YC FAQ

The 30 Grant Avenue facility features spacious studios with an air circulation system that is up to code with regard to COVID-19 safety.

Beginning June 5, 2023, with the Summer Session, showing proof of vaccination will no longer be required for YC students. Masks will be welcome but not required for all faculty and students while anywhere indoors at 30 Grant Avenue. This 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 in hallways and common spaces outside the classroom studios. CDC COVID-19 Regional Case Levels can be accessed at this link: COVID data tracker

Please email us at youngconservatory@act-sf.org for questions or additional information.

No! Our classes are open to students of all levels, whether they have no actor training or whether they already have various acting experiences under their belt!

The YC accepts students from ages 8 to 19 years old (grades 3-12).

There is no audition required to take a class at the YC, unless specifically noted on the schedule. However, our performance projects and productions are by audition only. Audition information can be found on the Performance Opportunities page of our website.

In-person classes are held at 30 Grant Ave, on the 8th and 9th floors. 

In order to allow our faculty and students to create the most successful ensemble atmosphere, family members, friends and prospective students are not permitted to view or audit classes. During the last class of every session, however, we do hold open classes, which family and friends are invited to attend. If you are interested in sitting in on an Open Class, please email us at youngconservatory@act-sf.org. 

We limit most of our online classes to a maximum of 12 students. For our in-person classes, the enrollment cap ranges from 12-16 students. Most classes have a minimum of 6 students in the classroom. If a class is listed as sold out, please email youngconservatory@act-sf.org to be added to the waitlist. If you are on the waitlist, do not show up to class unless you are contacted by a YC Team Member confirming that a spot is available for you and that you have paid your tuition.

All classes are subject to cancellation if there is insufficient enrollment. If your class gets cancelled due to low enrollment, you will receive a full refund (tuition and registration fee) or the option to switch into a different class during that session. To help ensure that your class does not get cancelled, please sign up for your class as soon as possible to secure your spot in the class and help boost enrollment numbers – and sign up for classes with your friends!

Most of our YC classes hold an Open Class day, which usually lands on the last hour of class on their final day of class. Our open classes are not meant to be polished performances, but rather allow for invited friends and family to sit in and watch what students have been working on over the span of the course. We normally send out the Open Class Schedule a few weeks before the end of class. Our class instructors will reach out to families with more details about the Open Class about mid-way through the scheduled course.  

Each family is responsible for making their own pick-up and drop-off arrangements. 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. Please make arrangements accordingly. 

We recommend signing up for a class only if you are can make the majority of those scheduled classes. This typically means missing no more than 1-2 scheduled classes. Many of our classes involve scene and partner work, and absences greatly affect the progression of the class curriculum, and can inconvenience other students enrolled in the class. We do not prorate classes due to student absences. If you know of an absence in advance, 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.

When you register your student into the YC you are agreeing to our photo/video release policy, which grants A.C.T. the absolute rights and permission to publish and/or copyright photographs and/or videos of your child. These photographs and/or videos may be used in perpetuity for marketing and publicity purposes, in any medium without compensation to student/class purchaser. You are agreeing to waive any right to inspect or approve the finished product, including written copy that may be created with said photographs and/or videos. If you have any concerns about photographs being taken and/or would like to opt out, please email us at youngconservatory@act-sf.org.

YC students can get half price student rush tickets for A.C.T. mainstage productions. Each student can get up to 2 (TWO) half price tickets per performance, subject to availability 90 minutes before curtain. Students must present proof of enrollment upon purchase. Please contact the Box Office at 415.749.2228 for more information.

Yes. A limited number of scholarships are available each session for students who may need financial assistance to attend the Young Conservatory.

Scholarship applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks before your desired class is scheduled to start.

Scholarships are awarded on a need-basis and are subject to class availability.

To apply for a Young Conservatory scholarship, first read the Conservatory Scholarship Statement of Purpose & Understanding. If after reading the Scholarship Statement you believe you qualify, consult the current list of classes to select the specific class(es) for which you would like to apply, then email us at youngconservatory@act-sf.org to request a link to the online Scholarship Application form.

The registration deadline for our classes normally lands on the Monday before classes are scheduled to begin. We will accept applications after this time; however, space in the class cannot be guaranteed.

Space is available in all of our classes unless otherwise noted on our website. If the class is no longer listed on the class registration page, this usually means the class is full. If you would like to sign up for a class that is currently full, please email youngconservatory@act-sf.org to be added to the waitlist.

• Visit the Class Session webpage that you’d like to sign up for and look over the schedule and course descriptions. Then click the “SIGN UP” button when you are ready to register.  
• You’ll first be directed to fill out a YC Student Questionnaire.  Your answers will provide us specific information we need to register you into our classes.  We will also collect current emergency contact information.  At the end of this form, you will be prompted to agree to our photo/video release policy.  Once you submit this form, select the appropriate registration link (Junior, Middle School, or High School) to continue registering.
• Once you are on the registration page, enter any discount codes at the top right corner and click “SUBMIT.”  Please note that you will not be able to use a discount code if you’d like to opt in our 50/50 Payment Plan.  Select “1” in the appropriate dropdown and click “CONTINUE.”  
• On the class registration page, first make sure to select a New or Returning Student Registration Fee and add this to your cart.  You will not be able to continue to checkout if you do no add the registration fee to your cart. Then select the class(es) you’d like to register for, add to cart, and continue on to checkout/payment.

NOTE: If you do NOT see your class listed on the class registration page, this usually means that class is sold out.  If you would like to waitlist for the class, or if you have any questions, please email youngconservatory@act-sf.org.  We recommend registering on a computer rather than on a phone or tablet.  

Every student must pay a New or a Returning Student Registration Fee for each YC Session they are registering for (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer). The New Student Registration Fee is $25 and the Returning Registration Fee is $15. These registration fees are non-refundable. 

We prefer that students register online before the first day of class. You may register on the first day of class if there is space left, however please note that there may no longer be any spots in the class if you try to register on the first day of class. If you are interested in an in-person class, do not show up on the first day of class unless you have officially enrolled online or over the phone. Contact youngconservatory@act-sf.org if you have any questions.  

Only under certain circumstances.  We may allow a student to join a class late only if:

• The class has only had one class meeting so far.
• There are open spots left in the class.
• The instructor approves the late addition into the classroom.

We have this policy in place to help ensure that our classes are running smoothly and uninterrupted since many students receive scene and/or partner assignments on the first day of class. Since we close online registrations for any classes that have already started, please contact us at youngconservatory@act-sf.org if you are interested in joining a class late.  

Current A.C.T. subscribers receive 20% reduction of tuition from one course during the season. We also offer occasional Early Bird 10% discounts for each of our class sessions. To receive updates about our class and ongoing promotions, make sure to opt in our YC Newsletter by emailing us at youngconservatory@act-sf.org.

Once you have registered for a class online, our online registration system will automatically email you a confirmation invoice of your class order. In the week prior to your first day of class, you will receive a welcome email with additional information about your upcoming class session.

• Courses with insufficient enrollment will be canceled and all tuition and fees paid will be refunded in full.
• Withdrawal and refund requests for any other reason must be made in writing and emailed to youngconservatory@act-sf.org.
• Please allow 10-14 days for your refund to be processed.

Fall, Winter, & Spring Sessions:

• 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.

Summer Sessions Only:

• Requests will be honored if received by the designated date prior to the start of the given class (see below). Class tuition will be refunded while the non-refundable registration and library fees will be withheld.
• Current Refund Deadlines (all deadlines are 11:59 p.m. on the date indicated)
  
  • Full tuition refund deadline: Saturday, April 1st, 2023
  • Refund with $100 withdrawal fee deadline: Monday, May 1st, 2023
  • 50% tuition refund deadline: the Sunday three weeks before the start of the class
  • Refunds of any kind will not be given after the above-stated deadline.

All refund requests must be sent in writing to both your coach and the Young Conservatory Inbox at youngconservatory@act-sf.org.

In the event you must cancel a scheduled private coaching session, a full refund will only be given if we receive a written request by email at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled session. Full refunds are also given if either the coach or the YC must cancel the session and it is not possible to reschedule.