Spring Class Schedule

Three Courses, Eight Classes each

Designed to be taken either individually, in succession, and/or repeatedly.

Acting 1, Acting 2, and Acting 3 are three different courses designed to be taken either individually or in succession. Each class may also be repeated in order to further solidify the student’s foundation in the practices learned. Together, these courses comprise the Studio A.C.T. Acting 1–3 Sequence, and feature the most prevalent training practices used by professional actors. These practices address awareness, truthful playing, use of language and physical action, psychology, emotion, and script analysis. Students will develop a working understanding of common practical concepts such as action, objective, obstacle, conflict, tactic, intention, motivation, trigger, target, and acting “beats.”

Refer to each class’s individual description for further details, including scheduling, tuition, and this session’s faculty.

The Studio A.C.T. Acting 1–3 Sequence is for you if:

• You already have some introductory acting experience and wish to develop a more solid foundation in the most commonly utilized and effective acting practices.
• You are interested in exploring acting as a serious interest alongside your other interests.
• You are interested in either exploring or pursuing acting as a profession.

Please note: Since acting is a life practice, these courses are designed to be repeatable, emphasizing fluency over “quick-fixes.” Students are occasionally encouraged to repeat levels before moving on to the next.

One day – Sunday – Apr 30
1:00–4:00 p.m. | online

What’s the difference between an agent and a casting director? Do I need to join a union? What information goes on an actor’s resume? How do I spot a casting scam? In this one-day online class for students of all levels, actors will learn about the tools an actor needs to look for work, gain an understanding of the casting process for stage and on-camera work, and identify a unique action item for the next step in their acting career. Everyone will leave the class with a list of resources for further exploration.

Your Acting Career Workshop is for you if:

• You want to have a professional resume that meets industry standards for theater and film casting
• You want to create effective relationships with agents and casting directors
• You have questions about acting as a business

All Spring Session in-person classes will be held at 30 Grant Avenue in San Francisco.  

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.

*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 strict COVID precautionary measures. We appreciate your participation in upholding our safety precautions.

A.C.T. requires all faculty, students, and staff to either (a) establish that they have been fully vaccinated; or (b) obtain an approved exemption as an accommodation due to a qualifying medical condition or sincerely held religious beliefs and practices.

As of Spring Session 2023, though wearing N95/KN95 masks is still required in any indoor public spaces at 30 Grant Avenue, wearing masks during class while inside the classroom studio is recommended, but not required.

For further information about proof of vaccination requirements, the process for seeking an exemption accommodation, 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

*This class is currently full.  If you would like to get onto the waitlist, please email us at studio@act-sf.org with your request and the best phone number to reach you at, in case a spot opens up.

Eight Classes – Mondays – Mar 27; Apr 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15*
*Make-Up Day May 22 as needed

6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person

Students enrolled in this upper-level class will learn further practical strategies for rehearsing efficiently, collaborating effectively, pursuing actions and intentions, and bringing greater truth, spontaneity, and specificity to their acting through careful analysis of the script in rehearsals. Acting 3 requires memorization of at least one substantial scene and/or one monologue. Students are expected to prepare outside of class, and thorough preparation is essential. Students should plan to attend all class sessions and expect to actively participate in all games and exercises. Though not required, it is strongly recommended that students who register for Acting 3 also register for a Studio A.C.T. Voice or Physical course.

Acting 3 is for you if:

• You’ve taken three or more acting classes and/or acted in two or more plays in the past few years, and wish to move your exploration of acting toward more intensive levels.
• You’ve taken Acting 1 and Acting 2 at Studio A.C.T., or their equivalent elsewhere, and wish to continue advancing your acting skills.
• You’re interested in the Studio A.C.T. Acting 1–3 Sequence and have already taken Acting 1 and Acting 2.
• You already have some acting experience, have a serious interest in exploring acting as a career, and wish to get a good “workout” to hone your acting muscles.
• You minored in theater as an undergraduate in college and wish to dive back in.

*This class is currently full.  If you would like to get onto the waitlist, please email us at studio@act-sf.org with your request and the best phone number to reach you at, in case a spot opens up.

Eight Classes – Mondays – Mar 27; Apr 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15*
*Make-Up Day May 22 as needed

6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person

With a goal to “live truthfully under imaginary circumstances,” this advanced course challenges students to move more deeply into their acting instrument and craft through the use of instincts and emotional impulses. Students will participate in a series of specific improvisational exercises developed by Sanford Meisner, designed to hone focus, deepen engagement, and facilitate a surrender to the “reality of doing.” Along the way, each student will learn to recognize, mine, and craft from the genuine “sparks” within themselves the vital elements which motivate their moment-to-moment actions onstage. Meisner Technique is one of the most popular, effective, and widely used acting techniques in America over the past century.

Acting: Meisner Technique is for you if:

• You have taken some acting classes before, such as Acting 2or 3 at Studio A.C.T. or equivalents elsewhere, and wish to explore the techniques specific to the Sanford Meisner tradition.
• You are an intermediate or advanced acting student who wishes to bring greater truth and responsiveness to their acting.
• You have had an introductory experience to Meisner Technique already, and wish to enrich your understanding of technique in practice.

*This class is currently full.  If you would like to get onto the waitlist, please email us at studio@act-sf.org with your request and the best phone number to reach you at, in case a spot opens up.

Eight Classes – Mondays – Mar 27; Apr 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15*
*Make-Up Day May 22 as needed

6:30–7:25 p.m. | in person

This in-person course is suitable for students of all levels. Beginning students will discover their best singing voice, and more experienced singers will gain an opportunity to thoroughly exercise their vocal muscles. Through group work utilizing the Garcia-Marchesi vocal tradition, all students will build their breath support, extend their vocal range, blend resonance areas, and increase their quality of tone and volume. Students will also learn techniques to help protect their voices when they sing. Voice Building is a course that may be taken as frequently as desired, and many students return often throughout the year. Students regularly pair this course with Musical Theater 3 –Cabaret Performance, scheduled later the same evening.

Note – An online version of this course is offered on Tuesdays.

Voice Building for Singers in-person is for you if:

• You are a new singer wishing to strengthen your voice musculature and technique in a supportive environment.
• You are an experienced singer looking for a regular and intensive workout.
• You plan to enroll in Musical Theater 3 – Cabaret Performance this session, and have never before taken Voice Building for Singers at Studio A.C.T. (For details see the Musical Theater 3 description below.)

NEW EXPANDED SCHEDULE:

Twelve Classes – Mar 27; Apr 3, 10, 17, 24, 26; May 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17*
*Mondays Mar 27-Apr 24; Mondays & Wednesdays Apr 26-May 17

Mondays 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. / Wednesdays 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

This newly expanded course is designed to provide the intermediate- to advanced-level singer/actor with an intensive performance experience in a supportive learning environment. Students will train extensively in singing and acting, in preparation for a fully staged musical cabaret performance, presented on the final night of class to an invited audience. Exploring solos, duets-trios, and ensemble numbers, the experience is designed to develop and showcase the unique talent of each individual artist, while encouraging them to explore the lifework of a particular composer or a musical theater genre.

Important Prerequisites: 

• Students who have never before taken Voice Building for Singers at Studio A.C.T. are required to enroll in that course concurrently with Musical Theater 3. Voice Building is scheduled immediately prior to Musical Theater 3, on Mondays only, 6:30-7:25 p.m., Mar 27–May 15.
• Students who have taken Voice Building for Singers at Studio A.C.T. in the past are not required but strongly encouraged to enroll concurrently.

Further Note: In order to provide the best possible experience, shortly before the first class we will contact registered students to request basic information about their past musical theater experience and what they understand to be their vocal range. Singers will need to prepare a solo to sing for the first night of class for vocal placement and casting. Instructions will be sent on what to prepare once you have registered for the class.

Musical Theater 3—Cabaret Performance is for you if:

• You have taken Musical Theater 1 and 2 here at Studio A.C.T., or similar classes elsewhere that would be deemed equivalent.
• You have had prior significant experience and training in Musical Theater in the past, but it’s been a while and you’d like to reboot.
• As a musical theater artist, you feel able to train and collaborate intensively with an ensemble and sing solos in front of an audience. 
• You are interested in developing your performance skills as a professional musical theater artist and wish to train in a fun environment that will both challenge and support your growth.

*This class is currently full.  If you would like to get onto the waitlist, please email us at studio@act-sf.org with your request and the best phone number to reach you at, in case a spot opens up.

Eight Classes – Tuesdays – Mar 28; Apr 4, 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16*
*Make-Up Day May 23 as needed

6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person

This early-level acting class emphasizes ensemble-building, imaginative play, expanding creativity, strengthening self-confidence and self-discipline, memorization techniques, cultivating personal responsibility, and strategies for successful collaboration. Course content may include some memorization of short scenes and monologues from contemporary plays, and students will be asked to prepare assignments outside of class. Students should plan to attend all class sessions and expect to actively participate in all games and exercises. Though not required, it is recommended that students who register for Acting 1 also register for a Studio A.C.T. Voice or Physical course.

Acting 1 is for you if:

• You’ve taken Intro to Acting at Studio A.C.T., or an equivalent elsewhere, and wish to continue exploring acting.
• You took an acting class or acted in a play many years ago, and wish to reconnect to actor training.
• You’re wondering whether a career in acting is for you and wish to explore it actively.
• You’re interested in the full Studio A.C.T. Acting 1–3 Sequence and are ready to start.

Eight Classes – Tuesdays – Mar 28; Apr 4, 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16*
*Make-Up Day May 23 as needed

6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person

This repeatable course is open to students of all experience levels and designed to accommodate each student at their individual level of experience. The Alexander Technique is among the most widely practiced performance-related techniques in the world. The work is intended to address issues pertaining to the practitioner's bodily alignment, efficiency of movement, and redistribution of tension. Students will practice means of recognizing and undoing habitual patterns that get in the way of natural movement, voice production, and creativity. They will become more deeply present in themselves and in the world by accessing their innate power and flexibility. Issues of performance and performance anxiety will also be addressed. Alexander Technique is a perfect companion to all other Studio A.C.T. courses.

Alexander Technique is for you if:

• You feel limited by the way you move. 
• You want to have more vocal flexibility and power. 
• You want to be able to notice what is occurring in the moment and have the choice to transform yourself.
• You’ve never taken an Alexander Technique course before and want a thorough introduction. 
• You have had experience with Alexander in the past, but it’s been a while and you wish to reconnect. 
• You have substantial experience with Alexander and are hungry for a workout.

Eight Classes – Tuesdays – Mar 28; Apr 4, 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16*
*Make-Up Day May 23 as needed

6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person

This class is designed to help participants develop a solid foundational understanding, practical fluency, and sense of confidence with their ability to use their full voice and speak with greater clarity. Participants will learn practical techniques to develop a richer, stronger, and more versatile speaking voice. This repeatable course is open to students of all experience levels and is designed to accommodate each student at their individual level of experience.

Voice & Speech Workout is for you if:

• You are an actor who wishes to improve your ability to speak text 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.

*This class is currently full.  If you would like to get onto the waitlist, please email us at studio@act-sf.org with your request and the best phone number to reach you at, in case a spot opens up.

Eight Classes – Wednesdays – Mar 29; Apr 5, 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17*
*Make-Up Day May 24 as needed

6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person

In this mid-level class, students will engage in work with a dual emphasis on pursuing actions and intentions alongside active listening and responding to scene partners. Students will work on at least one scene and one monologue. Preparing outside of class is expected, and thorough preparation is essential. Students will receive constructive criticism and adjustments, with the intention of expanding their ability to integrate receiving and offering feedback into their personal and collaborative process. Students should plan to attend all class sessions and expect to actively participate in all games and exercises. Though not required, it is recommended that students who register for Acting 2 also register for a Studio A.C.T. Voice or Physical course.

Acting 2 is for you if:

• You’ve taken some acting classes or acted in a play or two some years ago, and wish to reconnect to or resume your exploration of acting.
• You’ve taken Intro to Acting and Acting 1 at Studio A.C.T., or equivalents elsewhere, and wish to continue exploring acting.
• You’re interested in the Studio A.C.T. Acting 1–3 Sequence and have already taken Acting 1.

Eight Classes – Wednesdays – Mar 29; Apr 5, 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17*
*Make-Up Day May 24 as needed

6:30–8:00 p.m. | in person

Want to move with greater confidence, strength, and freedom? This class approaches movement as a means of bold expression. Students will explore and expand their physical, spontaneous, and creative responsiveness. Drawing on a range of practices, from yoga, contemporary dance, and physical theater, this class will give students practical tools to empower themselves through movement.

Bold Movement is for you if:

• You are someone who wishes to strengthen the creative connections between their mind and body.
• You are someone who wants a creative physical workout that will strengthen both your body and your confidence.
• You are an actor who wishes to expand their physical awareness and responsiveness.
• You are a dancer or choreographer looking to expand the dramatic, theatrical aspects of your work.

*This class is currently full.  If you would like to get onto the waitlist, please email us at studio@act-sf.org with your request and the best phone number to reach you at, in case a spot opens up.

Eight Classes – Wednesdays – Mar 29; Apr 5, 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17*
*Make-Up Day May 24 as needed

6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person

This course 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 “stage 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. Though not required, it is recommended that students who register for Intro to Acting also register for a Studio A.C.T. Voice or Physical course.

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!

*This class is currently full.  If you would like to get onto the waitlist, please email us at studio@act-sf.org with your request and the best phone number to reach you at, in case a spot opens up.

Eight Classes – Thursdays – Mar 30; Apr 6, 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18*
*Make-Up Day May 25 as needed

6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person

This early-level acting class emphasizes ensemble-building, imaginative play, expanding creativity, strengthening self-confidence and self-discipline, memorization techniques, cultivating personal responsibility, and strategies for successful collaboration. Course content may include some memorization of short scenes and monologues from contemporary plays, and students will be asked to prepare assignments outside of class. Students should plan to attend all class sessions and expect to actively participate in all games and exercises. Though not required, it is recommended that students who register for Acting 1 also register for a Studio A.C.T. Voice or Physical course.

Acting 1 is for you if:

• You’ve taken Intro to Acting at Studio A.C.T., or an equivalent elsewhere, and wish to continue exploring acting.
• You took an acting class or acted in a play many years ago, and wish to reconnect to actor training.
• You’re wondering whether a career in acting is for you and wish to explore it actively.
• You’re interested in the full Studio A.C.T. Acting 1–3 Sequence and are ready to start.

*This class is currently full.  If you would like to get onto the waitlist, please email us at studio@act-sf.org with your request and the best phone number to reach you at, in case a spot opens up.

Eight Classes – Thursdays – Mar 30; Apr 6, 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18*
*Make-Up Day May 25 as needed

6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person

In this mid-level class, students will engage in work with a dual emphasis on pursuing actions and intentions alongside active listening and responding to scene partners. Students will work on at least one scene and one monologue. Preparing outside of class is expected, and thorough preparation is essential. Students will receive constructive criticism and adjustments, with the intention of expanding their ability to integrate receiving and offering feedback into their personal and collaborative process. Students should plan to attend all class sessions and expect to actively participate in all games and exercises. Though not required, it is recommended that students who register for Acting 2 also register for a Studio A.C.T. Voice or Physical course.

Acting 2 is for you if:

• You’ve taken some acting classes or acted in a play or two some years ago, and wish to reconnect to or resume your exploration of acting.
• You’ve taken Intro to Acting and Acting 1 at Studio A.C.T., or equivalents elsewhere, and wish to continue exploring acting.
• You’re interested in the Studio A.C.T. Acting 1–3 Sequence and have already taken Acting 1.

*This class is currently full.  If you would like to get onto the waitlist, please email us at studio@act-sf.org with your request and the best phone number to reach you at, in case a spot opens up.

Eight Classes – Thursdays – Mar 30; Apr 6, 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18*
*Make-Up Day May 25 as needed

6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person

This course 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 “stage 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. Though not required, it is recommended that students who register for Intro to Acting also register for a Studio A.C.T. Voice or Physical course.

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!

One class – Sunday – April 23

1:00 to 5:00 p.m. | in person

This one-day class explores how physical staging works alongside dialogue to convey character psychology and a play’s story and themes. Relationships between characters are expressed by how they stand in relation to one another. The timing of when actors move and are still reveals subtext and intention. The smallest gesture sometimes reveals as much, or more, than the longest monologue. In this sense, staging is a form of dramatic writing. What we see impacts what we hear, and vice versa. In this class we will work both at the table and on our feet to explore practical means of devising dynamic, impactful staging that expresses psychology and story.

Please Note: Students should come dressed comfortably for movement, and with a notebook and writing utensil.

Directing: Staging as Storytelling is for you if:      

• You are an actor, director, or playwright interested in how staging can contribute to storytelling in theater.
• You are curious about the relationship between a director’s homework and work done in the room with actors, and how to strike an effective, collaborative balance between planning and spontaneity when staging a play.
• You are interested in collaborative ways to rehearse that allow actors, directors, and playwrights to work together to create a unified staging for a production.

One class – Sunday – April 30

1:00 to 5:00 p.m. | in person

Our individual identity affects our day-to-day interactions. Whether through internal social conditioning or external biases and prejudices, we are physically, emotionally, and mentally impacted by how we are perceived in the world. Through brave open discussion and liberation exercises, this one-day workshop focuses on understanding the dynamics of how we, as People of Color, function in the world. Questions that will be explored include: What makes a specific skin-experience unique for an individual artist? How do interactions influenced by race affect the training for actors—in the power dynamic between instructor and students, the selection of material, the acknowledgment/ignorance of culture differences? Through this class we will build an understanding of our identities and how to utilize them to disrupt or work with our artistry and our industry, which is currently rooted in White ideologies.

Acting Beyond Marginalization is for you if:

• You are an actor of any experience level who identifies as a Person of Color.
• You are interested in exploring how your racial identity engages with your acting, your actor training, and your artistic process.
• You want to gain tools to engage with microaggressions from colleagues in an artistic process in White dominated environments.
• You want to engage with other artists of color to find your voice and expression outside of a White gaze.

One class – Sunday – May 7

1:00 to 5:00 p.m. | in person

Actors are often called upon to use regional dialects, from classic and contemporary plays to television shows taking place in a range of international settings. Having demonstrable skill with dialects significantly enhances an actor’s resume, and, speaking in a new dialect is fun! This one-day class will introduce you to basic techniques for approaching dialect work, to help you sound like a local from anywhere in the English-speaking world. When working with a dialect, authenticity depends upon specificity, and this class will help you make your sounds and phrasing specific to any region.

Intro to Dialects is for you if:

• You are an actor who is relatively new to dialect work, and wants an introduction to practices for picking up new dialects.
• You are an actor with past experience working with dialects, but it’s been a while and you want to refine your ear and your process for learning dialects.
• You are a person interested in how voice and speech reflect a given person’s cultural and regional background.

One Class – Sunday – May 21

11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | in person

Heightened language is an exciting dramatic tool found in a wide range of genres—comedies, tragedies, even Marvel superhero and fantasy movies! If Shakespeare were alive today, they would probably be a rapper, indie film director, or a slam poet—all of which use heightened language. Studying heightened language can improve anyone's acting, not just those who want to study the classics; because it's also an exploration of heightened expression—painting more vivid pictures in the imagination, summoning deeper emotions and ideas, and giving voice to greater truths. In this introductory class, students will explore ways to bring truth, spontaneity, and specificity to their acting through language.

Acting: Intro to Heightened Language is for you if:

• You are pursuing actor training with seriousness, whether toward a career, as a passionate interest, or otherwise.
• You have taken some acting classes before, such as Acting 1 or 2 at Studio A.C.T. or equivalents elsewhere, and wish to explore practices specific to heightened language.
• You are an intermediate or advanced acting student who wishes to bring greater verbal panache to your acting.
• You are an actor who is curious about heightened language and wants an opportunity to introduce yourself to it.