20 Best Acting Programs In Akron, OH (2022 Updated)

My experience at the Barrow Group has truly helped me not to give up as an actor. After moving to NYC in 2009, my very talented friend recommended that I take classes at The Barrow Group. I trusted his recommendation because he was very knowledgable about the class options in the city. I am so thankful that I found the Barrow Group!! I really missed my theatre community from Graduate School and the Barrow Group became my NYC home base. I have taken four classes with Lee Brock and I have learned so much from her. She helped me go back to the beginning…back to those years before all of the training…Lee helped me go back to the 'Story.' She helped me to focus on what truly matters…telling the story! The teaching style of the Barrow Group is extremely accessible to actors. You can get a feel for the teachings style by reading Seth Barrish's book "An Actor's Companion: 99 Bit of Craft." It is so wonderful!! -BrandyBrandy Caldwell

I am starting my fourth class tomorrow. Obviously, I love this place. The teachers are friendly, down to earth, and REALLY know their stuff. It really is amazing, the learning curve, and how much you do learn during just one class, let alone three. The teaching methods are so great, it makes you almost feel like what you have learned should have been common sense. I've attended one of their shows (so far), and it was really an inspiring experience, with just superb acting. Whenever people ask me about my experience here, I cannot recommend The Barrow Group enough.Tomo Lovric

An extraordinary theatre company and school. I had studied for many years with some of the best and most highly regarded teachers in the acting community but it wasn't until I found the Barrow Group that I felt I became a good actor. Seth Barrish has created an astoundingly simple approach to the work that makes acting fun again. And truthful and real. He and his co-artistic director Lee Brock have created a wonderful home for some of the most passionate and talented artists I have ever had the privilege of working with. I couldn't recommend them more highly!Peter Lewis

Had a great experience there as a 2014 grad! Amazing teachers with eager students led to a very relaxed and family atmosphere. With new additions to the campus, new administrators, and a lot more parking, this school has been the place to be since 53'!Alomomola

Absolutely some of the best years of my life… 2006 grad and often I wish I could go back! Teachers and faculty are amazing – always having the student's best interest in mind.Steven Sheeks

Learn from the best. When I was 19 years old, I was accepted to the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute. It was the highlight of my life at the time. The great teachers back then were Harv Dean and David Gideon. I went to school here part time for 9 months to learn acting at its very basic. If you can afford going to the school and want to learn acting from the aspect of the instrument, then I highly recommend going here. The most important thing I learned from this school, is that even if you attend the classes and do your scene work, you need to be out pounding the pavement and looking for work in the industry, an agent and possibly a manager. I would not call the school glamorous but it does show great pride and respect for people who walks through their doors. If you are serious about acting and show business, this is the place to be. Take a look at the names of the superstars that have graced these doors!.C H

Although I am old enough to be the GRANDmother of most of the students, I had the honor to chat with Lee Strasberg himself, one morning, years ago. He spent nearly a half hour on the phone with me – a total stranger. I had acting aspirations back then (I am a freelance writer today). And I have never forgotten his generosity, wisdom, and graciousness to me – someone he would never meet in person. I love stopping by whenever I can, to donate theatre books, costume pieces, and just sniff around who's doing what. A cool place, and a wonderful energy, carrying on the great Lee's tradition of realism, heart and acting from the soul!!!Cynthia Hawkins

So cool, in a jimmy fallon interview, lady Gaga said she went here for 10 years! As a little monster I give this institution 5 stars! A Star is born! ❤️👏James G

So, I am giving it 5 stars for the performance, not the overall vibe. The actors, and shows, are tremendous and very entertaining. But, why is it necessary to serve alcohol at a youth theater show? Is that really the example we want to send to our kids? Seems a little ridiculous, and kind of disappointing. Also, can we not go an hour without looking at our phones? That's what intermission is for. It's distracting, and more than a handful of people around us whipped out their phones during the performance. The kids work so hard, the least we can do it give them are full attention. Very rude and quite selfish. These were middle age adults that should know better, not kids, by the way. With all that said, The Beck Center rules and is a treasure to the area. My daughter and I have seen probably a dozen shows over the years and enjoyed every one. Highly recommended, and please support our local arts, on every level, so places like this will continue to thrive.M L

Super Saturday was an awesome way to spend the morning! We brought our six-month-old baby to be around other kids and it was packed!! Lots of dancing, instruments to see and hear, art making, and even instruments to play. I cannot wait to go back as she gets older. We stuck around to look at the exhibit, then got lunch across the street. Free activity for kids, yes please!Brittany Swartz

We went to see Shrek the musical at the Beck Center. Very nice place. About the size of a large movie theater. The show was good, the seats were comfortable. We had a good experience. My only complaint is that there aren't any hand rails on the wall. I have a son with a disability and getting up and down the steps without have rails was difficultMike Jackson

Amazing mansion, grounds, gardens and greenhouse. A gem for the city and the state. The staff and tour guide were incredibly helpful, insightful and knowledgeable. You should visit this site often. This will satisfy the fans of architecture and the history buff. This place is literally a time capsule, with over 90% of the contents from the original family. We will visit again. This has our highest recommendation. We would recommend studying the various tour options because you could easily spend all day at the estate. We spent two hours with a tour guide and saw less than half of the rooms! We will also return in the warmer months so we can get more appreciation of the numerous gardens. Keep strolling to find former tennis courts, ponds and a view of the valley below.Brian Mercer

This was our first time at the mansions and gardens. Everyone was very knowledgeable and friendly. We did the self guided tour and it had a nice flow to it. There were plenty of volunteers to interact with and ask questions. We learned a lot and also enjoyed the beauty of the estate and grounds. The butterfly house was a nice surprise towards the end of our tour. They stop selling tickets at 4pm, but don’t close until 5pm. We were there for about 2.5 hours, but could have longer. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sureJennifer Pitisi

This is a beautiful mansion/castle. I did the self-guided tour. If you want to go up the tower you have to do the Crannies and Cook tour. It took me 2 hours to tour the entire place. The museum is kid friendly. My kids completed a scavenger hunt during the tour and received a free prize at the end (it’s free). You can’t carry in a backpack even it is a purse. There are a lot of antiques so they’ll make you leave your bag somewhere I’m not sure. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sure

Price for adult entry
$16–20Maxal 87

We love this studio! All the teachers are fantastic. They are experienced, fair, and provide age appropriate dance education. Throughout the year there are numerous events (parent observation, grandparents week, bring a friend week, monster mash, holly jolly follies, etc) that bring extra fun to the classes. At the end of the season, the recital is so well produced you would think you were at a professional production. My kids have fallen in love with the art of dance due to their experience here. Many of their closest friendships have developed inside the classrooms. They set goals and learn how to work hard towards achieving them. I cannot say enough great things about this place!Dan & Andrea Lukas

I couldn't let teacher appreciation week go by without thanking the staff at AADBK for everything they do for my daughter! I could not imagine her dancing anywhere else and feeling the love that she does from the staff. It truly is a family atmosphere. It was hard for me to let my daughter out of my sight during all of this Covid stuff and they have made me so comfortable knowing that they do everything they can to take care of our kids physically and more importantly emotionally. My daughter learns so much more than dance. The work they do is so appreciated and does not go unnoticed!Jennifer Gregg

I danced at this studio for 10 years and loved every minute of it! The teachers are all amazing, the friends you make are life long. This is somewhere I will send my own children one day to dance! I now watch my little cousins dance here and it is the most precious experience to be able to see them follow in my own footsteps. They both love the studio as much as I remember loving it along with loving all people inside who make it a wonderful and positive experience. I highly recommend All About Dance By Kristen to anyone!Hannah Allshouse

These guys are hands-down the best in Ohio (and surrounding states) and likely one of the best in the nation. It's challenging because getting started in Acting and Modeling has a reputation for deception. Why is PMTM great? 1) Knowledge and Connection – lots of industry experience, practical & useful advice, and great connections to the right people 2) Training and Network – varying approaches and techniques from multiple instructors = thorough training. They also manage and keep connected a network of talent around the world — a great resource for you when you make a move. 3) Reputation – they want you to be successful because it only helps further you AND their connections & value (now, you have to meet them with your dedication, work, practice & professionalism!!!) 4) Price / Value – their programs are extremely reasonable for what you are receiving. I took a 🌟; because (I'm an expert at business development, training and developing people, and a high-ranking Google Guide) I can see two big opportunities: A) Golden Age of Media — we're in a boom. There are $$$billions in online media and video game productions. PMTM could use to establish their same skills in these areas. B) Hyper-Inspirational — the world is shifting to inspiration as the only driver of ultra-performance. PMTM does this at times — if they kept the realism of working-talent and uber-encouraged performance & practice, they would see even greater results.Chris Kucharik (ckactormodel)

I had a very fun time and experience with the modeling classes. I was able to learn everything that I needed to learn about commercial modeling, and because I’m short it gave me hope that I could make it in the modeling world—just in different areas. Everyone was super nice and responsive to my emails whenever I needed help. However, I have not received any work yet, and although I’m turning not to get worried, I am. I know that receiving work in the modeling world can take quite awhile, but I just feel like I will never receive any work even with the help of PMTM. I really wish there was a way that I could see if any clients are interested in working with me besides just having the agency email me about work or getting called. However, despite my worries this is a great, welcoming and loving agency and I am very appreciative to everyone who gave me a chance and let me become a part of the PMTM family!!Mya Spalding

I was really excited to be apart of this agency when they reached out to me. Just to find out that they aren’t very legit. I was in the meeting for what seemed like hours and Susan just kept repeating the same stuff about the agency and the same things that people said in the bad reviews. I noticed that whenever there was a bad review they’d say we have 30 years why would we scam or something like that which stinks because the people in the zoom seemed really excited. Just be weary guys. NO AGENCY WILL MAKE YOU PAY, THEY GET PAID THROUGH BOOKINGs. And I know “no company this day and age” stop. That’s not true. I’ve been modelling my entire life and you pay them literally by your looks(if that makes sense) just don’t waste your time.Ava Cummings

Maybe they have gotten better but everything I've seen in the past 5 or so years has been mediocre at best. And they charge money for you to do a show with them with teachers who don't actually have degrees in theatre or music. It's good to see other people had good experiences but nothing about this place impresses me.Leah Thomas

The North Canton Playhouse at Hoover High School is absolutely amazing! I have done many shows here and they never fail. Such a wonderful place with such wonderful people. A place to feel the most comfortable in your own skin. Everyone is so accepting and has fun personalities. I definitely would recommend!😃Gracie Warden

Had an amazing experience in my first show here. We did Spongebob the Musical and Tyler, Maddie, and Dana were super awesome to work with. Especially that Tyler guy. He’s very good looking.Xavier Adekunle

My son is getting ready to attend Akron U on scholarship starting this Monday & it's definitely a lot nicer than when I was going to attend there but chose Kent State instead. They've closed off a lot of the busy streets you once had to cross & a lot of the buildings are located in the same area. The student Union has a lot of different comfy seating areas & it's just an all around much nicer place, relaxed, less concrete place to attend. If it had been this nice when I graduated high school I definitely would have attended thereKelli Kuhl (KelliK)

Gorgeous murals! A very happy space for students and visitors with so much to do. Check out billiards, bowling, a great food court and a marketplace, the bookstore with UA gear galore, Starbucks, many student resource offices, meeting spaces, cozy lounges, study spaces, ballroom and conference spaces… so much offered in a modern, colorful, welcoming atmosphere.Mags

The great common hub at The University of Akron. There's a plethora of things to eat, inform yourself with, and places to relax and get work done. From the ballroom upstairs to the Roo Lounge downstairs, it's essentially like a mini mall on campus. Great place to stop by for students and visitors alike.Alec Daz

Enjoyed watching both Hamlet and Measure for Measure. The players are fantastic. They take part in all aspects of the show, from building the set, sewing the costumes, creating the advertising, selling tickets and merchandise, performing both in the pre show and the main production… I'm sure there's plenty more that I've forgotten. Worth the price (plus the 4-hour round trip drive for my family)!Susan Barborak (The Yankee Buckeye)

It has always been a tradition of my family to attend Ohio Shakespeare's summer productions at Stan Hywet. The aura surrounding the audience, crew and actors is so welcoming and friendly. Their latest production of Midsummer Night's Dream was fantastic. A perfect pick-me-up after a year and a half of no theatre.Zoe Harr

I'm not a big Shakespeare fan, but we saw them at hywet hall, a midsummer night's dream. They were VERY good. Bottom killed it! But the whole cast was talented. Costumes were exceptional. Plus, beautiful setting in the evening with lights and sounds of bullfrogs, crickets and birds. Great night.Mark Hersch

Just bought my first lexus , making the change from audi and I am glad I did. Nora in sales answers your text and calls even on her days off, I missed out on an IS 350 but she called the next day and provided me with the choice of two new ones coming in within the month . Everything went smooth and I was sat in the car the following month. Now I did have a sensor issue on my new car which was disappointing HOWEVER nora and John in service went above and beyond to fix.. john was constantly updating me with the issue and the fix and couldn't apologize enough. They took care of me with some extras on them and delivered my car back full of gas and detailed again. Great service and definitely a trust worthy dealer .DynamicSoccerFitness

We just purchased a used vehicle from Tammy at Lexus of Akron. It was a spur of the moment necessity due to my truck finally braking down for the last time. The entire experience was fantastic. We called Tammy ahead of time and she had the 2020 Yukon XL ready for us when we got there. We arrived on Saturday at 3pm. By the time we took the test drive, talked, looked at some Lexus hybrids for a future purchase and worked out the deal, it was well after 5pm (and they closed at 5pm) and after 6pm by the time we finalized the financing. The Sales Manager Jim was great also. I felt I got a great deal and everyone was very accommodating. Will definitely purchase from Tammy and Lexus of Akron in the future.Matthew Skarbinski

I picked up my new Lexus ES 350 on July 19, 2022 from the dealership. I can't comment on the vehicle itself at this time but I can tell you the salesperson, Nora, did an outstanding job and was professional from the start of my interest in the vehicle to me buying the vehicle. In addition the Finance Manager and the gentleman who walked me through all the vehicle's technology were equally impressive. I would highly recommend Lexus of Akron-Canton if you are in the market for a vehicle. The dealership will be world class once the construction is completedMark Hart

I saw a production here of The Newsies. Small venue, but a great time. the setting for the theaters very intimate, and you can see all of the costumes, props and facial expressions. The performance I saw was excellent and captured the attention of the audience the entire time. I will definitely be back to see a performance year and I'm looking forward to it.Kim Lozan

Great theater. Great shows. Great price. It's a small theater and is an immersive experience. The quality of shows is impressive for a community theater. Highly recommend!Emily Kimball

I'm not really into theatre and musicals however my daughter really wanted to see who's Tommy and I must say the cast was extremely talented!! Wonderful performance!!nate videos

Modest (capacity ~300 spectators) theater great for presentations and small-scale performances. Good sound. Seats are classic "movie theater" design with upholstered and cushioned spring-hinged seats with individual upholstered [and slightly less cushioned] backrests and shared wooden armrests. First row of seats on same level as stage (i.e. no raised or lowered stage nor dividing rail or curb). Combined with how one must walk partially in front of that first row to climb the stairs to upper rows, all eyes could be on you if you arrive late or need to leave during the event. A tad drafty (but hey that could have been because I attended a presentation on a windy nineteen degree January day).Spurious Correlations

This is a nice little community theater in Dublin. We went to see a musical written by a local woman called Steamroom Blues. The seats were comfortable and the sound system is pretty good. Apparently a number of different theatre groups use this facility.Mary Dewey

Great facility but poor street signage. We hosted an event for approximately 350 people on 1-12-2017. The facility and employees were great. The only negative issue was poor outside signage. Many people were late due to having trouble locating the venue.David Heilman, DC

Been going to the playhouse for years. Quality professional theatre in Newark Ohio. Great kids programming as well, kids can learn about theatre, stage craft and acting in their children’s theatre program. The main stage is always quality – and the shows will always entertain. They have added fall and winter shows since they enclosed the theatre. Oldest continuing summer stock in Ohio!Ali Evans

Had my first experience there this past Saturday. Went to see Steel Magnolias and it was fantastic. The cast did an amazing job and the theater was wonderful. I am going next month for Murder on the Orient Express!! Have a feeling visiting Weathervayne Playhouse will be a new tradition in our family😀❤Angela Allen

Very pleasantly suprised to find such a professional theater in this little town. Great play! Nicely done! Very enjoyable! Everyone in the theater are so helpful and friendly! Would definitely recommend to check it out!Yelena Ryabtseva

It was an enjoyable experience. We got there at around 10:30pm on October 7, 2022 and we did not have to wait in line for any part of the experience. Sadly we bought fast passes online ahead of time, and would not have needed the fast pass at all. It was a little bit of a waste of money to spend the extra on fast pass, but we think it was worth it anyway. There was a live band playing, and it was fun to see the show. We got drinks at the bar and they were good. 9 dollars for a tiny mixed drink, but it was yummy. The employees checking the tickets were very kind, as well as the employees telling you the rules for the Schoolhouse and Laboratory before entering each experience. I'm giving 4 stars because it was not as scary as I wanted it to be. But I guess it takes a certain kind of person to be scared at these kinds of events. Though I wasn't very scared, the experience was great. I absolutely loved all the props, the ambience was awesome, and the actors did a really great job. You can really tell that a lot of love (and $$$) went into making this a great experience for everyone.Heather Autumn

We visited for their off-season event on Friday the 13th weekend / Hallway to Halloween in May. Unfortunately, the Lab wasn't open for this event but the Schoolhouse made the trip well worth it! The Schoolhouse consists of a unique blend of classic, old-school style frights, high-tech SPFX, and intricate detail. There was so much to look at in there. For those that haven't been, the Schoolhouse does invade multiple floors so you will need to traverse some safe and lit stairwells. All of the staff at the Schoolhouse were great! Thank you Dave for showing us around and giving us some information about the show. Also, we bought their HS/HL shirt and it's so comfy!!The Scare Factor

Been a favorite for many years but always seems to improve every year! The haunt is well worth the cost and much longer than several others that charge the same or more for admission (takes about 30 minutes to walk through each haunt-2 on the grounds). The outside midway is very nice and improved this year with a larger/covered bar (pictured below) which serves very reasonably priced drinks (I paid $6 for a mixed drink and $5 for a beer), there is also a food truck which serves your typical fair food items, and several photos opportunities. Only thing visitors should be aware of is that there a lot of stairs as it is a old schoolhouse so be prepared for those.Jennifer O

This location is very accessible. Ample some parking and handicap accessible entry. The seats are big enough for plus size people to sit in. The theater is intimate and the sound system is great. They've also gone paperless for their playbills! My niece has a hearing aide and the theater accommodated that with the correct info for settings! Went to see a production of the Newsies! Great fun. Interesting casting choices and the tap number was lovely.Nicci Faw

My visit was one of the best experiences in my life. There was ample parking. The playhouse offered acting lessons for adults and was taught by a professional actor who explained everything well. As I went upstairs to the classroom I saw large rooms filled with many rows of clothes that are used in their plays. For me the experience was like being inside a theater on Broadway.Rex Beach

"Joseph" performance was incredible. My 5 and 9-year old grandchildren want to see it again! Just saw their current production of "Newsies." Well directed and choreographed, casting well done, performance simply outstanding. Very enjoyable afternoon. Bravo to the entire cast, crew, musicians!Jack Steele

Magical Theater Company is a wonderful place for high-quality theater and entertainment. From the directing, the acting, and the beautiful theater itself, there is no doubt that anyone who goes here will have a worthwhile experience.Nathan J

LOVED NARNIA this past Winter! Great job to all the young actors and actresses! Jade Martin (Lucy) you WILL be a GREAT Star one day! We can't wait to see you in more to come at the Magical Theatre and elsewhere! 😁WK F

Saw Junie B Jones, Jingle Bells Batman Smells with wife and the kids. Really enjoyed it. Theater is in need of a little freshening up, but it is very charming. Would definitely like to see more plays here.Mark Prasek

Balch Street Theater is quite a special place in Akron. The theater work I've experienced at BST over the past several years has been consistently excellent! Intellectually stimulating, thought provoking, and emotionally moving. Talented work at every level. Exceptional and distinct.Lifesource Yoga

Next time u go in 2 work out or boxing or theatre…check out Gail Marsh's Inner City Hope Clothing Room conveniently located right inside of Balch Street Community Center….ask the front desk for the rooms location….everything free 2 those n need experiencing crisisChristy 373

Website charged me $82.20 but kept crashing so I never got my ticket confirmation, and I haven't been reimbursed. I had to buy through Fandango instead. Most expensive tickets ever. Went to Spiderman and we lost an item, which we found out they had the next day. Had to drive 30 minutes because no one was monitoring the theater after ticket sales stopped. Would not recommend going somewhere there is no security while you watch a movie, and they can't give you tickets or reimbursements for failed sales.Tyler

This place is absolute filth.. Ambiance is outdated, seats and theaters are dirty. Trashed piled up outside each theater, employees should be actively cleaning up. The theater itself is beyond hot, if any employee had entered the theater to clean up they would have noticed that its a sauna in here. Management really needs to revisit their value proposition.Chris Roufail

I love going to the movies. Covid really messed that up for us. Now the movies are opened and you don't have to wear a mask if you don't want to. As always it is still a little on the pricey side but it is worth it to get the movie theater experience. I took my daughter to see Clifford and she absolutely loved it. She also loved the popcorn.Robert S.

Been here many times and mixed experiences every time. What I like best is that it's generally never too crowded making for a most enjoyable movie theater experience. What I don't like is that it most recently seems pretty understaffed. Only on 1 recent visit (Matrix: Resurrections) were there only 2 working the concession stands. Nobody at the ticket counter and nobody at the 'gate' to scan tickets into the theatres. I did purchase my ticket online and with a long line at the concessions, I just went directly to my theater. There is an additional 'convenience' charge online and it isn't very convenient to wait in line at concessions when I'm not purchasing anything just to enter the theater. Only other negative is pricing, but it can be expected at any theater really. $15 for a small popcorn and bottle of water… I could buy 3 cases of water and 2 boxes of popcorn at any local grocery store. Theater experience I guess. I will choose this Regal over Cinemark Tinseltown Cinemas for all my movie experiences.Matthew Truett

My husband and I went to this theater for the first time tonight. I first called and spoke with someone about a gift card that wasn't working to purchase tickets online, and the gentleman I spoke with was kind and polite and helpful. When we arrived, the young lady at the counter was the same. Staff was awesome! The seats were pretty comfortable and they rocked. The only downsides I had were the smell (kind of like a musty retirement home lol) and the volume of the movie…it was so loud for such a small room. Overall, it was a great experience and we wouldn't hesitate to go again.Natty C

I love going on dates with my boyfriend here I love the prices plus the fact the seats rock back and fourth that's an even bonus for me I love that and it's so much more comfortable and the staff is nice but the only downside is don't use the claw machine that's white next. To the picture booth that one cheats you on dollars and didnt even let me move the claw other than that this is my favorite movieKiza Jaxx