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The following is a list of Los Angeles-area stage and film acting schools, teachers, and coaches organized by category and alphabetically.Each of the entries contains the following information, if applicable: name of teacher or school; address; phone and fax numbers; email address and/or website; average number of students per class; whether beginning, intermediate, or advanced students are taught; whether auditing is permitted; whether a work/study program is offered. Descriptions of the class, school, or coaching are provided by the instructor of institution and edited by Back Stage.Schools of teacher who have been omitted may contact, in writing, Listing, c/o Back Stage, 5055 Wilshire Blvd., 6th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036, so that we may include you in our next list.  Acting Technique/Scene StudyAARON McPherson STUDIOWest Hollywood, CA aaron@aaronmcphersonstudio.comwww.aaronmcphersonstudio.com310-918-5335Class size varies, 12 max. for auditioning class, 40 max. for scene study; day...

The following is a list of Los Angeles-area stage and film acting schools, teachers, and acoaches organized by category and alphabetically.Each of the entries contains the following information, if applicable: name of teacher or school; address; phone and fax numbers; email address and/or website; average number of students per class; whether beginning, intermediate, or advanced students are taught; whether auditing is permitted; whether classes are ongoing or by sessions; any special emphasis used in classes or coaching; whether a work/study program is offered. Descriptions of the class, schoool, or coaching are provided by the instructor or institutions and edited by Back Stage.Schools or teachers who have been omitted may contact, in writing, Listings, c/o Back Stage, 5055 Wilshire Blvd., 6th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036, so that we may include you in our next list.Acting Technique/Scene StudyAARON McPherson STUDIOWest Hollywood, CA aaron@aaronmcphersonstudio.comwww.aaronmcphersonstudio.

Acting COACHINGThe following individuals or companies specialize in one-on-one acting coaching. Private coaching is also available from the majority of those listed in the "Acting Schools and Classes" category. Coaches in other specialties, such as musical theatre, voiceover, or young performers, are listed in those categories.Jules Aaron(323) 660-7342Aaron, the former head of of graduate programs at CalArts and U.C. Riverside, is an award-winning director and acting teacher. He has won directing awards from the L.A. Drama Critics Circle and Back Stage. He coaches actors for specific auditions, develops appropriate monologues, and conducts cold reading sessions. By audition only.Phyllis APPLEGATEOne-On-One(323) 655-5167Emmy-nominated character actor Applegate studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute on scholarship. She offers ongoing individual performance coaching combining Strasberg's methods with her own. Applegate coaches actors on audition techniques, cold readings, character creation, scene study, and text interpretation.The Audition COACHWest Hollwood, www.myspace.

Opens

Friday, April 18

Only those so eager for a happy romantic ending they're willing to overlook the tedium leading there will warm to "Venus & Mars," a wannabe "Cinderella" for grown-ups.

This tale of twentysomethings manages to feel false every step of the way, beginning with its setting, a village in Germany apparently populated by Americans and Brits with varying degrees of German accents. None of the actors transcends the material. As an intended vehicle for Daniela Amavia ("Children of Dune"), who also exec produces, this U.S.-German co-production scores no points.

The film's title refers to the predictions of Tarot-reading Emily (Lynn Redgrave, surrendering to the forced quirkiness of her "kook" character), who sees love in the stars for daughter Kay (Amavia) when she returns home from her unfulfilling life in Frankfurt. The occasion for Kay's visit is the death of her high school soccer coach, which also brings back pal Lisa (Julie Bowen) from San Francisco. But there's no sense of what the departed Frank meant to either of them or why they'd make the trip; his passing is a transparent dramatic excuse for the reunion of four friends. Rounding out the quartet are Celeste (Fay Masterson) and Marie (Julia Sawalha of "Absolutely Fabulous", utterly wasted here), both married and still living in the area.

Although the characters endlessly explain themselves in flat, on-the-nose dialogue, relationships remain unclear far too long. Ben Taylor's script offers wan stereotypes, the four friends supposedly representing the range of women, from the adamantly single to the perpetually pregnant, each as complex as a cardboard cut-out -- though there is an unconvincing attempt to provide Kay with a back story.

Director Harry Mastrogeorge moves the uninspired action along at a decent pace. But with such tired observations as "Did you know men have sexual thoughts every 20 seconds?" passing for edgy repartee, the proceedings can't help but drag.

The supposed chemistry between Kay and a hitchhiking American (Michael Weatherly) never comes alive as the story gets where it's obviously going, devoid of tension but boasting its fair share of clumsy humor, not to mention the unintended laughs at such moments as an attempted rape.

VENUS & MARS

Zenpix in association with Innovation Film Group

Atlantis Film in association with Mitteldeutsches Filmkontor

Credits:

Director: Harry Mastrogeorge

Screenwriter: Ben Taylor

Producers: Emmo Lempert, Bernd F. Lunkewitz, Uwe Schott

Executive producers: Daniela Amavia, Nelson Woss

Director of photography: Martin Fuhrer

Production designer: Boerries Hahn-Hoffmann

Music: Nathan Barr

Co-producers: Thomas Bretschneider, Lauren Moews

Costume designer: Barbara Baum

Editor: Darcy Worsham

Cast:

Emily Vogel: Lynn Redgrave

Kay Vogel: Daniela Amavia

Roberto: Ryan Hurst

Celeste: Fay Masterson

Marie: Julia Sawalha

Lisa: Julie Bowen

Cody: Michael Weatherly

Running time -- 93 minutes

MPAA rating: R...