HISTORY

The Actor’s Avenue was founded by Laurel Smith in 1999. Laurel studied in New York City at The Neighborhood Play House with Sanford Meisner, as well as at HB Studios under the guidance of Uta Hagen. She moved to Los Angeles where she had a successful career as a casting director, working with such people as Kevin Spacey, Rene Zellweger, Dustin Hoffman, Liam Neeson, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, John Malkovich, Martin Sheen, Oliver Platt, Ellen Burstyn, Benicio Del Toro, Tim Roth, and many others. While at The Actor’s Avenue, Laurel dedicated herself to creating fully realized and responsible actors, using as a foundation truthful listening and responding. Now under the direction of Stephen Schwarzenberger, The Actor’s Avenue continues to instill in its students a strong commitment to the work, keeping truthful listening and responding as the foundation for all training offered through the program.

  The Actor's Avenue
'A path to success through creativity'