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Welcome to the Young Conservatory at American Conservatory Theater! The YC is a place for students who have a passion for theater - whether it’s acting, on-camera technique, directing, musical theater, improvisation, spoken word or dance (among many!) - we are a theater home for young performers from all over the Bay Area. Our tagline is “develop your character”  -  because not only do the skills our students gain help them become stronger actors on stage - they also translate to increased confidence, creativity and self-awareness in real life. We’re thrilled to welcome you to our beautiful studios in San Francisco this fall.  Read below for some more info on our policies, and please reach out with any questions.

Student Behavior

All students in the YC are expected to be able to function well in an ensemble/group environment in order for us to provide a positive learning experience for all. If we find that a student is not able to follow directions or interact positively with other classmates and/or faculty, we will always first refer to the classroom’s established community agreements and provide a student the opportunity to regroup and rejoin.  If this is unsuccessful, we will inform parents of the situation and brainstorm solutions. If the efforts are still unsuccessful, we reserve the right to withdraw the student from the class. Refunds/credits will be handled on a case-by-case basis. If you have any questions about whether a YC class is a good option/fit for your child, please contact us before enrolling.

 

Communication Expectations

We will communicate via the email and/or phone number provided on the info form that is filled out when registering. Please make sure that we have an email on file that is checked daily. Please read the welcome email in its entirety sent to families 7-10 days prior to the first day of class. It has important information about pick-up/drop-off procedures, what to bring, and some more expectations to get everyone ready for the first day. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at youngconservatory@act-sf.org.

Attendance Expectations

Theater is an ensemble art form, and attendance is very important! Due to the collaborative nature of theater classes which involve ensemble and pair work, our classes are not a "drop-in" model. Our teaching artists plan for full participation from all students each week and appreciate any conflicts to be communicated as early as possible to enable us to plan for the best experience possible! Absences greatly affect the progression of the class curriculum and can inconvenience other students enrolled in the class. In particular, last-minute “no shows” present challenges for the instructors and for the entire class. If you know of an absence in advance, or if your child needs to arrive late/leave early, please let us know as soon as possible by sending us an email at youngconservatory@act-sf.org so that we may inform our instructors. Excessive absences may result in substantial changes in assigned material to ensure a positive experience for all. We do not prorate classes due to student absences.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Policies

Each family is responsible for making their own pick-up and drop-off arrangements. For drop-off on the first day, we recommend arriving 15 minutes early on the first day of class, in order to finalize registration and verify information. Following the first day, students may be dropped off at the 30 Grant Avenue ground floor lobby where they will then take the elevator to the 8th floor. Students traveling on their own must leave the building immediately after class. For our Junior level students (Grades 3-5) we will have our instructors accompany the students to be picked up by their parents/guardians in a designated lobby area.

Please be respectful of our instructors’ time and arrive promptly at the end of class. We do not offer supervised care for students before or after classes. A fee of $1 per minute will be charged to the card on file for a student being dropped off more than 15 minutes prior to the start of class or being picked up later than 15 minutes after the end of class. Please make arrangements accordingly.

  • First day: the parking garage at Union Square (entrances on Geary or Post) is a nearby garage; there is also the Sutter/Stockton, Ellis O’Farrell and Mason O’Farrell garage.
  • After the first day: Grant is a one-way street, and after the first day, parents may double-park and watch their student enter the lobby and into the elevators, and at pick-up, students will wait in the lobby until they can see their parent/guardian.

Photo Waiver

A.C.T. occasionally photographs and/or records portions of YC classes, online sessions, performances, and rehearsals for use in promotional, archival, or fundraising purposes, and for use in social media and/or website without student compensation.

 

 

Withdrawals and Refunds

Courses with insufficient enrollment will be canceled and all tuition and fees paid will be refunded in full. Any cancellations due to low enrollment will be finalized a minimum of two weeks before the scheduled start date. Withdrawal and refund requests for any other reason must be made in writing and emailed to youngconservatory@act-sf.org.

Refund requests will be honored in full if received at least one week (7 days) prior to the start of the first class session. Class tuition will be refunded while the non-refundable registration and library fees will be withheld. Should a refund request be made after the above deadline, a withdrawal fee will be withheld in addition to the standard non-refundable fees as follows.

  • After the refund deadline but before the first class date: $25 withdrawal fee
  • On or after the first class date of full-length classes: $45 withdrawal fee

Refunds of any kind cannot be processed after the start of the second class meeting for full-length courses or on the day of intensives. Please allow 10-14 days for your refund to be processed.

 

Accessibility

The A.C.T. Young Conservatory makes every effort to make courses accessible to all students who are interested and passionate about theater. Please make sure to complete the info form registration question about any access needs or info that will help us provide the best experience for your child. You can always email us before class begins with this info at youngconservatory@act-sf.org with any accessibility accommodations needed.