I DO NOT recommend any person of color or anyone who identifies as a minority takes this class. This instructor has a history of making micro-aggressive, prejudice, defaming, derogatory, inappropriate, unprofessional comments to students however I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt and make my own decision.After only two weeks, I decided to withdraw from her comedy-intensive class. Ive never experienced such direct, blatant, and callous disrespect in any of my classes (Ive been acting for 10+ years). Her remarks are disheartening, stressful, insensitive, and completely inappropriate. I attempted to speak with her about her behavior several times, however, I was quickly dismissed.She humiliated, embarrassed, and defamed my character. I had students reach out to me from class via text and email stating what she did to me was wrong and unprofessional.Since then my emails have been ignored and I wasn’t issued a refund. But I found her on my IG watching all of my stories but no response to my emails.Her callous disrespect caused me to question my ability in comedy, causing severe anxiety that I addressed with a therapist. After speaking to my licensed counselor, I realized that I was not wrong for feeling offended by her remarks or behaviors, but, unfortunately, I am still suffering from the aftermath.No one should feel personally attacked or discriminated against in a class that they PAID to attend. I expect the same level of respect and courtesy gave to the other students. It is ridiculous that I have to leave a negative review warning others to stay away for the sake of their wellbeing, and future career opportunities.

My home away from home. I love everything about this place. Highly recommend LK Studios to any actor that truly wants to be better in their craft and feel confidant in their work. I have grown so much as an actor and really owe it to what I have learned here. The hard work you put in from attending on-going classes, to rehearsing etc...will pay off! Lesly and all the teachers are truly dedicated, care so deeply about what they do and are very supportive. An incredibly wonderful community, family of actors, that I am deeply grateful for.

I just wanted to stop for a second and give credit where credit is due!! I appreciate you and what you do! Your approach was what I needed and i got it when I needed it !! (Which by no means , means Im done learning) I have love for you and am grateful for the confidence and support I received from you and your teachers in class! AND I have to say thanks for creating such an amazing environment, the relationships I built have been so crucial to not only my feeling at home in la but also to my career through support and rehearsal partners I trust!I just want you to know I recognize what you do and I am thankful!!.... And ill be back soon!Nikki Bell

Hands down this place has made me a better actor. I feel confident when I enter an audition room because of everything they teach us. If you want to elevate your career you need to be going to a class on a weekly basis and Im so glad I chose to go here.

I cannot thank you enough for the past two weeks.A) You were completely 100% spot on about everything you said in your triage.B) I received more useful help from your studio than I have from everywhere else combined..C) you reached out to me when I legitimately couldnt otherwise afford to be there.I owe you huge and plan on coming back in September

Thank you Lesly!I had such a blast at triage and left with so much great insight, information and new friends. AND, I am so happy to have found YOU. You are just what I need right now in my acting journey and training with you is going to be the most valuable and pivotal in my career. I cant wait for the intensive to start in June!!!!Thanks for introducing us to Calisi, also! She brings so much sunshine and smiles to the triage room, and that little girl is so lucky to have a mama like you.Is June here yet?

Lesly, I just wanted to thank you (and your TAs) again for sharing your knowledge with me. The quality and quantity of what you taught is simply amazing. I feel so much more confident after learning your techniques, I cant wait to implement them in upcoming auditions. I know there is still a long ways to go in mastering these techniques, but I will continue to practice them until I do. Ill be sure to say hi when I come back for the clinic in May. Thanks again, you are the best!

Ive been on and off here for years and I love it. Ideally would like to be there continuously. Dont be confused with the soft laxed atmosphere, cause you will be made to work and there will be expectations to get out there and get employment and results. I plan to return to classes there soon. Also, theres parking.

A good friend of mine referred me to the classes at the Lesly Kahn Institute. My friend had encountered a drastic improvement in her career after taking classes there herself. Knowing my frustrating in being stuck behind a wall, of sorts, in my own career, she suggested I follow her lead and begin studying there.Ive thus far completed the comedic intensive but, based on that class alone, I will be eagerly going into clinic next month with plans for on-going after that. The intensive was everything Id hoped it would be, and just as hard as Id suspected, if not harder. It was a mountain of information, rehearsal, and deconstruction that I loved climbing, despite the stress that came with it.Lesly has a directness and honesty that allows you to trust what she says, even when its hard to hear, and also holds what I would consider a genius level of insight into every actor that comes in front of her. She can see the blocks in the road of the performance and will immediately cause you to confront them and start breaking through them.Shes patient and open to your thoughts and feelings, but also has no tolerance for bullshit. Youre there to work, so youre going to WORK. No matter what level of career stature or talent you are, she works with you just as hard and will coach you just as enthusiastically.During one particularly rough class for me, she saw the misery on my face and called me out on it. She listened to all my feelings and said they were all valid, but didnt let it lie there. She zeroed in on the root of my frustration, forced me to get on my feet and work through it, and I felt good by the end of the session. Thats all I could want. A lesser teacher wouldnt have been in-tune to my interior stress or have the knowledge to process it the way she did. Lesly is, to use a worn-out yet incredibly appropriate word, amazing.

If you want to get serious about working in television, you need to study with Lesly Kahn! The intensive course turns your life upside down and is a welcome punch in the arm to anyone who dreams of being a series regular. Les really cares about actors, is a fantastic teacher and knows how to bring out the best in anyone. Shes one part nurturer, one part butt kicker and all parts awesome! Her teachers and staff are incredible and know what it takes to be brilliant out here. The question is: can you keep up? If youre thinking about taking a class here, stop thinking about it and just.do.it.already!!!

WOOOOWWW! Just finished the comedy intensive with Lesly and all I can say is:Insights were jumping off the page in new and more crystal clear ways during the class and rehearsals. Leslys technique and expertise shows actors how they fit into each scene/project and how these projects have been so aptly designed. Realized and owned (more) that it is our JOB to be brilliant in what we do so that the other players and the project WINS.Correct steps in the right direction ....amidst a sea of falling (dare to suck!:)Ms. Kahn, youre pretty brilliant! Thank you for sharing your gifts with us.

An awesome experience. I learned an insane amount, especially since this was my first time Ive ever taken an acting class or acted. The instructors were passionate and supportive throughout.The class was both fun and engaging in addition to being immensely informative. Cant wait to take clinic.

Hey Lesly - just wanted to say Hi and let you know that the other day I had my first theatrical audition since taking your class. It was the first time I walked out of an audition and didnt hate myself. I was very happy with the way it went and I knew that if they didnt choose me it was only because I didnt fit some physical characteristic they were looking for. I didnt care if I got it or not - I was really happy with my choices and felt great about the audition. Just wanted to let you know. I used everything you taught me. Thank you very much. oh and also - I just found out that I booked it.... so thats good too.Thanks to you and your staff.Jon Huck

I LOVED taking the comedy intensive class at Lesly Kahn! It truly was an amazing experience! I met some wonderful people and worked with some great coaches and I cannot wait to continue to take classes there in the fall!

Hi Lesly,Hope you are well and that you are continuing to inspire actors. You may not remember me but I took your Comedy Intensive along with a couple of other classes a while back. Since then, Ive been out in the world, doing plays, writing, producing and of course acting. Generally staying actively positive. I have studied with other teachers as well as learned by doing but I must acknowledge that I have been applying what I learned from you the most. For every single audition regardless of the genre. Using thoughts before and after lines.While most award winning actors seem to forget to thank their teachers and mentors as they achieve new wins. I am making it a practice to express my gratitude to all who contributed to my success. So, this will happen in public on the day I win my first award but for the time being, I wanted to acknowledge your influence on my recent career high.I have recently booked a guest star role on a pilot episode and I cant help but think that I owe a huge portion of that achievement to what you taught me.So, thank you so much my Jewish Fairy Godmother (if you recall being dubbed that during our Intensive). I am very grateful to have stopped at your corner of the world and hope I will again soon.

Lesly Kahn is a game changer. She employs a liberating dare to suck motto that will help you remove the judgment of your acting and just do the work. Shes blunt, hilarious and will make you take off that blind fold and examine your acting in a technical way to transform old habits and start new ones. Ive yet to find a teacher as deeply committed to her students as she is.

Lesly Kahn & Company is a game changer. I took the Comedy Intensive and everything she said was something I needed to hear. Whether it was rehearsing every day to getting your mind and body healthy; everything opened up so many doors in my mind. During the intensive I had a few personal problems pop up but instead of letting it get me down, I went and rehearsed or did couch time. It felt awesome! Focusing on becoming a better actor every day has really helped me. Having a specific technique to rehearse and apply feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders. I can not recommend Lesly Kahn enough.

Lesly I wanted to take a moment and just say thank you for creating the possibility of auditioning for Dont Tell Mama.Had you not mentioned to me in class and posted on the blog Id never have known. Preparation for the audition all the way to waking up at 4 in the morning towarm up my vocal pipes to go sing was just a miracle. I had such a blast waiting in line getting to listen to the other vocalist sing while they wait. Being surroundby beautiful voices at 6 am kinda awesome. No matter the outcome I got to be reallllllyy happy, the kinda happy showtunes can bring, for a few hrs.Thank youLoveB

Hi Lesly,Just wanted to send along a quick thank you. I loved, loved LOVED the comedy intensive and everyone in it. Thanks for putting together such a great group of actors (and now friends!).I had a big (and last minute) pilot audition today and, despite only having a few hours to prepare, I felt KAHNfident and present, with thoughts galore!Thanks again!xox,K

Fact: I did not book work until I had my triage with LK. Aside from what is taught here, there is a success environment I havent seen anywhere else that drives the actors here to book, which is one of the points in being in LA, right? :)Anyways, I wanted to write a quick review about one of the audition coaches here (feel free to message me if you want to know his name!):He makes you feel more excited about acting and about yourself, which is a great state to be in before you walk in an audition room. I can literally feel my BATs (bad actor thoughts) melt away when I coach with him!

Second week into clinic with Kristy and Im already feeling the results. Not seeing, feeling. I learned how important it is to actually watch TV, research producers/directors and find out what is casting now and in the near future. Im going from not knowing what is on TV to actually watching and understanding where I fit in all of it. Super helpful!

Taking the Comedy Intensive has been a life changing experience creatively, and has been an incredible experience seeing every Actor in the Comedy Intensive grow after each rehearsal and class. Thank you for providing a wonderful environment for Actors!!

Hello Lesly,Thanks so much! I enjoyed meeting you and left feeling very inspired. I have been burnt out due to personal and career tragedies over the past year. With the amount of time, energy and money invested so far it would seem wise to many to leave the business. That has never been an option for me since Acting has always been my outlet. You mentioned that i have to find the pain in comedy. With the passion behind all your words yesterday and the dose of reality that i was being hit with, it finally clicked!I have been in and out of class and never understood just how comedy could be built from the same foundation. I always thought that heightened state of being came from somewhere false. It is so much clearer and i am excited to continue on this journey and peel away the layers to be ready to book!Thanks so much! xx Jaret (fellow pisces)

Being latin isnt a look nor aesthetic, you apologise but dont mean it. Saying sorry is simply a courtesy.

I have been improvising on stage for over 12 years and know the value of good listening and strong thoughts, however Lesly Kahn & Co. helped solidify it in a way that was so crystal clear and helpful for the medium of television.I was recently reading Alan Arkins memoir, An Improvised Life and there was a passage that was directly related to the work we did with Lesly and I thought I would share it...I remember Carol Burnett telling me that shed been invited by Dr. Thelma Moss, a professor at UCLA, to try an experiment in the Kirlian Aura Lab. Carol was asked to place her hand on a photographic plate. A picture was taken by some technique that showed an aura around the hand, and apparently each persons aura is unique. Carol was then asked to do a series of photographs where she was to think just think of herself as each of about a half-dozen of the characters she was known for. On every occasion the resulting photograph was significantly different from either Carols personal imprint or those of her other characters. When Dr. Moss looked at the photographs she described, in detail, the emotional life of the characters that Carol was thinking of at the time. Carol said that in each case her description of the character was spot on. This was a pretty graphic demonstration of how thought, and the way we think of ourselves, becomes a dynamic that influences our many systems, and in many different ways, onstage and in life as well.-Alan Arkin, An Improvised Life

Lesly Kahn (known fondly to her students as Les) is a warm yet tough acting coach and teacher. She knows audition technique like nobodys business and, in in this biz, thats saying a lot. She knows why actors book and why they dont and she is laser focused in her evaluations of your work. Put bluntly, ACTORS NEED THIS WOMAN if they want to book more jobs.She and her able staff teach you to have no fear and take chances in her classes so you can fall on your face in a safe environment -- and thus learn the much needed techniques to go out there with her tactics and newfound bravery and soar creatively.Additionally, she has created a community of actors who actively support one another -- which is rare indeed in Hollywood -- I have met some of my best friends within the walls of her little house/institute.One of the traits that impresses me most about Les is that she is exacting in her evaluations of her students. She demands the best work from them and subsequently, she will not send an actor out into the world or onto an advanced class if they are not “ready for prime-time”. That is particularly important because I know that when she recommends an actor (to casting, agents or even to me for a pre-screened workshop), there is integrity behind her endorsement. I have a great deal of respect for that in an industry which often doles out “likes” and kudos loosely. And because I am doggedly aligned in terms of this precept, I assure you that my high recommendation of her is given wholeheartedly with the same level of integrity.And shes a screamingly funny lady to boot :)

Significant lessons are continuously being instilled at Lesly Kahn & Co - Lesly creates and facilitates an environment of incredible support and trust; to be at her Company is to be growing as an actor and as a person

I live in SF, and desperately long for an Acting school like Leslys, but sadly - it doesnt exist. To get my fix, I had a half-hour coaching session over the web with Kristy Sexton.I have to admit that I was initially dubious about meeting with someone via Skype. I didn’t think I’d be able to connect with a pixilated, talking head. I’m thrilled to say that I couldn’t have been more wrong.Kristy was polite, professional, and most importantly – such a great teacher! Technology did not stop us from having a super effective, fun session. In just 30 minutes, she honed in on the key moments of the scene and gave me notes that improved my performance immediately. She gave me tools that I will use, not only for my shoot this weekend, but for the duration of my acting career.I just can’t say enough great things about Kristy, and want to thank the fine folks at LK & Co. for connecting me with such a superb coach.

Lesly Kahn & Company, I wanted to let you know that I did an agent showcase and I received excellent reviews from all three agents. They all said I had excellent timing and that I was very funny and right on the money. I signed with Aqua Talent-Courtney Peldon.I wanted to thank you because Ive grown so much from being in your class & Trishas. I will continue to work hard.That same day I had a meeting with a major Producer from a major Production Company and his Senior V.P. The Producer knows how hard Ive been working and he set the meeting up. His feed back was that I had a wonderful confidence and presence and that he was impressed with my acting. Again, thanks to you because you have taught us how to enter a room and how to interact with producers/directors/casting dir. etc.The Producer said he wants to help me get work! Thank you so much!!!.Alena Mekelburg

I want to say a personal thank you to you (Lesly) for what you do/are doing for actors in Los Angeles.Before coming to your studio I studied theatre at Northwestern and a HOST of other studios (6 in the Los Angeles area). Honestly, I avoided yours because Id heard about the no-shoe-rule and I didnt understand it. I now see it as an integral part of what you do.I was intimidated by the intensives schedule and was very apprehensive about it being possible - let alone beneficial.Having now finished the intensive, I see a bit of your whole picture as a teacher, mentor and leader. You REALLY know how to bring people together. You know how to make them feel comfortable and in a safe environment. You know how to make acting an art, not a chore or a frustration or a anxiety producing job. You know what it is to create a team of people who are comrades - not adversaries. And you know how to allow us to translate it all to the world outside your studio.I see now that I was born with a few tools in my toolbox, added a few more in college and at other studios. I learned how to properly use a few of those tools and to toss a few out that were old and crusty. And then, there you went and dumped out the toolbox - forced me to really examine even the box itself and gently (sometimes not so gently) - placed in an updated container - exactly the right amount of tools - and taught me how to figure out which ones to use for precisely which job. You also gave me a few and didnt tell me how to use them - but taught me how to FIGURE OUT how to use them on my own.I severely underestimated you. I thought a teacher was just a director outside of a set. I didnt realize that a true teacher not only asks you questions to let you come up with your own answers - a teacher teaches YOU to ask the questions for yourself.In this town, when many people feel like they are drifting from one school of thought to another, one be-all-end-all rule to another, one group of advisers to another - you really taught us that there is a beacon. And its all right there in that script and inside of us… already. You taught us to band together and created a team. You gave us resources to hang on to when we begin to feel that drift again. You gave us mantras and positive thoughts that we ourselves wrote. You gave us tools applicable for every single difficulty we will face in this insane tidal wave that is our chosen career path.I now feel prepared to handle my marketing, my first auditions, my callbacks, my waiting room anxiety, my rehearsals, my mirror anxiety, my car anxiety, my post-audition disappointed thoughts, my director notes, my blocking notes, AND my performance. All in two weeks. My mind is blown.I feel inspired, not just as an actor, but as a person in the world. I feel privileged, and no longer ashamed, to have chosen this career.Im so excited to continue trying out all my tools in my brand-spankin new toolbox!Thank you for all the incredible radiance you add to this business and this town, every single day.

Firstly, I could go on for pages about how I had a fabulous time in your intensive! Everyone should know just how marvelous LK&Co are: mountains worth of marvelous!This company provides not just a class, not just a technique, but a comprehensive review of where you are and what tools you need to create/discover/use more to get further along in your career -while also figuring out how YOUR life in LA works! I plan to get right on all of that; shaking off dirt and taking one more step again and again. My priority is different than everyone elses in my class, but we were all taught to identify the next step and take it. Plus, being part of the LK&Co community gives you the nurturing basis for your artsy right brain, and the practical/network-able options for your businessy right brain.This review mentions just the tip of the iceberg of all the wonderfulness that Lesly and her crew are doing. If you want to get a grip on your acting career, check them out for yourself.

I took Tylers intensive in December The Last Intensive Ever was our group name and I just wanted to share how it changed my acting career and my life (as dramatic as that sounds). Tyler went around the room discussing what our headshots gave off and what our presence in the room also made us seem like to people I looked through the list and thought is any of this true to who I am and if so why. Anything that could seem negative I related to something I was personally dealing with. With that being said I shaved off the negative energy in my life. In turn that made me a happier person and that also helped me as an actress by instilling a confidence in me I never had before. He then went on to say that creating a little family of support out here in LA with friends really does make a difference. I thought about this hard and long and in the intensive I was in I had bonded well with so many of my classmates that now I can say two of them I see on a daily basis and a good chunk of them and I are all working on web series projects together just to stay active and busy.Then came the day of log lines...after receiving my log line I now had a clear idea of what I was selling as an actress. I have a friend who referred me to meet his manager for possible representation. The manager told my friend that he wasnt going to sign me because he had a lot on his plate but that he would meet with me to maybe refer me to his friends. I met with Gary (the manager) and we just sat and talked. He asked what I have been up to and I told him about my experience at Lesly Kahns studio and how it changed me. I dropped ever so slightly in the conversation I learned so much about myself going there. They taught me how to analyze scripts in a way I never would have. I got this awesome log line about myself and I even figured out what kind of vibe Im giving off in an audition room. It was phenomenal. Gary was so intrigued he replied with Whats a log line? I then went on to tell him and he loved it! I told him my goals..the CDs I wanted to meet and why. The shows I would be a perfect fit for. I gave him options with my different headshots. Then he asked me about myself and instead of going on and saying all these actor type responses like I love to write, I do improv, Im into reading Neil Labute plays for fun I remembered that he was interviewing me as a person and not just an actress. So I told him how I make a mean guacamole and I have won a few contests, I work as a summer camp counselor over in Santa Monica and I teach kids how to boogie board and make intense sand castles. I went on to tell him I am the worst at any sport and I blame it on my parents for buying me glasses that were too big for my face which made me awkward on the soccer field at school. I told him that I speak Spanish and Italian so to keep the languages fresh in my head I watch foreign films when it rains and I dont want to leave home. By the end of the meeting Gary signed me and said he felt that he knew me better than most of his clients.I tell everyone I meet that the best investment I ever made in LA was taking the Comedy Intensive over at Leslys studio. I tell everyone that even when my BATs start to get to me I have Tyler’s voice in my head whispering back my GATs. Thanks to the Lesly Kahn studio in a month I got a manager, new roommates, great friends, my writers block was broken and I finished the season of a series I am writing but most of all I am alive again. I was reminded why I moved here and what I had to offer. I was reminded that I am unique and that is a beautiful thing.Tyler was so open and taught us all to let our guard down. He truly inspired me to keep going and not give up. He is an amazing teacher but most of all a wonderful person. Lelsy Kahns studio didnt just challenge the actress in me to step up her game instead it woke me up from my slum. They breathed life into me again and I am grateful for that every single day.