Acting
What We Teach
"At The Studio, working with principles of Viola Spolin and Sanford Meisner, we approach acting emphasizing the idea that “acting is doing”"
“Living truthfully under imaginary circumstances”
"Our actors learn to think spontaneously, read body behavior, listen intently and answer directly with moment-by-moment skill. In addition to learning great acting technique, we put on plays with actors often required to play multiple parts in the same play"
"We make something out of nothing, the very essence of great theatre"
At The Studio, working with principles of Viola Spolin and Sanford Meisner, we approach acting emphasizing the idea that “acting is doing”. Improvisational exercises, silence, dialogue and activity all require the actor to have a “purpose in doing” for performing an action. The idea is to move one’s attention away from oneself and onto the other person onstage and thus into the moment. Students work “within the moment” to achieve spontaneity, emotional responsiveness, sensitivity to others, good listening and truthful reacting skills.
To be a good actor, one must cultivate a lot of skills including good vocal projection, clarity of speech, physical expressiveness, a good sense of perspective, emotional vulnerability, a well-developed imagination, the ability to analyze and understand text, the ability to create emotional and physical conditions and the ability to be spontaneous and focused “in the moment”. All these skills are continuously developing during acting classes.
As with any life skill, acting skills help with public speaking, debates, the ability to Improvise “on your feet” in any given situation, and to empathize with others.
Classes We Offer
Teen/Tween
Acting Ages 12-18
SCHOOL YEAR:
Mondays: 5:45 -6:45 pm
SUMMER: Mondays 6-7pm
Teen/Tween Acting emphasizes improvisational work, theatre games, beginning Meisner technique with listening/answering, the pinch and the ouch, repetition with activity, the knock at the door, etc. as well as sensory exercises, scene study, and audition technique. A year long commitment is required as students work on technique in conjunction with one act plays, scene nights and other performances throughout the year. This class is excellent for public speaking, thinking on one’s feet, and being able to improvise in any given situation.
SCHOOL YEAR:
$600 / 4 equal payments of $150
SUMMER: $125
Musical Theatre Ages 9-12 years
SCHOOL YEAR:
Thursdays: 4:15 – 5:15 pm
SUMMER:
Tuesdays 4:15-5:15pm
Musical Theatre for ages 9-12 is an introduction into the three performing arts that make up Musical Theatre (dance, voice and acting). Focus is on improvisational acting to be able to free up the actor onstage in spontaneous situations for both comedy and drama, using experiences within the student’s life and imagination as well as specific techniques for creating the who, the where and the what. Students will play multiple parts and be required to change characters quickly and within the same play. Singing/voice is also taught in a group setting with opportunities for solo lines within each song and choreography is used when putting together song and dance numbers. Although dance is not taught in this class, students are strongly encouraged to take a separate ballet dance class (preferably at The Studio!) to be able to understand and implement basic musical theatre choreography.
SCHOOL YEAR:
$640 / 4 equal payments of $160
SUMMER: $150
Teen Acting, Ages 12-18
School Year
Mondays: 5:30 -6:30 pm
$660 / 4 equal payments of $165
Summer Session
Wednesdays 6-7 pm
$125
Teen/Tween Acting emphasizes improvisational work, theatre games, beginning Meisner technique with listening/answering, the pinch and the ouch, repetition with activity, the knock at the door, etc. as well as sensory exercises, scene study, and audition technique. A year long commitment is required as students work on technique in conjunction with one act plays, scene nights and other performances throughout the year. This class is excellent for public speaking, thinking on one’s feet, and being able to improvise in any given situation.
Musical Theatre, Ages 9-12
School Year
Thursdays: 4:30 – 5:30 pm
$704 / 4 equal payments of $176
Summer Session
Tuesdays 4:15-5:15 pm
$150
Musical Theatre for ages 9-12 is an introduction into the three performing arts that make up Musical Theatre (dance, voice and acting). Focus is on improvisational acting to be able to free up the actor onstage in spontaneous situations for both comedy and drama, using experiences within the student’s life and imagination as well as specific techniques for creating the who, the where and the what. Students will play multiple parts and be required to change characters quickly and within the same play. Singing/voice is also taught in a group setting with opportunities for solo lines within each song and choreography is used when putting together song and dance numbers. Although dance is not taught in this class, students are strongly encouraged to take a separate ballet dance class (preferably at The Studio!) to be able to understand and implement basic musical theatre choreography.
Summer Musical Theatre Camp
School Year
N/A
N/A
Summer Session
July 14-18, 2025. Ages 8-12 / 1-4pm
$300
Experience the wonderful world of Musical Theatre! For three wonderful hours daily for five days, immerse yourself in the three principle art forms that make up “Musical Theatre”! Start fresh each morning with a daily dance technique class beginning with an authentic ballet barre, move to floor stretches and exercises for flexibility, and finish with different dance styles in across-the-floor combinations. The next hour, sing your heart out with a group voice lessons and learn age-appropriate musical theatre songs straight from Broadway, along with choreography to compliment it and (if desired) opportunities for solo singing lines. Have a short 10 minute break to grab a snack, and then it’s on to a whirlwind improvisational acting class, where you have a blast using your own creative brain to make up your “who, what and where”!
Adult Acting: Acting Technique
School Year
Mondays 5:30-6:30 pm
$660 / 4 equal payments of $165
Summer Session
Wednesdays 6-7 pm
$125
Offers an in-depth study of the art of acting, creating characters, and the study of human intentions & motivations. This class will concentrate on improvisational exercises, theatre games, beginning Meisner technique with listening/answering, the pinch and the ouch, repetition with activity, the knock at the door, etc. as well as sensory exercises, and possibly scene study, depending upon the interests of the students. This class develops “thinking on your feet”, improvising in any situation, public speaking, listening to others better, as well as understanding the behavior & unspoken intentions of people.
Adult Acting: The Art of Improvisation
School Year
Mondays 5:30-6:30pm
$660 / 4 equal payments of $165
Summer Session
Wednesdays 6-7 pm
$125
Come and play for a fun-filled hour. Working in an ensemble, tap into a creativity you never knew you had. Create scenarios with others on the spot and free up your playful inner child!
Audition Coaching
$35 for 30 minutes
$50 for 45 minutes
$65 for 60 minutes
There is a $5 off per private lesson discount if taking other classes at The Studio.
Individual coaching to help you do your best — for professional theatre, community theatre, school theatre, preparation for collegiate auditions, professional conservatories and more. We can help with any goals you have!
Please contact the Studio for information on available times.
Private Lessons
$35 for 30 minutes
$50 for 45 minutes
$65 for 60 minutes
Private Lessons are available for public speaking, auditioning and any performing art form we teach.
Please contact the Studio for information on available times.