Scott Sedita Acting Studios
The go-to LA studio for sitcom and comedy acting technique
Overview
Scott Sedita Acting Studios is the premier comedy and sitcom training center in Los Angeles, founded by Scott Sedita — a casting director turned acting coach whose influential book 'The Eight Characters of Comedy' has become essential reading for actors pursuing careers in television comedy. Sedita's background in casting gives him an insider's understanding of exactly what networks, showrunners, and casting directors look for when filling comedy roles, and his training translates that knowledge into a systematic, teachable methodology that has helped hundreds of actors book series regular and recurring roles on network and streaming comedies. The studio was founded on the principle that comedy acting is a specific, learnable skill set with its own techniques, rhythms, and requirements — not simply drama with jokes added — and that actors who master these comedy-specific skills have a significant competitive advantage in the largest segment of the television market. The Eight Characters of Comedy framework, which identifies the eight archetypal comedy character types that appear across virtually all sitcoms, gives actors a clear map for understanding how comedy roles work and how to bring them to life with authenticity and humor. The studio has established itself as an essential training destination for LA actors who are serious about building careers in the comedy space.
The training at Scott Sedita Acting Studios is built around the Eight Characters of Comedy framework — the Logical Smart One, the Lovable Loser, the Neurotic, the Dumb One, the Bitch/Bastard, the Womanizer/Manizer, the Material Girl/Guy, and the In Their Own Universe — which provides actors with a systematic way to identify, understand, and embody the archetypal character types that populate television comedy. Classes cover sitcom technique for both multi-camera and single-camera formats, comedic scene study, audition preparation specifically for comedy casting, improvisation for scripted comedy, and the specific timing, energy, and performance adjustments that different comedy styles require. The curriculum addresses the distinct technical demands of multi-camera comedy (higher energy, bigger reactions, precise timing with a live audience) versus single-camera comedy (more naturalistic, subtler performance, cinematic rather than theatrical energy) versus the streaming era's blend of comedy and drama. Sedita teaches actors how to find the humor in any script through the identification of comedy beats, the art of the straight-face setup, callback construction, and the specific vocal and physical techniques that make comedy land. The practical, audition-focused approach ensures that every skill taught in class is directly applicable to the casting situations actors encounter when pursuing comedy roles in the professional market.
How It Works
Enrollment at Scott Sedita Acting Studios is open to actors at various experience levels, with multiple class tiers that accommodate beginners learning comedy fundamentals through advanced professionals refining their sitcom technique. The studio offers an accessible enrollment process without the formal auditions or interviews that some premium LA studios require, reflecting Sedita's belief that comedy skills can be developed by any actor willing to put in the work. Classes are structured in ongoing formats that allow students to develop their comedy skills progressively over time, with clear advancement criteria that ensure students are appropriately challenged at each level. The studio provides evening and weekend class options to accommodate actors' audition and work schedules, making it practical to maintain consistent comedy training alongside professional pursuits. The accessible enrollment approach means class composition is diverse, with students ranging from aspiring performers to working professionals, creating a dynamic learning environment where different perspectives and experience levels enrich the work.
The training experience at Scott Sedita Acting Studios is energized, practical, and focused on developing the specific skills that enable actors to deliver consistently funny performances in professional casting and production environments. Classes involve comedy scene work from current television scripts, audition simulations that recreate the specific conditions of comedy casting sessions, improvisation exercises that develop the spontaneity and responsiveness that great comedy requires, and detailed analysis of comedy structure and timing. Sedita's teaching style is encouraging and enthusiastic, creating an atmosphere where actors feel empowered to take comedy risks and develop their unique comic sensibilities. Feedback is specific and constructive, with Sedita drawing on his casting experience to explain exactly why certain comedy choices work and others fall flat, giving actors clear understanding of the principles behind effective comedy performance. The studio community is known for its positive, supportive energy, with students encouraging each other's comedy development and celebrating the fearlessness that effective comedy requires.
Who Uses It
Scott Sedita Acting Studios attracts a wide range of LA actors who share the goal of building or strengthening their careers in television comedy. The student body includes actors specifically targeting sitcom roles, dramatic performers who want to add comedy skills to their repertoire, improvisers who want to translate their skills into scripted comedy performance, and working professionals who return to the studio to prepare for specific comedy auditions or to sharpen skills that have grown rusty. The studio is particularly popular among actors who recognize that comedy represents the largest volume of television casting opportunities and who want the specialized skills needed to compete effectively in that space. Sedita's casting background and industry connections mean that the studio's graduates are recognized by casting directors for their comedy training, adding professional credibility to the skills development. The inclusive, encouraging atmosphere attracts actors who want to develop comedy skills without the anxiety or intimidation that can accompany comedy training in more competitive environments.
Pricing & Plans
Class fees at Scott Sedita Acting Studios are moderate by LA standards, with class series typically ranging from approximately $400 to $1,200 depending on the level, format, and duration. The moderate pricing reflects the studio's commitment to making quality comedy training accessible to actors at various budget levels, positioning the studio as a practical investment rather than a luxury. The studio offers various class packages and formats that provide flexibility in how actors engage with the training, from ongoing weekly classes to intensive workshops focused on specific comedy skills. The value proposition is strong given the direct applicability of the skills to the largest segment of television casting — actors who improve their comedy audition technique often see returns through increased bookings within a relatively short timeframe. Compared to other premium LA studios that charge significantly more, Scott Sedita provides specialized comedy training at a price point that makes it accessible to actors at various career stages.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
The Eight Characters of Comedy framework provides a genuinely unique and practically useful system for understanding how comedy roles work, giving actors a clear analytical tool that they can apply to every comedy script and audition they encounter throughout their careers. Sedita's casting director background infuses the training with authentic industry insight about what makes comedy auditions succeed and fail, providing knowledge that cannot be obtained from acting teachers who lack direct casting experience. The specific focus on comedy and sitcom technique fills a crucial gap in the LA training landscape, where most studios emphasize dramatic training and treat comedy as an afterthought or natural talent rather than a learnable skill set. The accessible, encouraging teaching style creates an environment where actors feel safe to take the kinds of risks that effective comedy requires — the willingness to be silly, to commit fully to absurd circumstances, and to risk falling flat. The practical, audition-focused approach means that skills learned in class translate directly to improved performance in professional casting situations.
What Could Be Better
The comedy-specific focus, while providing deep expertise in one area, means the studio does not address dramatic acting technique, voice, movement, or the broader craft foundations that actors need for a versatile career — performers who only train in comedy may find themselves underprepared for dramatic opportunities or for the increasingly blended comedy-drama genre that characterizes much contemporary television. The Eight Characters framework, while useful as an analytical tool, can become a limiting shortcut if actors use it to slot themselves or characters into neat archetypes rather than discovering the unique, complex humanity that makes the best comedy characters transcend their archetypal origins. The encouraging, supportive atmosphere, while creating a safe learning environment, may not adequately prepare actors for the higher-pressure dynamics of professional comedy sets where directors give blunt notes and the pace of production demands rapid adjustment. The moderate pricing and accessible enrollment mean class sizes may be larger and the individual attention less focused than at more selective, premium-priced studios. The framework is primarily designed around traditional network sitcom structures and may require adaptation for the more nuanced, less archetypal comedy styles that characterize many streaming and cable comedy series.
Our Recommendation
Scott Sedita Acting Studios is the ideal choice for LA actors who want specialized comedy training that provides a systematic framework for succeeding in television comedy auditions and performances. The studio is particularly valuable for dramatic actors who want to develop comedy skills, performers targeting sitcom and comedy series roles, and anyone who wants to understand the specific techniques that make comedy work effectively on screen. If you need comprehensive dramatic training or foundational acting technique, pursue that first through a full-spectrum studio or conservatory — comedy-specific training is most effective when applied on top of solid acting fundamentals. If you are primarily interested in improvisational or sketch comedy rather than scripted sitcom work, an improv-focused training center like UCB or Groundlings may be more directly aligned with your goals.
Pro Tips
Study the Eight Characters of Comedy framework thoroughly and learn to identify which character type every comedy role you encounter falls into — this analytical skill will immediately improve your ability to make appropriate, genre-informed choices in comedy auditions. Watch current television comedies actively and analytically, identifying the character types, comedy structures, and timing patterns in every show you watch, and practice applying the framework to understand why specific performances and jokes work. Develop facility in both multi-camera and single-camera comedy styles, as the technical demands are significantly different and the ability to shift between them expands your casting range substantially. Practice comedy audition technique with regularity, as comedy timing and confidence are perishable skills that deteriorate without consistent use. Supplement your comedy training with ongoing dramatic technique work to maintain versatility — the best comedy actors are always excellent dramatic actors who have added comedy-specific skills to their foundation.