books and registration fee) Ongoing Tuition: $300.00 per month   Youth & Teens Class (ages 7-17) – Once a Week Startup Fee: $500 (Includes first two months’ tuition) Ongoing Tuition: $250 per month   *Additional packages are available for longer commitments.   ALL TUITION PAYMENTS, INCLUDING THE STARTUP FEE, ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: BHP Connect - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> BHP Connect Posted on May 13, 2022 (September 16, 2022) by beverlyhilldev --> BHP Connect ( bhpconnect.org ) is a private website exclusivly for the use of BHP students. On BHP Connect each class has their own private forum for class communication. Classmates can see the class scene booking schedule and communicate about class related business. BHP Connect provides each student with their own profile page where they can post headshots, vidoes, and network with other students in the school. The site is a Facebook style community tailored specifically to the needs of our students. Post navigation Casting Director Workshops  Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Acting Scenes Database - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Archives: Scenes Comedy - Acting Scenes Kids Comedy - Group Acting Scenes Comedy - Man Woman Acting Scenes Comedy - Men Monologues Comedy - Three Men Acting Scenes Comedy - Three Women Acting Scenes Comedy - Two Men Acting Scenes Comedy - Two Men One Woman Acting Scenes Comedy - Two Women Acting Scenes Comedy - Two Women One Man Acting Scenes Comedy - Woman Monologues Drama - Acting Scenes Kids Drama - Group Acting Scenes Drama - Man Woman Acting Scenes Drama - Men Monologues Drama - Three Men Acting Scenes Drama - Three Women Acting Scenes Drama - Two Men Acting Scenes Drama - Two Men One Woman Acting Scenes Drama - Two Women Acting Scenes Drama - Two Women One Man Acting Scenes Drama - Woman Monologues Musical - Group Acting Scenes Musical - Man Woman Acting Scenes Shadow Box Vicky Cristina Barcelona View Scene Pulp Fiction View Scene The Westerner View Scene White Palace View Scene Waiting to Exhale View Scene Truly, Madly, Deeply View Scene Tom & Viv View Scene The Wings of the Dove View Scene The Wings of the Dove View Scene The Return of the Secaucus 7 View Scene Posts navigation 1 2 3 … 68 » Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: A Brief History - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> A Brief History --> A Brief History The Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School has been in its current location on Robertson Blvd. in Beverly Hills since 1978, though its founder Milton Katselas began his teaching career in the 1960s in New York City, and continued in Los Angeles for several years before settling at our current headquarters building. Milton’s talent for teaching led to a surge in enrollments past what he could handle personally, and through the 1980s and 1990s, the program expanded to include multiple levels of classes and even an entire additional location at the Skylight Theatre in Los Feliz, where Milton also had his painting studio. Some of our teachers over the years have included Bill Howey, Al Mancini, Jocelyn Jones, Gary Imhoff, Allen Williams, Richard Lawson, Gary Grossman, Jeffrey Tambor, Terry Jastrow, Chick Vennera, Gloria Gifford, Robert Brownstein, Mark Gantt, Michael Yavnieli, Tania Gonzalez, Layla Vatan, Michael Petted, and several others as well in both New York City and San Francisco. Though the BHP has always been known primarily one of the city’s prominent acting studios, we’ve also collaborated with production entities to produce over 100 plays in the last thirty years — these collaborations have been with Camelot Artists, which became the Katselas Theatre Company and then the Skylight Theatre Company, which still runs in its own theatre complex in Los Feliz. Between 2019-2023 The BHP sponsored almost a dozen productions under the banner of Crimson Square Theatre Company at our own theatre on Robertson Blvd., and currently we simply produce theatre under our own name, The Beverly Hills Playhouse. Upon Milton’s death in 2008, he bequeathed majority ownership of BHP to Allen Barton, who was a longtime student and close associate of Milton’s — he had been Executive Director for five years at the time of Milton’s passing, and his teaching partner in the Advanced level classes. Allen’s journey with Milton is a story that comprises the first section of Allen’s book THE OASIS OF INSANITY, which is broken into about twenty chapters that include vivid moments in their relationship, and in BHP history between 1990 and 2010. The BHP has been under Allen’s direction since 2008. As is the case with almost all theatres and acting schools in 2020, the BHP was rocked by the COVID pandemic and the shutdowns that had such a negative impact across the board, but particularly for the theatre community. Overnight, our program, which at the time was comprised of fully enrolled classes in LA, San Francisco and New York — was totally wiped out. Allen and a dogged collection of close friends and dedicated BHP staff fought throughout to maintain its connection with our students, slowly getting back into the theatre and building the program back from scratch, on the foundation of Milton’s approach to acting training. It’s been a long and winding road, but we are grateful and happy to be here, and hopefully to be of service to you in your pursuit of an acting career. Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Teachers - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Teachers --> Allen Barton A native of Boston and a graduate of Harvard University, Allen has been a part of the BHP community since 1990, working directly with Milton for over 16 years before Milton’s death in 2008. He is a playwright/author, director, teacher and classical pianist. Plays include CIRCLING (2020), DISCONNECTION (2015), YEARS TO THE DAY (2013), and ENGAGEMENT (2010). Art Cohan Art is an accomplished, award-winning actor and director who has worked extensively for over 30 years in New York and Los Angeles in theater, film and television. Melissa Hayden Melissa was nominated twice for an Emmy Award and won for her role in Guiding Light. In addition, she has won both the Soap Opera Digest Award and Young Artist Award. Melissa has been a series regular on: Almost Grown, TV 101, and Kids for Kids. She guest starred on Hunter, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Love American Style. Melissa appeared in the Movies of the Week: Silence of the Heart, Not My Kid, and Tattletales. Mia Christou Mia Christou has been a longtime member of the Beverly Hills Playhouse, having previously trained with Irma Sandrey, Geoffrey Horne and Robert Castle at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York. Neal Matarazzo Neal is a Film, Television and Stage Actor as well as an in demand acting teacher and coach. He attended and graduated with a BFA in Acting from one of the top programs in nation, Ithaca College. He then moved to NYC and auditioned and was selected to study with legendary acting teacher Uta Hagen. Rick Podell Rick Podell has spent his career in all areas of the business - actor, writer, producer, director, and teacher at The Beverly Hills Playhouse. Rick's theatre career began by being hired by Andrew Lloyd Webber to be the original narrator in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Acting Classes - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> --> Beverly Hills Playhouse An Acting School in Beverly Hills. 254 South Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 [email protected] 310 855-1556 Acting Classes Beverly Hills The Beverly Hills Playhouse has offered acting classes at its flagship location in Beverly Hills since 1978. In the 1940s, the building was home to the Bliss-Hayden Theatre where many extraordinary actors of the time performed, including Marilyn Monroe. The school continues that tradition, and has cultivated actors for over three decades. Alumni include George Clooney, Michele Pfeiffer, Jim Carrey, and many more . The two-story Beverly Hills headquarters houses our Mainstage Theatre and black box Research Space where we hold Advanced, Intermediate and Orientation scene study acting classes. The classes are taught by Allen Barton, Art Cohan, Mia Christou, Rick Podell, Melissa Hayden and Neal Matarazzo, who have all studied at the BHP for ten to thirty years. Other industry professionals are regularly brought in as guest teachers, including casting directors, agents, publicists, and filmmakers who offer perspective and enhance the careers of BHP students. The BHP is well known for Milton Katselas’ unique approach, which addresses Acting, Attitude, and Administration . For more information about the BHP acting classes, check out our home page and read our FAQ. The Playhouse is located in a laid back corner of Beverly Hills, blocks away from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences library. The school is open for classes and student rehearsals from 8 AM to midnight every day. When acting classes are not in session, you will find students reading and working on scenes at Champs Elysees Café or at Anny’s Snack Joint. BHP students form “Acting Administration” groups to support each other in their daily career building actions. These groups often meet at the BHP Reading Room and Art Gallery, a private WiFi lounge featuring student art and photography. After classes end, students can often be found at the 3rd Stop Restaurant relaxing and discussing class or current events in the industry. One of the cornerstones of the BHP is a strong, supportive community of actors, both in person and online via our private internal social network, BHP Connect. BHP Testimonials --> - Michelle Pfeiffer on Inside the Actors Studio I worked with Milton for many years... What I loved about working with Milton was that he prepared actors so that you're a little bit director-proof. You learn to be your own director. He would ask, 'Well, what would you do in this situation?' And you'd say, 'Okay, I would, you know, get up and......' And he'd be like, 'Okay. And what would you REALLY do in this situation?' And that's how he would always get you to second guess your first superficial choice. Beverly Hills Playhouse An Acting School in Beverly Hills. 254 South Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 [email protected] 310 855-1556 --> Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Beverly Hills Playhouse - Acting Classes Los Angeles NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> --> Beverly Hills Playhouse One of LA’s oldest and most respected acting schools --> --> Welcome To The Beverly Hills Playhouse The Beverly Hills Playhouse is one of LA’s oldest and most respected acting schools. For over forty years, we’ve offered ongoing scene-study classes to both professional and aspiring actors at all levels. Founded by the legendary Milton Katselas, and currently owned and run by Milton’s longtime student, director/playwright Allen Barton, the BHP is well known for delivering a unique and practical approach to addressing Acting, Attitude, and Career Administration. Read More --> Our Alumni Amy Martin Monica Barbaro Academy Award Nominee Gage Skidmore Jorge Garcia Lost Hawaii Five-0 James Bianchi Brandon Sklenar 1923 It Ends With Us Angela George Giovanni Ribisi Avatar The Way of Water Bill Ingalls Michael Peña Ant-Man The Martian Gage Skidmore Jenna Elfman Fear of the Walking Dead Dharma & Greg Melanie Nelson Catherine Bell Good Witch Army Wives Harald Krichel George Clooney Two Academy Awards Joy Parris Michelle Pfeiffer 3 Academy Award Nominations Eric Garcetti Stana Katic Castle Absentia More Alumni On Free Speech and other essays Since 2020, the theatre community has been riven by issues surrounding free speech, identity, and ‘cancellation.’ Here are a few essays by BHP owner Allen Barton about these and other topics from the modern world of training. Read more BHP Approach The Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School instructs its students through the unique, down-to-earth, three-pronged approach developed by its founder, Milton Katselas, one of the foremost teachers... Read more Why Study? I’ll go ahead and say it: Acting is a profession more tolerant of lack of ability than perhaps any other. You can actually make a fair sum of money in acting without knowing much about… Read More Teaching Staff All teachers at the BHP are homegrown, with a minimum of ten years as a student at BHP as first prerequisite for becoming a teacher. This ensures a very consistent application of the BHP approach… Read More FAQs Get answers to your questions: Why are acting classes twice a week? How often do you get to work in class? Will I be doing a lot of exercises? Can I audit classes? Who assigns… Read More Our Classes The main focus of the Beverly Hills Playhouse is on-going scene study acting class. These meet twice per week with an emphasis on acting scene work and the occasional exercise. In addition to these acting… Read More Live Theatre Throughout its 45+ year history, the Beverly Hills Playhouse has not only been one of LA’s most important acting schools, but also a prolific producer of Los Angeles theatre. The BHP is responsible for hundreds of productions... Read More TICKETS ON SALE NOW: LA & NY YEARS TO THE DAY | See what the New York Times Calls "a hilarous yet profound tragedysmothered in comedy!" --> When old friends Dan and Jeff reunite after six years, YEARS TO THE DAY explores—with sharp humor—whether friendship can survive when two people see the world so differently. BUY TICKETS LEARN MORE Our Books The BHP currently uses two primary books to supplement the work happening in class. First is Milton Katselas’ “Acting Class: Take A Seat,” which has been part of the program here for decades. Originally it was handed out as a three-ring binder that allowed Milton to add and delete articles as he chose. In 2008, Milton and Allen Barton re-worked the entire book from cover to cover for its first hard cover publication that fall. That version is still in use today. In 2017, Allen wrote his own book, “The Oasis of Insanity.” Part 1 of that book a memoir of his apprenticeship with Milton over 18 years, in the form of various stories about what Milton was like and the goings on at BHP over those years. Part 2 is a collection of essays that originated as blog entries over 8 years, and then were edited, refined and grouped into topics covering Acting, Study, Career, and Life as an Actor. Read More --> What Our Students Say Previous Slide Next Slide --> The teaching is not only insightful but also supports and challenges me. It continually inspires me as an artist and has given me ALL the tools I need to create, have and maintain a successful and rewarding career. Catherine Bell --> The level of the teaching and work in class is very high quality. I take notes during everyone's critique--learning by observing as well as doing. Every class is a gift I give myself. Lifelong learning conquers complacency and infuses my artistic goals with excitement and deep satisfaction Edie McClurg --> If you study at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, and read Milton Katselas' book, you will know exactly what to do to be the greatest actor you could ever hope to be, and achieve everything you ever wanted. -- Larry Miller Larry Miller Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Our Approach - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Our Approach The Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School instructs its students through the unique, down-to-earth, three-pronged approach developed by its founder, Milton Katselas, one of the foremost teachers of his or any generation. Acting The BHP strives to train each actor in real-person-real-place, behavior-oriented, moment-to-moment acting work in the tradition of the great American actors. In an era when many actors don’t see a need for training, or where the training is myopically geared toward tomorrow’s 5-and-under audition or toward certain comedic or “improv” work, the BHP is a standard bearer for an authentic kind of acting that is too rarely seen today. It is a training ground for serious artists who aspire to long-term careers. Our product is an actor who can properly read and analyze a script, and then deliver an authentic, rich, believable performance no matter the circumstance, from arduous film shoots where there may be very little rehearsal, to plays where there may be weeks of rehearsals, to the very audition that gets you either of those jobs. Attitude What is your viewpoint of this business? What is the viewpoint of those around you about you in this business? Many actors deal in daily fashion with rampant negativity about their profession, from within the business, as well as from their friends, associates, and family. If your agent has ever said, “We can’t get you in,” if you have ever said to yourself, “My agent isn’t cutting it,” or “If only I could get a better agent,” or “I’ll never be able to get an agent,” if your family has ever asked, “How long are you giving this acting thing?”, or if you have said or heard any of the million-and-one variations on blame, doubt, suppression, or actor-as-victim, then what the BHP has to offer you in handling Attitude is for you. Attitude is a state of mind. The BHP wants to train actors who know how to keep an even keel, who know how to right the ship even in stormy seas. A career is a long-term journey, and your attitude will play a huge part in how that journey plays out. Administration What are you doing to get professional work? In what work are you interested – TV, Film, Theatre, and what kind? What parts are you right for, really? What is your relationship with the industry professionals who can help you? What are you doing to create your own projects? The BHP is very interested in these questions, and your answer to them. Each actor has a specific dream that led them into this profession, and the BHP tries to get each student to identify this dream specifically, so their career administration has a focus, an energy, and a purpose. If sending out endless headshots, postcards, or other promotion has seemed a fruitless exercise, if you have never really thought specifically about how to get this acting career moving, or if you are a working actor who is looking to change the nature of the parts you are booking, then the BHP’s approach to Administration will help. Our product is an actor who can properly read and analyze a script, and then deliver an authentic, rich, believable performance no matter the circumstance, from arduous film shoots where there may be very little rehearsal, to plays where there may be weeks of rehearsals, to the very audition that gets you either of those jobs. Through a disciplined focus on the areas of Acting, Attitude and Administration, the Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School instructs its students in not only a thorough understanding of craft, but as well the tools to get that skill out there in the marketplace, with an attitude that will keep you going for as long as it takes to accomplish your dreams, handling any negativity along the way without becoming yet one more weeping victim of “The Industry.” The BHP is out to train “Artistic Killers,” defined by Katselas as “someone who uses constructive actions to complete, or kill the deal that they are after – kill meaning to complete to the fullest, most productive degree.” Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Acting Administration Groups - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Acting Administration Groups Posted on May 13, 2022 (September 16, 2022) by beverlyhilldev --> Actors at the Beverly Hills Playhouse have access to support groups, or admin groups, comprised of fellow acting class students who gather once a week to encourage each other’s career administration. Quality of administration is emphasized over quantity – instead of sending out 500 postcards to an impersonal mailing list, identify the 5 people you really want to reach, research them, and write the kind of personal communication that can truly have an impact. Persistence is the key, as well as knowing that there is no such thing as “no.” The only “no” is the one that exists within you. Post navigation  Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space  Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: Casting Director Workshops - Beverly Hills Playhouse NOW PLAYING: 'YEARS TO THE DAY' — CLICK FOR INFO. Skip to content Main Navigation About BHP BHP Approach Alumni A Brief History Milton Katselas Making of Romeo and Juliet Milton Katselas Memorial Video Classes Class Descriptions Acting Class Schedule & Tuition Teachers Why Study? FAQ Events Shows Resources Acting Scenes Database Casting Director Workshops Acting Rehearsal Space Acting Administration Groups Acting Checklist BHP Connect Acting Class Book Oasis of Insanity Book Contact Contact Beverly Hills New York Theatre Rental --> Casting Director Workshops Posted on May 13, 2022 (September 16, 2022) by beverlyhilldev --> The Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School offers its students the opportunity to attend Casting Director Workshops arranged specifically for the BHP. On any given day, top casting directors from around Los Angeles come to the BHP to meet our Intermediate and Advanced acting class students. Instead of paying $35 or more to sit in a fluorescent-lit office space with a bunch of strangers, whose talent or lack thereof may affect your chance to impress, why not spend $25 to be in a real theatre, where you will read for top CDs alongside your peers and friends? Since the industry workshops are restricted to students of the Beverly Hills Playhouse acting school , the level of talent in the rooms is extremely high, alerting the casting directors to the quality of actors studying at the BHP. The atmosphere is energetic, and since the actors know each other from class, the level of support during the workshop is unparalleled. The casting directors who have already joined us have raved about our actors, and have requested to come back again. Post navigation  BHP Connect Acting Administration Groups  Beverly Hills New York Why Study? FAQ classes teachers About BHP Resources About MK Theatre Rental Contact Privacy Policy --> --> © Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: --> --> Schedule an Interview × First Name --> Last Name --> Email --> Home Phone: --> Description --> How did you hear about us? --> Request Interview: