This studio was created and has continued flourishing because my mother made every mistake when she thought I was cute enough to model and do commercials. When I was five, she attempted to get me an agent and get me into the “biz.” I was cute and very animated. What she did not consider was my shy personality (only around others.)

Everyone told us I reminded them of Brooke Shields when I was young. She thought, “Why not give it a shot? She didn’t even think about what college would cost, so she thought I’d have a leg up on tuition if I booked a commercial or two.

She researched several places and wound up paying thousands of dollars for useless portfolio pictures (which I never needed) and was signed by an incompetent “manager” who never got me an agent – all they did was sell us pictures and terrible classes at a “scholarship rate of $900. The “scholarship” was what they came up with when we were about to walk out of their office!

By the time we got any attention from our “reps,” my teeth had fallen out, and I looked nothing like my expensive and useless portfolio. Although I was pretty, I was young and shy. My mom was told by an agent at Ford, “She’s cute now; she’ll be cute in six months – get her some training,” as I stood in his office, hiding behind my mom’s leg.

Regardless of a potential career as a model or actress, my mom wanted me to be a confident young woman who could speak in public and hold my own in whatever career path I would someday choose. She wanted to put me in an environment that provided classes that were fun and had a solid foundation to nurture their ability to perform and build self-confidence.

My mom grew up in New Jersey. She attended an amazing family-owned dance school. She loved the family environment and all the classes, and her parents couldn’t keep her away from that school. She danced six days a week for years. She searched for that same type of school in Orange County and knew she wanted that same type of loving, nurturing, and safe environment for me. When the opportunity presented itself, she created The Performer’s Academy, which is exactly what my mom remembers as a child.

Not everyone who comes here wants to be in the entertainment industry. Almost half of our student body is here to experience the art of acting and performing—with no aspirations or goals to be the next child, teen, or mature star. Many parents have shared with us that their child has become more confident, their self-esteem has been boosted, and they are having a great time.

Acting skills transcend from the studio to the classroom, boardroom, and courtroom. A monologue is the same as an oral book report, a sales presentation, or a closing argument. Many adults take improvisation and scene study classes to assist them in their careers. It’s not uncommon to see attorneys here taking classes to help with their trials or sales professionals needing to polish their skills for sales presentations.

These skills work – no matter what path you choose in life.

For over twenty years, we have been proud to offer workshops for children, teens, and adults. There’s something for everyone here at The Performer’s Academy, and we hope you will give our programs a try.

– Brianne Costa, Owner & CEO