Summer Session #1 Classes

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 have already taken Intro to Acting at Studio A.C.T. or have other introductory acting experience, and you wish to develop a more solid foundation in the most commonly utilized and effective acting practices.
• You’re interested in exploring acting as a serious interest alongside your other interests.
• You’re 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.

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. 

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

Eight Classes – Mon/Wed – June 10, 12, 17, 24, 26; July 1, 3, 8*

6:30–9:00 p.m.

*No class June 19; Make-up day July 10 as needed

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.

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 feedback 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 – Mon/Wed – June 10, 12, 17, 24, 26; July 1, 3, 8*

6:30–9:00 p.m.

*No class June 19; Make-up day July 10 as needed

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 – Tue/Thu – June 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27; July 2, 9*

6:30–9:00 p.m.

*No class July 4; Make-up day July 11 as needed

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!

Eight Classes – Tue/Thu – June 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27; July 2, 9*

6:30–9:00 p.m.

*No class July 4; Make-up day July 11 as needed

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.

NEW CLASS!

Four Classes – Mn/Tu/Th/Fr - June 17, 18, 20, 21*

6:30–9:00 p.m.

*No class Wed June 19

Of the many ways people perform in front of audiences, singing is among the most vulnerable. Add to that singing lyrics or music you wrote yourself? The Olympics of performing! In this four-night introductory workshop with acclaimed singer/songwriter Rachel Garlin, you will explore the nuts and bolts of writing and performing original songs alongside practical methods for embracing the vulnerability of performance—drawing on vulnerability as a source of productive and positive physical energy to feed both your creativity and your confidence. Through guided exercises, you will work both solo and in groups to write and perform original songs and music. Prior experience with writing music, playing instruments, or singing are not required. This introductory class will meet you at your level. 

This four-night Intro to Songwriting for Performers intensive is for you if:

• You are an actor or singer who wishes to explore writing your own material.
• You are a person who feels creative and musical and wants to explore those impulses.
• You have experience singing, but want to experience getting “behind the scenes” of a song.

One class – Sunday – June 23
12:00–5:00 p.m.

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.

Five classes – Mon to Fri – June 24 to 28

6:30–9:30 p.m.

In this upper-level, five-evening intensive we will approach acting a play as one might expect to do in the first week of rehearsal for a professional production. We’ll explore the play collectively, starting out working at the table with reading—analyzing plot, character, and style. We’ll work on our feet to explore characters, using physical improvisations that help us understand and develop their stories in a visceral way. This will be a collective process. Actors will not be limited to specific roles, and will have opportunities to explore multiple roles toward the group developing our collective understanding of the play.

Note – The exact play we will focus on is TBD based on enrollment. Students will be emailed the script approximately one week in advance, so as to have read it prior to the first day of class. Hard copies of the script will then be provided on the first day.

Acting: Working on the Play is for you if:

• You are pursuing actor training with seriousness, whether toward a career, as a passionate interest, or otherwise.
• You’ve already taken the Studio A.C.T. Acting 1–3 Sequence classes, or their equivalent elsewhere, and wish to continue advancing your acting skills.
• You wish to explore acting with an emphasis on practical, real-world approaches to script and character analysis.
• You’re interested in applying your acting skills to an intensive exploration of a single play, replicating what a first week of rehearsal for a production might be like.

One day – Sunday – July 14

12:00–5:00 p.m.

This one-day 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 one-day 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.