(Rising Grades 9–12)
High School Classes
June 5–Aug 4, 2023
Summer 2023 SESSION DATES:
June 5–Aug 4, 2023
In-person meetings will be held at our 30 Grant Avenue studios in San Francisco.
All students must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Mask wearing when in a classroom studio at 30 Grant Avenue is optional for students. However, masks are still required in any indoor public spaces outside the classroom studios. Please note that our COVID-19 safety policies are subject to change.
Summer Session Refund Policy
- 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.
- 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.
- Please allow 10-14 days for your refund to be processed.
Questions
- Visit our Summer Session 2023 Policies page, if you haven't already!
- If you have additional questions, email us at YoungConservatory@act-sf.org.
High School Intensives
High School College Prep Intensives
Schedule: Monday-Friday, June 26–30: 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at 30 Grant Ave.
Tuition: $395
When applying to competitive college performing arts programs, investing time into identifying repertoire that showcases your strengths is essential and should not be left to the last minute. In this 1-week intensive, students will research and identify monologues or songs to consider for further coaching, and engage in preparation for pre-screen and live auditions. In addition to monologue/song research and initial coaching, this course will also offer essential foundational information about the unique process of applying to theater programs, featuring:
- a panel of recent YC alumni now attending top BA/BFA programs to share their experiences with the audition process
- a Q&A for parents entering this (sometimes new, and scary!) territory
- tools for identifying the best programs for each student
This course is designed for committed students and will require focused work between sessions to maximize results. Classes will be held in-person at our 30 Grant Ave. Studios in San Francisco. This course culminates in a closed mock audition for invited A.C.T. artistic staff. We look forward to helping you on your college audition journey.
High School Acting Intensives
Schedule: Monday-Friday, June 12–16: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at 30 Grant Ave.
Tuition: $450
Gain confidence and expand your acting knowledge with our introductory theater class, The Actor’s Toolbox! This fundamental course for young actors is designed to give students foundational knowledge of acting principles, improvisation, and text performance. Students of all levels of experience are welcome. Actors will explore:
- Fundamental theater vocabulary such as objective, conflict, action, and gesture
- Improvisation, playwriting, and story theater
- Character creation through key tools including objective, obstacle, actions, and physicality
- Scene and monologue performance
Classes will be held in-person at our 30 Grant Ave. Studios in San Francisco. Intensives include morning acting classes and an afternoon performance project. There will be some assignments and memorization between classes. This course culminates in an “open class” on the final day where students present projects rehearsed in class to friends and family. Have fun with peers while gaining some valuable acting skills.
Schedule: Monday-Friday, June 12–23: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at 30 Grant Ave.
Tuition: $825
She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen is one of the top ten most produced plays in high schools and colleges in America for a reason. With clever dialogue, thrilling stage combat, and imaginative encounters, this play is a strong choice for young actors to hone their skills and work with scene partners. Join characters Agnes, her younger sister Tilly, and others - including homicidal fairies, ogres and creepy avatars - in this comedic and poignant show set in the world of a fantasy role-playing game. Students of all levels of experience are welcome. Using characters and scenes from the show, actors will explore:
- Theatrical skills such as objective, gesture, vocal production, and movement
- Character creation through key tools including objective, obstacle, actions, and physicality
- Ensemble storytelling using abridged plays
- Scene and monologue performance
Classes will be held in-person at our 30 Grant Ave. Studios in San Francisco. Intensives include morning acting classes and an afternoon performance project. There will be some assignments and memorization between classes. This course culminates in an “open class” on the final day where students present projects rehearsed in class to friends and family. Have fun with peers while gaining some valuable acting skills!
Schedule: Monday-Friday, July 10–14: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at 30 Grant Ave.
Tuition: $450
Ever wanted to perform classical theater–or needed to prepare a classical monologue but felt a little intimidated–and didn’t know where to begin? This 1-week intensive will introduce students to famous plays, from Shakespeare to Oscar Wilde to the Greeks, and give them the tools to confidently tackle rich texts and iconic characters. This fundamental course for young actors is designed to give students foundational knowledge of acting principles, physical characterization, and text performance. Students of all levels of experience are welcome. Actors will explore:
- Essential acting tools like listening, vocal production, and rhythm
- Using script and character analysis to discover and uncover a scene
- Classical plays from the theater canon
- Scene and monologue performance
Classes will be held in-person at our 30 Grant Ave. Studios in San Francisco. Intensives include morning acting classes and an afternoon performance project. There will be some assignments and memorization between classes. This course culminates in an “open class” on the final day where students present projects rehearsed in class to friends and family. Have fun with peers while gaining some valuable acting skills!
Schedule: Monday-Friday, July 17–28: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at 30 Grant Ave.
Tuition: $825
Mary Zimmerman’s Tony-nominated play Metamorphoses juxtaposes the ancient and the contemporary through exquisitely crafted text and beautiful imagery. This 2-week acting intensive gives young actors a unique opportunity to interact with this popular show and retell Ovid’s classic tales using fundamental acting tools such as voice, movement, and physical character. This course is recommended for students with some prior theater experience, or those with an adventurous attitude. Using characters and scenes from the show, actors will explore:
- Theatrical skills such as objective, gesture, vocal production, and movement
- Character creation through key tools including objective, obstacle, actions, and physicality
- Ensemble storytelling using abridged plays
- Scene and monologue performance
Classes will be held in-person at our 30 Grant Ave. Studios in San Francisco. Intensives include morning acting classes and an afternoon performance project. There will be some assignments and memorization between classes. This course culminates in an “open class” on the final day where students present projects rehearsed in class to friends and family. Have fun with peers while gaining some valuable acting skills!
High School Musical Theater Intensives
The YC Summer Musical Theater Institute is a 2.5-week/14-day intensive designed for advanced high school performers (rising 10th-12th grade) desiring disciplined university-level training in musical theater in preparation for applying to competitive performing arts programs. To learn more and to audition, click HERE.
Schedule: Monday-Friday, June 5–9: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at 30 Grant Ave.
Tuition: $475
Hone your musical theater performance skills through this 1-week foray into the Best of Broadway! From My Fair Lady to Heathers; from Little Shop of Horrors to Dear Evan Hansen, and everything in between, performers will explore characters from iconic Broadway musicals. Students of all levels of experience are welcome. Actors will explore:
- Vocal technique such as breath control, articulation, rhythm, and vocal production
- Movement and an introduction to choreography
- Song interpretation and making a well-loved character your own
Classes will be held in-person at our 30 Grant Ave. Studios in San Francisco. Intensives include morning musical theater classes and an afternoon performance project. There will be some assignments and memorization between classes. This course culminates in an “open class” on the final day where students present projects rehearsed in class to friends and family. Have fun with peers while gaining some valuable musical theater skills!
Schedule: Monday-Friday, July 10–21: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at 30 Grant Ave.
Tuition: $850
In this 2-week intensive, actors will dive into the songs of iconic contemporary musicals like Hamilton, Spring Awakening, Hadestown, and more. Students of all levels of experience are welcome. Using hit solos and group numbers from recent Broadway hits, actors will explore:
- Vocal technique such as breath control, articulation, rhythm, and vocal production
- Movement and an introduction to choreography
- Song interpretation and making a well-loved character your own
- Scene and song performance
Classes will be held in-person at our 30 Grant Ave. Studios in San Francisco. Intensives include morning musical theater classes and an afternoon performance project. There will be some assignments and memorization between classes. This course culminates in an “open class” on the final day where students present projects rehearsed in class to friends and family. Have fun with peers while gaining some valuable musical theater skills!
Schedule: Monday-Friday, July 24–28: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at 30 Grant Ave.
Tuition: $475
Using songs from hit musicals like Chicago, Cabaret, Sweet Charity, and Pippin, actors will dive into the world of iconic musical theater performance through the music of Kander & Ebb, with choreography inspired by Bob Fosse. Students of all levels of experience are welcome. Using hit solos and group numbers from stage and movie musicals, actors will explore:
- Vocal technique such as breath control, articulation, rhythm, and vocal production
- Movement and an introduction to choreography
- Song interpretation and making a well-loved character your own
Classes will be held in-person at our 30 Grant Ave. Studios in San Francisco. Intensives include morning musical theater classes and an afternoon performance project with a live accompanist. There will be some assignments and memorization between classes. This course culminates in an “open class” on the final day where students present projects rehearsed in class to friends and family. Have fun with peers while gaining some valuable musical theater skills!
High School On-Camera Acting Intensives
Schedule: Monday-Friday, June 19–23: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at 30 Grant Ave.
Tuition: $475
Interested in acting in film and television? Now’s your chance to get in front of the camera in this 1-week intensive. Young Actors will explore scenes and monologues from hit television shows, such as Stranger Things, Wednesday, Never Have I Ever, Grown-ish, and more. Students of all levels of experience are welcome. Using scenes from today’s hit shows, actors will explore:
- Fundamental acting tools including objective, obstacle, actions, tactics, and point of view
- Theatrical skills such as scene analysis, vocal production, and physical awareness
- On-camera acting techniques versus stage techniques
- Monologue and scene work
Classes will be held in-person at our 30 Grant Ave. Studios in San Francisco. This course culminates in an “open class” on the final day where students present projects rehearsed in class to friends and family. Have fun with peers while gaining some valuable on-camera acting skills!
Schedule: Monday-Friday, July 24–August 4: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at 30 Grant Ave.
Tuition: $850
Let’s roll out the red carpet! This 2-week intensive will invite students to create their own short films. Through screenwriting, acting, and directing, actors will learn about the process of producing their own (mini!) movies. Students of all levels of experience are welcome. For filming components, students will need to bring a smart phone with video capability. (Please email for an accommodation if you do not have one.) Actors will explore:
- Fundamental acting tools and on-camera acting techniques
- The business and industry of film, television, and commercial acting
- Screenwriting, directing, and editing
Classes will be held in-person at our 30 Grant Ave. Studios in San Francisco. This course culminates in an “open class” on the final day where students present projects rehearsed in class to friends and family. Have fun with peers while gaining some valuable on-camera acting skills!