Summer Session Parts 1 & 2

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

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.

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 – Mon/Wed – June 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30; July 2*
6:30–9:00 p.m.
Make-up day July 7 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.

Eight Classes – Tue/Thu – 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 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 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 

Ready for a good laugh? It’s been said that comedy is even more challenging than drama—it’s clear you either got the laugh or you didn’t! And the greatest laughs come from the deepest truths. Great comic acting is based in timing, joy, a keen understanding of irony, and a recognition of the absurd truths of the human experience. Plays we call “comedies” may be about anything from light love to political upheavals. In this upper-level class, students will explore scenes from a range of classic and contemporary stage comedies. The class 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. Students should also be prepared to laugh a lot!

Acting: Comedy Scene Study is for you if:

• You are interested in exploring the particular challenges and joys of comedic acting.
• 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 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 comedic acting muscles.
• You minored in theater as an undergraduate in college and wish to dive back in.

Eight Classes – Tue/Thu – 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

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.

IT’S BACK! 

Five Classes – Mon to Fri – June 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
6:30–9:00 p.m. 

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 five-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 five-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 day – Sunday – June 22

12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Conveying truly authentic emotion in performance can be among the most daunting aspects of acting. Often the characters we play are grappling with emotional circumstances that people grapple with in life. Playing these characters truthfully is a way to respect and to honor these real-life emotional experiences. If not done with care, it can also take a toll on the actor. When playing emotionally vulnerable characters, how can we access our own true emotions, share them on stage repeatedly each week or get there quickly when working in film, in a way that is healthy and sustainable? In this one-day class with legendary Bay Area actor, director, teacher, and artistic director of the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, Margo Hall, students will learn practical techniques for accessing their own inherent emotional power in order to craft truthful performances. Every actor is a human being with a wealth of stories inside, from both their personal experiences and the ancestors they carry with them. Margo Hall—known for her powerful stage and film performances, her fierce intelligence and wit, and her commitment to truth—creates a supportive environment for actors to tap into their true selves and so also the truth of the characters they play.

Please Note: For this one-day, in-person class, students should come prepared with a fully memorized monologue that they are passionate to speak, yet find emotionally challenging. For the best experience, it is important the monologue be fully and fluently memorized.

Acting: Tapping Into The Power of Emotional Truth is for you if:

• You wish to develop practical tools for accessing truthful emotion in performance that are repeatable, dependable, and emotionally safe for you personally.
• You want your performances of emotionally vulnerable characters to honor the real-life experiences they depict by handling them utterly truthfully.
• You’ve taken Acting 2 or Acting 3 at Studio A.C.T., or equivalents elsewhere, and wish to continue advancing your acting skills in the area of truthful emotion.

Five classes – Mon to Fri – June 23 to 27
6:30–9:00 p.m. 

In this upper-level, five-evening intensive we will approach script analysis 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 acting or directing 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 practical, real-world approaches to script and character analysis.
• You’re interested in applying your current acting or directing 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 13
1:00–4:00pm 

Based on Julia Cameron’s groundbreaking best seller, “The Artist’s Way,” which has helped millions of people recover their joy of creativity, this one-day class is for actors or other performers, as well as those aspiring toward acting or performing. Through guided exercises and structured conversations, we will tackle our fears, uncover old habits, and joyfully embrace our true creative selves. We will examine core creative values, such as Identity, Abundance, and Possibility. Through this work we will learn practical methods to bring us closer to our true creative selves. Exercises are mostly based in writing, not physical, and no memorization of material is required. Just bring your open mind and open heart. 

The Artist's Way workshop is for you if: 

• You have always wanted to pursue acting, directing, playwriting, or other theater work but have felt stuck or blocked.
• You are currently working as a theater artist, but are feeling stuck or blocked.
• You find yourself holding on to old beliefs that you sense do not support your creativity, and want tools to help you break through and free from those.

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.

Eight Classes – Mon/Wed – July 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30; Aug 4, 6*
6:30–9:00 p.m.
*Make-up day Aug 11 as needed

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, 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 – July 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30; Aug 4, 6*
6:30–9:00 p.m.
*Make-up day Aug 11 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.

Eight Classes – Mon/Wed – July 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30; Aug 4, 6*
6:30–9:00 p.m.
*Make-up day Aug 11 as needed 

Acting in and auditioning for commercials, film, and TV requires actors to improvise on their feet, respond quickly and truthfully to the given circumstances of dialogue and environment, and to possess an awareness of how best to work within a camera’s frame. This comprehensive class will give students greater confidence acting in front of a camera by empowering them through direct experience with on-camera auditions and performances. Techniques for quick memorization, relaxation under stress, effective audition and cold reading strategies, basic improv techniques related to on-camera acting, and methods for quickly honing in on the emotional truth of a scene, will all be explored. Students should plan to attend all class sessions and expect to actively participate in all exercises and homework assignments. This class is open to all levels, though material and assignments may vary depending on experience and skill level.  

Acting: On Camera Level 1 is for you if:  

• You’re an actor with a prior introduction to on-camera acting, and are looking for more specific experience in the area of acting and auditioning for commercials, TV, Film, and Corporate Industrials.
• You have already taken both Acting 1 and Acting 2 at Studio A.C.T., or their equivalents elsewhere, and wish to expand your acting into the area of screen media.
• You are pursuing actor training with seriousness, whether toward developing an on-camera career or otherwise.

Eight Classes – Tue/Thu – July 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31; Aug 5, 7*
6:30–9:00 p.m.
*Make-up day Aug 12 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 – Tues/Thur – July 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31; Aug 5, 7*
6:30–9:00 p.m.
*Make-up day Aug 12 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.

LEARN A SHARP NEW SKILL! 

Six Classes – Tue/Thu – July 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31* 
6:30–9:00 p.m. | in person 
*Make up day Aug 5 as needed  

Ready to get medieval? This class will prepare you for great steel slinging roles like Joan of Arc and Richard III. Plus, sword fighting is good clean fun! With a focus on safety, partnership, and telling the story of the fight, this class will cover basic sword fighting technique and vocabulary, culminating in students rehearsing and performing a classical scene which includes broadsword combat. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to take a Skills Proficiency Test for recognition as a Theatrical Combatant with Dueling Arts International. Actors whose résumés include stage combat techniques have an advantage when auditioning for productions involving theatrical violence.  

Stage Combat: Broadsword 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 demonstrable broadsword skills.

Four Classes – Mondays – July 14, 21, 28; Aug 4
6:30–8:30 p.m.

This 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 to it often. 

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.

One Class – Sunday – July 20 
12:00–5:00 p.m.

This unique, one-day introductory class brings together two essential disciplines actors encounter regularly in theater—Stage Combat, whereby physical violence is staged to appear real while being physically safe to perform; and Intimacy Choreography, whereby moments of physical intimacy are staged to appear real while being emotionally safe to perform. Both disciplines require exceptional collaborative and communication skills, combining an awareness of physical and emotional safety with an eye toward creating artistically exciting moments on stage. Practices for negotiating Consent are paired with practical methods of creating physical stagings, placing value on both the physical and emotional demands of crafting and performing challenging dramatic moments on stage.

NOTE – This class involves physical exercises designed to support actors working together in direct physical contact with one another. Nobody will be required to engage in any physical contact they are not comfortable with.

This one-day Intimacy Choreography & Stage Combat workshop is for you if:

• You are an actor, director, stage manager, or teaching artist who wishes to further their understanding, confidence, and skill around staging physically vulnerable moments.
• You wish to expand your understanding and use of Consent as a creative practice in rehearsal and performance situations.
• You want tools to help you contribute to making a safe and inspiring working environment for yourself and others.

Two Classes – Sundays – July 20 & 27
1:00–5:00 p.m.

In this repeatable two-day Monologue Audition workshop, open to all experience levels, you will have the opportunity to (1) freshen up an audition monologue you already know, and (2) work on a new monologue in new ways. On the first day students will perform the monologue they already know, and we’ll explore practical ways to explore this monologue further. We’ll then identify possibilities for a new, second monologue to complement or contrast the first. In the week between the first and second days, students will memorize and prepare their new monologue. On the second day we’ll share both monologues in a mock-audition format, with feedback and the opportunity to re-audition—a.k.a. return for a call-back!

Note – Students must come to the first day with an audition monologue of their choice, no more than two minutes long, fully memorized and prepared to perform. In the week between class dates, students will need to continue working on their chosen monologue, as well as prepare a new monologue, to be selected in consultation with the teacher.

This repeatable two-day Monologue Audition Workshop is for you if:

• You are an actor who wants to feel more relaxed, centered, confident, and at ease when you audition.
• You are an actor who wants to work on their already memorized monologue from a play – contemporary or classical – for use in future auditions.
• You are an actor who wants to find, memorize, and bring to life a new audition monologue from a play – contemporary or classical.
• You want new practices that are at once efficient and effective for selecting, preparing, and acting monologues.
• You want a chance to practice acting in the context of a monologue.

Five Classes – Mon to Fri – Aug 4 to 8
6:30–8:30 p.m.

Want to move with greater confidence, strength, and freedom? This five-night offering of our popular full-length Bold Movement class approaches movement as a means of bold expression. Students will explore their physical, spontaneous, and creative responsiveness. Drawing on a range of practices, from yoga, contemporary dance, and physical theater, this class will introduce students to 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 want a creative physical workout that will strengthen 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.