I've been looking for a great acting class and hear that Ivana is pretty great. Has anyone taken her course?

Good luck actually studying under her.

Know that she is largely Strasberg and Uta Hagen based in that she does Affective memory and substitution. Is that branch of Method Acting for you?

I highly advise that you read both Strasberg and Uta Hagen's books in addition to Ivanna's book "The Power of the Actor."

I've audited her class and know people who have taken classes there. Every person whom I've spoken to that has attended Chubbuck studios has said that he or she ONLY worked twice out of the 4 weeks. Is that really worth $300 a month?

It comes off as one of those "Guru Schools" that relies on Ivanna's name and her celebrity clients (Read her book, it's name dropping galore!). I had one friend who studied at the school for a year and NEVER got to study with Ivanna herself.

Check it out and compare. It's true you will almost certainly start with another teacher and work your way up--whether this is an acceptable arrangement to you is up to you. $275 is what you pay at the other levels. People are drawn by the name, many leave, some persevere.

In her other classes you may work weekly or 3 times/mo average (partner booking/flaking included).

I'm with another teacher there. Vibe is down to earth, no-frills, and workmanlike. I enjoy watching the other scenes. It's no utopia, but I don't really expect one. It's a gym where you go and turn in hard work.

I took class with michael monks and he's a great teacher. the only problem i had is that i was a beginning actor when i started with them and you jump directly into scene work. i felt like i missed out on the foundation that a meisner based studio would give me first in terms of being present, listening, improv skills, etc. there were only a handful of times that i wasn't able to work in beginning and advanced class because the class was too big. usually, if youre ready, you can work. nightrider is correct about partner flaking though. there's a lot of young/not serious actors in the beginning level and they just aren't reliable a lot of the time. master class is much larger and you won't work every week.

3 of my friends are studying with her and i hear the same thing from all of them, if you are in ivana's class you don't get to go up every week. I know some actors who only get to put up their work once a month

BSW has a huge list but what about direct alternatives? High caliber, accomplished teacher, energetic vibe, but perhaps lower priced and higher work rate?

Was thinking of Speiser but haven't looked too far into it yet. Might also go for the cold reading lady.

Carter Thor I've been to, Lesly Kahn is too expensive. Then there are the lesser known or single-teacher studios.