Acting Program

Acting Studio offers high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to train in an intensive pre-college acting program. Students selected for Acting Studio participate in rigorous acting, voice, and movement classes to become equipped for the stage. They polish their performance skills by participating in master classes and evening rehearsals. During the five-week program, Acting Studio students refine audition pieces and perform selections consisting of monologues or scenes in a final showcase performance for peers and parents.

Program Features

Acting Studio focuses on developing key performance skills in high school students interested in acting for the stage. Through the program, Acting Studio students will:

• Practice actor preparation skills, including relaxation, trust, discipline, and sense of play
• Expand vocal, physical, and emotional range to develop complex and dynamic characters
• Gain a basic understanding of the timeline of theater history and playwrights with an emphasis on Greek, Classical, Modern, 20th Century, and Contemporary dramatic literature
• Learn how to analyze a script for a character’s intentions, actions, subtext, expectations, obstacles, tactics, and objectives
• Learn how to discover, prepare, and build a repertoire of monologues suitable for auditions
• Receive individual coaching to build confident stage presence and excellent audition technique

Acting Showcase

Students will have an opportunity to perform in a final showcase performance, scheduled for Saturday, August 11, 2012. The final performance gives students a chance to demonstrate acting skills they have accumulated throughout the program.

Program Dates and Costs

Program Dates (including required orientation): July 8–August 10, 2012
Showcase: August 11, 2012

Acting Program per student: $3,595
On-Campus Housing per student: $2,995

Who May Apply

High school students entering grades 11 and 12 during the 2012–2013 academic year are welcome to apply to Acting Studio. Acting Studio is designed for students who want an intensive training experience, have respect for the rehearsal process, and understand how to manage their time and complete assignments both in and out of the classroom. Students who have the desire and maturity to receive constructive criticism about their work and give helpful feedback to others during the program are encouraged to apply. Each candidate for the Acting Studio Program must submit the required application form, completed and signed, along with the following required documents.

• Student Statement of Purpose: In one page, please describe what you hope to achieve during the studio program.

• Essay: In one page, discuss a theater production and/or actor that you believe is most influential or inspirational to your work.

• Teacher Recommendation: Please submit one recommendation, completed by a teacher who knows your work, in a sealed envelope with the teacher’s signature across the back seal.

• Photo and résumé of your theatrical experience

Download the Pre-College Studio Application Form (PDF)

Download the  Pre-College Studio Teacher Recommendation Form (PDF)

Skills Assessment

An audition is not necessary for candidates who apply to the Acting Studio Program. However, all applicants who are accepted into the program will be required to perform two contrasting monologues at a skills assessment during the first week of the program. At the assessment, program instructors will evaluate each student’s acting skills. Each student must perform—from memory—one classical and one contemporary monologue. Each monologue should be no longer than two minutes.

Sample Schedule

Schedule is subject to change.
Monday–Friday,
9:00 am–5:00 pm & 6:30–8:30 pm
Saturday, 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Week One
Acting skills assessments; movement, voice, and acting training; master classes TBD (to be determined).

Week Two
Monologue study; audition preparation; voice, movement, acting training; master classes TBD.

Week Three
Scene study; audition technique; voice, movement, acting training; master classes TBD.

Week Four
Ensemble study; strengthening audition technique; voice, movement, acting training; master classes TBD.

Week Five
Final audition preparation; scene work; voice, movement, acting training; rehearsals for Saturday showcase for parents, guests, and peers.

Saturday Showcase
Time to be announced