Playhouse West-Philadelphia

If you're looking for serious acting training because you want to be excellent in the craft of acting then there is only one place to study and that is at Playhouse West-Philadelphia. Tony Savant is arguably the world's best acting teacher alive today. In my tenure at Playhouse West-Philadelphia I've witnessed Mr. Savant adapt to what works and what doesn't when it comes to his students, form new exercises in areas where students are consistently weak in, and offer additional FREE classes to give you every opportunity to become excellent in the craft. It's apparent that he works daily at being a teacher of higher quality. He has changed my life for the better. There are so many tools, besides the foundations of acting, that will be instilled in you that aren't offered or taught by other teachers and/or classes. Some of these additional skills are screenwriting, voice and speech, in-depth film and play analysis classes to name a few. This is a rough industry and the chances of "making it" are slim to none but with Tony Savant and Playhouse West-Philadelphia the chances are a little bit better everyday you train with him.

I’ve attended several acting schools between Los Angeles and Philadelphia, and PHW Philadelphia stands out as the best by far. If you're serious about your craft, don’t waste your time elsewhere - this is the place to be. Tony Savant is one of those coaches who will tell you like he sees it and has plenty of experience working with and helping develop successful actors. One thing I deeply respect is Tony’s emphasis on professionalism - showing up on time, respecting the work, and carrying yourself in a way that earns the respect of your peers. These aren’t just throwaway rules - they’re values he reinforces consistently, and they reflect what’s expected in the real world of film, television, and theater and any industry you want to succeed in. With years of experience and a clear track record of working with successful talent, Tony tells it like it is. He doesn’t sugarcoat feedback, and neither do the other instructors. That level of honesty and directness is rare in this industry, and it’s what makes the growth here real and lasting. Personally, I don't want to know if I did "okay" I want to know how I can do better. What really sets PHW apart is the environment. It’s a space where authenticity is not only encouraged but expected. Whether you’re naturally introverted, shy, or just new to the world of acting, this school meets you where you are - then pushes you, respectfully, beyond your comfort zone. I’ve had moments where I thought I embarrassed myself in class, but PHW doesn’t create that kind of atmosphere. Instead, it fosters a community built on trust, mutual respect, and the shared pursuit of growth. I studied at PHW for one year before taking a leave to pursue other acting opportunities. I fully intend to return and complete the entire program. I still practice the fundamentals Tony taught me and stay in touch with many of the talented people I had the privilege of training alongside. PHW isn’t just an acting school - it’s a proving ground for real, working actors. If you want more reasons why you should attend this school, ask local casting agencies and they will tell the same.

This is an exceptional school for anyone who wants to improve as an actor and be in a supportive, creative community. On top of that, classes are very reasonably priced and there are all sorts of extra perks for students such as opportunities to enter the annual film fest, weekly voice and speech classes, a library of plays, and more. Director Tony Savant is an outstanding leader, delivering honest, constructive feedback to every student and sharing words of wisdom from his decades in the business. I’ve been taking classes for a year and highly recommend it! I look forward to classes every week. If your goal is to be a serious, working actor and have a lot of fun in the process, this is the place to go in the Philly area.

As a student of Playhouse West for nearly two years I ~finally~ am ready to review it. Every actor knows that “luck” plays a huge part in achieving this dream. Without luck, this all seems rather daunting. After living a little and also researching the phenomenon of luck itself, I’ve realized that luck is just being deeply present, emotionally open, discerning, and fearless. Being present in a moment to notice the chance, emotionally open feel it’s gravity, utilizing discernment which speaks for itself, and then being fearless enough to follow through. Sounds a lot like the fundamentals of acting to me! I’m saying this because, I had the epiphany that simply being a student in Playhouse West Philly under Tony's direction is luck in and of itself, not just for myself but for all of us currently enrolled. If you can attend PHW, you are lucky. Tony has dedicated his life to this craft. To receive great training, from a genuinely dedicated teacher, in a secondary market like Philadelphia, for this price (which I’ll admit is 100% a steal). That’s lucky. To think, in the grand scheme of time, the 12 years of PHW Philadelphia’s existence so far is a blip and it’s quality is an anomaly—having the fortune to be aligned timeline wise to not only receive this training, but be in the place emotionally to invest in it; there’s no doubt in my mind that’s luck. I feel the need to share this sentiment, with a caveat. Tony is a fantastic teacher but he's not going to sugarcoat the truth. So while some people would prefer that, I think it'd be a disservice. If you're going to come here, I'd say get comfortable being a little uncomfortable because growth is uncomfortable. I've seen a lot of newer students put Tony on a pedestal and blind themselves expecting “perfection” from him. He is a human so sometimes you'll disagree with him. That's okay. The craft is the craft, and this man knows it like very few do. If you're willing to learn and open yourself up, you'll thrive in your training. Come here to learn and express the depths of human nature–which Tony is an expert at cultivating. It’s much easier to learn from someone when you respect them as a person, and not as the personification of one’s own personal expectations. As a teacher, Tony deserves the utmost respect, and I can confidently say he will respect you in return.

Playhouse West is a great place to learn the foundations of acting. Tony does a phenomenal job of critiquing you in a way that promotes growth. You also get an incredible deal for the cost of classes! I highly recommend Playhouse to anyone looking to ignite their passion for bringing stories to life.