Inter-Session Class Schedule

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all faculty and students, Studio A.C.T. will adhere to the most updated safety precautions recommended by San Francisco, county and state guidance in effect at the time of classes.* These policies are subject to change. Our standard withdrawal and refund policies apply.

As of July 17, 2023, showing proof of vaccination is no longer required for Studio A.C.T. students. Masks are welcome but not required for all faculty and students while indoors at 30 Grant Avenue. This mask policy will be in effect when CDC COVID-19 Bay Area case levels are rated as "low." When levels are rated as "medium" or higher, masks will be required for all. CDC COVID-19 Regional Case Levels can be accessed at this link: COVID data tracker

*Some additional precautions may apply in consideration of the wide range of students, staff and artists using our facilities, including young children, adults of every age, and professional artists whose unions maintain specific COVID precautionary measures. We appreciate your participation in upholding our safety precautions.

For further information or any other specific questions about Studio A.C.T. in-person classes with regard to COVID-19 precautions, please email us at studio@act-sf.org

6:30–9:00 p.m.

Five classes, Mon-Fri Dec 4-8 

In this five-night intensive, you will have the opportunity to practice the typical “general audition” scenario, starting with monologues and moving on to callbacks and cold reads. On the first day, students will come to class and present a prepared monologue as they would when attending a theater’s general audition. Students will receive feedback on this material, then have the opportunity to work on a callback scene assigned by the instructor. We’ll cover script analysis techniques unique to callbacks, and all students will present their callback material in a mock audition format on the last two nights of the class, when cold readings of new material may also be assigned. By supporting your general audition experience with practical techniques, this class will help you to feel more at ease, and to have fun, in the often brisk and stressful audition process. 

Please Note – Students must come to the first day with an audition monologue of their choice, 60-90 seconds long, fully memorized and prepared to perform. Over the course of the week, students will work outside of class to prepare new material assigned during class. Though not required, previous experience working with scripted scenes will be helpful.

Audition Intensive is for you if:

• You are an actor who wants to feel more relaxed, centered, and confident when you audition.
• You want to work on your already memorized monologue from a play, whether contemporary or classical, or try out a new monologue, for use in future auditions.
• You want to gain techniques to help you feel more at ease when working quickly on callbacks and cold readings.
• You want a chance to practice acting with confidence in the context of common audition scenarios.

6:30–9:00 p.m.

Five classes, Mon–Fri, Dec 4–8

This weeklong intensive explores the art of acting in a playful, encouraging, collaborative atmosphere, and offers a dynamic and engaging introduction to the craft of acting and theater. Through fun and engaging exercises, students will work on strengthening self-confidence, overcoming performance anxiety, improving focus and concentration, connecting with others through trust-building games and active listening, understanding “presence,” and opening their imaginations to playing characters. Because actor training is also life training, students can expect to find new, deeper connections to their own and others’ creativity, unlocking profound layers of empathy through character exploration. Particular emphasis will be given to transferable skills, such as expanding the imagination, collaborating effectively, speaking and presenting without anxiety, and supporting others’ growth. Students may be asked to prepare simple assignments outside of class, including memorizing short texts. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and to actively participate in all games and exercises.

Intro to Acting is for you if:

• You’ve never studied acting before, are curious about acting, and want an unintimidating but engaging opportunity to explore it. 
• You’ve done a bit of acting in the past, but it’s been a while and you’re hungry to get back in touch with your creative impulses. 
• You’re shy and looking for an experience to help you emerge from your shell. 
• You believe you’re “not that creative,” and wish to be proven otherwise!

6:30–9:00 p.m.

Three classes, Mon–Wed, Dec 4–6

This three-night class introduces you to the basic fundamentals of acting on camera, using short scenes drawn from existing film and television scripts. Participants will explore the principles of truthful on-camera acting and learn practical techniques particular to acting on camera versus onstage.

This three-night Intro to On-Camera Acting class is for you if:

• You’ve already taken Intro to Acting, Acting 1, and Acting 2 at Studio A.C.T., or their equivalents elsewhere.
• You have past acting experience but not with on-camera acting, are curious about acting on camera, and want an unintimidating but engaging opportunity to introduce yourself to it.
• You’ve done a bit of on-camera acting in the past, but it’s been a while and you’re hungry to get back in touch with acting on camera. 

6:30–9:00 p.m. in person
Three classes, Mon–Wed, Dec 4–6 

This three-night workshop will introduce students to practices aimed at developing their confidence, understanding, and fluency with using their full voice to speak with greater clarity. Participants will learn practical techniques to develop a richer, stronger, and more versatile speaking voice. This short workshop course is open to students of all experience levels and is designed to accommodate each student at their individual level of experience.  

This three-night, in-person Intro to Voice & Speech workshop is for you if:

• You are an actor who wishes to improve your ability to speak with greater clarity, variety, and richness.
• You are not an actor, but your job requires public speaking and you wish to strengthen your clarity of speech and confidence in speaking.
• You are a person who enjoys language and wishes to have a practical, enlivening experience with it.

6:30–9:00 p.m. in person
Five Classes, M–F Dec 4–8

Ready to jump back into the fray? This class will introduce you to fundamental techniques for creating the illusion of violence on stage using the preferred weapons of the Elizabethan age—rapiers and daggers! Emphasizing safety, storytelling, and partnering, this class explores the basics of theatrical swordplay while using both sides of the brain and body. Actors whose résumés include stage combat techniques have an advantage when auditioning for productions involving theatrical violence. Also, stage combat is fun! Participants will have the option to test for certified recognition through Dueling Arts International as a basic theatrical combatant.

This five-night, in-person Stage Combat: Rapier & Dagger class is for you if:

• You are an actor who wishes to expand your stage combat skill set.
• You are a person who is not an actor but wishes to explore a fun, creative, and empowering mind-body practice.
• You enjoy combining physical and intellectual challenges in creative ways.
• You are an actor who wishes to enhance your résumé with rapier and dagger stage combat experience.