Young Conservatory
A.C.T.’s Young Conservatory offers theater training for students ages 8–19, combining skill-building, creativity, and performance in a supportive environment. Classes are offered in fall, spring, and summer sessions, alongside private coaching, college preparation, and audition-based performance opportunities.
Young Conservatory Overview
- YC classes average 8-12 students per class, guaranteeing personal attention from instructors.
- Instructors are working theater artists who are dedicated to sharing their craft and experience in helping students reach their goals.
- Classes are offered in-person at 30 Grant Avenue.
- Classes are divided by age groups: Juniors (Grades 3-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and High School (Grades 9-12).
- No audition or prior experience is necessary to take class at the YC!
- Enroll by clicking on the session that you are interested in at the top of this page.
Succeed Onstage and Off
The YC teaches more than just acting. By training at the YC, students gain the creative and communication skills to succeed in just about anything. Students learn to incorporate the craft of theater into their everyday lives, developing concentration, imagination, professionalism, character, and self-confidence along the way. Many students go on to study theater and performance in college, and our alumni are often seen gracing stages and screens in the Bay Area and across the country. Some YC alumni include Darren Criss (Emmy and Golden Globe Award–winner), Erika Henningsen (Mean Girls on Broadway), Adam Jacobs (Aladdin on Broadway), Winona Ryder (Stranger Things), and Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us).
Current & Upcoming Session Dates
Spring 2026 Session: January 24–March 28, 2026
Summer 2026 Session Dates: June 8–August 7, 2026
About YC
A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory is an internationally recognized professional theater training program for students in grades 3–12. We offer year-round classes and performance opportunities for both beginners exploring acting for the first time, as well as young actors with previous experience. YC programs are designed to meet any young artist's talents and schedule with our faculty of working theater professionals and some of the best theater-makers in the Bay Area. Our class offerings include acting, musical theater, physical comedy, actors and cabaret ensembles, and so much more!
All Students Welcome
Students of all abilities, racial identities, and gender identities are welcome and encouraged to sign up or audition for YC programs.
Scholarships Available
Email youngconservatory@act-sf.org for more information about scholarships and financial aid.
"The Young Conservatory is the absolute best place for any hopeful young artist. It instilled in me a sense of excitement and confidence, as well as the tools that I would go on to use in developing my professional career. I will forever be indebted to A.C.T. for the leaps it has allowed me to take as an actor, artist, and citizen of the greater world."
Golden Globe and Emmy winner, YC alum
"A.C.T.’s Young Conservatory sparked my passion for the theater in high school and San Francisco Semester was the perfect program to turn that spark into a flame as I continued my education in the arts and transitioned into the industry."
Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts, BFA candidate 2020, YC alum
Questions?
For additional questions/concerns, including any issues regarding access to technology for Zoom/online classes, visit our YC FAQ page or email youngconservatory@act-sf.org