L.A. Acting Workshop graduate Doug Jones is enjoying success in Hollywood.
L.A. Acting Workshop’s next Original Backstage Tour will take place from Feb. 7, 2007, through Feb. 10, 2007, in Los Angeles, and will feature Hollywood actor and L.A. Acting graduate Doug Jones.

Jones has performed in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Hellboy, Hellboy II, Men in Black, Men in Black II, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stuck on You, and more.

A student at L.A. Acting during the 1980s, Jones worked with Philip Karr before moving to Hollywood.

 

L.A. Acting Workshop changed the dates of its 2007 Backstage Tour.
The tour provides actors exclusive access, insight and introductions to key entertainment professionals. In addition, participants are coached to audition live for top Los Angeles casting directors, talent agents and managers.

The new tour dates are Feb. 7, 2007, through Feb. 10, 2007. Registration is now open.

For more information, call (407) 876-0006 or visit www.laacting.com on the Web.

 

While in Los Angeles, participants of L.A. Acting Workshop’s Backstage Tour enjoy spending time on the set of Friends.

L.A. Acting Workshop announced plans for its seventh season of The Backstage Tour. Because of the popularity of previous tours, registration is almost full for the trip, which takes place April 20 through April 23.

The Backstage Tour provides actors the opportunity to experience live TV-show tapings, studio and back-lot tours, and hands-on seminars with professionals.

The highlight of the trip is an opportunity to audition for Hollywood managers, agents and casting directors. Previous attendees have been asked to sign for exclusive representation with top Los Angeles talent agents.

For more information, call Amy Allen at (407) 876-0006 or visit www.laacting.com on the Web.

 

Enjoying a cup of coffee on the set of the TV show Friends are L.A. Acting Workshop’s Backstage Tour participants (l. to r.) Leah Escoto, Sarah Allsup, Heath Butler and Ryanne Boring.

Opening Doors for Aspiring Actors & Actresses
by Toni Daylor

Lights! Camera! Action! Consider the magic of those words. What person has not watched a movie or TV-drama series and secretly thought, I wonder what it would be like …?

Whether these thoughts are a passing fancy or the expression of a heart’s desire, it is safe to say that most people are fascinated by the world of entertainment. Some, so consumed by the notion of stardom and convinced of their talent, are willing to sacrifice everything for a chance in front of the camera. However, reality can deal a hard lesson as evidenced by the number of aspiring actors waiting tables in Los Angeles or New York City, while pursuing their elusive “big break.”

Although talent and passion are undeniably the foundation upon which an actor stands, that is not always enough. Connections, training, experience, and — yes, it is worth saying again — connections, are the fuel that launch a successful career in the tough entertainment industry.

Enter L.A. Acting Workshop.

Under the direction of Windermere residents Philip Karr and Amy Allen Karr, L.A. Acting has played a major role in helping students reach for the stars for nearly 25 years.

Amy founded L.A. Acting Workshop in 1981, and it soon became recognized as one of the top acting schools in Los Angeles. In 1991, the couple moved the business to its current Southwest Orlando location to be closer to family and tap into the resources of what was touted as “Hollywood East.”


Amy Allen Karr and Philip Karr of Windermere, owners of L.A. Acting Workshop, are connected to a vast network of professionals that help launch successful careers in the entertainment industry.

The Karrs, seasoned and highly credentialed industry experts, bring an impressive resumé of accomplishments and accolades to the table. This, in turn, affords them access to a vast network of entertainment movers, shakers and decision-makers.

Amy received degrees in English, speech and drama from Boston University; a master’s degree in theatre arts from the California Institute of Arts; and is a graduate of the prestigious East 15 School of Acting in London.

She has performed professionally in theater, television and commercials, and maintains memberships in the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and Actors’ Equity Association.

Amy has won two coveted L.A. Drama Critics awards, acknowledged as the equivalent of a Tony Award on the local level.

In addition, Amy has taught theater-arts at the college level and worked in all facets of the entertainment community, including teaching, research, production, casting and administration.

Philip, the son of a stand-up comedian, was immersed in show business at a very young age, rubbing elbows with the likes of Red Buttons and Tiny Tim. He soon discovered his acumen for identifying and developing talent, which has translated into more than 30 years as an acclaimed entertainment professional.

As a prestigious talent agent in New York, Los Angeles and Orlando, Philip developed thousands of actors for TV series, feature films, commercials, and Broadway shows. His award-winning clients include John Travolta, Danny DeVito and Halle Berry, to name a few. He served as a personal manager and helped to create the careers of Heather Locklear, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Does one have to be of the caliber of John Travolta to enroll in classes at L.A. Acting Workshop? Absolutely not, the Karrs quickly contend.

Students, ages 3 through 70, walk through their doors for a myriad of reasons. Although some have set goals to work in the highly competitive acting market, many just recognize a passion and love for performance that yearns for expression. Regardless of the motive, all are ensured the highest level of training in a safe, nurturing, fun environment.

Realizing the important role “the arts” play in the development of children, L.A. Acting offers three specially designed programs for ages 3 to 18, as well as summer camp opportunities.

Only offered at its satellite campus at Montessori World, L.A. Acting Tiny Tots Theatre Workshop enables children between the ages of 3 and 6 to explore and inspire their imagination through singing, dancing and acting.

The full-service house of programs offered at the L.A. Acting studio, located at 1575 S. Maguire Road in Ocoee, include the L.A. Acting Youth Players, an after-school theater-enrichment program designed for children in grades kindergarten through fifth. Students learn the basics of acting and character development through creative storytelling, improvisation, scene and monologue work, theater-sports and games.

Students in grades six through 12, who join L.A. Acting Teen Players, learn stage and on-camera acting skills, audition techniques, improvisation, character development, and scene and monologue work for stage, television, film and commercials.

Adults learn and hone skills necessary to enter and compete in the professional acting arena through The Working Film Actor workshops. Additional adult classes incorporate voice training, stage performance, scene study, audition techniques, on-camera acting, musical theater, self-image, and more, to maximize each participant’s full potential.

Through the creation of two unique programs — The Backstage Tour and The Actor’s Co-op — L.A. Acting’s clients are further enabled to launch successful entertainment careers.

The Backstage Tour offers aspiring actors a real-life, behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood in action. In addition to guided tours and sightseeing jaunts, the apex of the experience-packed, four-day odyssey is the opportunity for participants to meet and audition for some of L.A.’s top talent agents, casting directors and managers. Again, this is possible through the relationships the Karrs have maintained throughout their professional careers.

“We get calls from our industry friends in L.A. asking when we will be bringing another group,” Amy said. “They look forward to seeing us because our actor showcases are well-prepared and presented very professionally.”

The Backstage Tour is conducted in April and October of each year.

Showcasing talent in person is definitely the preferred way to break into the business. Logistically, it is not feasible for someone living in Orlando to be available for auditions at the drop of a hat. For those wanting to stay competitive, yet unable to relocate to L.A. or New York, the Actor’s Co-op is the perfect solution.

Conceived by Philip, the Actor’s Co-op allows actors to audition for major industry roles without leaving Orlando. Using his vast professional network, Philip is able to offer clients the opportunity to read for lead roles in feature films, television pilots, soap operas, etc. Professionally recorded audition tapes are submitted directly to the casting professional. Among the many benefits of being in the co-op, members receive private coaching before the taping of each audition, giving them a distinct advantage over those who have a one-chance opportunity to read at the live audition.

L.A. Acting is a full-service house that offers programs for all levels and ages of aspiring actors. Three basic components — inspiration, training and enabling — are the embodiment of its philosophy.

“People generally knock on our door because they have a creative calling to fulfill — they are born with a desire or passion for acting,” Amy said. “Whether we help them be successful in a school play or land a role on a television series, we do it with the same high level of integrity and commitment.”

L.A. Acting Workshop is located at 1575 S. Maguire Road in Ocoee. Free introductory classes are offered. For more information, call (407) 876-0006 or visit www.LAActing.com on the Web.

 

Participants of L.A. Acting Workshop’s Backstage Tour take a breather in front of Sony Pictures Plaza during a recent trip to Los Angeles.

L.A. Acting Workshop, in association with Solitaire Entertainment, sponsored a Backstage Tour — an original, behind-the-scenes tour of the working entertainment industry in Los Angeles. Local actors had the opportunity to meet and audition for industry professionals who offered guidance, advice and insight into how to gain the competitive edge in Hollywood.

For more information about the next Backstage Tour, scheduled for Oct. 20 through Oct. 23, call (407) 876-0006 or visit www.laacting.com and www.backstagetour.com on the Web.

 

Participants of L.A. Acting Workshop’s Backstage Tour to Los Angeles gather for a group photo.


L.A. Acting Workshop, in association with Solitaire Entertainment, offers informational seminars about the Backstage Tour to Los Angeles the second week of every month, on Tuesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The tour enables actors to experience the many facets of the entertainment industry, including TV-show tapings, movie studio tours, and question-and-answer sessions with industry professionals. Attendees also can spend time with talent agents, managers and casting directors in a unique social setting that affords each actor the opportunity of a personal audition.

For more information, call Amy Allen at (407) 876-0006 or visit www.laacting.com on the Web.

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L.A. Acting Workshop began more than 20 years ago in Los Angeles with the purpose of training would-be actors. Under the collaborative efforts of Amy Allen, director, and Philip Karr, creative director, the workshop grew. Today, L.A. Acting Workshop is a full-service house offering turn-key solutions for actors of all ages. Their concept is threefold: offer the training and skills needed to prepare, inspire and encourage passion within, and offer the keys needed to open the door and make one’s dream a reality. Passion and inspiration are the driving force for success in the entertainment industry.

To help make success a reality, L.A. Acting Workshop developed The Backstage Tour, a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the Hollywood-acting scene. Now embarking on its third year, the tour has inspired many local actors to pursue their dreams while also providing a realistic look at the obstacles that may lie in their paths. Aside from guided tours and sightseeing, the “jewel” in The Backstage Tour’s crown is the opportunity to audition live in front of some of Hollywood’s finest talent agents, casting directors and managers. These professionals offer guidance, advice and insight into the workings of the industry. Participants not only receive the opportunity to showcase their talents, but are also given time to network with the people who can make a difference in their careers. For more information about upcoming Backstage Tours — Oct. 14 through Oct. 16 and Feb. 12 through Feb. 14 — call (407) 876-0006.

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L.A. Acting Workshop, in association with Solitaire Entertainment, announced the dates of the third and fourth seasons of The Backstage Tour. The tour includes a trip to Los Angeles that provides actors opportunities to meet and audition for industry professionals and gain valuable insight about developing a rewarding acting career. Attending actors also experience live TV-show tapings, studio tours, back lots, and hands-on seminars. The highlight of the trip is when participants audition live for Hollywood managers, agents and casting directors. The July 2003 tour was rewarding for the attendees, with a strong number of talent being asked to sign for exclusive representation with top Los Angeles talent agents. In addition, two actors extended their stays to interview and audition for the soaps Guiding Light and Port Charles.

The upcoming winter session will take place Feb. 12, 2004, through Feb. 14, 2004, and the fall session will be Oct. 14, 2004, through Oct. 16, 2004. Anyone wanting more information is encouraged to visit www.backstagetour.com on the Web.

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L.A. Acting Workshop, in association with Solitaire Entertainment Inc., opened registration for The Backstage Tour. The original behind-the-scenes tour of the working entertainment industry in Los Angeles gives actors the opportunity to meet professionals and learn more about developing a real and successful acting career. Most actors living in Los Angeles today are not represented and find it difficult to even get an appointment with an agent. Many travel there unprepared to compete with the enormous pool of actors.

The highlight of The Backstage Tour is the opportunity for the attendees to audition for industry professionals, one-on-one, in a professional setting. Additionally, workshops and seminars with Hollywood managers, agents and casting directors allow participants to gain valuable information about the television and film industry. Actors also experience actual TV-show tapings, studio tours, back lots, invitational film screenings at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and more.

This year’s event takes place June 28 through July 2. Registration ends shortly, so those interested are encouraged to sign up soon. For more information, visit www.LAActing.com or www.backstagetour.com on the World Wide Web or call (407) 876-0006.

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