The acting sequence is divided into two 12-week studio courses and six weeks of rehearsal and performance.

The first studio course, Acting I, concentrates on the achievement of a free, truthful use of self in imaginary circumstances. Beginning with exercises for relaxation, concentration, and sensitivity to other actors, as well as internal and external stimuli, the semester proceeds to improvisation and then to scene study in contemporary drama. Applying objectives, activities, and place to their work, students develop trust in a sense of truth and spontaneous moment-to-moment reaction.

The second studio course, Acting II, strengthens the actor’s foundation through more sophisticated aspects of technique, including emotional preparation, moment before, heightened stakes and fourth wall. Scene work progresses to include contemporary comedy, paying special attention to heightened energy and the timing required for this comedic segment of training.

Six weeks in the First Year are devoted to Rehearsal and Performance I & II. Students are cast in scenes and plays from a variety of playwrights to give them the opportunity to integrate what they have learned across disciplines, while permitting the faculty and administration to observe the growth and progress of each student.

This course examines and discusses forms, styles, and practices of performance, relevant to the actor, as it exists within diverse cultures and time. Contemporary and historical performance, both international and domestic, will be studied, compared, and contrasted through assigned plays, texts and dramaturgical research.

These courses develop an open, supported, expressive speaking voice and Standard American articulation as multiple objectives. The physiology of speech and voice production is studied. To facilitate hearing perception and speech production, students learn the International Phonetic Alphabet. In the second term, fundamental principles of breathing, vocal placement, and articulation are reinforced, and the use of the voice as an instrument of interpretation is explored.

Students prepare to work on a professional film and television set, learning the jargon of the industry and the various roles played by everyone on set. By working behind the scenes, as well as on camera, each student is trained to run the camera and the sound equipment. Exercises focus on working in a relaxed and truthful way and on understanding technical adjustments required for working in front of the camera.

This course examines the structure of dramatic text from an actor’s perspective, including theme, plot, scene construction, action, and dialogue, while fostering the actor’s ability to create rich and full characters. Students also integrate acting techniques with script analysis principles, which produce effective storytelling.

This course includes intensive individual study and development of the student’s vocal instrument. The content will include exercises that develop the instrument at the respiration, phonation, and articulation levels of the instrument within the context of singing. Topics of physical release, breathing coordination, laryngeal settings, resonance, and vowel shaping may be discussed depending on the needs of the specific student to coordinate these elements for the application on various musical styles. Personalized repertoire of the musical theatre canon, as it stands and as it develops, will be developed.

These courses introduce students to the Alexander Technique, a method that refines body awareness in order to optimize postural support and to reduce physical tensions. First-Year students study in small group settings and learn to execute fundamental Alexander practices.

This course provides students an understanding of traditional musical theater styles, basic partnering technique, and the value of moving with dynamic specificity. Students will engage in a warm-up practice designed to align breath with movement, release physical tension, and increase strength and flexibility. Each class will contain rudiments designed to develop technical prowess, musicality, physical articulation, and rhythmic precision. Students will also learn combinations of musical theater repertoire in the style of Broadway’s most celebrated choreographers.

This course continues students’ understanding of traditional musical theater styles, partnering technique, and the value of moving with dynamic specificity. Students will engage in a warm-up practice designed to align breath with movement, release physical tension, and increase strength and flexibility. Each class will contain rudiments designed to develop technical prowess, musicality, physical articulation, and rhythmic precision. Students will also learn combinations of musical theater repertoire in the style of Broadway’s most celebrated choreographers.

This course explores the fundamentals of music theory in a culturally inclusive and constructivist approach. Topics include but are not limited to musical notation, scales, intervals, ands chords, and how to relate those techniques to various musical theatre styles. Ear training and sight singing is also a major skill practiced within the course to apply theory into practice.

This course re-coordinates the muscles of respiration, phonation, resonance, and articulation as it applies to singing in an ensemble. Both speaking and singing techniques are utilized to develop the voice so that students may start methodically approaching a broad range of challenges in musical theatre choral work.

Advanced scene study is undertaken using the principles of relaxation, concentration, objectives, actions and moment-to-moment spontaneity as a base. Roles assigned require more imaginative extensions of technique, greater stretch, specificity, personalization and justification, along with more intensive background research for character work.

Building upon the work of On-Camera Technique: Fundamentals, students work on television and film scenes on camera, honing their text analysis and acting skills for media performance. Through rehearsal, taping scene work and viewing final edited scenes, students develop crucial skills for working in front of the camera.

Students apply advanced principles of voice and speech production to the acquisition and performance of the major dialects of English. Using the International Phonetic Alphabet, students apply these skills to performed monologues in preparation for theatrical auditions. In addition, students research and present other dialects and various foreign accents from across the globe.

Students continue the study and application of basic and advanced acting techniques through rehearsal and performance of roles that may be in projects, one-act or full length productions.

Acting for Musical Theatre students continue the study and application of basic and advanced acting techniques through rehearsal and performance of roles in a full-length musical.

Students learn the business of acting, including résumés, headshots, auditions, agents, casting directors, unions and other aspects related to the development of a professional actor’s career in film, television and theatre. A number of industry professionals and guest speakers are scheduled for seminars and workshops during the course of the Second Year to familiarize students with the basic procedures of professional employment.

This course prepares students for professional auditions for stage, television and film. A series of audition preparation workshops is also offered on the selection and preparation of audition monologues from both classical and contemporary theatre.

This course applies both spoken and sung vocal technique within the context of acting. The focus of the course is mostly vocal as skills like using song as action and smooth transitioning between spoken and sung dialogue will be explored.

This course continues to apply both spoken and sung vocal technique within the context of acting in the study of musical scenes. Skills like using song as action and transitioning between spoken and sung dialogue will be further explored and build upon the skills developed in Styles I: Text to song. This course puts acting as its top priority and teaches music as a form through which acting can be channelled.

Students develop the necessary skills for auditioning for film and television, including analyzing sides, adapting to direction and feedback, self-taping and maintaining professional discipline.

This supervised course in vocal and physical practice is aligned with Rehearsal & Performance courses. Pass/Fail only.

This course prepares students to audition for professional musical theatre and to meet the demands of the dance call audition. Students will learn and perform dance routines in simulated dance calls.

This course prepares students to audition for professional musical theatre. Students learn how to find auditions, read a breakdown, prepare material, select appropriate cuts, and what to expect in the audition room at the singing call. Emphasis is placed on guiding the actor to select the very best material to market their unique self, culminating in building a professional audition book.

The Academy offers a limited number of unpaid internships and volunteer positions for qualified Second-Year students and Academy Company members in entertainment-related fields. They provide excellent opportunities to actively participate in the profession while making valuable contacts. The positions, which may last for a semester and may or may not provide academic credit, can require a recommendation from the Director of Instruction, a résumé with cover letter, a headshot and an interview. For-credit positions may also require regular reports and meetings with an advisor. Students may also arrange their own intern positions with the approval of the Director of Instruction. For-credit positions offer 0.5 credit, Pass/Fail only.

This course is an experiential study of the anatomy, physiology, and physics of sound waves of the voice. Anatomical structures and physiological functions of respiration, phonation, and resonance will be covered. Students will also engage in a self-reflective practice in which they formulate inferences about how to improve their vocal practice from the information learned about vocal anatomy and physiology.

This course is an experiential study of the anatomy, physiology, and physics of sound waves of speech. Anatomical structures and physiological functions of the face, pharynx, larynx, oral cavity, and nasal cavity will be covered. Students will also engage in a self-reflective practice in which they formulate inferences about how to improve their speech practice from the information learned about vocal anatomy and physiology.