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THE ACTORS' STUDIO INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 136002851 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · theactorsstudio.org
revenue
$328K
expenses
$976K
net assets
$6.5M
employees
11
volunteers
36
program ratio
70%
mission · from form 990

The Actors Studio helps professional actors, directors, and playwrights hone their craft and explore the depth and breadth of their talent.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Actors Studio is a private, membership-based organization founded in 1947 that provides a space for professional actors, directors, and playwrights to develop their craft through private, moderated sessions. Based in New York City and West Hollywood, it offers free, ongoing workshops and rehearsals for members, with occasional public performances of works deemed ready for audience viewing. The organization is not a school or public theater but functions as a creative home for artists committed to method acting and collaborative development.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Acting Sessions
Twice-weekly private sessions in New York and Los Angeles where member actors perform scenes and receive feedback from peers and moderators to refine their craft.
Directors Unit
Program at Actors Studio West where directors present scenes for peer critique and feedback, focusing on interpretation and collaboration with actors.
Playwright/Directors Unit (PDU)
Weekly developmental unit for playwrights and directors in New York and Los Angeles, featuring readings and critiques of new plays led by rotating moderators.
Playwright/Director’s Workshop (PDW)
Seasonal collective in New York for post-graduate and professional playwright/director teams to develop full-length plays, culminating in a festival of new works.
Public Performances
Free, ticketed performances of works developed in private sessions, open to the public when deemed ready by the Studio.
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • New Play Development Programs 2 activities
    • Hosts private workshops and craft development sessions for professional theatre artists
      Provides free, moderated sessions, workshops, and readings for professional actors, directors, and playwrights to develop their artistic skills through peer and moderator feedback, with programming cycles running in New York and Los Angeles. Members participate in twice-weekly acting sessions and weekly readings of new plays, supported by access to rehearsal and work facilities.
    • Presents public performances and festivals of developed work
      Hosts free public performances of fully rehearsed explorations and developed works, including an annual PDW Festival of New Works and public showings when members and moderators deem material ready. These events feature new and existing material created by members and are open to the public and industry professionals.
  • Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
    • Offers a three-year MFA program in acting, directing, and playwriting
      Offers a 3-year Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) Degree through the Actors Studio Drama School in partnership with Pace University, with tracks in Acting, Directing, and Playwriting. Students study together to develop a shared technique and culminate their training with a fully professional Repertory Season open to the public and industry professionals.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Develops and disseminates acting techniques through research and practice
      Developed and continues to refine acting techniques known as 'The Method,' which have influenced acting practices globally, originating from its founding as a private workshop in 1947 for theatre artists to explore performance.
    • Operates private membership studios in New York and Los Angeles
      Operates The Actors Studio in New York City and The Actors Studio West in West Hollywood, offering free membership to actors, directors, and writers who successfully complete auditions, and providing a safe, collaborative environment for members to develop their craft.
    • Provides educational access through the television series "Inside the Actors Studio"
      Hosts the television series "Inside the Actors Studio" as a senior seminar for MFA students, offering exposure to prominent figures in theatre, film, and television as part of their educational experience.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$328K
Contributions & grants$85K26%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$216K66%
Other revenue$27K
expenses
Total expenses$976K
Program expenses70%
Admin / overhead30%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$475K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.54M
Cash$2.89M
Investments$3.17M
Liabilities$17K
Net assets$6.53M
Liquid reserves74.5 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -15.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Deborah Dixon Executive Director 40 $172K
Javier Molina co-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 30 $30K
board members · 23
  • Al Pacino — Co-President
  • Alec Baldwin — Co-President
  • Alfred Fred Molina — DIRECTOR
  • Barbara Bain — DIRECTOR
  • Barry Primus — DIRECTOR
  • Beau Gravitte — Director
  • Beth Manspeizer — DIRECTOR
  • Bradley Cooper — DIRECTOR
  • Brian Delate — DIRECTOR
  • Brian Foyster — DIRECTOR
  • CIHANGIR DUMAN — Director
  • Carol Kane — DIRECTOR
  • Catlin Adams — DIRECTOR
  • Charlayne Woodard — DIRECTOR
  • Chris Stack — DIRECTOR
  • Delissa Reynolds — DIRECTOR
  • Dig Wayne — Director
  • Eddie Kehler — DIRECTOR
  • Ellen Burstyn — Co-President
  • Estelle Parsons — Vice President
  • Jacqueline Knapp — Secretary
  • Jason Furlani — DIRECTOR
  • Katherine Cortez — DIRECTOR
relationships · 24

Who they work with

  • Actors Studio West Network — Only branch of The Actors Studio, located in West Hollywood, CA.
  • Al Pacino Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Alec Baldwin Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Arthur Penn Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Christopher Walken Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • DeLongpre Theater Partner — Hosts Play Development Unit meetings and readings for Actors Studio West.
  • Eli Wallach Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Ellen Burstyn Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Estelle Parsons Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Gene Saks Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Group Theatre Network — Historical predecessor organization whose work inspired The Actors Studio
  • Harvey Keitel Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Lee Strasberg Government — Key figure whose method acting techniques are foundational to the Studio's approach.
  • Mark Rydell Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Ovation TV Partner — Collaborates to produce the television series INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO, based on the curriculum of the MFA program at Pace University.
  • Ovation TV Partner — Partnered to produce "INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO," a classroom and craft seminar from the Actors Studio Drama School’s MFA Program at Pace University.
  • Pace University Partner — Partnered to offer a 3-year Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) Degree at the Actors Studio Drama School.
  • Pace University Partner — Partnership to host The Actors Studio Drama School MFA program and the television series Inside the Actors Studio.
  • Pace University Partner — Partnership to offer a 3-year MFA program through The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University.
  • Pace University Partner — Partnership to offer a fully accredited MFA program through The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University.
  • Pace University Partner — Source of post-graduate participants for the Playwright/Director's Workshop.
  • Paul Newman Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Shelley Winters Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
  • Sydney Pollack Partner — Former moderator providing guidance at The Actors Studio sessions.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Method Acting Pedagogy
    methodology: method_acting
    By training actors in method acting techniques derived from Stanislavsky and Strasberg, we develop emotional authenticity in performance because immersive emotional recall and psychological realism produce truthful acting.
  • Peer-Based Workshop Model
    methodology: peer_based_workshop_model
    By creating a peer-led, moderated environment for rehearsal and critique, we advance artistic development because collaborative feedback and shared practice deepen creative rigor and accountability.
  • Private Workspace as Artistic Gym
    methodology: private_workspace_model
    By maintaining a private, non-commercial workspace, we foster sustained artistic growth because removing market pressures enables risk-taking, experimentation, and long-term craft development.