Welcome to The Acting Studio at Edgemar. The school offers a wide array of classes and workshops that are geared for actors of all ages and levels. Actors are encouraged to raise the bar and work to their full potential.
Our mission is to provide a creative home to a community of passionate actors.
Our actors are able to master the fundamentals and develop their craft by working on diverse material, honing their skills both on-camera and on-stage.
We welcome all eager and enthusiastic students and offer a professional education for actors in all stages of their careers.
Artistic Director Michelle Danner
Michelle Danner has coached many A-List Actors privately and on set including Chris Rock, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Penelope Cruz, Michael Pena, Isla Fisher, Common, Salma Hayek, Brian McKnight, James Franco, Marcia Cross, Christian Slater, Catherine Bell, Zooey Deschanel, Gabrielle Union, Justin Chatwin, Justine Wadell, Rob Estes, Rick Fox, and Sally Kellerman among many others.
She has directed and acted in over thirty plays and musicals in New York and Los Angeles. Her favorite acting credits include Tennessee William’s The Rose Tattoo, critic’s pick and five Dramalogue awards including best actress.
Her highlights at Edgemar include producing The Night of the Black Cat, winner of the 2005 Best Musical of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards. She directed the world premiere of Mental the Musical, winner of several 17th Annual TicketHolder awards for acting and musical score. Last year she wrote and directed You’re on the Air an improv based comedy which is currently under development to become a movie. She recently directed the Los Angeles premiere of Hello Herman by John Buffalo Mailer.
She produced and acted in the award-winning short Dos Corazones, directed by Larry Moss, which won Best Cinematography & Audience Favorite at the Malibu Film Festival. In 2006 she made her feature film-directing debut How to go Out on a Date in Queens which was nominated and won four LA Film Awards including Best Director. It starred Jason Alexander, Esai Morales, Ron Perlman, Kimberly Williams, Rob Estes, and Alison Eastwood. After being theatrically released it’s now available everywhere on video and also aired nationwide on the Sunday Night Movie of the Week Memorial Day weekend 2008.
She was the acting coach expert on comedy on the WB show “The Starlet”. She was voted favorite acting coach by Backstage readers. Once a year Michelle directs for the industry the multi media event Scene Bites. She was featured coaching Andy Richter on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien in July 2009.
Michelle, alongside Larry Moss, is the founder and Artistic Director of Edgemar Center for the Arts and The Edgemar Theatre Group. She raised 1.3 million in Capital campaign which went to the construction of the two theatres and the art gallery. Her production company, Capricorn Films, is in development for several film projects: You’re on the Air, The Will To… and Hello Herman which is slated to start principal photography in 2010.
