Inter-Session 2025
December 8–12, 2025
December 8–12
PLEASE NOTE:
All Inter-Session 2025 classes are offered in-person. There are no online classes.
All classes take place within the week of December 8 to 12. Please check the exact dates and times in each class description.
To select the best class for your goals and experience level, please read the individual course descriptions carefully. Some classes may have prerequisites.
- Please note our Inter-Session sliding scale tuition pricing! You may select your tuition when registering.
- Inter-Session 2025 features shorter in-person classes and intensives held at 30 Grant Avenue in San Francisco.
- Students with financial need interested in scholarships should consult the Scholarships page for details on how to apply.
- It is not possible to visit 30 Grant Avenue outside of scheduled class times. However, the Melissa Yandell Smith Library is open—info and hours at this link. Studio A.C.T. students have access to the library for a full year after their last class.
- Questions? For any additional questions or concerns please visit our Studio FAQ page or email us at studio@act-sf.org.
Tuition for our annual weeklong Inter-Session is priced on a sliding scale to better accommodate the variety of financial circumstances among our many students. You may select your tuition when registering.
Why sliding scale?
Your class tuition supports everything that goes into making Studio A.C.T. possible within the vibrant ecosystem of American Conservatory Theater, from paying faculty and staff a fair wage, to maintaining our studio spaces, to getting the word out about what we do. We respect every dollar you pay for your classes, and consider your tuition a key contribution in support of our mission to provide an engaging, energizing, creative space for all.
Are scholarships still available for Inter-Session?
Yes! Scholarships are still available for Inter-Session. Please visit our Scholarships page for details on how to apply.
COMPLETE CLASS LIST
These classes meet in person at 30 Grant Avenue, San Francisco. Exact schedules appear within the class description.
Two classes, Thu–Fri, Dec 11–12
6:30–9:00 p.m. in person
Shakespeare’s plays can be intimidating. We are told the dude was a genius and his language is beautiful. Well... okay. But it’s hard to understand, and difficult for many of us to connect with as a result. So why all the fuss about these old plays written in English so antiquated it’s virtually a foreign language? This two-night class will introduce you to practical techniques for understanding Shakespeare’s language, and for speaking it in a natural, organic way. Once an actor has tools to navigate Shakespeare’s poetic dialogue, personal connections and contemporary resonance follow. One need not be a Shakespearean scholar to understand and enjoy the plays. No secret access code is required. This class will provide you with simple keys to unlock your own personal inspiration in Shakespeare’s rich array of characters and stories. Though not required, it is recommended that students who take this class also take Intro to Voice & Speech earlier in the week.
This two-night Intro to Speaking Shakespeare workshop is for you if:
- You are an actor who is curious about Shakespeare, finds the plays intimidating, and wants practical tools to demystify them.
- You are not an actor, but for other reasons—curiosity, an interest in poetry, maybe you’re a playwright exploring heightened language in your own work—you wish to have an introduction to navigating Shakespeare’s language so you can more easily understand and connect with it.
- You are a person interested in Shakespeare or poetic writing in general and wish to have an on-your-feet experience with speaking it.