Inter-Session Class Schedule

Tuition for our annual weeklong Inter-Session is now priced on a sliding scale to better accommodate the variety of financial circumstances among our many students. You may select your tuition when registering. 

Why sliding scale? 

Your class tuition supports everything that goes into making Studio A.C.T. possible within the vibrant ecosystem of American Conservatory Theater, from paying faculty and staff a fair wage, to maintaining our studio spaces, to getting the word out about what we do. We respect every dollar you pay for your classes, and consider your tuition a key contribution in support of our mission to provide an engaging, energizing, creative space for all. 

Are scholarships still available for Inter-Session? 

Yes! Scholarships are still available for Inter-Session. Please visit our Scholarships page for details on how to apply.

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

Five classes, Mon–Fri, Dec 9–13

6:30–9:00 p.m. 

This introductory class explores the groundbreaking techniques of Russian actor and teacher Michael Chekhov, nephew of playwright Anton Chekhov. Michael Chekhov’s world-renowned acting technique helps actors to physically transform into characters, employ their imagination to listen more deeply, and rely on their body as a resource and means of expression. Recognizing that our bodies and imaginations are inextricably linked, the technique focuses on doing and experiencing, getting “on your feet” right away. Through practical psycho-physical exercises, actors quickly develop their sense of inspiration and learn to trust their own artistic individuality, all while discovering ways to bypass mental acting blocks and preconditioned ideas—whether of themselves, other people, or acting in general. Chekhov’s tools are useful for any style of stage or film acting and add greatly to an actor’s necessary skill set. 

The five-night Intro to Michael Chekhov Acting Technique class is for you if: 

• You have taken some acting classes before, such as Acting 1 or Acting 2 at Studio A.C.T. or equivalents elsewhere, and you wish to explore the techniques specific to a more physical approach.
• You wish to physicalize your exploration of imagination and character as it relates to acting. 
• You wish to learn tools to help you overcome acting blocks, find inspiration deeper within yourself, and to work in a playful, creative, and safe way.
• As an actor you have found yourself on the receiving end of un-actable direction, or knowing what you want in a scene but not knowing HOW to get it, or grappling with a character that is very different from you and you don’t know where to begin. Michael Chekhov’s work is an invaluable tool that can address in real time these common actors' dilemmas.
  

Five classes, Mon–Fri, Dec 9–13

6:30–8:30 p.m. 

This five-night class offers a crash course in directing for theater. Together we will explore foundational tools for analyzing a script during pre-production prep work, as well as techniques for using visual and auditory cues in staging and performance to help tell story. The class will also include a sample rehearsal organized by Peter J. Kuo with invited actors, offering an opportunity to observe working with actors on scenes, as well as a discussion and Q&A regarding a career in directing. 

Intro to Theater Directing is for you if:

• You are an actor, playwright, or other theater artist interested in directing for theater.
• You want to strengthen your eye and ear for reading and staging plays.
• You want to gain techniques to help you work productively with actors in rehearsal.
• You want to explore the broad range of tasks a director must consider in their work.

Four Classes, Mon–Thu, Dec 9–12

6:30–9:00 p.m. in person 

Ready to roll with the punches? This four-night class will introduce you to fundamental techniques for creating the illusion of violence onstage that is both safe and convincing. Emphasizing safety, storytelling, and partnering, this class explores the most commonly used unarmed stage combat techniques, including fighting with found objects and comedic violence. Actors whose résumés include stage combat techniques have an advantage when auditioning for productions involving theatrical violence. Also, stage combat is fun!

This four-night Intro to Unarmed Stage Combat class 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 unarmed stage combat.

Three classes, Mon–Wed, Dec 9–11

6:30–9:00 p.m. 

This three-night class introduces you to the fundamentals of acting on camera, using short scenes drawn from existing film and television scripts. Participants will explore the principles of truthful on-camera acting and learn practical techniques particular to acting on camera versus onstage.

This three-night Intro to On-Camera Acting class is for you if:

• You’ve already taken Intro to Acting, Acting 1, and Acting 2 at Studio A.C.T., or their equivalents elsewhere.
• You have past acting experience but not with on-camera acting, are curious about acting on camera, and want an unintimidating and engaging opportunity to introduce yourself to it.
• You’ve done a bit of on-camera acting in the past, but it’s been a while and you’re hungry to get back in touch with acting on camera. 

Three classes, Mon–Wed, Dec 9–11

6:30–9:00 p.m. 

This three-night workshop will introduce students to practices aimed at developing their confidence, understanding, and fluency with using their full voice to speak with greater clarity. Participants will learn practical techniques to develop a richer, stronger, and more versatile speaking voice. This short workshop course is open to students of all experience levels and is designed to accommodate each student at their individual level of experience. Though not required, students are encouraged to pair this class with Intro to Dialects later in the week. 

This three-night Intro to Voice & Speech workshop is for you if:

• You are an actor who wishes to improve your ability to speak 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.

Two classes, Thu–Fri, Dec 12–13

6:30–9:00 p.m. in person

Actors are often called upon to use regional dialects, from classic and contemporary plays to television shows taking place in a range of international settings. Having demonstrable skill with dialects significantly enhances an actor’s resume. And, speaking in a new dialect is fun! This two-night class will introduce you to basic techniques for approaching dialect work, to help you sound like a local from anywhere in the English-speaking world. When working with a dialect, authenticity depends upon specificity, and this class will help you make your sounds and phrasing specific to any region. Though not required, students are encouraged to pair this class with Intro to Voice & Speech earlier in the week. 

This two-night Intro to Dialects workshop is for you if:

• You are an actor who is relatively new to dialect work and wants an introduction to practices for picking up new dialects.
• You are an actor with some experience working with dialects, but it’s been a while and you want to refine your ear and your process for learning dialects.
• You are a person interested in how voice and speech reflect a given person’s cultural and regional background.