The Barrow Group Performing Arts Center, New York NY

I found The Barrow Group through the recommendation of dear friends who are superb theater artists. I had left my career in the theater in the mid-1980's for a variety of reasons, and pursued a different profession. When I retired in 2021, I knew I wanted to return to my first love, but I needed a place to get back into shape and work again. The Barrow Group's classes were the perfect answer.

What has been most striking to me is the Barrow Group's approach, clearly set out in Seth Barish's book, "An Actor's Companion. " Unique in my experience, and I worked with many great teachers, is the absolute refusal to use shame as a teaching tool. TBG's approach enables each actor to discover a process that frees rather than inhibits. By practicing where and how to place our attention on telling the story of a scene, what emerges- almost in spite of ourselves- is an abundance of spontaneous life that surprises us. In each class I observe colleagues doing beautiful, truthful work. I enthusiastically recommend The Barrow Group.

Arielle Is such an amazing teacher and I learned so much in the beginners I acting class. I will definitely be taking more in the near future!

I took the 2 week Intensive Beginner I Acting Class at The Barrow Group this summer, and it was such a great experience. The instructor, Laura Cornachio, was approachable and knowledgeable and created a safe place to explore, learn, and play. It was incredible to see the progress each student made in just two weeks with simple techniques that allowed more nuanced and spontaneous performances. I would recommend The Barrow Group to anyone looking to start their acting journey or hone their craft.

The Barrow Group is an incredibly safe, warm, and supportive place to embark on your acting journey for the first time or continue the development of your craft as a working professional. The teachers are always kind and respectful and the technique can easily be applied to theatre or film. When you take a class at TBG you enter into a beautiful community that extends far beyond the walls of the school.

I just finished their Acting 1 class, and it was super fun and informative. Everyone is so supportive, and it’s such a safe space to authentically be yourself. Can’t wait for the next class to start!

If you're seeking a grounded, practical and actionable approach to acting or to add to your toolkit this is the studio for you. Every class and teacher I've encountered at this studio have been ego-free, tuned in and try their best to meet you where you are as performer. If you're an actor coming out of conservatory training feeling like you've lost touch with how to "talk like a person" this will help you tap back into your instincts and only bolster the training you already have. The work ive done at TBG has made my selftapes more authentic and natural and has given me space to shed a lot of the performer traps and habits I've built up over time. This is the real deal place to keep those acting muscles active between auditions in a safe, nurturing community.

I'm leaving this review under a different name. This is the WORST acting class experience that I have ever had. They have switched instructors multiple times. We spend an hour of each class reviewing things we learned in the previous week. EVERY class has started from 10-20 minutes late. The instructors do not email you back. I am beyond disappointed. A couple other students in my class not including myself has asked for refunds. Someone named Kevin said no. I will just finish the remainder of my four classes VERY frustrated & hopefully that SOMETHING will change. Stay away from this company.

TBG is a wonderful home for actors at any level who want to become more authentic and flexible in the art of storytelling. The teachers I have encountered there have been insightful and caring, using the approach which Seth Barrish and Lee Brock, the founders, have honed for decades. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have found them, and I cannot thank them enough for their guidance.

Though not actually a beginning actor, I felt the need to get "back to basics" this fall ('22) and took the Beginner I acting class at the Barrow Group. What an excellent decision. Arielle Beth Klein is a fine & very positive teacher, and the Barrow techniques are absolutely practical - down to earth, immediately useful, and not mired in dogma. Highly recommended.

Absolutely loved the beginner actor class at Barrow and my instructor, Quinn. The philosophy is awesome, which led me to see actual results. Our class had some amazing people as well, I guess, due to what Barrow is about. Very well run organization as well.

The place is nice. The people are great. The instruction is okay.

It appears there are too many students crammed into a single section. We ran out of time every class. Some people don’t get to perform each week, which is a shame.

I've already left them two voicemails and they haven't gotten back to me and they called themselves professional? I think they should call back

This class was really fun! A great, hands on way to learn about and practice acting. The instructors were very knowledgable and supportive, and the technique made me feel more comfortable performing week after week.

Took a class here in December 2021. The last few sessions were online due to Omicron which was a bummer, but the in-person classes with Laura were excellent. Looking forward to the next class!

I took this class over zoom may 2021- june 2021my professor was Quinn Vogt-Welch. One word. AMAZING! Seriously so welcoming and the class was great, I really feel like ive learned a lot as a new actor. I look forward to taking another class to be even better.
Thank you barrow group for such a great teacher!

An extraordinary theatre company and school. I had studied for many years with some of the best and most highly regarded teachers in the acting community but it wasn't until I found the Barrow Group that I felt I became a good actor. Seth Barrish has created an astoundingly simple approach to the work that makes acting fun again. And truthful and real. He and his co-artistic director Lee Brock have created a wonderful home for some of the most passionate and talented artists I have ever had the privilege of working with. I couldn't recommend them more highly!

The Barrow Group has given me every tool I need to go out and be a successful actor. The training is amazing! And with it I know I am enough as an actor and I'm confidant to do just that. High caliber of incredible actors there. Thanks Seth and Lee!

The Barrow Group has pushed me creatively, while always being a warm, welcoming and positive place to be. The tools and philosophy they teach here have been invaluable to me as an actor, and I have learned to be okay with being myself. Not only that, but I've made wonderful friends and met great people that I've collaborated with on projects outside of class. Love it!