Parents Testimonials

“We received a beautiful relationship with a village of professionals that would prove to have a profound impact on our daughter (and whole family) in a short amount of time. This industry is tough, but when you have children that need this outlet to express their creativity, they need a team that can nurture, challenge and protect them. This is what you will find at YAW.”

“John D’Aquino and his staff have been a true blessing. They go above and beyond to help kids grow in their craft and guide them in their development as careers and personally. They really care about students and their well being, and the amount of support we have found in this school is of immeasurable value. They are working actors and my kids have learned so much that we all agree they are an extension of our family. I recommend them 100%”

“My daughter, Megan started classes with John and his amazing coaches almost a year ago. The boost in her confidence and all around skill set is incredible. She loves every class and every coach! The move to virtual classes has been easier than I could have ever imagined. The classes are equally engaging, fun and thought provoking. We will always be a part of John’s YAW family – there is no place Megan would rather be – or me!”

“John is amazing! His commitment to the whole actor and to the process, along with his positivity and guidance are heartfelt and make these actors GROW! My son always walks away from his classes and tells me something new that he has learned – and something he can’t wait to try. I love when he is prepping for an audition – or walks out of a casting office and says something like “John says …” (we have to take risks – is my favorite).”

Camp Hollywood was an absolute game changer for my daughter, Nora. It got way more in depth than any other class she has taken. The teachers assume the kids can handle the challenge and throw them straight into the A game. Nora will walk away with industry feedback, footage, new friends and an incredible amount of new knowledge. We highly recommend Camp Hollywood!

JDAW is such an amazing school! Our son was 7 years old when he decided he wanted to be an actor. We made the move to LA and then a friend referred us to John and his school. It was the best move we ever made! To be with such an amazing group of people who truly believe in your child’s talent is wonderful! Avery absolutely loves JDAW. John has gone above and beyond to give Avery a chance at his dream. It’s not always an easy journey in this business but John not only guides your children to believe in their craft but also truly cares about them personally. Avery loves everyone in the school and has made many friends as well! All I can say is thank you. Thank you for showing us that you care and believe in our son!

John and coaches are the absolute best. John has been there for us from the beginning of this incredible journey sharing his insight, expert navigation and all the classes, camps, and intensives a young actor needs to hone their craft and find their actor’s soul.

We were introduced to John & Young Actor’s Workshop through my son’s manager and they are THE BEST. Everyone who works there is incredibly talented and accomplished – and they pour all that energy into the students. Since working with the team, my son has gotten more callbacks and bookings and is consistently complimented on his skills by casting directors. For kids that are serious about acting, this is the only place to train.

My daughter has been a student at this school for over two years and John and all of the staff are the absolute best and always there to support the kids when they need it. The online classes are really in depth and I’ve watched my daughter, and now my son, grow and develop so much while working with John, Japheth, Shane and everyone else there. I really couldn’t say enough good things, but we highly recommend!

It is hard to come up with the right words to express how important and impactful JOHN D’AQUINO’S YAW has been for us. First and most importantly, they have been our support. Our family away from home and our encouragement to know that we were taking the right decisions for Noah’s career. We will forever be grateful to John, Shane, Japheth, Emily and Paige. Second, the level of professionalism. They strive for excellence in their techniques and classes, and aim to get the best performance out of the students every time. I can assure that Noah’s success has been a result of the team’s constant support and effort. We will forever have you all in our hearts.

We have been with John’s school for 6 months now and could not be happier that we were pointed his direction. The quality of instruction is excellent across the board – from on-screen to improv to voice over to singing. John takes great care in recruiting the best teachers and staff to support his students. And in turn, his showcases bring together the top industry professionals who are always eager to see John’s latest kids. In fact, the Comedy Sketch Showcase allowed Nick to really shine and immediately got the interest of all attending agents and allowed us to secure amazing representation. Bottom line: This is a top notch, full service acting school and you won’t find anything better out there.

John, Shane, Michelle, Carmen, and Emily are an amazing team of skillful, experienced actors who are also talented at teaching. My daughter (10.5 yrs old as of this review) has been working with them for almost 7 months and has developed such skills – auditioning, being on camera, improv, and voiceover. She enjoys her classes so much that she regularly prioritizes them over other fun in-person activities. She feels like such a big part of the JDAW family.

John D’Aquino and his team are exceptionally incredible people! Giuliana Rae has taken numerous acting classes, the Pilot Prep Workshop, private coaching for auditions, as well as the ultimate Camp Hollywood! She has learned so much and has made so many wonderful connections! It has truly been an amazing experience!

John is not only an incredible acting coach but he is a very kind person and does all that he can so his students thrive, grow in their craft and succeed. My daughter has grown tremendously as an actor from the expertise and guidance from John and his team while attending acting classes and Camp Hollywood. The entire team is so professional, knowledgeable and wonderful to work with. I would highly recommend John D’Aquino’s Acting School to anyone looking to break into the entertainment industry!

Aside from being a phenomenal acting coach, John D’Aquino has created an amazing, unique environment for students to develop skills, boost their confidence, and explore avenues within the industry, aside from acting. John challenges them, encourages them, and ultimately drives them to realize their potential! JDAW is a family/team community where John and his staff truly care about their students. The students also truly care about each other, rooting for each other and celebrating together. It is a very positive, welcoming place that our young actors are excited to be at every single week. We couldn’t be happier that all three of our kids (Rylee (14), Kyra and Aiden (18+)) will have John, Shane, Emily and the rest of the JDAW staff on their team throughout their incredible journeys.

Izaak has grown leaps and bounds through his study with John. He has also started getting more callbacks and bookings due to his deepened understanding of his craft. John has a special way of connecting deep meaning with kids at their own level. Izaak has been able to impress with his knowledge at every set and has become a true professional actor.

Keating absolutely loves working with John. His coaching has helped him grow as an actor, and enables him to better understand what is needed to be successful. After attending Camp Demo Reel in February, he has received over 5 callbacks in just 2 short months!

To say John is a wonderful coach is an understatement. He is an inspiring mentor for Keating and all of his students, demonstrating exceptional patience and always going above and beyond. It has been such a pleasure getting to know him and his team, and we are so excited for the amazing things to come — all because of his guidance!

Camp Hollywood was amazing! This was Raquel’s first time and she loved every minute of it. She was sad when it was over. John put together such an amazing experience for the kids and we felt like he went above and beyond our expectations. His kindness and generosity towards the kids is second to none. He genuinely cares about each kids and their future. The entire staff was awesome. Raquel had Shane for her film and he was absolutely incredible. His energy was infectious and Raquel learned so much! This camp is not only educational for the kids but the parents too! Highly recommend John, his staff and this camp! We look forward to more!! Thank you John for such an incredible experience that Raquel will never forget!

Camp Hollywood was a completely unique experience. My daughter learned so much in an inspiring and supportive environment. She got hands on practice; working with cast and creatives in front of real cameras and experienced crew.
As a parent I also gained so much knowledge and perspectives from industry professionals and other parents.
John goes above and beyond in every way. His dedication, passion, and personal investment in every camper’s growth is something really special. Camp Hollywood isn’t just a camp—it’s a place where you find your voice, build confidence, and become part of a creative family. We are grateful for the experience and hope to be able to return next year.