PEM Curriculum, Program Structure & Enrollment Details

This 9-week in-person intensive is designed as a progressive training arc, moving actors from instrument refinement into applied performance and professional presentation.

The program is divided into two integrated phases and culminates in two live Los Angeles showcases—one for invited industry professionals and one open to the public.

PART I — INSTRUMENT REFINEMENT

Foundation, Safety & Capacity Building

The first phase of the program focuses on developing a flexible, resilient acting instrument while prioritizing emotional and physical safety.

Participants are introduced to PEM’s hallmark approach to emotional access through physiological entry points in the nervous system.

Actors will:

  • Access authentic emotional states without personal memory
  • Expand emotional range safely and systematically
  • Identify and release emotional blockages (personal and cultural)
  • Build stamina for sustained emotional work
  • Transition organically between emotions
  • Explore complex Emotional Mixtures for nuanced performance

This work establishes emotional reliability, the foundation for repeatable performance.

PEM Voice

PEM Voice restores the voice to its natural biological function, allowing emotional expression without strain or forcing.

Actors will:

  • Reestablish natural breathing and vocal coordination
  • Develop resonance without pressure
  • Maintain vocal freedom during heightened emotional states
  • Integrate voice with emotional and physical impulses
  • Support long-term vocal health for professional demands

The voice is trained as an extension of the emotional and physical system, not as a separate technique.

PEM Character Work

Character creation is approached through physiology rather than psychology, engaging the nervous system to generate authentic physical and emotional life.

Actors will:

  • Build characters from the ground up using biological principles
  • Expand range beyond habitual casting or personal experience
  • Create emotional clarity without emotional overload
  • Maintain safety while working with extreme or unfamiliar material

PART II — APPLICATION TO PERFORMANCE

Text, Embodiment & Professional Practice

Weeks 7–9

The second phase integrates PEM techniques into monologue and scene work, shifting from internal technique to external performance.

Monologue & Scene Work

Actors apply emotional access directly to text, processing material through the body rather than intellectual analysis alone.

Focus areas include:

  • Releasing preconceived ideas of how a performance “should” look
  • Developing instinctive, embodied performance choices
  • Creating authentic relationship and history with scene partners
  • Applying emotional transitions and mixtures to scripted material

Material is curated to highlight each actor’s range, strengths, and professional casting profile, with the final showcase in mind.

Rehearsal Process & Professional Practice

Actors engage in a structured rehearsal process aligned with industry standards.

Participants will:

  • Practice taking and integrating direction efficiently
  • Develop actor–director collaboration skills
  • Refine emotional consistency across repeated runs
  • Learn professional rehearsal etiquette and performance expectations

Industry Showcase

Integration & Professional Presentation

Week 9

The program culminates in two professionally directed live performances:

  • Invited Industry Showcase

Casting directors, agents, and select professionals are invited.

  • Public Performance

The showcase is an educational and professional presentation, not an audition.

The same curated material is presented for a public audience, allowing actors to demonstrate consistency and stamina.

What Industry Guests Can Expect

  • Actors trained in a biological, nervous-system-based method
  • Performances grounded in repeatability, not emotional recall
  • Integrated voice, body, and emotion
  • Professional rehearsal discipline and on-stage presence

Legal & Professional Notice

Attendance by casting directors, agents, or industry professionals is by invitation only and cannot be guaranteed.
Participation does not imply or guarantee representation, employment, or professional engagement.

Program Details

Dates
April 16 – June 7th
(Live Showcases: June 10th & 11th)

Schedule
Wednesdays: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sundays: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Location
Los Angeles, California

Prerequisites
PEM Intensive 1 , PEM Basics, or equivalent

Tuition & Payment Options (USD)

Pay-in-Full (Best Value)

$2,725 USD

Includes the full 9-week training, performance development, and participation in both live showcases.

Installment Plan

$3,140 USD total

Payment Structure (4 Installments):

  • Deposit: $785 USD (due upon acceptance)
  • Installment 1: $785 USD
  • Installment 2: $785 USD
  • Installment 3: $785 USD

Payment Timing:

  • Deposit: Upon acceptance
  • Installment 1: Two weeks after acceptance
  • Installment 2: Week 4
  • Installment 3: Week 7

All tuition must be paid in full prior to showcase week.

Attendance & Make-Up Policy

  • Consistent attendance is required.
  • If a class is missed, actors may schedule a catch-up session directly with Sarah, subject to availability.
  • No more than three (3) class days may be missed during the program.
  • Missing more than three class days may result in ineligibility to participate in the showcases.
  • Missed classes do not qualify for refunds or credits

Refund & Withdrawal Policy

Before the Program Begins

  • The deposit is non-refundable.
  • Tuition payments beyond the deposit may be refunded if written cancellation is received no later than 14 calendar days before the program start date, minus the deposit.
  • Cancellations received fewer than 14 days before the start date are not eligible for refunds.

After the Program Begins

  • Once the program has commenced, all tuition payments are non-refundable, regardless of attendance or early withdrawal.
  • Exceptional circumstances may be reviewed at the program’s discretion; refunds are not guaranteed.

Showcase Participation

  • Showcase participation requires adequate attendance and preparation.
  • Ineligibility for showcase participation does not entitle a participant to a refund.

Enrollment constitutes acknowledgment and acceptance of these terms.

Enrollment Capacity: Limited to 16 Actors

Enrollment is limited to 16 participants to ensure:

  • Individualized emotional calibration and instruction
  • Adequate scene and monologue coaching
  • Emotional safety and regulation
  • Professional-level rehearsal and showcase preparation

This is not a volume-based program.

It is designed for actors seeking precision, depth, and professional readiness.

Apply Now

Enrollment is selective and limited.