20 Best Acting Programs In Mission Viejo, CA (2022 Updated)

The University campus is beautiful and full of fresh air and bright sunshine. The facility management and security systems are awesome. Everybody is so kind and helpful here that it stands tall on its claim of creating value through inclusiveness and by nurturing fundamental human qualities of courage, compassion and wisdom. I hope, wish and pray for every member of this community to live a truely contributive life and make this world a better place.Vineet

The scenery of Soka is amazing in the early mornings and at sunset. The place is flourished with all sorts of plants. The food is amazing and the Dorms are high ceilings and spacious. I love coming here every summer for music programs, the campus is very homey and super welcoming. The architecture is gorgeous, especially the performance hall and the fountain out in the front.Arianna Rodriguez

Beautiful campus. It’s our first time to visit. It’s in the summer, only a few students are on campus. We walk through the main campus for an hour. Quiet and clean, a nice place for the students studying here.Zhiqian Dong

I have been doing Pilates at Konnect for about 2 years and always appreciated the knowledge and experience of the instructors. They are GREAT. Recently, I hurt my shoulder playing golf and consulted an Orthopedic surgeon. He had me start extensive PT. Both with the surgeon and PT, I told them of my Pilates experience and describe the types of exercises the instructors had me doing. Both the Surgeon and PT both said my instructor at Konnect was 100% correct in her advice and instruction. I truly believe that Konnect Pilates is not only a critical part of my overall health, but is a vital part of my shoulder recovery.Robert Miller

Konnect Pilates is a movement service and education studio serving Mission Viejo and surrounding cities since 2002. State of the art Balanced Body equipment and 3 spacious rooms for Private sessions, Group reformer classes and Group Functional Training. Orange Country Authorized Education Center for Balanced Body. Training instructors on Pilates comprehensive program as well as other movement methods. Customized programs designed for client specific needs with emphasis on individual goals. If you are looking for a team to help you achieve your health goals, Konnect Pilates is your first choice.Viktor Uygan

Apart from the great environment and cordiality of staff, all instructors are highly experienced and are always paying attention to all students and making corrections and adjustments whenever necessary. The fact that the number of people is limited also makes this possible, which proves that their top one priority is the safety and well-being of their students. I have other Pilates studios closer to me but I prefer to drive a little further to go there because I trust them so much and I'm 100% sure I'm in good hands there.Beatriz Nicolau

This place is truly a hidden gem for a wedding. We were looking for the perfect venue to have a party-like atmosphere to go along with our 1920’s Gatsby themed wedding. We shopped around many places in the LA and OC area but when we walked into The Yost, without even saying a word, my wife and I looked at each other and already knew this was the spot for us! The catering company 24 Carrots that is connected to The Yost is spectacular. Pricing is very competitive. (I left a separate review for the catering company) As for the venue, it really is what made our wedding spectacular. I don’t think we could have had as great of a wedding if it had been somewhere else. From the lighting, to the stage, high ceilings, MASSIVE bar area, to the club-like vibes, it was all a grand wedding feeling all thanks to the venue. I lost count as to how many people kept complimenting our wedding venue and how nice it all looked. The venue got more compliments than anything else! My initial concerns of it being too small for our 152 guests was a non issue come wedding day. I think you could fit comfortably, maybe 180-200 down stairs and according to our wedding coordinator. And even more guests than that but the rest of the guests would have sat upstairs which is fine. If you’re looking for a unique venue to give off more of a party-like vibe rather than a typical wedding venue, go with The Yost. It made our wedding one of the best weddings I could have imagined.NikkoElaine Arce

Very cool venue! The staff was friendly and anywhere you stand you have a great view of the stage. Nice little touch…the bar serves complimentary ice water for the guests. 👌 The only reason they didn't get a 5 ⭐ rating is because the parking was horrible. They dont have a parking structure for guests, and all the streets around the area are 2 hour parking spaces. We parked by Food4Less down the street and risked getting towed.Rosalia Robles

Great theater, I read about the upgrades that the theater did just fantastic I was upstairs on the VIP balcony the view was perfect since it's such a small venue. In the past the theater wasn't so appealing to me it's definitely now on my radar great job Yost Theater.Antonio Munoz

The Actors Studio of Orange County has proven to be very valuable to me and my acting endeavors, progress, and beginning career. Each and every teacher is not only well-versed in numerous facets of acting ranging from script analysis to in-depth research into character creation and authenticity of emotion, but they are also working actors and provide extremely valuable insight to what occurs on sets. That alone reinforces the teachings, positive but honest critiques, and challenges presented to each student individually and as a collective to help one another steadily improve through the use of proven techniques. Most importantly, the camaraderie developed in each and every class not only provides warmth, comfort and a feeling of security during these trying times, but seeing fellow actors/students/classmates improve and become more enlightened each week is truly beautiful to behold. The Actors Studio of Orange County truly cares about people and does an excellent job of cultivating the skills, abilities and understanding for those who truly desire to pursue those avenues. If you have any inkling of wanting to even try acting, give Actors Studio of Orange County a try and see what your experience is.David Greene

Written a year ago: As a new student of Sonya's I am very impressed by her professionalism and knowledge of the art of acting. She comes to class prepared to contribute to each individual's need and is able to intuitively contribute to the student's advancement. Her attitude is positive and puts the student at ease while at the same challenging them to commit to the art. ********** ********** ********** ********** ********** ********* ********** After a year and a half later, my opinion has not changed: In addition to attending the intermediate class and now the advanced class, I have taken advantage of course work in Audition Techniques, voice workshops, as well as creating my own reel. About two weeks ago, I signed with my 1st Commercial agent. It was The Acting Studio of Orange County that made success possible. Sonya has encircled herself with a staff of great and experienced teachers and workshop leader. I strongly recommend The Acting Studio of orange County to anyone serious about beginning or augmenting their acting career.Dominic Bosonetta

Knowing you want to act and knowing how to execute that are two very different things. I find these courses to be a very palatable and efficient way to approach acting. I've now taken three courses at the studio and can't wait to continue. Philip and Thomas are exceptionally passionate about their craft and that resonates in the teaching methods and over all tone of each class. There is a huge sense of community and pride along with endless information and "Aha moments". We all learn so much from our teachers and each other. It's a wonderfully positive and supportive environment of like-minded people all excited to learn. I have personally grown SO MUCH as an actor in a very short time! It's actually amazing to see where I started and where I am now. I've already begun booking jobs and feel I have a confident place in this industry. I can't say enough about it, I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in sharpening their skills and making new friends along the way!Jillian Tremaine

We love Creation Station!! My daughter is 3 and in the Princess Ballet/Tap class with Ms. Sarah. She has blossomed while being in this class. It has boosted her self-confidence in an amazing way. She is much more self-assured and independent after just a few months of being in dance class. She's also learning so much each week. She wants to practice at home and it's so cute hearing her saying the names of the moves she's doing. I love how the teaching is presented in a fun way, without drilling the girls. Ms. Sarah is wonderful with the girls, and it's clear how much they all love her! Ms. Kat is so helpful and always greets us by name when we arrive. I couldn't be happier with our experience at Creation Station and would highly recommend it to anyone!Melissa Prickett

My son has a huge smile the entire class!!! He's 5 and has been taking hip hop class since he was 3. We recently moved and needed to find a new studio. We tried a large local studio and I felt so bad for him there. He left class frustrated and sad. He had a really hard time keeping up, and the instructor was too strict for what his motor skills could handle. I'm soooooo glad we decided to try out creation station!!! Miss Linda is so fun and encouraging! He has such a great time now. She still corrects and helps him learn and improve but in a fun, loving, encouraging way. Seriously after one minute into class I knew this was the place for us. Dance should be fun for kids at this age and that's exactly what this place is.Adrienne Wheeler

My family loves this place. We signed our daughters up for ballet/tap and were so impressed by the interactions of the instructors, particularly Madison and Sarah, with our girls. They are accommodating when kids inevitably don't play by the script. They are really fun and it draws the kids in. Another thing I liked is that they make things really easy for families who have demanding/complicated schedules; makeup classes are easy to schedule, classes are prorated so you don't feel you're being treated unjustly just because you can't sign up for a whole term! Great dance studio!Haytham Abul

I can no longer recommend SCC as an elite dance studio. If you are a parent of a competitive child, please take them elsewhere. There are so many great studios in OC, this one is not the one you want to sign your kid to. My daughter started at SCC with academy dance classes when she was 3 yo. She is now 11. She was on the aerial competitive team for 3 years. She had such a bad experience with the team coach, as well as other older students, that after 8 years at SCC, I had to pull her out. The team coach and some other older students were rude to my daughter and the coach sometimes ignored her. She clearly didn't like my daughter. My daughter was pretending to be sick, not to go to class and was coming home crying. After 8 YEARS!!! and supporting the studio during the pandemic, taking a lot of privates ($$$), you would think SCC cared. Well, not so much. The team coach acted very unprofessionally. Among other issues, she had scheduled another student during my daughter's private lesson without informing me, and she recommended the use of supplements for students in the competitive team. Here is an excerpt of the email that all competitive parents received about the supplements (I don't think it's okay for a coach to make these recommendations as they are unlikely to be qualified to make such determination): "Supplements Now that the students are competitively training on top of having a full day of school, it makes it difficult for them to focus during class, or complain about being tired while training so I would like all students on BCAAs and glutamine to help them with training during classes. All competitive athletes take BCAAs to help their muscle fibers react properly while they are training (and focus) so they can build muscles and Glutamine is taken for the recovery process so their body can recover faster. This allows your children to train multiple hours over continuous days. These supplements are powder-based that go in water while they are taking classes and training at the studio. I have worked out a deal with Nutrishop in Lake Forest so parents can receive a 15% discount off all of the products for SCC students. The supplements that I would like the students taking are FDA approved and safe for ALL age groups much included our younger students. The owner of Nutrishop has a background in nutrition and has been in the body building industry for over a decade and understands the amount of overtraining our Aerial Students are currently doing to prepare for competition and showcases and will make sure to guide parents with the correct supplement purchases. You are all welcome to purchase outside of Nutrishop If you like, they do offer supplements at places like Amazon, Costco, CVS, and other sites, but please make sure that you purchase the correct supplements."M L-D (MLD)

We've had an incredible experience with SCC! My older daughter LOVES being in EA in Musical Theater – she has learned so much this past year. Ms Marji is a ROCK STAR – she expects excellence yet she's fair and manages to inspire everyone to do their best and push their limits. All teachers are dedicated and very professional. We especially love Ms. Michelle (tumbling), Ms Cassidy (dance), Ms Nyquita & Ms Amanda White. Everyone at the conservatory is exceptionally organized, professional, dedicated and hard working. Above all, the spirit of the school is to celebrate the children and their efforts, inspire and help them grow. Highly recommended for anyone looking for either recreational or competitive dance and musical theater!Marina Nunez

My daughter has been attending classes since she was 4. Miss Jenna is an amazing teacher and a great role model. My daughter loves being there and feels very comfortable with the staff. Everybody is extremely helpful and get out of their way to make the child experience an incredible one. The productions are very well thought and they take care of all details. My daughter dreams to a ballet teacher like Miss Jenna. That is how inspiring is she.Millie Harrison

Janelle is wonderful; both my son (9) and daughter (8) love her! I appreciate her patience and attention to detail. We have been taking lessons for 4 years and it makes me proud to know they are learning music. They are learning not only how to read music from lesson books but also learning fun pop songs to keep them engaged. The time and resources invested in piano lessons has helped build confidence and another way for both to understand the world through music. The piano recitals are really fun too. 😊 If you’re lucky enough to hire Janelle (she’s usually booked) then look no further. Thank you, DrewDrew Coleman

Janelle is an exceptional music teacher who we would wholeheartedly recommend to any parent looking for vocal lessons for their child. Our 15-year-old has been taking voice lessons with Janelle Finamore for nearly 3 years, and it has been worth every cent. Janelle is a true professional- not only has she helped our child develop her vocal range and projection, but she has given her confidence to successfully audition for solo performances through her school choir! She is a true gem of a teacher. You will not regret choosing her for your child!Marina Kahana

For the past year I’ve been taking combined voice training and piano lessons by Janelle. Coming to the process as an adult with kids, requires a unique approach and she was able to tailor the lesson to my specific needs and skills as well as my learning style. I enjoyed the weekly lessons which broadened my horizons. Not only did I learn new musical skills but she incorporated technique, theory, and musical background to add more depth and scope to the class.Noa Urman

This review is solely based on my and my daughters experience with Ms. Estee and Fringe Dance Studio. My 9yr old daughter had been asking to join dance for what seems like forever, and I had decided to check out this studio in early 2020. Then COVID hit and we placed all our children's sports on hold. Fast forward to 2021, we couldn't be happier with our choice to join and be a part of the Fringe Studio family. I'm a new dance mom but I did to my research and because my daughter started dancing at an older age – I wanted her to feel comfortable easing into a new sport to her. Many dance studios were requiring years of experience in ballet before being able to explore other dance styles. Ms. Estee evaluates each student and gives you her honest and professional opinion on your child's abilities. I truly believe she holds each one of her students best interest and gives each student the attention they need to become better! My daughter and our family couldn't be happier! Thank you for all you do, Ms. Estee!Sacnite Ortiz

My daughter has been taking the summer toddler class here and absolutely loves it. I was worried she’d get bored and not be able to focus since classes are 50 minutes long but she enjoys every second. The first half of her class is ballet, then kids put on their tap shoes for the second half. Ms Estee is an amazing instructor and is incredibly patient and always so enthusiastic. She isn’t overly serious or strict but still takes command of the class so that it doesn’t turn into a wild circus of dancing toddlers. There are many other dance studios that are closer to our home but I don’t mind driving all the way to Fringe Dance Studio one bit because of the quality and value of instruction by Ms Estee.Marissa Cope

My daughter has been with this studio since the end of June and she loves it here so much! She has grown in confidence and skills. She is so eager to learn. The owner, Ms. Estee is extremely helpful in guiding your child to the right class to fit their personality. She is also super responsive to emails and phone calls. I also love that she doesn’t push students to be competitive. To me, it seems like their main focus is to cultivate a child’s love for dance.Linda Liu

West Coast Talent Studios was such an amazing experience and was a start to amazing opportunities for my daughter. The director TJ and all of her stuff were not just my daughters teachers, but they were like family through every single experience. The school takes kids and expands what they are already good at and help them to flourish in so many ways. I was so pleased with the whole experience and my daughter has so much confidence in herself now, that she believes that she can do anything that she puts her mind to, and this has actually not failed her yet. Through the whole experience, my daughter was placed with a manager and an agent and she has been on plenty of auditions already. If you are looking to get your child into the business and you want an excellent avenue, I really do suggest that West Coast is the way to go.Becki Smulson

This is a great studio for anyone looking to gain experience with modeling and acting. Ms. TJ and her staff are very professional. My daughter Athena started with the 5 workshops. Over the course of these five workshops I seen my daughter become more confident in her craft and her personality blossom, so we continued to the Career Level Workshops. If I ever had any questions Ms. Heather is quick to respond with an answer. If you are new to this studio, I advise you to take notes and listen to every piece of information given to you because it is GOLD! If Mrs. Monique says your child needs to practice on CAMERA , you do that. All of these tips are helpful in growing your child into the actor/model they want to be. This is a great studio! Thank you WCMT for everything! Sincerely Ashley and Athena! xoxoPaprika

We are enrolled in World Class Studios Career level program and absolutely love it. My daughter is now on her last round of workshops and already wanting more. Every set of her workshops, she continues to improve her acting skills.Emily really liked Mr Jeff as her instructor. He seems to make learning fun and exciting. We knew this was Emily's passion for many years and we are so glad we choose World Class Modeling. Ms TJ is extremely detailed and does exactly what she promises from start to finish. I would say Ms TJ over gives to each student and family 100%. I like that we have direct contact with her and you see the passion in all her staff. The Stanford family wants to thank you all. Keep it up!Kristen Stanford

I started taking adult ballet classes from Ivan in 2019, and soon afterwards tried a few private lessons. I was impressed with his respect for teaching as a profession, especially for a professional ballet dancer in his prime. Not all talented dancers can be good teachers, but Ivan definitely has a natural teaching instinct. He can identify specific reasons why I’m struggling, and provide clear, detailed corrections. He challenges me technically, but is also very patient and encouraging. This is the exact combination I want in a ballet teacher. When COVID-19 hit, I was a bit apprehensive about continuing classes and private lessons online on Zoom, but my concerns were quickly put aside. In addition to being a talented artist, Ivan is also technically savvy, and was able to adjust the audio & video settings, as well as both of our device placements, to optimize the online lesson experience. Looking forward to many more classes and lessons with Ivan!Susan Asato

Our 12 years old daughter attends Ivan's ballet class for the last 1 year. I am pleasantly surprised how thorough and attentive he can be. As a ballet instructor, he brings real stage experience along with proven old school methods. Ivan's biggest asset is his ability in breaking down complex movements into simple and easy to follow steps. He's genuine and really want to lay down a good foundation for students to grow. Ivan respects parents' expectation and his communication skills is key to our lasting relationship. I also find Ivan very receptive to comments and suggestions so it's easy to work with him and put a plan forward. We love working with Ivan and look forward to our continuing collaborations.Vanessa H

My daughter has been in here for almost one year。 We are so lucky to find Mr.Ivan。He is the best Ballet teacher we ever met. It is amazing to see how fast my daughter has improved in ballet.He is a nice and fun person, but still very strict and serious.My daughter love the classes, made a lot of friends here.The studio is very clean and luxry.The location is close to Hwy 5, a lot lot of business surounded.Hon Shaw

Coming to this studio was the worst decision I have ever made for my daughter. The staff as well as the owner are terrible people. The staff are not helping my child improve and are doing the exact opposite. My daughter has come home crying on multiple occasions saying she was told to find a new hobby or that she’s not just not good enough to dance. It seems as though the owner just doesn’t give a care in the world and runs away to cry in her office every day. The owner also has a terrible obsession with wasting rehearsal time to talk about how she has half a million dollars as well as a new million dollar house. She also tells the kid that she now has enough money to shut down her business at any time and will if anyone were to misbehave. She has fired many great teachers over the past few years which has had a great impact on the kids. The years my family have been with Top Billing have been the most stressful and depressing years for us. The only good thing that has come from this studio are the friendships my daughter has made over the years. Please make the right decision for yourself as well as your child and do what you think is best.Cadence Gutierrez

If you are looking for a place to find coaching and encouragement as performer, look no further than Top Billing! I have been a student since 2018, and through the teachers and friends that i made here, i went from a kid who shook at the thought of standing on a stage, to a college student pursuing performing on a professional level, all thanks to Top Billing. The best decision i ever made was signing up for Annie in 2018. I am forever blessed by the teachers here and the friends i made because of Top Billing!Rose Szczepanski

My children have been attending TBE classes for about 2 years. They’ve taken voice lessons, acting, tap, and ballet. My son has been in 2 musicals and 3 recitals. They’ve learned so much and continue to grow confidence on stage. We feel that the academy strives on building a wonderful community and family within the school. Students encourage one another and give their best! We admire all of the hard work the teachers provide for their students in order to succeed outside of the school.Robert T

We absolutely love Center Stage Studio! My daugher has been going to CSS for over 6 years. We first started with the musical theater classes. Our daughter was a bit shy and quiet and we were so amazed how they were able to make her feel safe and supported and allowed her to come out of her shell….fast forward 6 years later and she is now competing on their musical theater team, production team, hip hop team, jazz team, lyrical team and taking dance,singing and acting classes…we pretty much LIVE at CSS 6 days a week. It is truly a family at this point and I love all the staff and teachers and cannot thank them enough for helping our daughter become the happy, confident, funny shining star that she is now. I never would have imagined she would ever have this happiness and confidence and humbleness all in one package. In addition to teaching her how to be talented, one of the greatest gifts they teach is not to be a demanding diva(which in this industry is so important), be thankful for roles given no matter how small, support everyone you work with and never expect anything. They may be Annie in one play and just a small part in another and a true performer never complains- there are no small parts only small people(it took my daughter to teach me that LOL). Kids now are often so entitled and I love that is not allowed here. This is a great place to let your child shine and improve inside and out! The staff and owners are always there for you and will drop everything to make sure your child is happy, safe and supported. Bravo CSS!Kathe van Hoften

My kids have been going to this studio for over five years. We have done many recreational plays, camps, and I now have two children on their competitive teams. One is on their competitive musical theater teams and dance teams, and the other is on only dance teams. There are a few other very local dance studios that I could send my children too, but not one of them offers what Center Stage offers my children. My third has been in many plays and has attended summer camps for years. The staff offer a “second home” like feeling for my kids. They give the kids a place to do their homework if needed, a safe place to be dropped off and picked up, and above all they offer an ear if any one of them has had a concern in their practices. All of my kids have said the teachers are (in their own words) approachable, kind, and respectful. The confidence all three of my children have earned from performing on stage at The Center Stage Studio is irreplaceable. At no point have I ever allowed them to argue with a role they have received. These teachers are well trained, experienced professionals who have worked with kids that have gone on to do paid, professional work. I am extremely grateful the owners continue to provide exceptional theater and dance training as well as a safe place for my kids who have chosen this path for their after school activities. This is not a business focused only on bringing in revenue. This is a place focused on fostering the love of the musical theater arts and giving back that love to our community.Anne Hackett

We gave this place 3 chances and did everything we could with our child to encourage them to hang in there, work hard and things will work out. But after just way too many tears we decided to try another place to see if things might improve. That was all it took, and over night they were beaming from ear to ear, and it was a night and day difference. I could not believe the difference this change made for our child. And it wasn't about the roles given, even though this place has very clear favoritism, which you will notice if you start to pay attention to how they conduct themselves. Their business model is very sneaky and deceitful. They have pre-written email templates and responses to keep you and your child in check with their program. And thats after you sign their contract stating that you will not get a refund if you decide its not a good fit no matter how they treat your child. Thank God the tears are gone and they are happier than we've ever seen them. It's too bad this place cares more about the money than they do about the kids. I pray this doesn't happen to your child here.Bailey Bryan

This is my daughter’s third season at N-PAC and the year over year growth has been incredible! The vibe is “We Are Family” with world-class instruction! The N-PAC team is encouraging while still pushing their students to reach their full potential. We are part of their Competition Dance team, but this past fall my daughter joined the dance ensemble cast of Mary Poppins the musical performing for sold-out audiences two weekends in a row at the Old Town Temecula Community Theatre. This is not something she had ever done before, but because of the wonderful encouraging environment at N-PAC she fell in love with a whole new side of dancing!!Michelle Reeder

We’ve been part of the N-PAC family for a 3 years and I can’t say enough good things about them and their staff of amazing teacher/coaches. I come from a performing arts family, myself included, and find so much joy in knowing my girls found their love of arts at an early age and have improved and flourished even more so since being here. Plus, it’s not just a “dance school” limiting your choices. Art, theater, acting, tv/film classes, etc. A one stop studio for all lovers of art. We love you N-PAC. Thank you for taking such good care of my babies!❤️Maria G

We love this studio! Top notch dance, vocal and acting curriculum provided and my personal favorite are the professional workshops that they rotate in. My son has taken YouTube and Commercial Acting workshops here and has learned so much! Something that isn't readily available in this area with many other studios. Highly recommend!Donya Roschlau

My daughter and son have been taking classes for several years. Initially it was my daughter idea, as she is the "performer" of the family. My son has always been shy. My daughter flourished in her classes. She studies with Jeff Celentano, Pamela Peak & Johnny Timko. I was impressed by their resumes. These people have done some amazing work in the industry, big films with major stars and won major awards. After bringing my daughter for a while, Brianne suggested that I let my son try a class. He was reluctant at first, but he went into Johnny's class and I had my fingers crossed. Well that was an amazing two hours! He loved it and now he's hooked. It has completely changed him. He's not shy anymore. His teachers asked me what the heck have I done to Jason! Serious, I cannot say enough good things about this group. Their classes are amazing. Their pricing is beyond easy on your budget. They work with you with your schedule. The teachers are INCREDIBLE!!! Their summer camps are fun too. When we can fit it in during the summer – we book a week or two. Our family loves The Performer's Academy.Gigi Starvos

This is the best acting school ever. My son loves coming here. He has made friends and loves the teachers. This is his home away from home. All the children are taught to work together and cheer each other on. This school teaches a sense of self and builds self confidence. My son had to do an oral report in 2nd grade. A parent volunteer told me that he ran away with the class. 3rd grade play. 4 different parents tapped me on the shoulder to compliment my sons self confidence.. This comes from the various acting classes he has taken. The owner Natalie has put her heart and soul into this business. She reaches out on behalf of her students. In addition to running this business, she gives back to the community. All in all, this has been a positive experience for us.Ramonda Harling

As per my daughter, classes are boring. We live close enough that we thought we'd give this a shot because our child really loves to act. She is also a dancer. Unfortunately, we quickly realized that this wasn't for her.The classes are repetitive and low energy. The teachers don't really care about the kids having fun. So, she simply hates it. Also they tell you they help you get an agent, but I haven't met any family whose kids got hired by one! I have to say that because our kid hates it, we weren't there for very long. But it's all seems really pointless. BY the way, once you pay them, they keep your money.Steven Ty

Don't buy textbooks here! The return policy is ridiculous (I think it it Follet's policies since they run the online orders and the store). Short version, the book came after the class started, and much later than the extra $ paid for expedited should have and then there was a holiday and they said I waited too long since the class started last week.. Finally the guy agreed to refund, but said the book looked used. I had only looked at the table of contents and first page to figure out it wasn't the best book for the class. But after he repeatedly shuffled the pages and opened the book wide to show me how used it was, the book wasn't as new as before. I took a returned book refund and vowed never to buy a book there again.WT Doyle

Even with Google maps it was hard to find this place. It will take you to a random parking lot, from there go up to the White building that says student services. From there you'll want to go behind that building and it's under the stairs case. Wth, I thought I'd get it all done with my daughter sleeping in her stroller. I didn't realize it'd be such an ordeal. There is no close parking and no signage (that I saw anyway) marking where the bookstore was. When I arrived, as colleges go, things didn't go as planned… The hours had changed. 😂😙 Updated to 3 stars just because the staff is so friendly and helpful. I still can't believe how hidden it is.Melinda Wendrick

Probably some the most stupid people I've dealt with in my life. The cashier told me that I had to return the book after 7 days of purchase. Do you wanna guess what happens next? The same chick that sold me the books looked me in the face when I return them and told me that she said no such thing. The f***ing audacity to do such a thing. She got the manager, who seemed like a crazy cat lady, said the same thing and then backed up her collegue even though she wasn't there! Please don't buy books from here!! Your just supporting their stupidity.Max

What a find! Miss Donna has created a beautiful space for my daughter to continue her love of dance, but the true selling point of this new studio is Miss Donna herself. Her enthusiasm, knowledge and warmth create a very positive environment. All of the teachers she has brought in have the same incredible qualities. We are excited to have joined the COPAC family and encourage others to check it out. You will be impressed.Michelle M

COPAC has been an amazing outlet for our daughter! She thrived with Miss Christina in Musical Theater and is obsessed with her Tap/Jazz combo where she gets to practice her sass and “shuffle Tap!” She is expressing herself and growing in confidence and shining! Donna (the owner) is amazing to work with and has put on such great recitals admits the pandemic!! We are a COPAC family for life!Deanna Mau

Miss Donna is the absolute best! As a former dancer, I tried a few different studios before finding COPAC. I knew from the moment I walked in this would be our dance home. The classes are fun but challenging, and my girls are obsessed. My only regret is we didn’t find her sooner ❤️.Avery Jean

UPDATE: Our mother died peacefully in her sleep this week. Everything I said below is truer than ever. Chapters has become family. As a loving family would do, they were devoted to our mother, accompanied us to medical appointments, came to know Mom's wants and needs, made her laugh and gave her comfort. Josh suggested hospice care (Sea Crest Hospice Services – they were wonderful) at just the right time, and Chapters worked with hospice to fill the last months of our mother's life with dignity, affection and joy. 🌻🌻🌻 My brother and I moved our mother to Chapters 6 months ago and we constantly marvel at what a great decision we made and how lucky we were to learn about this beautiful board & care. Josh & Renee Radabaugh and all of the caregivers treat every resident with respect and affection. Each resident has different needs – our mom has dementia, other residents may have had a stroke, chronic illness or just the desire to live in a lovely, well-maintained home where family and friends are virtually always visiting – Chapters meets all those needs and more, with holiday and birthday celebrations, the Radabaughs' effervescent young daughter and Delilah, one of the sweetest dogs you'll ever meet.Deborah Wities

Renee was an invaluable resource in helping us place our Dad in a high-quality RCFE. She met with us multiple times to get to know our family, our priorities, and the needs of our father. She screened and visited multiple facilities for us, making recommendations based on her expertise, which enabled us to focus on touring and interviewing only the facilities that would be a good fit for us. She continually educated us on the process so that we would know what questions to ask and what to look for. Throughout the process, she checked in with us regularly to answer questions, provide information, and offer loving support. We are currently in the process of moving our father to the home we selected. My family is so grateful to Renee for everything she has done for us and we highly recommend her services to anyone facing the difficult decision of placing a loved one into full time care!Carol Brown

For the first time, I had to be one of the responsible parties to help place a friend or family member into an assisted living solution.  I am so fortunate to have been introduced to Renee of Chapters RCFE.  Renee was very responsive, calling me back on a Sunday which was crucial because we had planned doctor appointments Monday 8 am. Renee listened to our story and related to my situation in a very reassuring manner.  Her experience and caring were self-evident.  Even though our situation was not an ideal solution due to proximity and current availability, Renee was invaluable in setting us on our course.  Had our situation been a bit different then I would have used her care services with full confidence that I would be doing the best for my closest family friends. Thank you Renee!Scott Pringle

We were treated rudely by one of the staff members when we walked in. We normally go to a different location and they have a person that checks you in if you purchased tickets on your phone. I saw a scanner on the concession stand and walked up with my phone but prior to saying anything the employee flicked the scanner and said "what you don't know where to go and how to find your seats?" He flicked the scanner again, shook his head and yelled "just go, you can find your own way." He gave a slew of other half sentences which were incoherent. Yes, they were busy but it was obvious this individual can't handle stress well and just lashed out on me. The Aliso location is much better and they have a more streamlined process for checking in. It's also cleaner and better organized.Zulma Arizmendi

Love this place great comfy soft seats! Great people! Nice and clean, great price with the luxury setting. Thanks so much for making something so nice that we can all afford. I can't afford the luxury cinnopolis but I think this is way better, by far! Great place !! We come here first almost every weekend or every other weekend !!Lynnette l.

I love this theater with the luxury reclining seats! Such nice upgrade from a regular theater. The staff was friendly and the theater and restrooms were clean. I highly recommend this theater for movie watching. Parking is convenient in the structure underneath it and there escalators and elevators as wellHolly McKhann Realtor

SCR is fabulous. A great organization to *teach* children how to act/sing/improv/whatever, run by seasoned theater professionals. Their classes are great, and their summer productions are great. The teachers meet each student where they are, and push the student to improve. My oldest went through the early acting programs, the musical theater classes, and eventually got in to Teen Players as a sophomore. Now in her Junior year in college, she's attending a semester long theater-intensive course in Connecticut, and she has said SCR prepared her well for everything they do there. She left SCR with a solid notion of what it means to be a theater professional, and now she is drawing on that experience and thriving in a very difficult program. My youngest was in Junior Players and learned a lot. She didn't make it into Teen Players, so she decided to take Improv. With the pandemic and zoom-school, she pulled back a lot of her activities, but she has kept up her Improv classes at SCR and really enjoys them. Again, highly recommended.James Marca

My daughter has enrolled for her second session with SCR. She greatly enjoyed the first session and we are looking forward to the Zoom Demonstration that is taking place this afternoon. I haven't received any feedback from her instructor, so I don't know if my daughter is doing well or has potential… I hope to receive some feedback in the near future.A Whitney

We love South Coast Repertory! Our daughter has made so many wonderful friends and has learned so much from all of her amazing teachers! We cannot recommend it highly enough…it's a fantastic program!Teo228

Patricia is a brilliant Renaissance woman. She is what you get when you mix technical excellence and style with humility, compassion, and a lifelong commitment to the craft. She is simply the best! I feel incredibly lucky to have met Patricia and begun my singing journey with her. I’ve been a student at Studio Shanks since 2018, when I was fresh out of college and looking for a voice teacher who could earnestly teach me how to sing. At the time, there were flashy online ads for folks that could “make you a superstar” and all of it felt so loud and nothing seemed to fit. At one point Patricia returned my call. Immediately I knew that she was the right teacher for me. It was obvious that she is not just naturally fun and easygoing, but also a true technician when it comes to the craft of singing. It’s been a few years since we began working together. I’ve discovered that singing is something that can be learned at any age. It requires hard work, but it can be done. Luckily, Patricia is entirely dedicated to the growth and success of her students. Knowing this makes it much easier to bring my own effort during and between classes. I am honestly amazed at how, despite having worked with many respected luminaries in the field, Patricia remains humble and always with a sense of humor that puts me at ease. She is everything that comprises a professional artist and educator. What I love most is that she cuts through the noise and focuses on pure foundations. That means that she is able to work with vocalists ranging from the most contemporary pop styles to opera to musical theatre and beyond. All kinds of singing require the same basic knowledge of healthy and safe vocal techniques. At Studio Shanks, everything counts and everything matters. Thank you so much, Patricia!Lydia Janbay

I took vocal and piano lessons from Patricia for a few years in high school. It's almost been 5 years and I still refer back to some of her teachings; Patricia is a wealth of knowledge and I am amazed how much I learned about singing and the body from her. With Patricia, singing begins with the breath. In our first few lessons I began to unlearn the unnatural ways of breathing which had become so automatic to me. It was great to have a vocal coach whose style is so comprehensive and holistic. An added plus about Patricia is her amazing personality and sense of humor that made our teacher-student relationship more comfortable and easygoing. Patricia emphasizes in her lessons that singing is not about how it sounds but how it feels. She places great emphasis on finding a natural quality to the voice–making sure students aren't imitating an autotuned radio voice but rather finding what feels best for them (and ultimately does sound best as a result).melody pezeshkian

If you are looking for a great singing teacher, definitely check out Patricia Shanks. She can teach you anything from classical to jazz to musical theater to pop. She knows her craft thoroughly and is totally supportive. She can actually make lessons fun and you will be amazed at how quickly you improve if you use her techniques. She is wonderful at working with all ages of students. And she is reasonably priced. She is currently teaching online as that is the way things are now for most of us and she knows how to make that work. Studying with her is an amazing .experience. I would strongly reccomend her.Jerry Less