Young Actors Space
About
Young Actors Space, established in 1979, is the original and premier school for performers as young as age 5 to adults. Our passion and commitment to developing young talent in the craft of acting for the last 30+ years has given us the opportunity to help nurture some of the brightest stars in the industry.
Young Actors Space is one of a kind. We are a unique and exciting school for actors and have earned the respect and admiration from industry professionals since our beginnings. At YAS, we believe no two performers are the same - every actor's talent is unique and an essential component of this diverse business. We encourage our actors to explore their creativity, build confidence as a performer, and discover and hone their craft in a warm, non-judgmental atmosphere.
Our classes are structured with half improvisation and half scene study. We used truth based improv to accentuate the uniqueness of each actor. Our goal is to make the written scene seem like an improvisation. We train our actors to make strong specific choices based on the writer’s intent. YAS is a process oriented school that encourages its actors to get out of their heads and into their hearts.
Patrick Day has been an instructor at Young Actors Space since 1993, joining its founders Diane Hill Hardin and Nora Eckstein. He is an alumni of the University of Southern California, earning his BA in Theatre with an emphasis on Directing. In his tenure at YAS, Mr. Day has taught and worked with literally hundreds of today's brightest young stars.
Our classes are fun. We encourage our students to get out of their heads and into their hearts. We coach our students to reach further than what is normally expected. Anyone can read a scene, but no respected working actor simply reads. Our students learn to understand the behavior and motivation of a scene through self-exploration, improvisation and relaxation. The goal is for our students to find the truth within the subtext and allow their imaginations to soar. Within a safe, supportive environment, we encourage our students to risk, explore, create, and to believe in the powers of their creativity.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Our classes are structured with half improvisation and half scene study. We used truth based improv to accentuate the uniqueness of each actor. Our goal is to make the written scene seem like an improvisation. We train our actors to make strong specific choices based on the writer’s intent. YAS is a process oriented school that encourages its actors to get out of their heads and into their hearts.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Patrick Day has been an instructor at Young Actors Space since 1993, joining its founders Diane Hill Hardin and Nora Eckstein. He is an alumnus of the University of Southern California, earning his BA in Theatre with an emphasis on Directing. In his tenure at YAS, Patrick has taught and worked with literally hundreds of today's brightest young stars.
Patrick's teaching methodology is strongly rooted in 30 years of experience as a professional actor, director and teacher. He believes every actor works differently, and incorporates the art of improvisation into his classes in order to extract the raw ability and talent out of his performers. His method can be broken down into six core segments designed to create a truthful, intuitive performance: Analyze, Memorize, Personalize, Relax, Listen and React.
At fifteen, Patrick was cast in the longest child role ever written at the time, portraying the title role in the four-hour special for PBS, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." He co-starred with legendary talent such as Lillian Gish, Jim Dale, Frederic Forrest, Geraldine Page, Barnard Hughes, Butterfly McQueen and Richard Kiley.
Even on set, his respect for the art blossomed into a desire to teach. Patrick earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with an emphasis on Directing from the University of Southern California in 1993. Shortly thereafter, his agent referred him to Young Actors Space.
Patrick's list of credits also includes: Series regular Chris Pressfield on Tribes, Bobby Wayne in the cult favorite Ernest Goes to Camp, Jude Lafayette in the indie comedy Waiting for Ophelia starring Yeardley Smith (The Simpsons), and roles on TV shows such as Designing Women and JAG. (Click here to view his complete list of credits on IMDB )
Patrick has directed hundreds of plays throughout his career. His original play Cynics, which he directed, co-wrote and starred in, received L.A. Weekly Pick of the Week and was recommended by the L.A. Times.
In addition to running Young Actors Space, Patrick travels throughout the United States to present coaching seminars based on his method. His clients include: PBS American Playhouse, Barbizon International, the Pasadena Playhouse, and various schools and universities.
For more about please visit www.patrickdayfilms.com.
If you would like to schedule a seminar in your area, please email [email protected] to request further information.
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Classes: $465 - $575
30 min. Skype Coaching: $100
Private Coachings, 1 hour (in person/Skype: $150
On-Camera Coachings, 1 hour: $200