The Taylor School of Acting

Love this place. I am still early in my first year. Such an amazing, safe environment and Alex is an amazing mentor and teacher. He provides you with the all the right tools to learn the art and craft of acting. I am so glad to have gone straight to the Taylor School of Acting– this is as real as real gets in regards to learning the Meisner Technique. I am learning to «Mean what you say and say what you mean» and that «Acting is living truthfully in imaginary circumstances» more and more. It’s that simple, yet not all of us are able to get there so easily, especially when you are going against all the social norms that society has forced to how to react. Alex will help you ‘unlearn’ of that. He will push you sometimes to places that you are not used to going — the TRUTH.

I am so grateful that I’m working with Alex now for my second year. I just finished performing something that was a true core fear of mine and I felt very supported and safe. Did I do my best… No, I know I could have done better (I chickened a bit) but for me this was a huge step. Alex sets up his classes to place you in a room with other dedicated actors that are trustworthy and will support you in learning how to overcome fears you may have or come across as an actor. All of my classmates and partners are willing to try new things with Zero judgement behind it. The studio is a safe place where we come to learn and grow with each other and man I just absolutely love the journey this has taken me on as well as the people that are with me on this journey. There is truly Oscar worthy stuff going on here guys. Thank you Alex for pushing me to be better and do things that scare the crap out of me. I am better for it and so is my acting.

Amazing teacher and person… he challenges you as an individual and as a class and does it with support and love. he truly loves what he does and isn’t in it for the money. I’ve already learned so much from him, the experience is slowly changing my life and my perspective for the better

I spent 3 months sniffing acting studios last year. I have no doubt there is a handful of qualified teachers and studios in this town (optimist). I believe I would have been satisfied with one of those. Then I met Alex, and chose the Taylor School based on his clarity of mind.
I ended up at a school that surpassed my hopes. Here is what I am so very grateful for having recently graduated 1^st year:
1. The Trust. I have never doubted his instincts or intentions. Damn it feels SO good to write that! Alex has a remarkable capacity for dedicating his time and ears to his students. He listens. And has seemingly unconditional care for his students’ well-​being and growth. Alex has pushed me, and the road is often tough. But I have never doubted his instincts or intentions. To me, there is nothing more important than that and it’s what makes Alex priceless to me. That being said…
2. The Instincts. Occasionally we spread out and work. If he’s working with me and HEARS something in the next room, he rushes over. Sometimes during an exercise, he’ll take one of us to the back and we’ll emerge 30 seconds later fully immersed in the circumstances, bursting with emotion. This. Guy. Reads. Behavior. And it’s paid dividends. Because of how efficiently he drives me to a place of acceptance (fully involved in the circumstances), I’ve been able to get there myself more frequently. I’ll be growing my whole life, but I’ve never been as familiar with my capability.
3. The Intention. He told me at the first interview: «We want you out and working.» Each «year» exceeds not 9-​months. And then, y’know, 10,000 hours to master. But this is not a program that keeps you there. In fact, we all gotta’ go in to report what we’ve been doing for ourselves in order to be considered for 2^nd year. Pretty great criterion in my opinion.
I consider myself fortunate. To anyone looking for training: Don’t accept a word of this! Call the studio, set up an interview, and have your own experience. I’ve found what I’ve dreamed for. I hope you find what you dream for as well :)

A teacher should not only teach you about the craft, but also about life. Alex Taylor and the Meisner Technique do just that. The class leads you on a journey of self-​exploration, including what makes you tick, what you care about and what you don’t. Alex teaches and believes that everything you need is already within yourself. Beyond a technique for acting, he instills a confidence in individuality and allows you «to get out of your own way.» He is not for the non-​serious actor. He is a true professional and expects the same from his students. You come here to work and Alex will make you better. Past students still come back to work with him and help current students as they face the challenges of class. He makes the studio a safe place for you to let everything go.
You will laugh, you will definitely cry, and you will find out more about yourself than you ever knew. As a person and an actor, Alex has helped me realize who I am.

I just wanted to say wow, what an emotional roller coaster this last year was working with the legend that is — Alex Taylor! He isn’t for the light or faint– hearted and only the strong will survive to tell the tale, but boy as an actress i have been able to do unimaginable work under his guidance. I have only completed the first year and am hoping to do the second, but from just having that first year knowledge, I’ve managed to book around 90% of auditions after coming out of this programme which i guess says it all! He equips you to understand life more clearly, hold a mirror up to one-​self, which then of course reflects in your work for a more «honest» performance. I got so much out of this class, its definitely a different way of approaching an «acting class» per say, well worth the investment if you want to take your acting ability to a powerful level. Thankyou so much alex :)

I’ve had the honor to have been taught by Alex Taylor. He is an extremely talented teacher and a wonderful human being. I’ve seen a lot of talented actors, and some arrive to the school without a critical and important characteristic… passion. If you don’t have the passion, the drive to put in the work this is not the school for you.
Going through the program not only do you learn and develop the tools for stage and film, but an inner «change» dialogue occurs. A self-​rediscovery occurs away from the work, you the artist, you the person. You, begin the process of accepting yourself and knowing that You are enough. There is nothing that you lack. You are it.
Call the school or better yet go visit. Schedule an interview — the process of rediscovery starts there.
Wish you all the very best!

Alex Taylor is the most caring, amazing, authentic, passionate, wonderful acting teacher ever. I can’t even begin to tell you the amazing things this man did for me. He not only taught me how to be a working actor, but he taught me how to become and embrace being an artist; something that I had difficulty owning for the longest time. He helped me through one of the most difficult times of my life, while simultaneously pushing me to be a better artist. Alex truly loves and deeply cares for each one of his students individually. His passion is unequal to any other teacher out there, and his teaching is personal, and challenging. Is he tough? You better believe it! He demands the absolute best of his students, he doesn’t accept half– hearted efforts, laziness, or excuses. In my experience this doesn’t always work for everyone who wants to join his class. But whether he is being tough or gentle everything he does he does out of love. I was part of a fairly well known college theatre program for two years. I even «studied» Meisner while I was there, but I learned more about acting and myself in two months with Alex than I did in two years in college! If you are looking for a teacher or a school that promises a fast track to fame or some easy «tricks» to being an actor, then Alex is not the teacher for you. But if you want a teacher who will develop you as an artist, and give you the tools and the understanding to work professionally for a lifetime then you should seriously consider working with Alex. I have nothing but gratitude for this amazing man, and I know that God truly led me to Alex. I am thankful every day that I was lucky enough to find this class, and blessed enough to become part of the Meisner family. Thank you Alex.

If your lazy this isn’t the school for you but if you are an actor who is ready to work hard and become the best actor you can be this is the place for you. This school and Alex Taylor are amazing! I learned so much with my time with Alex. Alex is like a radiologist, he can see right through false moments and will call you out on it, thankfully. He pushes you to be better than you are and to be as truthful and in the moment as possible.
Having graduated just this summer I feel about 150 times more confident in my craft. Alex really helped me find a large part of my identity as an actor and as a person. I still constantly use what I learned in class on set and in auditions.
If you are ready to be part of a program and a technique that works to enhance your craft then I highly recommend the Sanford Meisner Studio.

If you want to see acting for the beautiful art that it is, then this is the place for you. It is defiantly a commitment not a place for bullshit, do your work and you will become an artist.

I had no idea what in the world I was signing up for. I just knew I was new to L.A. and I wanted to act. Back home, I had taken this acting class that was based on the Meisner technique, so when I ended up coming to L.A., and moving within walking distance of the class, I decided to sign up… never doing ANY research on the class. Didn’t really know who Sanford Meisner was… who Alex Taylor was… I didn’t know ANYTHING!
I can’t even tell you how lucky and blessed I am. This class is a one-​stop shop. It is the most rewarding experience of my life. I don’t even think it’s a class for just actors. I think it’s just a class for LIFE. It’s therapy. But much more than that, it’s truth.
When I first moved here, I ran into some troubles. I completely shut down as a person. Lost who I was. I wasn’t Daniell anymore. And after I signed up… my life changed completely. One of the first things Alex told me when I was on stage was, «you have a lot of power,» at a time, when I felt like I had never been weaker. 18 months later, I know exactly who I am. I know what is true. I trust my instincts. I no longer lie to myself. I have grown. I AM powerful.
Alex is truly a miracle worker. I call him my Annie Sullivan. and I am Helen Keller. I really felt there were times when I was «unteachable.» He NEVER gave up on me. He never gives up on ANYONE!
But I say only the strong survive in this class. We started with 60, ended with 10. In my first year class, there were only two of us that made it. (This is not to insult anyone at all, but you just can’t make it without being strong. There’s just no other way of putting it.)
This class is a crash-​course in life. You will know yourself and BEYOND!
I don’t even know what to say really.
Alex is the best teacher I have ever had in my life. I will never forget him. He knows me inside and out. Sometimes, I wonder if he’s a mind reader, and whenever I accuse him, he just says, «no, I read behavior…» This dudes a genius! And he’s super-​cool, although he has gone «dad» on my at times, kicking my butt when I honestly needed/​deserved it. lol
He’s such a great teacher and mentor… No one is perfect, but I just admire him as a person. I trust him. And I love him. He is just a great person, and does EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING out of love! Something I look up to for sure.
Although I have graduated, I will continue to go to Alex for my acting needs. He’s just a wonderful coach. AMAZING!
I recommend this class for EVERYONE. Yes, for actors who want to be as strong as they possibly can, with as much range as they can grow, all the while keeping what makes them truly special (because we all have something special to offer this world). I say it’s for everyone, because there’s no doubt that you will end up just a better person after this.
This class is based on The Truth. And we need a lot more of that in the world.

I began studying the Meisner technique because I was interested in possibly pursuing acting. After a month of studying with Alex Taylor I was certain I wanted to be an actor. I am now three weeks away from graduating from the 2 year program and I feel incredibly prepared and motivated to take on any role I’m cast in. The journey has been far from easy but Alex intuitively knows how to push you to your limit while allowing you to open yourself up naturally and effortlessly. What distinguishes Alex from most acting coaches is not only his love for the technique but also his love for his students. He genuinely cares for each of us as individuals and it comes through in his coaching style. I trust Alex with my vulnerabilities and that allows me to fearlessly go all the way with exploring this wondrous craft. I highly recommend Alex Taylor to any actor who is willing to pour their heart and soul into this art form. He will bring out the best (and worst) in you and teach you to trust yourself fully. When that happens, there will be no role, no director, no actor or anyone else to be intimidated by… you simply live truthfully under imaginary circumstances and play.

Oh, The Sanford Meisner Studio, do I love thee or hate thee?
It was a roller coaster of conflicting emotions for the past 8 months with one month left to go.
Alex Taylor, who I’ll dub «The Enigma», is the teacher. I, who I’ll dub «The Awesome», was the student. He teaches the Meisner Method of Acting. I have no other training to compare it to, but I think it’s pretty effective. He focuses on giving you permission to be yourself and bringing your own personality into the work to create a rainbow of individual artists that can breathe their personal humanity into the ink on the page.
«Oh, what kind of loser needs permission to be themselves?» you ask? I did. I’m man enough to admit it, so shut it!
This method brings emotional reality to acting, it’s not just canned line reading. It’s a method to help you immerse yourself into the situation and react as you would in real life. It breaks acting down into manageable «foundation bricks» to support your own acting tower. Sky’s the limit folks!
Alex is very… hmm…observant? That’s not the right word, although he is. Sometimes it seems like he’s a mind reader, he says he’s just reading body language, but that might be a cover story. He can tell when you’re having trouble and he’ll help you break down whatever walls you’re running into that are stunting you creatively. He wants you to be your best, so he adapts to each individual when giving feedback and he will always push you to give everything your all. No phony «Good Job» pats on the back here, you have to earn them.
The studio itself is very cozy and is a safe place to express yourself without judgment. Limited space = Limited class size, so you have a small group of people you can get to know really well (or not) and you get in plenty of work time.
This class made me look deep into myself, which is where the hate comes from. It’s scary in there. But overall, it has been a very rewarding experience (there’s that love.) And as time passes, I’m sure that the benefits of the teachings will continue to bloom and I will become the best actor and, yes, best person I can be.
Oh, and by «man enough» I really meant dainty lady.