IAMA FALL 2025 ClasseS
ENROLLMENT IS OPEN!
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, John Lavelle, and Courtney Sauls.
Classes begin in OCTOBER - limited spaces available!
sCENE study iNTENSIVE
Instructor: John LAvelle
What: Scene Study Class (limit 12 students)
When: Thursdays, 6:00 - 9:00pm (October 16, 23, 30, November 6, 13, 20)
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $425
Join Broadway actor, award-winning playwright, and IAMA Ensemble Member John Lavelle (The Graduate, Selma, Drama Desk Award for The Royale) for a 6-Week Scene Study Intensive. 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. In this theater-based class, you’ll dig into text, make fearless choices, and learn how to balance technique with spontaneity. John creates a collaborative, joy-filled environment where experienced actors can take risks, stretch their artistry, and sharpen the tools they’ll need for auditions, rehearsals, and performances. Whether you’re hungry to level up your craft, rediscover the fun in your work, or just want to train with one of IAMA’s own, this class is for you. Designed for intermediate/advanced actors who are ready to grow, play, and be challenged.
About John Lavelle
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.
ACTIVATE: Voice & Movement
Instructor: Kim Griffin
What: Voice & Movement Class (limit 12 students)
When: Saturdays, 10:00am - 12:30pm (October 18, 25, November 1, 8)
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $300
Join award-winning actress (Dick Bunny, Comedy Central’s Cursed Friends), podcast host (Off the Fucking Rails), comic, coach, and educator Kim Griffin for a 4-Week Voice & Movement Class for actors to get in touch with, learn more about, and improve their knowledge and awareness of their instrument. Let's get out of our zoom squares, and back into our bodies. Come explore what happens before we get in frame. We will start with basic anatomy and physiology, incorporating release work and exercises meant to reduce and mitigate tension and stress. This class will be fun, playful, and a great workout for the mind and body...in a non-gym, welcoming, gooey kind of way! It isn't singing, and it's not dance—so come as you are, in clothes that provide proper coverage and allow you to utilize your full range of motion. Our work is suitable for all levels, and abilities—if you have access needs, please let us know. This class is about embracing what we have as actors, and finding ways to have fun and make dynamic character choices. Come frolic and reignite your sense of play! You will not be required to memorize anything for this class, and outside rehearsal/engagement with the material is optional.
About KIM GRIFFIN
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: Writing Workshop (limit 10 students)
When: Mondays, 6:00 - 9:00pm (October 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17)
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $350
Join playwright (Shiner, Redline), screenwriter (creator of Netflix’s The Stranded), classically trained actor (The Old Globe), and IAMA Ensemble Member and Basecamp Director Christian Durso for a 5-Week Writing Workshop 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 benchmark. Designed for early career writers of all mediums (plays, screenwriting, fiction) who want to upskill their craft, this course has five three-hour workshops (first two classes in person, final three on zoom) that will cover screenplay basics, story structure, outlining, writing from the inside out, and outside in, a unique method of using index cards to deck your story, pitching, and more. The limited class size makes it an intimate and safe space where writers can get helpful feedback and support for their work. End this year strong with a commitment to going all in on your draft in the new year!
About Christian Durso
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.
GROUND/FOCUS/CREATE: YOGA WORKSHOP
Instructor: COURTNEY SAULS
What: Yoga & Wellness Workshop (limit 12 students)
When: Saturday, December 6, 10:00am - 12:30pm
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $50
Join actress (Dear White People, The Chi), podcast host (The Universe Called), 500hr certified yoga instructor, and IAMA Ensemble member Courtney Sauls for an immersive, three-part Yoga & Wellness Workshop that blends yoga philosophy, journaling, movement, and meditation to reconnect you with your body, mind, and creative spirit. We’ll begin with Ground, anchoring ourselves through breath and movement to release stress and cultivate presence in a world that often pulls us to disconnect, and in an industry where it's difficult to stay committed to our joy. From there, we’ll move into Focus, using visualization and discussion to clarify what we want to create and explore ways to harness the mind’s power with intention. Finally, we’ll expand into Create, tapping into inspiration, flow, and self-expression to spark new possibilities. You’ll leave with simple, repeatable practices you can return to anytime you need grounding, clarity, or creative energy—tools to support both your well-being and your artistic purpose.
About COURTNEY SAULS
Courtney Sauls found yoga while she attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. As she journeyed through her acting adventures, which eventually led her to Los Angeles, yoga has been a constant anchor and expander. Understanding the great gifts that yoga offers to the creative piece in every human being and feeling the benefits of the practice personally so deeply, Courtney became a teacher in 2011. She is a 500hr E-RYT and teaches and mentors new teachers. The practice has allowed an unshakable sense of self as she continues to work in the industry. You can see her on Dear White People (Netflix), Brockmire (IFC), and The Chi (Showtime) and onstage specifically working with IAMA for many years. She also hosts a podcast The Universe Called about astrology and yoga.
