I am looking for a class that gets great kudos for being listed on my resume and where I might be able to get auditions just for being there, if they have a good referral system or CD's teaching. Any advice? Please no lecture about the craft and so on, I just want to look at it from a business perspective. And how aggressive are the BH-Playhouse Scientologists?

All of your examples are fine instructors with stellar credentials. It's been awhile since I've studied, but just be sure to audit as many classes as you can before you commit. Even the very best teachers or technique may not be "a good fit" with your acting style or goals. I don't know if she's still teaching (or even still alive), but Zina Provendie has long been the very top of my list.

"Uncle Milton" Katselas has long been an advocate of Scientology. The acting book he self-published (which you must purchase prior to studying with him) is largely based on the tenents of Scientology. Whatever your thoughts on the practice are however, the consistently high level of instruction he offers can't be dismissed, but be warned -- his classes ain't cheap. I haven't seen as many working actors since attending Roy London's classes in LA (incidentally, Roy London was my absolute favorite LA coach until his premature passing -- you may want to Google him and purchase his DVD, an acting "must"). It's important to note that Katselas never pushes Scientology on anyone, and judging by the success of his followers and students over the years, you certainly can't fault his methods.

P.S.-
You can't consistently book without great auditioning skills. I recommend either Brian Riese or Margie Haber's excellent Cold Reading Intensive. Lots of breakthroughs there.

I was concentrating on your Beverly Hills Playhouse query so intently that I neglected to mention a name that should resonate among the best acting instructors in New York, if not the entire business... George DiCenzo.

TO ALL ADVANCED STUDENTS OF ACTING LIVING ON THE EAST COAST, I CANNOT RECOMMEND HIM HIGHLY ENOUGH. Not only as a superlative actor and coach, but as a human being. George oftens travels out to to LA to work with Milton, but I believe he still conducts classes in NYC, his home base. He has an approach that I can only describe as "Zen-like," the uncanny ability to immediately recognize the exact nature of your blocks and the skills to help you overcome them. Just auditing one of his classes can be a transcendant experience.

After seeing all of the top acting instructors in NYC, I'll go on record to say that George DiCenzo is the finest coach available in New York City.

Will George Dicenzo teach a 15 year old kid or is that a long shot. If not who are some good acting instructors/teachers in NY who would be willing to teach younger kids

quote:

Originally posted by Bill 12345:
Will George Dicenzo teach a 15 year old kid or is that a long shot.

The best way to get an answer to that question is to pick up the phone and call him yourself. If he can't/won't teach you, perhaps he can refer you to someone who can.