Our Studio

At Shari Shaw Studios, we seek to empower actors. Whether you are just beginning your acting journey or are a seasoned pro, we are here to support your artistry in a safe, inspiring environment. We will provide you with the specific tools you need to build a strong artistic foundation, as well as the practical knowledge needed to healthily navigate and succeed in this business. No matter what point you are at, we are here to help you cultivate your passion, find your inner power, and soar.

Shari Shaw Acting Studio Is Dedicated To:

Developing the Actor’s ability to instantly access their deepest emotions in order to give the most vibrant, textured and interesting performances possible. Teaching the Performer to find and refine their Unique Personality and Voice. Providing tools for Personal Preparation that deliver confidence, excellence and success. Opening the mind and body to creativity and expression, challenging the imagination and eliminating boundaries and inhibitions. Inspiring richer, more captivating, performances flowing from personal passion, power and truth.

SHARI SHAW

Da Boss

After graduating Cum Laude from Cal. State University-Northridge Theater Arts Department and U.S.C. Theater, Shari's professional career spanned almost 20 years as a full-time working actor on Film, TV, National Commercials and Stage including Theatrical World Premieres.

Despite her on-camera success, Shari developed a greater joy from individual work with actors and the emotional and creative experience of teaching the craft of acting. Combining her own acting experience and infectious, high-energy personality with techniques of mentors Lee Strassberg, Peggy Fuery and John Lehne - as well as motivational skills developed as a successful personal trainer – Shari has developed a one-of-a-kind approach to coaching actors and performers.

In 2004, Shari Shaw Acting Studio was born. From a converted office/garage, it has grown into a thriving acting studio with two locations (Secret Rose Theatre) and an ever-widening network of friends, associates, colleagues and clients. Shari was the first female director for the NBCUniversal Actors Showcase, has directed the ABC Diversity Showcase, is a regular Visiting Instructor at the Universal Studio Acting Workshops, has on-going workshops in Atlanta and New York and regularly coaches on-set for TV and major films.

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Kristen Ariza

Kristen Ariza

Staff Member

If KRISTEN ARIZA looks familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen her in over 50 national commercials as well as nearly every procedural show on TV, including Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS: Los Angeles, Bones, American Horror Story, and a recurring role opposite Tim Roth on Lie to Me. She has also exercised her comedic muscles opposite Amy Poehler in Parks & Recreation and Matt LeBlanc on Friends.

Kristen began her career in her hometown of Orlando, Florida, where she was cast in the Nickelodeon remake of the 1970’s British Sci-Fi series, The Tomorrow People. Filmed on location in London, this series was a classic long before the WB remake of the remake! It was here that she discovered her love for acting.

Afterwards, she studied at Florida State University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. She has performed on stage in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Most recently, Kristen can be seen in the Emmy nominated HBO feature, Confirmation which depicts the explosive 1991 Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings where Anita Hill accused him of sexual harassment. Starring Kerry Washington, Wendell Pierce and Greg Kinnear, Kristen plays Deputy Press Secretary, Judy Smith, the real life inspiration behind the ABC hit, Scandal.

Kristen is also part of the drama series, Startup, now in its second season, starring Martin Freeman, Adam Brody, and Edi Gathegi. She plays Tamara Dacey, wife to Edi Gathegi’s character Ronald Dacey, who is the second-incommand of a local Haitian gang. If Ronald is the muscle, Kristen Ariza’s Tamara is the heart. Kristen is a working actor who loves the craft and loves helping others actors in their professional journey. She is excited to be a part of the teaching staff at Shari Shaw Acting Studio.

Alissa Dean

Alissa Dean

Staff Member

ALISSA DEAN is a born and bred New Yorker. She got her start in musical theatre, commercials and voiceover at a young age which led to her graduating from the prestigious theatre program at New York University with a Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts.

While at NYU, she studied under renowned Neighborhood Playhouse acting teacher Fred Kareman and famed opera and vocal coach, Shari Anderson. Alissa also studied and performed improv at NYC’s The Upright Citizen’s Brigade and at The Magnet Theatre with Armando Diaz.

Alissa began teaching as a master teacher at The Children’s Playhouse Theater, a Los Angeles performing arts school for children, in 2012. Through her work at CPT, Alissa was able to help children of varying backgrounds find their artistic voice, thus sparking her desire to continue her journey as a teacher.

Having worked with Shari Shaw as a teacher and mentor for the last decade, Alissa is thrilled to be teaching at Shari Shaw Acting Studio, the very place she found her own voice as a performer.

Alissa has guest starred on Parenthood, Californication, Without A Trace, Cold Case, Less Than Perfect, Nathan Versus Nurture and Awake to name a few. She also starred in the award winning, fully-improvised feature film Speak Now and can be seen happily hocking various products on your TV and computer screens. www.alissadean.com

Cameron Kelly

Cameron Kelly

Staff Member

CAMERON KELLY is a Los Angeles based actress, writer and comedian. She is originally from the Washington DC area, though she grew up overseas — She lived in Paris, France for 4 years as a kid, and then spent her middle school years in Santiago, Chile. Cameron is fluent in French and Spanish. She studied sit-com acting at the UCLA Performing Arts program. And later, Cameron graduated Magna Cum Laude from Chapman University with a BFA in Screen Acting.

Since graduating and moving to LA, Cameron has worked on such shows as “Masters of Sex” on Showtime; “The Picture”, an independent pilot directed by David Winkler; “Pearl” an ABC Pilot where she acted opposite Candice Bergen; and “Rosewood” on FOX.  She continued her studies in comedy at UCB and Groundlings. She expanded her acting training at several prestigious acting schools around LA including Shari Shaw Studios.

Her recent work includes a recurring guest star on YouTube RED pilot “The Studio”, and a guest star on the new Facebook Watch show “We Need To Talk”. Cameron was in 3 feature films last year, including a Lifetime movie called “Healing Hands”, coming out soon. Short film “Swipe Right”, premiered at Cannes film festival in 2017 — and Cameron was awarded the CEC Short Takes Best Comedy Actress Winner and Best Performance Winner Award.

You can also catch Cameron doing stand up comedy monthly at Flappers Comedy Club and The World Famous Comedy Store in LA. She is excited to be a part of the teaching staff at Shari Shaw Acting Studio.

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