IAMA FALL 2026 ClasseS
NOW ENROLLING!
IAMA CLASSES
atwater village theatre
Come hone your craft, flex your artistic muscle, and build your creative community with these incredible course offerings, led by professional actors, writers, and experienced educators Christian Durso, Kim Griffin, Jenna Anne Johnson, John Lavelle, and Christine Martini.
sCENE study iNTENSIVE
Instructor: Jenna Anne Johnson
What: Scene Study Intensive (limit 12 students)
When: Tuesdays, 6:30 - 9:30pm (October 13, 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17)
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $425
Join actor (Shameless, Don’t Touch My Hair), studio founder (The Repertory), and IAMA Ensemble Member Jenna Anne Johnson for a 6-Week Scene Study Intensive that’s equal parts craft, connection, and curiosity. With over a decade of experience as an actor, teacher, and coach, Jenna brings her MFA training and years working in TV/Film to help you find your own authentic choices while always serving the story. This class is about more than “acting” - it’s about coming home to yourself, building strong preparation skills, and having the courage to be honest in the work. Expect a supportive, focused space where we laugh, we dig deep, and we tell the truth - on stage and on camera. You’ll leave with a stronger preparation, bolder choices and a deeper trust in yourself and your instincts. Come ready to work, be honest, and tell the story.
About JENNA
Jenna Anne Johnson is a Los Angeles based actor, acting teacher and coach. She holds her MFA from American Conservatory Theater as well as a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts. On stage, she performs with IAMA Theatre Company and was last seen in Douglas Lyons’ DON’T TOUCH MY HAIR. Additionally, she has performed at several venues around Los Angeles including the Shakespeare Center of LA, the Geffen Theater, and New Art City Theatre. Her television credits include Showtime’s SHAMELESS, HBO’s HOLIDAY HARMONY and SNATCHED on Hulu (starring Tatiana Maslany). Outside of her own performance, Jenna has spent several years teaching and developing students of all ages and levels of experience. She has taught at Art of Acting, IAMA’s Education Program, John Rosenfeld Studios, and American Conservatory Theater, as well as her own personal school dubbed THE REPERTORY. Her private clients include award winners and can be seen on ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, THE PITT, PLATONIC and SHRINKING among countless others.
AUDITION TECHNIQUE
Instructor: John LAvelle
What: Audition Technique Class (limit 12 students)
When: Thursdays, 6:30 - 9:30pm (October 15, 22, 29, November 5, 12, 19)
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $425
Join Broadway actor (The Graduate, Selma, Drama Desk Award for The Royale), award-winning playwright (The Very Best People, Sinner’s Laundry), and IAMA Ensemble Member John Lavelle for a 6-Week Audition Technique Class designed to help actors build confidence and develop a personalized process for auditioning across film, television, and theatre. Known for his bold, playful approach to the craft, John brings the energy of Broadway, Off-Broadway, Shakespeare, and even Disney and DreamWorks voiceover work (Frozen, Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph) straight into the classroom. Each week, actors will tackle a different type of audition, moving from the roles they dream of playing to the material that challenges them most. You’ll work through everything from pre-reads to working sessions, learn the differences between co-star, guest star, and series-regular roles, and explore film scenes and stage monologues designed to stretch your range. With a collaborative, joy-filled approach, John creates a space where actors can take risks, sharpen their technique, and rediscover the spontaneity and play that makes great auditions stand out.
About John
Originally from New York, John Lavelle spent much of his career appearing on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regionally, and at The Royal Shakespeare Company. John received a Drama Desk Award for his performance in The Royale at The Lincoln Center Theatre and he is a member of IAMA Theatre Company in Los Angeles. He has appeared on TV and Film in numerous roles, most notably portraying Roy Reed in Ava DuVernay’s Academy Award nominated film Selma. As a voice artist, John has worked for Disney, Netflix, Dreamworks and is voice of the beloved children’s book series Nate the Great. He is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and he has studied at The Upright Citizens Brigade where his improv team Some Kinda Monster performs. He is the author of several plays including Inhalation (Max Lerner Award, O’Neill Finalist), Sinner’s Laundry (Ovation recommended), Would Coulda Shoulda (IAMA Reunion), Forever Brentwood (23 Hour Playfest), Love in the time of Robots (One Day Plays), The Very Best People (IAMA Mainstage), and his work has appeared in the ABC Discovers Talent Showcase. Over the years, he has mentored and taught with education programs such as Young Storytellers, The Usual Suspects, Stella Adler’s Art of Acting Studio, Zak Barnett Studios, as well as leading Shakespeare workshops.
THEATRE DEVISING: MAKE YOUR OWN WORK
Instructor: Kim Griffin
What: Devised Theatre Intensive (limit 12 students)
When: Saturdays, 10:00am - 12:30pm (October 17, 24, November 7, 14)
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $300
Join award-winning actor (Dick Bunny, Comedy Central’s Cursed Friends), podcast host (Off the Fucking Rails), comic, coach, and educator Kim Griffin for a 4-Week Theatre Devising Intensive specifically designed for actors to get in touch with their own approach to story, physical impulses, and artistic JOY. Each session will begin with a restorative body and voice warm-up, engaging the senses and imagination with a focus on freedom and fun over perfection of form. Devising theatre means making theatre, so we'll use exercises, prompts, music, and material that YOU bring in to create our own theatre piece for the last class. Art is messy and requires failure and curiosity. This class is an exploration in how to make that fun again, and return the power of your storytelling to you, the artist. We will prioritize ensemble, listening, and unconditional positive regard in order to facilitate a container that is optimal for generating new material. Class discussion about the history of devising, ethical uses in rehearsal, and applications in film will also be part of the program. If you have any accessibility concerns, please reach out! This is a class for all performers of all abilities.
About KIM
Kim Griffin has been teaching and coaching actors since the eighth grade. With a BFA in Acting from Boston University, where she also taught, and an MFA from The Old Globe - University of San Diego Professional Actor's Training Program, she has extensive experience going deep into the mechanics of breath, sound, and movement. Kim was the head of Voice & Movement at the University of Pittsburgh, and has taught in the theatre departments at Pomona College, Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts, as well as creating and leading workshops for the IAMA Summer Intensive, the hive @ Pomona College, UCSD MFA students, Boston University's Senior Showcase, and more. As an actor, Kim was seen on IAMA's stage as the diabolical Erica in RADICAL, or are you gonna miss me?, with other choice credits from originating the role of Simone in Molly Smith Metzler's Elemeno Pea (which was recently adapted as Sirens for Netflix) at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, to Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for barebones productions, Helena in All's Well That Ends Well at The Old Globe - directed by Darko Tresnjac, and shows at Ford's Theatre (DC), Roundabout Theatre Co. (DC), the Huntington Theatre Co.(MA), City Theatre Co. (PA), Olney Theatre Center (MD), as well as numerous workshops and readings at theaters all over the country. The short form comedy series, Dick Bunny, which she co-Executive Produced and stars in, has been featured at Austin Film Festival, Dances with Films, and has won awards at New Bedford Film Fest, PFCAT, Chicago Indie Film Fest, Hollyshorts, and Series Fest, where Kim received the award for Best Individual Performance. With additional training certificates from The People's Improv Theatre NYC, Acrobat of the Heart with Steven Wang, RYT 200-hr. Vinyasa Yoga Certification, Reiki (Level I), and a stint with Pure Barre, Kim is a lifelong learner, and her favorite thing is supporting others to feel their absolute best in creating and performing.
WRITING: tools for the draft
Instructor: Christian Durso
What: Hybrid In-Person/Online Writing Workshop (limit 8 students)
When: Sundays In-Person, 12:00 - 2:30pm (October 4, 25) & Tuesdays Online, 7:00 - 9:30pm (October 13, 20, November 3, 10, 17, December 15)
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space & Online
Cost: $425
Join playwright (Shiner, Redline), screenwriter (creator of Netflix’s The Stranded), classically trained actor (The Old Globe), and IAMA Ensemble Member and Literary Associate Christian Durso for 7 Writing Workshop Sessions over 8 weeks aimed at developing tools that will propel your work in progress to its next level. No matter where you are in your work in progress – from idea phase to fifth draft – putting more tools in your reach will help you reach your next milestone. Designed for early career writers of all mediums who want to upskill their craft, this course has four workshops that will cover character, story structure, outlines, writing from the inside out, and outside in, a unique method of using index cards to deck your story, pitching, and more. We round out the final three classes with active feedback on your work in progress. And we have a bonus 8th class at the end of the year designed as a check in to keep you accountable for the goals you set for yourself. A limited class size makes this an intimate and safe space where writers can get helpful feedback and support for their works. End this year strong with a commitment to going all in on your draft in the new year!
Please Note: This is a hybrid in-person/online class. Sundays, October 4 & 25, 12-2:30pm, will be held in-person. All other classes will be held online on Tuesdays, 7-9:30pm.
About Christian
Christian Durso is a playwright, screenwriter, and classically trained actor. His plays have been performed in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Prague, and Reno. His work has also enjoyed workshops and readings at The Roundabout Underground, The Flea, The Old Globe and EST/LA. He served as Executive Producer and Writer for the Netflix series The Stranded, the first Thai Original series for Netflix. He also wrote an eight episode mini-series for HBO Asia and has adapted novels for the screen for Sony. Also an actor, Christian has worked regionally at The Old Globe, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Great Lakes Theatre (OH), Idaho Shakespeare Festival as well as Off-Broadway, and has taught Shakespeare and Voice and Speech to high school students at the Old Globe and the La Jolla Playhouse. A proud member of the Los Angeles based IAMA Theatre Company and of the WGAW. BFA, NYU. MFA, USD.
BREATHWORK RESET
Instructor: CHRISTINE MARTINI
What: Breathwork Class (limit 12 students)
When: Friday, November 20, 10:00am - 12:30pm
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $50
Join actor (Carpool, Pitiful Creatures), IAMA Actors Summer Intensive Alumnus, and breathwork facilitator Christine Martini for an immersive 1 Day Breathwork Class designed to reset your nervous system, reconnect you with your body, and create space for greater clarity, presence, and ease. Creatives are some of the most empathetic people in the world. In a business that can be quite unpredictable, we often hold onto emotions, stress, and beliefs that either aren’t ours or do not benefit us. In this class you will be guided through a breathing technique designed to quiet the analytical mind and allow the body to release what is no longer serving us (that’s woo woo for “release that shit”). No prior experience is required. All you have to do is show up and breathe.
About CHRISTINE
Christine came to this work through her own journey of healing chronic pain and illness. She has trained in Conscious Connected and Holotropic Breathwork, Energetic Healing, somatic practices, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). All of the above influence how she shows up to this work. It has shifted her life so drastically that the only next right step was to share it with others.
