Gary Spatz's The Playground (Young Actors Conservatory)
The Playground - Los Angeles (Century City area), 10390 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025
About
Gary Spatz's The Playground (Young Actors Conservatory) offers young actors work in audition preparation, scene study, script analysis, character commitment development, and improvisation techniques. Classes include concentration skills, vocal articulation exercises, relaxation exercises, theatre games, improvisation, cold reading technique, working on commercial copy and theatrical material, memorizing and recording a short commercial and a short monologue, hitting marks for camera, and working with props.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
• Schedule: Acting classes for kids and teens on the weekend; adults in-person classes every Thursday. In the first 12 weeks, students begin breaking down a scene into specific character choices; cold reading technique begins at the start of the 24-week session; improvisations, theatre games, and scene studies continue through 24- and 48-week sessions; by the end of week 24 students have a short commercial memorized to record; by the end of week 48 they have a short monologue memorized to record.
Gary Spatz's The Playground (Young Actors Conservatory) is a young actors’ conservatory where actors are immersed in the craft of television and film acting, with a stated mission of “Come for the playing, stay for the learning, end up with life lessons that never leave!” The Playground Acting Conservatory offers acting classes for kids, teens, and young adults, with acting classes for adults 18+. Programs are available for children ages 6 to 18 at all experience levels, and no experience is necessary for applicants. The program has a rolling admissions policy for acting classes for teens and also offers acting classes for adults 18+. The Playground focuses on coaching young actors, both experienced and new, in on-camera film and television acting, using real audition material and scenes from television and film scripts including feature films, commercials, sitcoms, and one-hour dramas. Children who attend The Playground will improve in acting skills and in other areas of life including speaking ability, listening skills, reading comprehension, school performance, and confidence. The Playground is described as the premier young actors’ conservatory in Los Angeles and is identified as a young actor’s conservatory. BACKSTAGE MAGAZINE states that The Playground is the best class for kids. The program notes that this is not an audition for employment or for obtaining a talent agent or talent management, and that Gary Spatz's The Playground is in compliance with Labor Code section 1703.3, Bond #451716. The Playground is welcoming new talent including kids, teens, young adults, and adults.
Gary Spatz, the founder of The Playground, is described as one of the top child acting coaches in the world and has 25 years of experience working with children in the entertainment industry. The leadership team includes founder Gary Spatz and Director Gayla Goehl, along with team members Danielle Vernengo, Nick George, Kara Smith, Joe Spence, Lee Sherman, Terri Treas, Casey Strand, JB Waterman, Lissa Slay, Bodie Newcomb, Kelly Galindo, and Jasmin De Main. Gary Spatz’s roster of former acting students is described as a “Who’s Who” in stage, film, and television. Adam Sandler features The Playground in his film “Just Go With It,” and Abrams and Spielberg cast Playground talent in “Super 8.” The program has been in operation at least since 1998, as indicated by the copyright notice “Copyright © 1998–2026 ThePlayground.com, All Rights Reserved.”
Last updated June 23, 2026.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
• Schedule: Acting classes for kids and teens on the weekend; adults in-person classes every Thursday. In the first 12 weeks, students begin breaking down a scene into specific character choices; cold reading technique begins at the start of the 24-week session; improvisations, theatre games, and scene studies continue through 24- and 48-week sessions; by the end of week 24 students have a short commercial memorized to record; by the end of week 48 they have a short monologue memorized to record.
Gary Spatz's The Playground (Young Actors Conservatory) is a young actors’ conservatory where actors are immersed in the craft of television and film acting, with a stated mission of “Come for the playing, stay for the learning, end up with life lessons that never leave!” The Playground Acting Conservatory offers acting classes for kids, teens, and young adults, with acting classes for adults 18+. Programs are available for children ages 6 to 18 at all experience levels, and no experience is necessary for applicants. The program has a rolling admissions policy for acting classes for teens and also offers acting classes for adults 18+. The Playground focuses on coaching young actors, both experienced and new, in on-camera film and television acting, using real audition material and scenes from television and film scripts including feature films, commercials, sitcoms, and one-hour dramas. Children who attend The Playground will improve in acting skills and in other areas of life including speaking ability, listening skills, reading comprehension, school performance, and confidence. The Playground is described as the premier young actors’ conservatory in Los Angeles and is identified as a young actor’s conservatory. BACKSTAGE MAGAZINE states that The Playground is the best class for kids. The program notes that this is not an audition for employment or for obtaining a talent agent or talent management, and that Gary Spatz's The Playground is in compliance with Labor Code section 1703.3, Bond #451716. The Playground is welcoming new talent including kids, teens, young adults, and adults.
Gary Spatz, the founder of The Playground, is described as one of the top child acting coaches in the world and has 25 years of experience working with children in the entertainment industry. The leadership team includes founder Gary Spatz and Director Gayla Goehl, along with team members Danielle Vernengo, Nick George, Kara Smith, Joe Spence, Lee Sherman, Terri Treas, Casey Strand, JB Waterman, Lissa Slay, Bodie Newcomb, Kelly Galindo, and Jasmin De Main. Gary Spatz’s roster of former acting students is described as a “Who’s Who” in stage, film, and television. Adam Sandler features The Playground in his film “Just Go With It,” and Abrams and Spielberg cast Playground talent in “Super 8.” The program has been in operation at least since 1998, as indicated by the copyright notice “Copyright © 1998–2026 ThePlayground.com, All Rights Reserved.”
Last updated June 23, 2026.
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