Hawthorne, CA Acting Lessons

With a BA in Acting from London's Central School of Speech and Drama, Crystal has learned to use the nuts and bolts of technique to support freedom in artistic choice. With a focus on stage performance, she works with students to find their own unique approach to acting.

In addition to straight acting, I also teach my singers how to "act a song", which is VERY important as a singer. I will teach you how to breakdown the lyric and be present moment-by-moment in your song, as well as how to connect with your audience and draw them in. A beautiful voice is nice, but when you can MOVE your audience, that is what will give you an edge over other performers.

Learn how to bring YOU to the role. Everything you need to "create a character" lies within yourself, and I'd love to help you uncover that.

I work in the industry for more than 10 years.

We will work technique, as well as get you a few monologues (contrasting) for your auditions. We will disect the monologues, and give you a clear understanding of the emotion needed for each line, each phrase, each word. Everything matters.

This will be your FAVORITE class! If you want to have your own show, learn how to act natural on camera, be more confident when you give a speech, and develop a rich speaking voice, with this class we will make that happen :) I'm a professional award winning actress with over 25 years of training (yep, since I was a kid!), and I'm here to pass along that training to you. We will first find out what areas are your strengths, and then on eliminating all fears that have held you back from being the best you on stage!

We will find repertoire and work on diving into material, making it personal so the words flow naturally, and really breaking it down and finding the reason the author chose each word. Can also work on audition material.

I have been a professional actor in the film + television industry for 16 years and counting. My training is mainly based in Meisner, with a degree in Character + Script Analysis from one of the best 2-year conservatories in the nation. I have also completed a Shakespeare Intensive course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. I have a background in Uta Hagan's methods, Stanislavsky, Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg, so whatever your fancy, I would be able to help in a way specific to your process. I am still a working actor and have years worth of on-set experience as well and could help with any audition prep needed. I love working with actors helping them reach a greater level of understand of themselves + their processes!

I have experience as a union actress, as a film director, producer and I have done over 10 casting sessions so I know an actor's strengths and weaknesses and how they should improve, prepare for a role, work on an actor's palate (voice and body), can teach audition techiniques, building a character, scene study, improvisation etc.

I teach a bit from all acting methodologies - Stanislavsky, Lee Strasberg, Meisner, Uta Hagen, Stella Adler, etc. My teaching style is more eclectic. I also emphasize Shakespeare and classical theatre training or plays. I train actors to use their imaginations and instincts. Essentially, I help actors play and have fun. A play is called a play because you "play"!

I am also a black martial artist and can teach actors combat and basic fight scenes for film. I produce my own action film series so I have experience with how an actor should prepare for a fight scene.

I have taught for more than 20 years at over 15 colleges, universities, and conservatories across the country. I specialize in Method Acting, and help my students become better actors regardless of their occupational field. I am an SAG/AFTRA, AEA member, and have worked and learned from some of the best in New York and Los Angeles. Teaching has long been my passion and joy.