Sean Rose is an impeccable acting coach. He has helped me many times over the years with auditions. Figuring out the scene is easy. It was getting down to the raw and truthful emotions- moment to moment- that are necessary to fulfill the obligations of the scene that is difficult. No matter how funny, dark, or embarrassing it is – I always find it with Sean’s help and I take it with me into my audition and nail it every time I work with him. Of course, I’d highly recommend him! Thank you Sean!
“I’ve been an actor for four decades and have had some really good years and some not so good years. Things were picking up at the beginning of 2020, then BAM – Covid hit! During the lock-downs and studios shuttering, I began to lose my sense of what being an actor was all about and got very rusty.
I decided I’d get back into an acting workshop to polish up my craft and Sean Rose from Grok Acting Studios came highly recommended. At first I was a bit hesitant because everything was on Zoom, which I thought would be very impersonal and hard to relate to. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Sean has an uncanny way of analyzing exactly what the actor’s weak spots are and has a myriad of exercises that bring out the best in each and everyone of us. His classes are personal and filled with actors who take chances and stretch their talent to their extremes.
I’ve studied with numerous acting teachers/coaches over the years and the growth I’ve experienced through Sean have been remarkable – can’t wait to see where this year will take me! I highly recommend Sean and Grok Acting Studios!”
As a working director I’m always looking for ways to hone my craft. Sean taught me ways to get performances out of actors that I didn’t know were possible. With a simple word or exercise he transformed a piece from stilted to real. He took actors from reading lines to finding the truth within themselves and letting the dialogue flow through them.
I am looking forward to attending more of Sean’s classes in the future.
I was so impressed with the work happening in Sean Rose’s class. As a writer/director/producer of TV, film and theatre, it’s comforting to know that he’s training so many actors to identify their blocks and learn to be fully in touch with their bodies and emotions. I can’t wait to work his students.
As a multiple Golden Globe and Emmy award-wining Producer of sitcoms for many, many years, I am always amazed at the different and various ways that actors find ways to put themselves out into the universe. Many do try and many do fail but I’m pleased to tell you of one particular actor who not only puts himself out there, but has created a one-of-a-kind acting class that I believe to be inspirational as well as educational.
To all of the Grok students, I think you’re in the absolute best possible place you can be with the best teacher. I have watched how Sean works with his students and I’m completely and always blown away. So I commend you for making that choice. The Grok Acting Studio is phenomenal, and I can’t encourage you to keep going with it because Sean is the most amazing teacher I’ve ever seen.
I was truly astonished at the way that Sean was able to bring out an actor’s emotion in such a short amount of time – first they’re just talking with him, and then shorty after that, they’re crying or sobbing — letting their emotions completely go. And Sean stayed with them through every sob, every fist pound and every sigh. In addition to that, I watched as Sean guided actors through their prepared scenes, giving them notes and suggestions, all to the betterment of their craft. I was very impressed and am recommending any actor to Sean’s class. I do not believe anyone is doing what Sean is with actors. It is a must-take class for any serious artist.
Sean Rose has created the GROK Acting Studio website that is easily the most comprehensive acting website I’ve ever seen. It not only gives me all the information I would need to participate in this workshop, but talks of influences, motivations and disciplines that every actor needs to succeed.
With the amount of commitment it took for Sean to create and produce this comprehensive website, it is obvious that anyone who hired Sean can count on him to be dedicated and totally dependable for the job.
Sean has an incredible ability to really SEE you, first as a human being, and then as an actor. I studied theater at Northwestern University, but moving to LA to be a working actor means continuing to train and hone regularly if I want to compete in the LA market- aka the “Olympics of acting”. Within minutes of privately coaching with Sean the first time, he intuitively knew where my creative blocks were and later, in joining his weekly class, quickly helped me to undo these blocks that had held me hostage in my creative work. He is the first teacher I’ve worked with that made me feel completely safe to instantly get to the root of fears and insecurities that were affecting my work as an artist, and gave me permission to completely USE these aspects of myself in my craft as assets rather than defects.
Rather than see certain aspects of myself as weaknesses to be “fixed”, or “polished”, Sean helped me to completely change my perspective, embrace my humanity, and find a way to integrate every part of my being into my work as an actor. Working with Sean has given me a freedom I never knew possible onstage, and helped me turn what I thought were flaws into huge strengths to be harnessed and looked at as my “gold” as a performer. Many schools in LA were sucking the joy out of acting for me, and my work stopped being raw and intuitive and was becoming overtly technical and robotic to fit an idea of how a line must be delivered, or how a scene “should” look for an audition tape. Sean has a true gift and I would recommend him to anyone looking for a new experience in their craft, and to get in touch with the darkest, most real parts of ourselves that so many artists are afraid to touch or utilize in their work.
I had many years of training before studying with Sean Rose. I studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute, and Playhouse West with Group Theater members Robert Carnegie and Jeff Goldblum, and in Japan at the Tokyo Actor’s Studio. I have been directed on stage by two-time Golden Globe and Five-time Emmy Award nominated Director Robert Allan Ackerman of Broadway, film, and television.
I highly recommend Grok Acting Studio, simply because it took me to the another level as an actress. I have been acting and training, working professionally with some great actors for more than 10 years. The level of work that Grok Studio demands from you is not simply good acting, it is inspiring acting. Sean Rose will detect, point out and challenge you if you are not being truly real, revealing, and not taking risks. Sean has amazing observational skills that can tell exactly what is going on in actor’s emotional truth on stage and he can bring those truths out of you with his broad intelligence in method of acting (I am not only talking about “the method”). He will implement the most precise exercise that you need at the moment from his enormous informational-library of acting insight that he has.
Sean will fine-tune your acting instrument to really have the human-experience on stage through the words of the writers in the given circumstances of the play or script. Studying with Sean, I realized more potential within me as an actress to tell a story more truthfully, condition myself to be raw and ready to experience adventure after the first line, to take a risk and express it. After years of being an actress, Grok Acting Studio is reminded me how special and wonderful this profession is.
My love of acting began when I was a child. I studied acting throughout high school, and then attended and graduated from the USC School of Theatre. I continued to search for acting classes that provided good, solid technique, and spent many years with various teachers in Los Angeles. I came to Grok Acting Studios because I really wanted to deepen my craft. During this last year, Sean Rose has really helped me explore my instrument, and develop techniques that help me to dig deep and find the truth of myself which I can apply to any character I bring to life. As a result, I have greatly improved my audition techniques. I am grateful for the growth I have gained at Grok Acting Studios!
I’ve trained at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts at Stella Adler Studio. After my conservatory experience, I could not find an acting coach that measured up — that is, until I met Sean Rose. Sean is a powerful force, wise beyond his years, and truly possesses a gift of connecting with actors’ emotions. He has no ego about it, and truly respects each actor as they use their own techniques in addition to his guidance. I came to Sean to work on a character for a film that I had written, and he helped me to discover deep parts of the story that I didn’t even see on my own! I would highly recommend Sean to any actor who is ready to get out of their own way and be truthful on stage or on the screen.
Sean is a fantastic directing coach. Having gone to film school with an MFA from Columbia University and absorbing the technical aspects of directing and dramaturgy, I find Sean’s intuitive approach to working with actors extremely refreshing. The bones of the scene – beats, through lines, actions – must be in place, but from there, Sean teaches how to make a scene come alive. This type of instinct-driven skill can only be learned through practice, which makes the hands-on experience of his classes all the more rewarding. He has all the requisite technical knowledge at his fingertips, but prefers to work from a freer place, a place where visceral truth is the most urgent priority. All of the actors and directors in his workshops feel this, and rise to Sean’s higher standard. Was that moving? Real? Vital? These are the questions he’s concerned with. He’s interested in taking you out of your comfort zone, beyond the confines of your intellect and preconceived notions, and into that elusive place between the performative and the actual. Actors are no longer acting and directors are no longer directing in the obvious sense. The scenes take on a life of their own and there’s this palpable sense that something is really happening. This is the kind of magic you hope to create on set as a director, that ecstatic feeling that you’re all creating something beyond what any single artist – actor, director, or writer – could have imagined. It’s no surprise that Sean has earned such a loyal base of actors and directors eager to fill up his classes. He reminds you of why you wanted to make art in the first place.
Robert Snow is a writer / director from Philadelphia, PA, with an MFA in Directing from Columbia University. His first short, THE BLUE DIE, won the Film of Highest Distinction Award at the Siouxland International Film Festival. His Columbia thesis film, BUNNY, was awarded Faculty Selects and won the FilmAid Award, the IFP Audience Choice Award, and the Best Producer Award. It premiered at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival and has gone on to play at festivals around the world. His script, MURDER OF A CAT, was voted onto the 2010 Hollywood Blacklist. It was executive produced by Sam Raimi and it premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. He currently works as a screen and television writer in Los Angeles. He has worked as a staff writer on New Girl and Disney’s DuckTales and has written features and original television shows for Fox, Dreamworks, and NBC/Universal.
Sean Rose is exactly the Acting Coach I was searching for after moving from NYC to LA. Three years ago I graduated from the 2-year intensive acting program at the prestige Circle in the Square Theatre School in NYC. Upon graduating, I moved to LA to perform in my first and second Solo-Actress plays. For the past three years of being in LA I have been desperately attempting to seek out a safe and affordable place to continue my work and hone my craft. Sean and Grok Acting Studios were able to provide exactly that, plus more. Sean’s innate ability of intuitively identifying actors creative blocks adds an element not many teachers can provide. Sean assisted me in breaking out of my human conditioning and helped me gain the freedom of expression in my scene work and monologues in class. He is patient and provides highly intellectual, personal, and professional feedback that has transformed my work. Sean also offers private sessions and invites industry folks in as guest speakers. He holds Director sessions, in which he invites new and established Directors to work on their craft and allowing students to work on scenes in these sessions and get seen by Directors in the industry. Sean is a very gifted teacher and artist. I would highly recommend him to any actor who is serious about building a solid platform to a prosperous career.
A mentor who treats the me and the work with professionalism is extremely important. Sean will not only do that, he will give you tools to work with that enhance a deeper engagement in your craft. You will find support in knowledge, and continued development as you work through your challenges. Circle in the Square, NYC Alumni. ACTRA.
It is with great pleasure that I share my experience studying with Sean Rose. I met him originally while we were both acting in a collection of short plays. Sean is a young, dynamic actor and acting teacher with fresh ideas! He has no airs or attitude and he treats everyone with the utmost respect.
I was fortunate both through the NYU Undergraduate Drama program as well as post college to have studied under some industry notables including Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, Josh Logan, Frank Corsaro, Ken Frankel and Alan Langdon so you can trust that the comments I am sharing come from an actor who has been in the business for a while.
Sean does not focus on any one particular method, but rather helps each actor to trust their own instincts and emotional experiences. What is achieved are performances that are uniquely individual yet powerful. His workshops are a nurturing and supportive environment which encourage actors to try new approaches and safely reveal aspects of their personal life that they can utilize in the creation of the characters they portray. Using his keen insight, Sean gently guides actors through exercises that overcome emotional blocks ,enabling them to live and breathe their roles rather than just play or present them.
Time onstage and time offstage observing fellow actors work are an equally rewarding experience in Sean’s classes. All remain focused and engaged. Sean is generous with the time he devotes to every actor individually. He offers both his expertise and opens the room up to comments and suggestions which furthers growth from session to session. He also quotes other well known acting teachers, directors and actors when applicable. He is wise, selfless and understands that the development of an actor truly takes a village.
In the three months I have worked with Sean, I’ve been involved as an actor in scene-work for his Director Workshops( which are very effective and unique as they concentrate on helping directors to understand various techniques to bring out emotionally organic performances.)and am currently studying in his Thursday night Acting Workshop(He has one on Tuesday too!).
Sean Rose has helped me feel more grounded as an actor and I have begun to realize the fruits of this training as I recently booked an episodic TV role and a role in a new play to be produced in Hollywood. Thank you Sean. You totally make a difference!
I have worked with Sean for many years, we met in 2007. I’ve studied and acted for over 12 years on TV shows and films in Europe and the US and won best actress in a feature film at the NYIF&V festival in 2008. I took a leave of absence for a couple of years and became a photographic artist. My work, finding vulnerability in my subjects, relates a lot to the work I did as a method actor. A year ago Sean asked me to work with him on something special. I hesitated for over a year but when he finally pulled me in and brought me to his session, I knew I was back home again and that we are never done learning; that we need to keep the animal alive to be alive, that our dreams and unconscious tell us so many beautiful stories that we can share with our craft.
To find that kind of an actor that dares to go further and beyond to get to the real core of the work, is rare. To find actors who will put in the time instead of just reading lines, is rare. But when you do, when you know you can trust the other actor to bare your soul, then you can make magic.
You can only do this when you know the other actor has had excessive training and knows that the way to get there is to take risks and really connect. The connection of two individuals during a scene is no different from connecting to people in life as long as you permit to truly be. To use each other and creatively manipulate real life into the other real life called acting.
Sean’s knowledge, awareness and craft are the tools you need to be a great actor. Bringing a character to life by using those tools is a magical process. Sean’s class is a class of actors that work with their craft. Sean’s knowledge and experience make him into a trusted teacher who feels like one of us.
I have a degree in Drama from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and been to many acting studios, but I have never seen a class saturated with so many talented, dedicated, kind and intelligent artists. My life has shifted entirely since I started taking classes at Grok. My craft has improved immensely, I have gained a lot of confidence in my work and learned various tools that have helped with my emotional accessibility and therefore have made my talent more reliable. I also found an amazing job as a manager at one of the local theatres, got signed by a manager and I definitely have to thank Grok Acting Studio for all that!
Having lived in Los Angeles for almost 5 years I had never been able to acquire a sense of community and belonging. Craving artistic camaraderie and satisfying ways of self-expression, I got lost in self-doubt and loneliness. Memories of my earlier and happier days when I was making baby-steps towards becoming an actress made me seek a place that will help me recover, challenge me and grow even further. Grok became such a place for me. My wonderful teachers, Sean and Ilia, have made me believe in myself and gave me the strength to take leaps in the pursuit of my acting career.
I was an Acting major at UCLA that gave me great tools, but Sean Rose’s teaching far exceeds the curriculum in any acting university class or any costly classes you might find in Hollywood.
What is Sean Rose’s Acting Class to me?
Technically, he is not a coach or a guru. These titles do not do him justice because he is someone truly understands the Acting/Drama craft and more importantly, how one can deepen their own artistic abilities. When approaching truthful acting, his work often involves the actor becoming self-aware of their mental and physical blocks. He repeats, “don’t simulate your expression, stimulate your expression!” I rarely meet people as extraordinary as Mr. Rose who found my flaws, recognized them and, in turn, taught me to celebrate my flaws and explore my deeper self. Rose’s class employs and embodies various significant acting techniques. A gem in Hollywood that should not be passed up in any regard! Because, the feedback that you receive after each class, are priceless and you will hold near and dear for a lifetime. Since your goal is to become a professional working actor, which I will assume since you are reading this—Rose’s class is where your acting career can really take off!
I recently graduated from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. I know what I want to say but not how I want to begin. So I’ll just begin.
Sean’s class hurts. In all the right ways. Walking into my first day, I met glorious, bubbly souls in the lobby, who warmly welcomed me into their space even before class had begun, in what was to be a foreshadowing of the rest of our time together. After a few moments of pleasantries, a fellow actor shepherded us all into the space to begin with a warm up before Sean’s arrival. As is standard in the book of excellent warm-ups for actors, I took to the floor, along with the rest of my peers, and addressed the instantaneous now. I hummed and listened to others’ haws. I bellowed in a room of quiet sighs. And then, Sean entered the room. And with him, the spirit of an army. Sean’s entire platform is based upon the discovery of truth and acknowledgement of the present moment. As he so eloquently puts it himself, he is in the business of turning individuals into “professional humans.” After all, if we purport to hold the title of artist, if we arrogantly demand dollars from an audience for the specific privilege of viewing us, the spectacle, we must give them and the universe everything we have, all of ourselves, and not waste energy in the holding back. One by one, I felt the core and soul of every other human in the room mesh with each other and to the space as we continued the group warm-up. Perhaps it was a fluke, or a series of perfect incidences, that led to me feeling connected to each and every “other” in the group, faster than I ever have in any other classroom to date. Something tells me this is the norm for Sean’s class. From this shared space, this common ground, it felt almost logical for the session to proceed as it did, with brazenly honest demonstrations of self from everyone in the room, masterfully guided by a few words here and there from our teacher. Sometimes, Sean even demonstrated bits of a monologue or his capacity to tap into extremely private bits of himself at a moment’s notice. What is most incredible is that Sean seems to be leading us all on the fly. Sure, he is aided by notes he has taken previously on his students to highlight their blocks or specific learning style, but he is an incredible example of his own practice: in order to best assist those on stage, Sean simply takes them in. He confronts the now. Sean is highly attuned to his own instrument, and is therefore incredibly perceptive of even the slightest pocket of tension, or the most minute hesitation of another either in body or in breath. By the end of my first day, I already had a litany of new discoveries and sensations, even after serving a decade and some change in this wild, wonderful art. What I am not so sure of, is if for Sean himself, any of this was new. Or if he is so in tune with the inner-workings of the psyche that with 99% accuracy he could have predicted the way each individual would behave, and from there how the entire six-hour long session would have run. Funny how that six hours felt like a lifetime and like the duration of a single wave crashing all at once.
I will be honest— this class is not for either the faint of heart or for one who is not willing to be entirely vulnerable on the stage. To be clear, there is a difference between unwilling and terrified. For example, I am terrified. I am terrified of honesty, and acceptance, and the hurting and the darkness that I know I will have to submerge myself into over the course of my time with Sean. But I am willing. Because the darkness isn’t going to shine a light on itself. Because I want to be better. And because I want to grow. Because I want to fully commune with fellow artists and humans, if even for a weekly session a few hours at a time. Part of the appeal of Sean’s class is the extremely apparent focus on and passion for the human spirit, in all of its many mutations and manifestations. So, if you are a human, and you want to know more about what it is to be human, Sean’s class might be right for you. Now.
I’ve studied acting for many years, and most recently graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts at New York Film Academy. During that time, no teacher’s technique has transformed my work the way Sean’s has.
Before working with Sean I received a Bachelors in Fine Arts at New York Film Academy and studied at various other studios and classes. Sean Rose is a remarkable educator. Not only does he push the boundaries and broaden the possibilities within each individual artist, he is game changer and overall life elevator. Every class is filled with “aha” moments; especially when I’ve resisted them most. If you’re in for a breakthrough and maybe an overall highlight moment that fuels your ‘why’, this is your class. This class has been transformational and simply monumental in the expansion of my awareness. I’ve learned to own my power, be present within my craft, and best of all be a gentler and more compassionate human being. This is not your “book the room” class. This is not even your “book the job class.” This is a “book your life,” and maybe as a result, career class.
My prior training before working with Sean Rose is Bachelors degree in Theatre & Education, Coimbra School of Education, Portugal, one year of Acting for film at New York Film Academy (NYFA), Los Angeles.
Sean’s classes came to me in the right moment. I did not think classes like this existed in L. A. – much better than what I have experienced before, more helpful, really working on your craft. This only shows how much Sean wants to help actors pursuing their dreams while struggling to get there. The books that he advises you to read are just on point of what an actor needs to know. Trying to be a working actor in this crazy town, auditioning every day with lines such: “commander, the sub collapsed” or “mom, can you turn the AC on?,” I was missing my art, I was missing acting.
Sean is really good at reading what you’re missing in your scenes. Sean is really good at guiding you on how to achieve the next level. I feel like this journey, going to class every week is making me always want to be better and actually knowing I have to work on to get there. The level he demands of his students, the knowledge that he has and wants to share, makes me feel like I am among the winning team. That’s it! We’re a team, helping each other to be better actors. It’s all about our acting. From the inside out and then letting it affect us again from the outside in. It may seem confusing, but for me it was revealing! It has been a discovery every week.
I am very thankful for Sean and the opportunity to work with him. I am a working actor! Thanks Sean!
My training before Sean Rose was attending Northwestern University – BS in Theater and History, Certificate in Musical Theater. I have been taking class with Sean for over a year and I could not recommend him highly enough. His teaching style is intense but supportive; one always gets the sense that he cares deeply about his students and their development as actors. He is extremely adept at identifying the stumbling blocks preventing his actors from achieving their full potential and uses a wide array of exercises and techniques to work on these blocks with the actor in a manner personalized to their individual needs. For example, after I had only been in class for a couple weeks, Sean located perhaps my greatest hurdle as an actor and helped me to understand it better than any other acting teacher I have studied with hitherto. Since then, Sean has used several exercises to help me liberate myself from this hindrance. I feel like this process has already produced notable improvement in my acting.
Sean has also succeeded in creating a safe and caring environment in which to work; everyone involved encourages the growth of their classmates and is, in turn, inspired by their growth. I know I have improved as an actor thanks to this class. This class has been such an amazing influence on me as both a person and as an actor.
I was referred to Sean Rose by one of his students who had previously graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts that he was coaching for a feature film. As a working director and graduate of USC School of Cinematic Arts, I’m always looking for ways to enrich my studies and continue to hone my skills as a filmmaker. I decided to attend Sean’s acting class to gain a better understanding of the craft from an actor’s perspective as opposed to the more technical and results-oriented methods of directing I’ve become accustomed to. By watching Sean’s coaching and gaining a better understanding of the actor’s methods, I hope to foster the kind of environment on set for the actors to feel comfortable and confident enough to achieve their best work.
I’m happy to say that the experience of Sean’s dramatic acting class is one I will never forget. It’s hands down one of the most raw and emotionally awakening courses you will find anywhere in Hollywood. His unique blend of classical and contemporary teaching methods mixed with highly personalized evaluations of each student go far beyond anything I could have imagined. Any actor or director who’s serious about their craft and is looking for a powerful and emotionally enriching learning experience should seriously consider taking this course.
In short, take this class. It will blow your mind!!
I met Sean years ago and I saw what a talented actor he is. His work is deep, with a diverse range, commitment and focus. Later on, I noticed even more. Not only that he knows how to use the technique for his own instrument, but he is excellent at coaching and teaching others. His abilities to see what each individual needs to unblock, what directions the actor has to go to grow their potential and craft and HOW. Those are amazing qualities that I’m personally looking for in a teacher/acting coach. I feel always safe in our sessions when I’m working on a new piece of material. If I have any difficulties with choices, or approaches that I choose to work with, Sean is always ready to help me and give me constructive feedback. Not only by describing how, but he would take me there, coach me through and allow me to have the emotional experience that I need. That makes me more confident as an actress and with those experiences I’m understanding how to use the craft and my own instrument. Sean is blessing my art with his talents.
I’ve been in Sean’s class for 2 and 1/2 years months now. I came to his class at the recommendation of a good friend who holds a PhD in Theater and was long time faculty acting teacher herself at CSUN. I felt that I was not growing further in my acting skills after 13 years of commitment. It has been a roller coaster ride ever since then! So many new skills to learn and savor!! Sean is incredibly intuitive regarding his students acting skill needs which I’m seeing comes from his commitment to his own continually growing craft level. You can’t give what you don’t have! I’m now feeling refreshed, challenged and grateful to be moving forward in the important journey of acting.
The Grok Acting Studio is a life changing experience for my craft. It’s not one of those LA phony acting classes based on phony-acting techniques. I was finally able to find here in these classes exactly what I needed for my progress as an actress: the techniques, the basis, the core, the growth. Each week I learn from doing the work, as well from observing it. Each class has a tremendous value because each class is unique in its outcome and discoveries.
This is something bigger than just an acting studio, it’s a community of dedicated and determined actors, it’s an overall ‘new’ old-school devotion to the work.
Thank you for this place.
As an actor who studied for over 8 years, I can confidently say, I have a good grasp on what being an experiential actor looks and sounds like. Sean really has a passion to help actors overcome their instrumental blocks, to unlock and access the full assortment of talent each actor can bring to the table. Simply put, Sean is the real deal.
Stepping into one of Sean Rose’s GROK acting sessions is like stepping into a real gym workout, only instead of a workout for the body, it’s a workout for actors emotionally exploring the depths and blocks of their emotions. Starting traditionally with a “warm up” the actor is encouraged to release into their sensations throughout their everyday lives and enter into the work with an open state of awareness. Living in LA, it can be difficult to find a suitable class that delves into the emotional depth of a person quite like Sean Rose can and taking the wrong acting class can be truly detrimental to an actors instrument. I have studied with great acting coaches like Susan Batson and her “Gold Dust” class and The Actors Studio with Ellen Burstyn. Sean Rose’s class has helped my instrument in similar ways and I believe he will go down as one of the greats of emerging acting coaches.
Working with Sean Rose is a remarkable experience. The sessions are inspiring both because of the work he helps you bring out of yourself and what you witness others do. Watching my peers progress is unlike anything else I’ve seen in my acting training, and I’ve studied in top programs since high school; completed various intensives, graduated with a BFA at Universtiy of the Arts, and studied abroad in the UK such as Rose Bruford.
Sean approaches each actor with compassion and certainty. One thing I particularly appreciate about his approach is that he believes with each person that “It’s not if it can be done, but how.” He knows that you can do this and he’s gonna show you or help you figure out how.
His intuition about where you’re coming from and how that relates to your work verges on the empathic. It’s not a joke that he frequently writes down what you’re thinking before you say it. It’s a skill he has honed and he uses it to help each person he works with. It helps build trust that if you’re missing something or having trouble admitting it to yourself, he’ll be there to help. His notes are accurate and incisive, and he knows when you’re able to hear certain information and when it’s just not helpful.
My acting immediately improved after starting these sessions, and I don’t say that lightly. I mean in my first class post-audit I hit certain points I never had before. My work has become deeper, more truthful, and more exciting. Sean knows the right questions to ask, the right exercise to assign, when to dare you to go deeper, and when to guide you to be gentle with yourself in order to facilitate your particular growth pattern. Plus, it’s just effing fun.
This sort of praise is something that would generally make me suspicious. Having had the gamut of acting teachers, something I am particularly wary of is the guru-mentality. I hate when I feel like a teacher wants to be treated like something above everyone else, or implies their way is the only way. The work he helps facilitate is certainly impressive, but I never feel that Sean’s placing himself on a pedestal. Quite the opposite, really, he’s resistant to even accept the title “teacher.” And while the exercises are often therapeutic, he keeps session from turning into therapy.
I’m sure this work isn’t for some people, but I haven’t seen anyone solidly commit to attending who has not greatly improved as an actor and greatly opened up as a person. Sean loves acting, and that love is infectious. It’s a special experience, and one I am truly grateful to be a part of. Ultimately, the work speaks for itself. You gotta see it to believe it. So come see!
I have been studying with Sean Rose at Grok Acting Studio for over a year now. Before joining his class, I received my BA in Theater Arts & Political Science from Rutgers University and trained with several well known teachers in Los Angeles. I came to his class feeling blocked and disappointed with my craft and progress as an artist. I expected to learn something new. I did not anticipate the rapid growth I would experience.
His class is a little bit of everything: relaxation, breath work, movement, instrument work, monologues, scene work, etc. It is challenging and requires deep commitment.
Sean is wonderfully unfiltered and honest with students, but deeply kind. He is always fully engaged with you when teaching and sensitive to where actors are in their lives and process. And most importantly, he believes in you until you do. As actors, we often arrive broken and frustrated to a class and remain unheard or unseen. This will not happen to you with Sean.
I was repeatedly told by teachers that I was a “smart actor” but had too much tension or an emotional block, yet no one could provide guidance on how to work through these issues. Sean’s class will teach you how to find your own method to overcome challenges in your acting. You will never be left wondering how to get there- you’ll know exactly how your own instrument works.
Sean is not only gifted at getting actors out of their own way, but he understands text. I am a playwright and worked with Sean on a play I wrote and was acting in for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. He is an excellent acting coach, and I was nominated for Leading Actress in a Play by Broadway World Los Angeles for the work I did in that show.
My work has deepened. I am far more emotionally accessible and relaxed as an actor than I have ever been. I approach my work with a different, more holistic and well rounded view now.
Ilia Volok’s class is also incredible at Grok Acting Studio. Ilia is a respected teacher and working actor, member of the Moscow Art Theatre and Lifetime Member of the Actors Studio. It is difficult to find professionals with training backgrounds like this also teaching. And finally, Sean also brings in industry guests who have had great professional careers. Come check the class out if you’re an artist who wants to work professionally!
Sean Rose’s classes benefit from his intuitive approach to each student actor’s progress. Because I received theatre training at UCLA and later the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, I’ve experienced a variety of acting techniques. But Sean’s methods cut across them for actors to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances. He works hard to bring out an actor’s unique qualities, enabling each to eliminate self-referential or other detrimental habits. As a director and former acting PhD and teacher at California State University, Northridge, I appreciate the care that he gives to each actor’s needs. When anyone “audits” his classes, these qualities are readily apparent.
Sean has an amazing talent of seeing, and feeling, where an actor is instrumantility. Then, he skillfully guides them towards a place of free expression and artistry. His intuitive understanding of script analysis helps him to choose craft choices, which lead the actor towards an honest performance.
He seeks and demands nothing less than the “truth” of the human condition.
A pleasant surprise!
My earlier training to working with Sean was earning my BA in Theater with a concentration in Musical Theater from the University of Alabama. When I first started working with Sean I was very resistant to the type of work he was doing. It felt risky and took me to a level of vulnerability that I did not want to be at. I was uncomfortable opening my heart and examining its’ contents on the stage in front of my whole studio. I found myself not wanting to go to class- thinking of excuses I could say to get out of it, but each week I returned and each week Sean continued his probing and guiding. I was working on my George Bernard Shaw “Joan of Arc” monologue for several weeks without much progress. It always came out tense, angry, and one dimensional. I was frustrated.
Soon though, something happened that ignited so much anger in me that I didn’t know what to do with it. So like most people in our society, I shoved it down, poured some happiness on top of it, and continue to function. The next day I had studio. I’d been having a really great day and was excited to be there and tell everyone about my great day. Sean asked me to do personal inventory. I asked myself out loud “How do I feel?” and I was off; allowing my mouth to freely spew out whatever thoughts that came when suddenly, after uncovering layer after layer of my happy good feelings, something rose in me so fast that I felt as if I had been punched in the stomach. It left me speechless and at a dead stop. After several moments of silence and the class holding their breath, Sean asked “Are you okay?” I responded, “Yes? I…” Nothing. No words. He asked calmly, “How do you feel?” I was suddenly exhausted, like I had been fighting so hard to keep this down and now it was so close to being released into the world. There was nothing left to do but release it. I said, “I feel betrayed. I feel confused. I know I felt this yesterday but I didn’t know it was still there. I feel so betrayed…”
After a few more moments of personal inventory, Sean guided me into my Joan of Arc monologue and it was beautiful. It was free and sad and desperate and empathetic and hopeful and hurt and all of the intricacies that anger is composed of. It was multi-dimensional, complex and most importantly, honest. From that day on the flood gates opened. Every class has unburdened my person more and more of societal suppression. The suppression that says “That feeling is nasty. Don’t show it. Put it away. Leave it in the dark.” These feelings don’t go away on their own. They start to stack up on top of each other and the more layers you get, the less you can see of yourself. Sean has created a safe space to speak and express all of the whacky, crude, upsetting, and sometimes vulgar things we humans think and push down because it’s not “acceptable” to feel that way. I’ve grown so fond of this class and look forward to Tuesdays when I get go back and explore more with my fellow actors. It’s a safe haven for growth not only as an actor, but as a person as well. I can’t wait to see what else is in me that will be unleashed with the help of Sean’s guidance.
Words can’t describe what Sean offers as a coach and fellow actor. The one thing that really sets him apart from all the other coaches in town is that he’s an actor, and a really good one at that. He has a ton of knowledge and experience with success, using it so he’s able to teach it in a way that the actor can understand, and the work in class shows it. Even though we have only been working together for a very short time, I can already tell more of a difference in my acting and life than the previous 2 years of training. I’ve gained trust, confidence, practical knowledge and a new friend who continually pushes me to do the uncomfortable things that make me a better actor.
Thanks Sean.
There is a mystical element to working with Sean Rose. No one has been able to define it other than to say that he has an innate ability to understand the human spirit. However, from observing my fellow practitioners who have all studied for most of their lives and have attended prestigious universities, I know this training is unique, to say the least. Confidently knowing that Sean tailors his guidance to each individual in his class to ensure a beautiful work of art is something I have never heard of being done before. I can recall a number of moments that he was able to understand what I was thinking and feeling and without me uttering a word, he had already written down in his journal exactly what I wanted to express. The safe environment that has been created by Sean’s expertise and aided by us the pupil is the number one current for the success in my training. I never knew I would have found myself in this class, but I am grateful and honored to be welcomed and nourished by Sean’s guidance for over a year now.
Some of my prior training was spending time at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Sean Rose has an amazing talent for making everyone feel incredibly comfortable to express themselves fully and be there to support us. One truly feels like this is a place for artists to come to play, learn, grow, support, thrive and discover. One can tell that he adores working with fellow artists and loves encouraging everyone to be the best they can possibly be. His emotional depth, understanding, complexities and experience in life make him truly an inspiring leader. Sean has an incredible sensitivity to understand exactly what students need ti unlock and techniques on how to do just that. He is an incredibly humble, talented teacher that deeply cares about each student. LA can be a crazy place and for a long time I was searching for a community like the one that Sean has created.
If you are looking for an artist’s haven to expand your connection to human experience, Sean’s class is a breathe of fresh air that is perfect for just that.
I originally began acting in New York before moving to Los Angeles. The thing I love about Sean’s sessions is that not only am I experiencing transformation in my acting, but also in my personal life. By being more truthful with myself in my own life, I’m becoming more truthful in my acting. Watching Sean perform an exercise once, I realized why I love acting so much because not only did I feel for the character (the son), it touched me as a PARENT and made me seriously ask the question, “How does my son see me? Am I being the person I want him to see?” Great acting makes people truly think about themselves and hopefully become more enlightened. What other occupation can say that??? This class is such an amazing release that I look forward to it every week. It keeps me on track and revitalizes me. Each week we see work that moves us, that actually makes us feel something. The moments can be intense, or they can be subtle and just as profound. Sean demands that you do the work, take risks. It’s rare to find a place where the actors on stage affect you, you feel danger, you feel empathy, you go on a journey with them while they work. Everyone is supportive and encouraging, its completely safe. I also know he can do exactly what he is asking us to do. He often demonstrates sensory each week, within seconds he will take his hand touch an object that does not exist, but he will become incredibly vulnerable and visibly affected. He then takes that life with the imaginary object and begins a monologue. It’s inspiring to see that the process pays off. His insight and intuition are what allow him to make deep perceptions about the actor, aid them in liberating their instrumental blocks and then developing trust in a real craft that for any actor that has success, would guarantee longevity in this business. I am grateful to be in such a valuable display and tribute to the Life of the Human Spirit. Thank you Sean!
Sean, although young, you are incredibly gifted as an actor and a coach. You intuitively know how to get the actor to where they need to be and the growth in your classes is exponential. You encourage the actor to bring their emotions to life, thus creating life and movement within the actor. You are so giving of your time and you give the actor valuable tools to create success. Thank you Sean for all that you do.
I have my BA in Theatre and Film from St. Cloud State University and I’ve studied at a number of the popular classes around LA and It’s rare to find a teacher so good at helping each individual overcome their specific blocks and obstacles to being able to live truthfully on stage/screen.
Sean’s intuition is incredible and he often knows what someone is feeling or thinking before they’ve expressed it or even known it themselves. Time and again in session, myself and many others have seen him write down exactly what someone is thinking before they say it and then show us what he wrote after the fact. These are private thoughts concerning the actor’s real life. Sometimes an actor will simply walk onto stage to work and say get comfortable, and Sean will tell the actor what they are thinking about. It might sound like magic or intuitive BS, but it’s not. It’s based on years of experience, study of acting and human behavior and it helps each of us immensely in knowing that he knows the correct path to lead us down. Sean remarks that he will reveal what you are thinking because he encourages that an actor must be thinking on stage, not just look like they are thinking on stage, and it must be translated to the camera or audience. I’ve now known Sean for almost 10 years and I’ve watched him go from being an actor whose work I really admired to a teacher I really respect and look to for guidance. He doesn’t really like being referred to as a teacher because wants each of his students to develop self reliance rather reliance on the “teacher”, which so often happens in acting classes.
I’ve know Sean for almost 10 years now. I’ve always been impressed with his work on stage in plays and also on screen. I’ve cast him in several of my film projects. He’s one of the most skilled actors I know and he’s incredibly insightful when it comes to helping other actors get past their blocks to be able to freely express what a scene or monologue requires. He’s helped me prepare for roles on stage and in films and is always able to give me very specific ways to find the right choices or approaches when I’m feeling stuck. Also, I like that Sean won’t blow smoke up my (you know what) he’s always very candid about what he sees in everyone’s work and his feedback is always helpful with specifics on how to actually achieve the results I’m looking for!
Sean Rose has an empathic way of sensing what is inside the actor on a deep level and drawing that out to help the actor bring incredible truth to their work. I’ve studied with coaches from The Actors Studio, trained in method acting, and explored sense memory and Sean brings that level of work to Grok studio. As an actor, there is no better investment.
Years ago when I first was starting out I knew nothing about acting and no one in the business. I bounced from class to class, conservatory to conservatory, each time running into the same problem. I didn’t want to fake it. I wanted to experience these beautiful emotions the writer had so beautifully written. The only problem is In this town you can get away with faking it and get pretty far. This want on for years. I started to work a little bit, had a dream manager, auditions everyday. It was an actor’s dream yet it felt like a nightmare to me. I felt like the ultimate fraud, time after time I left auditions feeling unfinished, unresolved. Someone once told me about these private groups that Sean Rose had started where for 4 hrs all they did was work. No bullshit, no hollywood gossip. Just work, raw emotion being freed from dormancy. I arrived early the first day of this group to meet Sean and from that moment on my approach to the craft of acting has never been the same. Sean lives and breathes this stuff, it pumps through his veins, everything is in service of his craft. To say he’s an inspiration would be an understatement to what he means to me. Sean has helped me reach depths I only ever dreamed of. He’s empowered me to challenge myself every fucking day. The work is not bullshit it’s real and it’s scary sometime to take risks. Fear not though for we all walk the same tightrope every night whether it’s on stage or on set or in the rooms. Since working with Sean I’m not only free to experience the whole human experience we all so desperately crave, but free in my life everyday . That’s how important this work is to me and Sean is an enormous reason for that.
Acting coach Sean Rose is truly amazing, his way of teaching is incredible. I have taken other acting classes prior to his class, but nothing compares to his method of teaching. He is very good at pin pointing your weakness and where you need adjustment in acting just by talking with him and doing a short monologue for him. His class runs about 4hrs but at times we go for 5 hours. He is extremely passionate and will not end class just because time is up. With that said, Sean really focuses on his students getting to where they need to be. As an actor I always had an issue with exploring/expressing how I feel which is important in acting, and with Sean, he was able to help me get there with ease and will push you to get there. Just have to commit, do and trust and let him do the rest. I am very glad that I have found his class, honored to be his student, and proud to tell other actors about him.
I’ve known Sean for a while but I had never seen him work. When I learned of his way of working I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. But I was blown away by how good he is at reading people and the level of work coming from the sessions. I joined with the intention of letting go of my preconceived notions and just giving myself fully to the work and letting him guide me. I have seen tremendous improvement in my work in such a short time. I have also seen an impact in my personal life. I feel more confident and able to express how I’m really feeling. If you are the type of actor who just wants to get by and not be challenged then this is not for you. But if you are really looking to grow in your craft and as a human being and to truly find what it means to be an artist, then check it out. It may be the best decision you’ve ever made.
I’ve been in Sean’s class for just a few months and in just a short time, I have already developed many tools as an actor that I can utilize. He really knows how to hone in on where the blocks are, what is holding us back and how to make sense of what is going on emotionally. It really was a game changer for me!
My name is Bruce Nehlsen, I have been a stage actor for about 16 years. All those 16 years I have taken acting classes, inprov classes, work shops and have been involved with various acting companies and groups. I am presently a member of the Lonny Chapman theater and an observer at the Actor’s Studio West. I met Sean Rose, the creative director of GROK while working with him on a project at the Actor’s Studio. I had just quit The Practice of Law after 30 years. I was looking for an acting class that would prepare me for working in the real world of TV, Commercials and Film, which I had decided was my new future career.
While discussing my goals and dreams with Sean, he told me about his Class. Not necessarily Meisner, Strasberg or Adler, but an overall approach to the craft, he said. Come on down and try the class for free. How can you turn that down, Right? So I did. I have been there over a year now. It is hard to explain what the GROK workshop has done or how Sean does what he does. He starts by being your friend. Sean is non judgmental, but has an uncanny way of pushing your buttons to bring out your best without making you feel small or worthless, which in my experience most acting coaches feel is required to make them feel important or in control. We do a lot relaxation, some sense memory, some exercises I have never done in other classes. Overall, it is as Sean first said it’s “a different approach”. We work hard at getting out of our heads and out of our own way. I would recommend this class to anyone who wants to not only to be a better actor but also a better person.”
The first formulations of my acting method came from Grok. There, I learned solid techniques that I can fall back on to reliably produce quality work. By utilizing techniques from class, I booked the lead in an independent film and brought strong work to set every day. When it comes to the day-to-day, I believe it is very important for an artist to practice their craft not only with a group, but also on their own. Grok gave me the tools I needed to formulate my own engaging practice sessions and continue to make discoveries outside of the theater and independent of instruction. The ability to work and grow on one’s own is the greatest value of Grok, which fosters independent artists and a powerful spirit. I highly recommend you visit yourself and discover what it can unlock for you.
Working with Sean is like working with a professional actor on set who can cajole, prod, and stimulate until you are producing your best work by being fully engaged in the present moment without the constant self mind f***ing for lack of better words. Sean has been able to help me multiple times with auditions and script analysis to understand the heart of what is at stake, and how to go about accomplishing my goal. An invaluable resource for an actor, no matter where you are in your journey. Sean worked with me on an audition at Sony with Casting Director Francine Maisler, it was one of my first BIG auditions. Sean was able to decipher and understand intricacies and elements about the script and character that set me on a clear and confident path with my audition. I’ve also seen his work and he inspired me to be a better actor and artist. After auditing many classes in Hollywood, I felt like I actually was affected by the work in Grok and it was real, people were experiencing meaningful events in front of me, and all of it completely told the story of the piece being worked on. My first session at Grok, Sean helped me open up and express from a totally real honest place that allowed me to tell the story of the character I was exploring. It is certainly a venue for those actors who don’t just want to survive this industry or business, but actually pursue being a very good actor.
As a kid growing up in New York, I fanticized about living in California. It’s where all the movies are and I wanted to be part of it. I never pursued acting when I was New York but I when I iived in Texas, I did. I came to Los Angeles with a purpose – to futher my careers as an actor / artist. And in order for me to be a great actor, I knew I had to train.
I was first introduced to Sean Rose through a friend. He recommened I take Sean’s class. I’ve been eagerly wanting to restart my acting career so I was interested. It was already 8 months since I did anything acting related. I gave Sean a call. I reached out, and I got a response. We chatted on the phone for a few and I felt a connection. Both to him personally and to the objective of the class. I was interested and wanted learn more.
In the few weeks working with Sean I quickly realized that he is very bright and knows this craft very well. I admire his wealth of knowledge and the caring attention he brings to each actor in class. Working with Sean has been a pleasure. He’s shifted my paradigm with acting. Every week he influences me why it’s so important to BE and not pretend. That’s how you impact your audience. He knows exactly how to master this and shares it so well, week after week. I admire his hard work and dedication. And it shows through the amazing work from all the other actors who impress me beyond measure.
Grok is a place for committed actors to work and study with other committed actors. It’s a place to hone your craft, get inspired, work on monologues and scenes, and grow as a person and as an artist. It’s a laboratory in the varieties of human expression, a place to sharpen your tools of observation, authentic experience, and excellence in performance. It’s where the great actors and writers of the ages and today have a stage. After auditing I knew the studio was right for me to pursue the devotion to the art and the craft. Since then, I’ve developed cutting edge techniques and confidence to embody any character truthfully. Grok gives you a daily discipline, and it gives you hope in the power of being to invigorate not only your professional advancement, but your personal calling. Grok is a safe place to encounter some unsafe states of being, and wrestle with and unlock the mysteries of your own personal psychology and blocks. It’s also fun! Better than a roller coaster, as far as emotional range, self-actualization, and thrills and giggles are concerned: craft, great scene work, making great actors of truth,eliminating emotional blocks.
Sean is an incredible resource of craft! Ever since I joined the class I have grown as an individual and as an actor. As I strived and became motivated to deepen my work as an actress, I couldn’t have dreamed of finding a better class. I highly recommend this class to anyone who is willing to work hard on their craft. I have made self discoveries working with Sean as he truly can see people and help them overcome their blocks. I’ve seen him do the work and I’ve seen many people grow in his class. He is a man of wisdom and truly understands the craft and actors. He can help you turn your life around and find success and happiness, not just in acting, but in life as well. He truly understands story, character, and an incredible ability to make your work meaningful. I enjoy seeing plays on Broadway when in New York, when I’m in LA I feel Grok gives me that satisfaction of seeing artists willing to put their passion and spirit into the work, and in his hands. He understands what the actor is feeling but not expressing, what the actor expresses but really feeling underneath, and can actually provide a how to solve the problem or get you on your way to solving the problem. Each session, Sean works himself doing a monologue or the same exercises he asks the students to do themselves. Therefore, I completely trust his ability as do others after seeing his work each week. Other classes I had to question the source of their advice and why they weren’t able to do themselves what they were asking. I love each week and the commitment it has taught me to devote to ‘the work!
The work at Grok Acting Studios is at a caliber that one does not usually see. I never cease to be impressed by of the level of truth that I see the actors committing themselves to. At Grok, we really dig deep and you always come out of it feeling changed. Every time I go up to perform I always feel that I make certain discoveries about myself, both as an actor and as a human being. You learn that it’s not really about ‘acting’ but getting to know yourself in any given moment and taking that journey. It’s no coincidence that since starting the work at Grok, I receive comments like “You were a real person in a scene with nice specific choices,” when auditioning for industry professionals. I even got my new manager because he saw a film I did, in which I specifically utilized many of the exercises we do at the studio. I highly encourage anyone who is truly hungry to push themselves as not only actors but artists to come explore their craft at Grok Acting Studios.
Here’s a shout out from Canada! I’m so glad to see Sean’s passion in action. I met Sean while training in New York, love him like my brother. Sean, your personality shines when you enter a studio. And there are only a handful of people whom I consider fit to coach or even chat with about method acting. Sean Rose being one of the few. Sean and I have talked for hours sometimes about acting and still find ourselves not having enough time to complete the discussions for that evening…
Witnessing the commitment he brings to the process when working on a character is an experience on its own… Glad that Sean is helping other talents bring forth their true potentials… If anyone who can do that, it would be him.