"I'm
not one to create profiles for myself on networking sites so you
see me going through the bother now for the sole purpose of giving
Andrew Utter's acting classes 5 stars, thereby encouraging anyone
and everyone interested in learning a simple yet profound technique
for improving the quality of your performance to check out this rich,
intense, eye-opening, fun, exhausting, exhilarating experience for
yourselves. I'm getting so much out of my first 10-week session that
I've already signed up for the next and will no doubt keep going
after that.
I have never seen a group of people progress so much from class to class; Andrew
gets stuff out of you that you were never quite sure was in there.
I am very picky and cautious about whose hands I will place myself
in but after the first class I could tell I'd come to the right place;
I felt both challenged and safe--not always a natural combination!
If you, as I do, prefer to be taught by an individual rather than
an institution, and are looking for that individual to be focused,
passionate, surprising, demanding, smart, dedicated, confident and
creative, then you may have found him. I'm very much looking forward
to going to the next level of my acting with Andrew as my guide."
---Laura Wachtel, Actor, completed 3 class cycles
"Andrew is the real deal! I've been around professional theater and film acting for 10 years, my daughter is a professional actor, I've been in all the major LA studios and up close watching directors work with actors as they film scenes for highly rated TV shows. What Andrew is teaching is the most effective training and directing I've ever seen. Andrew has the knowledge, experience, and practice to help any actor improve and succeed in acting. Andrew is gifted at helping you (the actor) find your way to communicating and connecting with your scene environment, your scene partner, and ultimately your audience. His class requires hard work because that's what it takes to be good at the craft of acting. A significant out of class rehearsal and development effort is needed if you're going to get the most out of the class. Like high performing athletes, the performance time is really just where you show everyone what you've been doing in practice, so lots of rehearsal time is required. That's just the reality of doing anything well. I will take his class again!---Bill Fehr, Actor
"I
studied at the Mother of Invention Acting School for two years,
and my work as an actor improved exponentially. The
heart and soul of Mother of Invention is Andrew Utter. In him,
I found a brilliant, creative, and dedicated acting teacher who
was concerned with helping actors live truthfully
in the fictional world of the play. He was the first to
arrive and the last to leave class; if an actor encountered a
problem of text or character, Andrew would devise an exercise,
on the spot, that would help the actor navigate the scene; and
he's incredibly well-read, well-educated, and erudite. But what
separates Andrew's class from other acting classes in the Bay
Area, is the technique he imparts. Simple in concept but complex
and profound in practice, the technique
clears away the extraneous details and gets
to the heart of drama and character. Warning: this class
is not for the faint of heart; you must be dedicated to the craft!
The dilettante, poser, or neurotic need not apply."
--Dawn Scott, Actor (completed
6 class cycles, admitted to the National Theater Conservatory's
MFA program with full scholarship)
"What's great about Andrew's class is that it gives you the tools -- both
in the classroom and outside -- to truly discover the characters you play, and
to breathe life into them. He also kicks your ass, in the best sort of way."
--Diane
Karagienakos, Director
of the Feature Film Come
Fly With Me Nude (completed 4 class cycles)
"Andrew Utter's class is what most Los Angeles Acting classes are not: Technique based rather than self-indulgent emotion based. He teaches actors to take the focus off themselves and onto the other person, to get the other person to give them what they want, to get the other person to feel something. The actor becomes active, and immediately captivating.
It's a rigorous class, filled with readings and big ideas, but it's grounded in techniques that will set your guts on fire and get you to start really acting , instead of just faking it really well. There is something revolutionary in his technique and it will put you above all other actors in L.A.--J.B.
Waterman, Actor, completed 3 class cycles
Additional: Click for Video Testimonials
"I have been studying with Andrew
since October of 2004 and am currently enrolled in the
fifth round of classes. I have found the technique he
teaches to be very practical and powerful. I have found
the classes to be full and packed with information. Andrew's
dedication, passion, intensity, and sincerity are remarkable. He
is extremely bright and his command of literature (dramatic
and beyond) is vast. His belief in what he teaches comes out
whenever he speaks and his desire to really have his students
learn and use the technique is genuine, though he will not force
it out of them. He requires that they do their homework. He
will lead them down the path and encourage them as much as possible
to really invest themselves in the technique, but will not micro-manage
their work."--Jay
Kiecolt-Wahl, Actor, Graduate, Northwestern University Department
of Theatre, 2004 (completed 7 class cycles)
"As a writer, I had been long looking for an acting class that would
open up my creative and narrative impulses in a way that was fresh and
provocative, and I feel fortunate to have come upon Andrew's class. He
starts from the ground up, giving students a secure foundation in
Stanislavsky technique (though he knows and discusses many other
approaches as well) which is imperative for a novice like myself, but
still useful and necessary for more experienced actors.
The best element of the class, and the one I found most exciting from
the first day to the last, is the fact that students work on one scene
throughout the entire ten weeks. Rarely is it the case in any setting
that you are allowed to commit so much time and energy to one thing in
an effort to continue discovering and improve your approach. You get two and a half
months really to explore character, situation, history, objective
instead of giving a scene a passing glance and never getting to return
to it. It allows the opportunity for relationships to form between
actors and between actor and script, and it was a journey from which I
felt I could extrapolate so much for writing. For anyone ready to dig
deep into their real potential as a performer and as a creative
person, it is an ideal class to take.."--Tara Tyson, Writer
"I've taken two cycles of Andrew Utter's acting
class and am quite happy to recommend it to others.
The class combines reading, lecture and scene study,
and weekly exercises to provide a comprehensive exploration
of the techniques that Andrew has collected and developed. For those
of you who have taken acting classes before, you may find that some
of what the class offers is familiar, however, Andrew brings a unique
approach to actor/character development and objective which is unlike
anything I have experienced in my travels through the acting world.
And hey, the price is right!
This class is suitable for beginning and experienced actors alike, but it is
not for the faint of heart. The reading is voluminous,
the scenes are challenging, and the instruction can
at times be intense. But I assure you that if you are
willing to put in the work you will be rewarded. If you are interested
in taking up acting, or learning some new methods for thinking about
your work as an actor, Andrew's class may be the way to go. Think
about it..." --Katie
Vroom, actor (completed 2 class cycles)
"As
a playwright, I chose to work with Andrew because I
wanted to deal with my insecurities as a ?non-actor? who works often
with actors. But over the course of the cycle, I found
myself writing new scripts with questions from class echoing in my
mind: ?How will
I particularize her? What is her path? What are her
vulnerabilities?? Surprisingly,
Andrew's class not only helped me as an actor, but also
as a writer-- since studying with him, I have begun
to understand my characters? inner
fears and desires with greater compassion and insight.
I look forward to beginning my next script, and carrying
these lessons with me as I grow as an artist." --Melissa
Koh, playwright (completed 1 class cycle)
"I'm on my fourth session of MOI acting class and
I think it's great! 
Andrew's class is both technically
and conceptually strong and the scenes studied are
continuously unique, surprising, and complex. The rehearsal
process is always engaging and challenging for students
of all levels. Being a visual artist by profession,
the class has helped me create a dialogue between the
visual and performing arts. It's really exciting to be able to apply
the concepts learned in Andrew's to a studying a scene and then turn
around and apply the same ideas the the painting process. The class
has encouraged me to be more experimental and bold in my work in both
acting and in painting, leading me to identify myself as an artist
in a broader sense."--Kristin
Lerner, actor (completed 3 class cycles)
"I
spent 2 sessions (20 weeks) working with Andrew Utter, and am
now coming back for a third. How I think as an actor, how I approach
the text, my partner, has forever changed. Thankfully. The process
can be very challenging, even frustrating at times, but Andrew
consistently breaks down the goals of the acting technique, which
he learned at Yale, into useful tools and manageable bits. They
eventually have a nice way of getting in and your work becomes
much more honest and grounded. Andrew is totally committed to
his students. His heart is in the art, not
the buck." --Nancy Bower, Actress (completed
3 class cycles)
"Andrew's class challenged everything
that I had previously understood about acting. From day-one Andrew teaches
his students how to analyze and imagine the circumstances
that give birth to a character, and how
to live and play truthfully under those circumstances
so that a character takes flight. I was engrossed
from the start, so much so that my
interest in acting evolved from a casual activity to a
serious creative challenge.
Andrew's coaching method is magically effective, so at the end of the evening
class students are visibly invigorated. Classes are always both intense and enlightening. Andrew's
teaching method is unique and not for the faint of heart. But for those who are
looking for skills that will set you apart from all the other actors out there
- talent that will command the attention of casting directors and audiences, Andrew
Utter's classes are the investment to make."-- Joan
Rooney, Actor (completed 3 class cycles)
"Andrew's
process provides a palpable approach to
discovering a character's soul. He provides the rungs
on the acting ladder and dares you to climb. His readings,
lectures and exercises help you see the clear path to a true and
meaningful performance. I am taking the class for the third time and
still feel challenged consistently. My rehearsal process
has never been more stimulating."
--Jeremy
Mascia, Actor, (completed 4 class cycles)
"I
am now in my third 10-week cycle with Andrew.
This is a clear testimony that I think his work is important
and powerful.
I sought out Andrew's class after struggling to get a one-person show off the
ground in the face of my own fairly
deep-seated performance anxiety.
Working with Andrew has not only given me tools that are helping me focus and
enter the character so much more fully, so that my anxiety level
has dropped quite noticeably . . . it has also shown
me how to mine a script for its deepest stories, and its most
fruitful objectives for myself as actor.
Rank beginner (like I was) or polished professional, I think you will gain immeasurably
by this work."--Kurt Kuhwald, Actor (completed 3 class cycles)
"I like Andrew's class because we work to find the beauty, depth, and love in the characters, story, and scenes. It is much more enriching on a personal level, besides doing justice to the material. The work we do brings life to our acting by connecting ourselves and the audience to real characters and a real story. It is hard to find that truth with other acting methods, at most you might stumble upon it; with Andrew, it is the focus of our efforts. " --Carolyn Avery, Actor (completed
2 cycles of Essentials and Advanced Workshop)
"As
an actor, I want to be an active, creative participant in the
theatrical process-- not just a voice and body 'being directed'.
I needed to create characters and be alive on stage. These are
the goals that Andrew and I share. I have discovered how to make
powerful and effective choices--and most excitingly - I understand
how I am getting to those powerful choices! Each session abounds with
"A-ha!" moments as I continue to grow as an artist."
--Cassie
Powell, Actress (completed 5 class cycles)
"As
a longtime student of acting, I am thrilled to have found Andrew
Utter?s class. I have been studying with Andrew for nine months
now and it has taken my acting to a whole new level. He imparts
a practical technique that clarifies and deepens the actor?s work:
making it honest from moment to moment and compelling. His technique
has completely revolutionized how I think about acting, how I
work with other actors, and how I approach a role. He is passionate
about helping actors develop their talents; and I always
walk away from his class feeling invigorated. If you are
serious about your acting, you need to take this class." --Jennifer
Jajeh, Actress and Independent Filmmaker (completed 5 class cycles)
"I
have my own computer consulting business, which I started in 1988.
A couple of years ago, I started performing in community theatre.
Recently I decided to get some quality training in the craft of
acting. I began taking classes from Andrew Utter at the Mother
of Invention Acting School. Andrew's teaching has had a surprise
benefit. I've found that since I began studying with him, I have
become better at my business. The things Andrew teaches are helping
me to be a better consultant. I am more focused and aware of my
client's needs and "hot" issues. Lately, many clients have remarked
at how I seem to anticipate what is most important to them. I
am a more focused and effective communicator all round."
--Christopher Milne, Actor and Consultant (completed 2 class cycles)
"I
signed up for Andrew's class on a whim-- having found out about
it by chance on a local San Francisco website. I was fresh out
of college; and my only experience with acting had been minimal,
from my years as a music student studying opera, so I had no idea
what to expect. What impressed me most throughout the course of
the class was the level of involvement that was expected of the
students. Andrew expected us to read the play thoroughly several
times, to examine it in detail, and to spend a good deal of extra
time thinking about our characters and rehearsing. I
was astonished at what he was able to get out of me. In
the end, Andrew's method of teaching had virtually eliminated
my normally severe performance anxiety. I left San Francisco shortly
after the course ended, but had I stayed I would definitely have
taken the class again. I would recommend Andrew's class to anyone
who is serious about acting as a career, or just for fun."
--Luette Saul, Actress(completed 1 class cycle)
"I'm
in my third cycle of Andrew's class, and I'm really getting a
lot out of it. The first time I took the class, there was so
much to absorb that a lot of it went over my head, but in the
second cycle it started to make sense. I'm still new enough
that it's difficult to explain exactly what I'm getting, but
let me try. In addition to improving my
acting skills, I'm noticing differences in my life. This
technique is all about giving and receiving with the other people
on stage.
I used to think acting was all about me. Now I'm beginning to
notice other people more at work, and on the sidewalk, and everywhere
in my life. It's truly wonderful." --Sue Loiseau, Actor (completed 4 class cycles)
