Sedgwick Russell Acting Studio

Sorry… but NO. I decided to take a Groupon deal to study at this place and it was nothing short of a JOKE. I was in a class with people who has zero experience in acting, and yet the first thing the teachers are giving you is some type of monologue? And then you are on stage in front of everyone trying to execute it and make choices, but you can’t. And why is that!!! BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT BEING AN ACTOR! OR EVEN WHERE TO START! Catherine and Rob would then critique your performance, but you wouldn’t even know where to start of how to solve the issues with your performance. Contrary to popular belief, acting isn’t just learning lines and getting up and doing it. There is SO much more to it! And this is why MOST actors are hacks because they don’t even know WHAT to look for in a school.
I WAS attending class until I stopped. Why? For one, I felt the training was muddy. Meaning, everyone is on different levels, and there was no FOUNDATION to stand on. I thought Rob was interesting as a teacher… sort of an aggressive teaching style. And then Catherine would chime in and give a detailed opinion of your work. I thought having TWO teachers sometimes with opposing opinions was confusing and counterproductive as a student.
I also didn’t like how class would end early just because students decided to blow off class. LAME. You should get what you are paying for. I stopped going because I felt all over the place and I didn’t feel like I was truly learning anything.
What was truly funny was the fact that I was receiving emails about auditioning in front of casting directors. At that point, I knew I wasn’t going to study there again. Simply because there is NO REASON for a teacher to try and encourage you to audition in front of Casting Directors, and they KNOW full well you are NOT ready. That proved to me that at that time, for them it was more about generating MONEY and not really about the training.
Maybe they have changed things since then, at least I hope they have. My review is more of a warning. Take your time and really do your research before selecting a school.

Outstanding! I was referred to Sedgwick Russell by a friend and I can say with confidence that studying there has drastically improved my understanding of and approach to the craft. Cathy and Rob put the emphasis on performing, getting you up on stage as quickly as possible offering constructive criticism and encouragement every step of the way. Each student gets critical, in-​depth feedback and the results are immediate. Performances transform quickly and students learn what works, what doesn’t and where to focus their energy within a scene or monologue for maximum dramatic impact. I watched students who’d never taken an acting class before improve dramatically (see what I did there?) over the 6 week course. Our class even had the opportunity to perform for a casting agent in the final session. She gave notes to each student and then took the time to answer questions from the class. Powerful information.
I’ve studied at other schools in the city including the big names that everyone knows — Sedgwick Russell has given me confidence and practical skills that I put to use immediately. I’d HIGHLY recommend them to anyone looking to improve as a performer.

This class will really challenge you!
Kathy and Rob are both great and provide every student with thoughtful feedback.
I had a groupon deal and liked how the class was structured with monologues and scenes. The scenes encouraged teamwork and allowed you to get to know other students in class.
It is great to practice and learn on a stage. I felt this was really unique.
I felt for me personally this class was a little advanced. I had some very talented and experienced students in my class so it was intimidating at times. I would have enjoyed a class that was at a true beginner level. But I highly recommend this to anyone thinking about taking the class. They provide a lot of great opportunities outside of the class!

So far my daughter loves it and it’s worth every penny. Teacher are great and staff friendly– She has learned and enjoyed every bit of this exp. Worth the groupon

I’m a writer and video journalist, and I often take acting classes to sharpen my writing skills (get off my computer and move around and explore other art forms). And this is one of the best classes that I have taken by far. Catherine and Rob are hilarious, warm, and extremely supportive. Their notes are spot-​on. I grew a lot in this class as a writer from learning how to tap into what feels natural vs. fake/“acting.” Do take this class if you’re at all interested in acting or want to study a craft that’s main purpose – expressing honest emotion – serves all the other crafts – writing, painting, film-​making, etc.

After having taken the 6-​week course I can honestly say that the experience exceeded even my lofty expectations and it was worth every penny. Cathy and Rob challenge everyone from the beginner to the advanced in a positive, yet constructive way. They are adept at identifying areas where improvement is warranted but do so in a fun and dynamic learning environment. Come prepared to work from day 1. At the end of the day, you will only get out what you put in. Pending my own busy schedule, I would not hesitate to take this course again in a heartbeat. Cheers!