Our Story,

Originally owned by Mike Stevins,

Talent House Academy (THA) started as a small school the early 2000’s hosting only a few of Los Angeles elite Casting Directors specializing in training for Kid and Teen actors.

Mike had a few close Casting Director friends and grew up in the industry himself. Knowing the real process to become a working actor, Mike was tired of seeing young actors and their families tricked by unqualified ‘instructors’ or radio commercials claiming “you can be a star!”.

Finally, after one to many horror stories and the council of many industry professionals, THA was created as a place that was different. Not a promise of fame and fortune, but a safe space that allows actors the opportunity to learn and grow their skills with reputable industry professionals.

Fast forward to,

A mother/ daughter duo, Karen and Megan Kenney (That’s us!).

Megan, 15 at the time, attending every class THA could offer, and Karen, becoming fast friends with Mike, always doing more and more research about casting directors / instructors, whispering in Mike’s ear. “What about this person?! Can you get them on the Calendar! That would be great for the kids!”

Mike is a lot like all of us, just wanted to work in real-estate, sip wine, and enjoy life in Palm Springs. (That’s the real dream, am I right?)

In seeing Karen’s interactions with the other parents waiting for their young actors in class- she was always giving advice, never trying to “hold secrets'“ or cut corners like the typical ‘stage moms’ you might imagine or see on TV, and seeing the true passion for the entertainment industry from both Karen and Megan, Mike offered them the opportunity of a lifetime to run THA- and the rest is history!

Through the years, Talent House grew from hosting 1-2 classes in a small, shared theatre, to fully booking calendars, complete with summer camps, creating demo reels, and more.

We’ve had the amazing opportunity to create our own space in Burbank, CA where we were able to mentor hundreds of young actors and even watch some amazing careers emerge. What we’re most proud of is having the opportunity to build so much trust within the industry, (pre-covid) we hosted several Casting Directors that would only teach at Talent House exclusively for kids and teens knowing it was a safe and reputable school.

Now through the pandemic, our in-studio classes are on pause, but we are more committed than ever to continue the mentorship, provide opportunities and valuable training that will continue to grow the new generation of Hollywood.

Our goal is to be helpful and informative so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

We’re more than happy to provide any guidance we can give and we’re so glad you’re here!

-Karen and Megan