Edgemar Center for the Arts, Santa Monica

Michelle Danner knows acting. She knows it so well, in fact, that she's helped A-list celebrities—including James Franco, Seth MacFarlane, Salma Hayek, Zooey Deschanel, and many more—learn the ins and outs of the stage. But to her, anyone can be a future star. That's why she's spent more than two decades traveling from Europe to Dubai on a quest to teach her craft. And, since 2000, her Los Angeles outpost has been Edgemar Center for the Arts.

Not only does Michelle's team of teachers lead adults' and kids' acting classes that focus on improv, vocal delivery, and breaking into Hollywood, but she also helps students hit the ground running. The center's two theaters and art gallery host regular student-run shows, and Michelle's group also points her students toward auditions organized by the school.