“To sum up the 2nd year of training in one word, I would use ‘WOW’ but in an epiphanic way. As the 1st year of training was similar to the repeated drop of a roller coaster by causing a major retooling of you and everything you think ‘acting’ is every step of the way (WOW – what is happening), the 2nd year was analogous to a speeding bullet train because you rarely stopped moving and although your soul wasn’t being substantially jolted & jostled or shaken to its core at every turn anymore but was now being laboriously fine tuned to prepare for a destination significantly different than where you started (WOW – so that’s how it’s done). I audited classes and attended a few other “prominent” schools and/or acting programs in the LA and San Francisco area and there isn’t anything that comes close to what this *feels* like in terms of connecting with yourself, the truthful expression of yourself, the truth in the role and gaining an invaluable barometer to being grounded to the truth in the scene. For me, it’s that ‘barometer’ that allows me to stay tapped in no matter how far away I get from myself or if I get off course, I know how to get home and now, have people that I have gained from this process who can help me find it because I am a part of a community as well. I hold the experience and the training I received near and dear to my heart because I’d never be the same without it, it was an invaluable time in my life and I have immense gratitude for the lessons I have learned in and out of the studio during my time spent at The Sanford Meisner Center. ”

“After completing this program, I feel prepared for any project. I’m confident that everything Ranjiv and The Sanford Meisner Center have given me along with my artistry are enough. I have a foundation and a community I will carry with me for the rest of my life. My work is now truthful, authentic, and filled with a depth that I don’t need to try for anymore because this program made accessing it effortless. This class has no BS. It’s a 2 year emotional journey that is necessary for any exceptional actor.”

Ranjiv and the Sanford Meisner Center confirmed my initial inclinations as a beginning actor- that the most important part of your acting work is to be present and rely on your partner. Then it completely altered my perspective and experience on what acting could be. Beyond all the layers that the work entails, the fundamentals remain- listen and you will answer truthfully. I knew that I wanted to uncover more of my emotional capacity, but this technique unearthed depths I did not know were possible, and because of the work I will keep discovering. I was navigating blindly in other acting classes- with the majority being scene study classes. I felt unprepared for the material I received and did not know where to begin. I relied on using whatever I could to get me to where I thought I needed to be, as opposed to where I felt I needed to be. Now I’ve learned to trust my instincts and I’ve also learned how to find other truths in roles that differ greatly from who I am. Nothing feels as intimidating as it once did. All the bases are covered to create a foundation for trusting your emotions and letting them flow with this program. I am excited to embark on the entrusted materials I receive now, feeling like I know what I must do to interpret and embody the work.

“Studying the Meisner Technique at the Sanford Meisner Center has been nothing short of life-changing. The first-year Meisner class has re-established my fundamentals and shifted my perspective on acting. The pace and step-by-step nature of the program allows one to not only re-assess and strengthen already existing skills, but also to completely rebuild their artistic core. The second year builds on the basics achieved in the first year and takes it to a completely different level. Here the actor will learn to not only deepen everything learned in year one but to also widen their artistic toolbox and learn how to use it as well. The emotional depth that can be reached in this class not only makes a strong impact in acting but also in everyday life. For me personally, my relationship with my own emotions and my ability to reach them has had a huge impact on my acting, and everything I’ve learned has allowed me to truthfully bring them out. This program is an in-depth program and will make a strong and long-lasting impact on new and skilled actors alike.”

“When looking at different acting schools/programs to choose from, I knew right away that I wanted to study the Meisner technique, and after completing the two year program, I can safely say my initial instinct was right. I moved across the country to study here, and have absolutely no regrets. I have learned, grown, and been pushed out of my comfort zone throughout the past two years, all in ways that ultimately served me. Studying at the Sanford Meisner Center helped me to not only become a better actress, but a better human. I feel more confident and capable than I did before the program, and I feel I am a part of a community now. It’s truly a gift getting the opportunity to begin and end the program with the same group of people, all giving the same level of commitment and energy. This program does require time and energy, and it will only serve you to fully commit and show up. You will learn to be truthful, live from your heart not your head, and to trust yourself. Let go of any preconceived notions you may have of “how to act”, and open yourself up to everything you will learn here. I promise you will be a more authentic and truthful actor and human because of it. Some days will be hard, but you don’t grow when you’re comfortable. As someone starting from the beginning, I’m looking forward to taking everything I’ve learned throughout the past two years into my career going forward. I have a newfound sense of capability and confidence that I absolutely did not possess before. I feel changed for the better. I’m grateful that Meisner is my foundation, and I’m excited to use all Meisner has taught me in my life and career, both artistically and non-artistically.”

Studying the Meisner Technique was like learning how to drive. There’s many components that must be layered on top of one another for the practice to become seamless. Ranjiv Perera is a master at gifting students these building blocks and implementing a practice that allows actors (starting at any level) to achieve their greatest potential. This program is not easy. Actors must push their limits and challenge defense mechanisms learned in non-artistic spaces. But damn, it is worth it. Ranjiv delivers tough love. He offers a science for becoming a better actor. He insists on reverence and respect for the technique, its history and its preservation. As someone who leans intellectual, I struggled at times, but having completed the two-years, I’m a more feeling individual and actor/ I’ve learned to listen to emotion and read behavior like never before. And I’ve become far more disciplined. I would not recommend this program to someone who isn’t ready to treat it with the fulsome energy and enthusiasm it requires. But if you have that verve, you will enter the industry with skills that’ll make you and those you work with deliver more truthful performances and will likely make you a better human in general.”

“The Sanford Meisner Center is the best acting class I have ever taken (and I went to a whole university for acting). I didn’t fully know what to expect going into the class. I had not read the book or knew much about the technique but I couldn’t recommend it more. It will get you out of your head and into your heart. It is such a freeing feeling that I used to crave but never knew how to achieve. After graduating from the second year I have a larger knowledge of acting and a better appreciation for the art as well. You will not only become a better actor but a better person. This class will challenge you in new ways. It takes hard work and dedication to the craft but more than well worth it. Ranjiv is the perfect teacher for this class. He will read your mind in almost every class. The amount of times he could see what I was feeling moments before I even understood what was happening is insane. He will give you the most amazing notes that are clear and you will know exactly what you need to work on. If you like someone who is a no bullshit teacher he’s the one for you. He is honest always and will work you through even when you are completely lost. This class was life changing and I will forever cherish every moment. I wish I could do the whole two years again. I believe anyone who wants to be an actor needs this class.”

“When I first heard of the program being mentioned over and over again from one of my professors who studied under Martin Barter, I had no idea that the strings of fate would tie me to this legacy. I did the online intensive, and since it was over Zoom during the pandemic, Ranjiv said it wouldn’t count towards the 2 years, but that if we came back to do it in person, he would apply that tuition to the in-person class. I never truly planned to continue past the first year. Two years is a long time to reach a destination for someone at 20. As I finished the online intensive, then the in-person intensive, all while going through my college conservatory program for musical theatre, I came to understand the words, “it takes 20 years to be a master”. I came to understand that acting is what drew me to musical theatre. I came to understand that I couldn’t be happy doing anything else in my life, that I must do this. I showed up, put in the work, and there were times when none of us wanted to, and we did it anyways. We learnt the value of getting it done. We learnt how to be working actors. We were taught so much, even when it was uncomfortable, even before we could see the value in it. We had to trust our guide. In that sense, this isn’t like drop-in acting classes. It requires dedication, energy, real effort, time, and above all, a commitment. It requires you to decide if this means that much for you. It requires you to reckon with the stories you are telling, the souls you will touch. But in turn, we were given so much. A family, an artistic father, a legacy to carry. I have done other acting classes before this, but there was always a wobble in my voice when I said that I was an actor. Meisner as a technique made me actually see the world around me, not in a different light, but as it is. Ranjiv, as my guide, took the wobble away, and there I was. An actor.”

“Studying the Meisner Technique will teach you command over your deepest emotions, how to transform into a character to the point where you are unrecognizable, and, most importantly, how to demand your audience to recognize a truth—a truth that they may have never considered before. Art can affect people without them even realizing it. The beauty of Meisner is that when you are going through a moment, it’s not a scene to you, it is real life. You are not an actor going through a scene. You are not thinking about anything besides what you need to do and who you’re talking to. The rest follows. All those little organic moments follow. Everything you’ve prepared comes to life without you making the conscious effort. And when people watch all of it happen, the effect can be mesmerizing and even more deeply impactful than they realize in that moment. I could not have asked for a better teacher of the Meisner Technique than Ranjiv Perera. His clear, specific instructions at each step of the program left me with no doubt in my mind that the work of Sanford Meisner was being passed on to me and my peers exactly as Sanford left it to us. If I can impart two pieces of advice: hold yourself accountable and start reading more fiction. Ranjiv will ask you to do the work. He will work with what you bring him. He will take you as far as you’re willing to go. If you want to tap into your deepest emotions, he will help you put those feelings into the audience. If you want to put in the hours necessary to change your behavior and become someone else, Ranjiv will see what you’ve created and he will guide you to strengthen it. If you bring him the bare minimum, he’ll ask you to put in more work but he will not hound you with the same instruction over and over again. In the outside world, you won’t have someone dogging you to do your best. You need to demand that of yourself. So, please, for the sake of your art, always bring your best. You won’t be perfect. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s consistency. One thing Ranjiv can not help you with, however, is your reading comprehension skills. There’s simply not enough time to make up for not having that ability, which would be naturally honed by hours of reading in your free time (short stories, novels, plays, and screenplays but especially the former two) We can all sit together and interpret each line of a script…but that’s not teaching you how to act. You need to be able to read a script, ANNOTATE IF YOU NEED TO (I LOVE TO ANNOTATE), and understand what’s happening in the scene—the emotions you need to feel, what the words you’re saying actually mean, where you are, the relationship between you and who you’re talking to, etc. If you can’t interpret the text for yourself, then all anyone can do is direct you into their vision of it. Hopefully, as you read more and more, what you’ll see is that the stories you read on your own, the experiences you’ve gone through in your own life, and the scenarios you play out in this class are often one and the same. Diving into more fiction will only enrich your imagination, the device that all actors rely on first and foremost. Read, follow Ranjiv’s instructions, do your best, and after two years, you will have everything you need to hone your craft for the rest of your life. For the rest of my life, I will be grateful for Meisner’s teachings and for Ranjiv’s mentorship.”

“My experience at the Sanford Meisner center was nothing less than life changing. I’ll never forget my first day walking into the introduction class and having not much of a clue of acting nor the work that was required to become a professional actor. I was filled with nerves, I had no idea if I was going to be accepted but I knew regardless of the outcome I had a relentless drive in me to become a storyteller and I would do whatever was needed to continue my craft or die trying. If not for this feeling I don’t think I would have been accepted but I was and nothing could prepare me for the amount of work to come and that was required to graduate. Throughout the program my drive was constantly put to the test. I was working on artistic muscles I had no idea even existed. My very sense of self was tested as I broke through the layers of who I thought I was and got into who I am at the core of things in order to bring my authentic self to the work and realized that that is enough. Through blood, sweat, and tears I managed to complete the first year and had a realization that not only was I growing but I could see my classmates grow as well. This was intoxicating, I was hooked. I went from someone who hadn’t much a clue about acting and whose voice would shake when asked to introduce themselves to someone who can confidently take on a role and whose voice can project to an entire theatre. I now feel truly equipped to not only handle whatever the industry throws at me, but take it all on with ease and play. That feeling is priceless. I will forever be grateful to Ranjiv and the Sanford Meisner Center for becoming my artistic home and helping me unlock the artist within me.”

“I recently graduated from the Second Year Acting Program at The Sanford Meisner Center, and I must say this entire process has changed my life! I learned how humanity is directly connected to acting. And how respect of being human, living in the humanity of a scene, or a circumstance is key to “How you do what you do” in acting. This class has made me realize that many actors just “act” their part, they do not feel, or connect, be empathetic, or be present, or really live truthfully, as themselves, under the given imaginary circumstance(s). This class taught me how to do all of that! This class made me dive deep into my most inner and private emotions and feelings, and release them and share them with my fellow acting partners so they could see the real me and therefore all of us were able to connect and live in our scenes with such truthful light and life! This training has helped me grow both in my artistic and non – artistic life. It has helped me listen better and focus more on the other person right in front of me.. I have learned to get to the point, to the heart of the matter, much more quickly. I realize how important it is to stay informed and up to date in this industry – my career choice! In the past I was apprehensive about trusting people, and this class has truly helped me trust my partner, and allow my partner to see the real me! In fact, it has helped me trust myself! I have found such growth in opening myself up! This year has taught me a great deal about deepening my imagination! And to play and make discoveries! How making a clear choice impacts us in the role we are playing. How to own the feelings already living in me. I learned a great deal about script interpretation and how every word matters. There are so many more things I should mention, but I will leave with this…I am a better person and a better actor because of the Meisner technique! I am better thanks to Ranjiv Perera! I hold the highest gratitude and respect for our instructor Ranjiv Perera!! He has taught me so much and I will carry this knowledge with me and apply it to my future work, and I will hold this experience in my heart forever! Always do the work! It pays off!”

“I liken becoming a student of the Meisner technique to finding the door to my soul I didn’t know I was looking for. Very dramatic. I know. But it *was* dramatic. At least for me. I had no idea that for most of my life I had only been giving the world 25%. The other 75%, the majority of *myself*, was buried. All those ugly feelings that stemmed from core emotions of fear, anger and deep sorrow stayed hidden. I learned to distract with the flash of my personality, focusing on whomever my counterpart happened to be at the moment, and ignore anything unpleasant. It was only when I joined the studio’s 1st year intensive that I felt on the path to being able to offer up those parts of myself willingly, in both my artistic and non-artistic life. The tools offered in the 1st year actor training are truly foundational for the creation of authentically emotional work. As Ranjiv says – it’s therapeutic, but it’s not therapy. I’m just so glad to have found home with Sandy and the Gang. I highly recommend the program for serious actors intent on showing the world ALL of them, and then some.”

“The Two Year Program changed my entire approach to acting and I transformed as an artist in the process. The Meisner Technique has equipped me with the bravery and strength to live within my imagination. To yearn for depth and truth in any given circumstance. In the past two years, I never once learned to act, but instead to feel – immensely, vulnerably, and abundantly. Then, to behave honestly with those feelings ever present. To inspire and to allow myself to be inspired. I learned to put in the time and work to properly prepare for a role in order to do the story justice. I built trust in my work with each soul bearing class and gained a reliable foundation. It was an honor to have been able to study this remarkable and timeless technique. I am eternally grateful to Ranjiv Perera and Martin Barter for this experience to play.”

“Studying at The Sanford Meisner Center has been deeply transformative, both professionally and personally. I arrived wanting to be more “vulnerable” in my work, and learned that was just the tip of the iceberg. During my 8 years in LA spent working on set, on stage and studying at different acting studios in the meantime, no experience can compare to these 2 years with Ranjiv and my Meisner family. I learned what it means to be an artist, how to be fully present, how to speak from the heart, and how to be truthful while playing a “character”. Furthermore, I found a community of like-minded artists, dedicated and deeply in love with this craft. That is gold for me, and I’ll cherish this experience for the rest of my life.”

“While it can be said that my time in the Meisner Technique taught me what acting was, and how to do it, it is so much more than that. In all my time in acting classes, both in and out of California, I have scoured and searched for one that works THROUGH the actor, and not outside of them. My experience was no mere acting class, it was a learning experience on what it truly means to be human. How full it can be to say “I love you”, and more importantly, understanding what that even means. It not only has given me a structured technique in which my acting has naturally taken hold, but I would go so far as to say superpowers in our modern world. Our modern world has become a transaction of pleasantries. This program will teach anyone to cut through them. To wield emotions as swords to awaken your fellow humans, and put it RIGHT through them. It has given me more than I could ever ask for. Dawned upon me the greatest gift of clarity, and allowed me to communicate not just with others truthfully, but myself as well. As artists, our responsibility is to communicate through emotions to change the world for the better, this will show you how, and people WILL want to watch that. There are no words to describe what it has done for me, but describing it plainly to a non-Meisner actor? Well… It is a mirror that will show you everything about yourself, so that you may show all of yourself.”

“I went into this class fresh out of my home state of Washington, new to LA, with little to no formal acting training and I am just so grateful that I heard about The Sanford Meisner Center and Ranjiv. This was a challenging course that pushed me personally while grounding me in the craft, giving me a solid foundation of the first steps of the Meisner technique. Ranjiv selected a great group of dedicated classmates that I could learn and grow with which is one of the benefits of taking a long term course like this… you get to grow and develop with other actors who will be in the same class with you for a year. I grew friendships with my fellow classmates that will last for years to come. We pushed each other and held each other accountable to the coursework. The tone of the classroom set high expectations for ourselves while enjoying the journey, and having some fun along the way. I’d recommend this course to an individual who wants a strong foundation of training, for someone who is ready to let go of what preconceptions they may have, for someone who likes a process and actionable steps in order to develop as an actor. I’d recommend this course to a friend who is ready and willing to put in the work, because if you do, you will be changed for the better by the end of the first year.”

“The Sanford Meisner Center’s Two-Year Professional Acting Program provided a foundation for me to build the rest of my life as an artist. Ranjiv Perera’s technique-centered instruction insures that each of his students receives the same education as himself and his predecessor Martin Barter, thus preserving Sandy’s legacy of developing actors who are exemplary collaborators. As a graduate of this program, I can confidently say that nothing I may be asked to accomplish for a role could be more intimidating than what I’ve achieved throughout my Meisner training.“

“Ranjiv has taught me so much; the notes I have taken along the way in these past two years, I will use forever, in my artistic life and in my non-artistic life. I have truly learned what it means to trust myself as an actor and to really dive deep into my emotions- deeper than I have ever imagined or even thought I ever could. I have trust the process and in which have led me here- emotionally free. I have also learned what it means find my village, my support system, my artistic friends, my shoulder to cry on, my arms to push me and to lift me up— whom now I call my family. I highly recommend this 2 year program if you’re ready to really discover what it means to live truthfully under the given imaginary circumstances . And rest assured, be ready.”

“To delve into the depths of your emotions, to feel fully, to truthfully engage with other actors, to express yourself as an artist, to be moved by others, and a hell of a lot more, do yourself, our art and your acting career a favor and study with Ranjiv at The Sanford Meisner Centre. Before joining, I had some acting experience. However, by the end of the two year program, I now know what it feels like to do all the above and when I’m falling short. The process may at times feel as daunting as scaling Mount Everest. You’ll encounter moments of exasperation and testing, but for those committed to relentless progress and embracing the learning curve with diligence, the outcome will profoundly transform both your acting and your personal growth. You’ll distinguish the chasm between mundane performances and those that pulsate with life, discovering unexpectedly poignant moments and deep human connections. Trust in this: the experience will be fun and exhilarating!”

“The Meisner Technique is like no other. It is a transformative and enlightening experience that encourages you to bring about your inner artist and explore the depths of your emotions. It helps you to connect with yourself, and it helps you to connect with others. It allows you to discover truths that otherwise would remain unknown. You are taught to be present in this moment, to genuinely listen and answer, to use and exercise your imagination, to trust your instincts and your work, to get out of your head and to lead with your heart, to take command of your emotions, and to have the freedom to just *play*. If you know deep down that you truly NEED to be an artist of this craft, then I encourage you to take part in this class; to commit with all of your heart, and to see it through. You will not regret it. It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of it; and I can’t wait to put what I’ve learned into action with my fellow artists. Discovering the Sanford Meisner Center was like stumbling onto a pot of gold. Prior to this, I kept telling myself that I needed a mentor. Someone who knows the business; someone who could teach an organized approach to becoming a professional working actor. When I first met Ranjiv, I knew right away that I had finally met the mentor that I had been looking for. A mentor who has basically eradicated any form of “sugarcoating” when it comes to collaborating with you on your work. He’ll tell you the truth. And sometimes the truth can feel good; other times it can feel bad. But it’s also a healthy dose of a wake-up call that is sorely needed from time to time. Admittedly, the first year was tough (Let’s just say that camaraderie with fellow classmates doesn’t always happen overnight). We were still learning how to crawl; taking in information that quite often was hard to accept. Hearing, but not really listening. And because this class is experiential, not all information is given right away. It simply must be experienced. And through this experience, our standard human tendencies, such as not giving each other the time of day, or not knowing how to take command of our emotions, or dwelling in the past, or focusing on things that could be, are essentially unraveled. We learned that through this process, trust must be given, as opposed to the expectation of earning it. We learned that overthinking, therefore overcomplicating, is detrimental to our craft. But above all, we learned how to connect with one another; and that is not only compelling to watch, but is even more so compelling and exhilarating to experience.”

“Studying at the Meisner Center has been extremely transformative for both my artistic and non-artistic life. Learning how to live truthfully and be completely vulnerable when performing has changed the way I approach acting entirely. The experience of learning the technique that keeps building upon itself has been very rewarding and I’ve learned a lot about myself. Using my deepest truths has been essential here and I’ve loved discovering them. Outside of acting, I am more open, perceptive, and wonderfully sensitive than before. I was looking for a class that would teach acting as a skill that would allow me to be as real as possible and I found that here.”

“Graduating from the Sanford Meisner two year program was one of the most challenging and fulfilling courses I have ever taken in my life. It gave me the tools for how to become a working actor. It provided a step by step proven process that developed my skill set as a budding actor. It informed me of the business side of acting as well which is equally as important. It is a huge commitment and one that cannot be taken lightly or you will not be able to keep up with the teachings. For me, it was life changing in ways I cannot describe. Being with the same people for two years, working on scenes, growing together as a unit, rehearsing around the clock, and we have only scratched the surface on what is necessary to be an actor that lives truthfully under the given imaginary circumstances. I have never worked harder on anything in my life. I have taken scene study courses and this class provides triple the amount of education wrapped in a very similar dollar amount. No class will ever compare to this class. You will never get as much bang for your buck as the education you will receive from Ranjiv Perera. But you better be ready to work and work hard for two years straight. This is a commitment and one not to be taken for granted. This class has inspired me, challenged me, taught me patience, understanding, how to read behaviors, how to act through feeling rather than intellectualizing. To work off of my scene partners is the utmost importance. And it really will tap you into that connection. You can feel it and so can the audience! I recommend this class to all the non-Meisner actors I know because I swear by it. I believe in it wholeheartedly. I was always lacking the “how” in these other classes. You can get notes on your acting all day long but this class actually teaches you the “how” and that is what I needed the most as someone who had never been to school for theatre/acting. I had no experience on the stage or on tv/film but after this one two year program, that is all I need to begin my career. I cannot recommend this class enough. I feel ready to audition and land that role of a lifetime now. The need is here and the empowerment you feel once you complete the program is like no other feeling in the world. Best of luck future graduate.”

“The Sanford Meisner center is the first acting school where I truly learned how to use my truth for acting. It was the fresh start and reintroduction to acting I needed. Compared to previous acting classes it implements skills that can be practiced daily that has made me a better actor and person. I’ve learned to be appreciative of wins no matter how small, how to be a better listener, and how to be honest and truthful with myself and accepting the feelings that come with it. From my first week I knew if I didn’t want to waste my classmates, Ranjiv’s, or my own time I had to be passionate, and dedicated to honing my craft.”