School of Acting

Academy of Art University’s School of Acting prepares you to become a leading artist in theater, film, and television. Gain marketable acting, speech, and movement skills while developing the ability to deliver truthful performances that uniquely qualify you for work on a wide array of projects.

Our acting schools are led by professional, working actors who provide you with industry insights and inside knowledge they have cultivated through personal experience. This includes the development of a professional acting demo reel, as well as exposure to agents, managers, and casting directors across the entertainment industry.

Your career starts here.
Take the first step.

First Name

Last Name

Country Code

Your phone number's country code

Phone

Education Level

Country of Citizenship

High School Graduation Year

By submitting this form, I am giving express written consent to receive emails, text messages, OTT app messages (e.g., WhatsApp messages), and/or telephone calls including mobile from or on behalf of Academy of Art University at the phone number(s) I provided using automated technology. I understand that standard text and/or usage rates may apply and that I am not required to provide consent as a condition of any sale of a good or service.

What Skills Do Actors Learn?

We provide our students with a comprehensive acting education through a variety of expert-led classes and in-depth training courses — each of which provides an immersive learning experience. From mastering the use of your body to valuable improvisation skills, our faculty has the experience and expertise to help you learn the ins and outs of acting.

Skills students can expect to gain while attending the Academy of Art’s acting colleges include (but are not limited to):

Body Movement
Line Memorization
Improvisation
Accents
Auditioning

Character Development
Voice Projection and Pronunciation
Handling and Use of Props
Camera Angles
Script Analysis

What We Teach

Academy of Art University's School of Acting prepares you to become a leading artist in theatre, film, and television. Our top notch facilities and equipment include three sound stages, where you will experience working in front of the camera under the direction of industry leaders. Our diverse course offerings provide a well-rounded and professional training ground.

Movement

Physical acting employs the body as a primary instrument of expression and communication. Imagination, body awareness, and physical communication are key to crafting characters. Through movement, you will expand your facility, range, focus, and depth, resulting in greater authenticity in performance.

Voice Production

The full potential of the voice is achieved by employing attention and adjustment to posture, breath, and speech. Integrating these physical elements, you will cultivate vocal creativity, range, and projection, to craft richer characters.

Acting for Stage and Camera

Acting for both stage and screen demands being truthful within the given circumstances of a script. Through behavior and subtext, every detail is an opportunity to reveal a story. By training in both stage and screen media, you will strengthen your skills and marketability, providing a more successful transition into the professional world.

Improvisation

Improvisation provides you with the tools to react and behave reflexively while creating a character within a story. Partner work, risk-taking, creativity, and spontaneity are keys to working within an ensemble, and ultimately to creating multidimensional characters, with or without dialogue.

Developing Actors

Bring your passion for acting to life. Our theater, TV, and film acting schools are the ideal place to gain real-world skills, as we are driven by a mandate to provide the most current industry techniques and practices.

Start Your Career Now

Your dream is within reach. Follow your heart and get started on the career of your dreams.

Request Information

Facilities & Technology

Working with the latest in camera, sound, and lighting equipment is essential to preparing you to enter the workforce, which is why we keep up with current advancements in technology and industry practices. Whatever the pros are doing and using is what you will find in our acting classrooms and studios.

View All Facilities

Faculty

We hire only the best of the best to lead our acting schools because we understand the power of a good teacher. We also know that hands-on experience is one of the best ways to learn. We hire instructors who work in creative businesses, providing you with invaluable knowledge that comes from their personal expertise, as well as networking opportunities that can lead to internships and rewarding careers.

View All Faculty

Jana Sue Memel

Student Work

Ghost World / Emelia Coss-Valdez, Shuyi Li

Malcom & Marie / Cristiana Alvarez, Kevin Johnson

Hacks / Abbie Augustine, Bryant Smith

Enlightened / Samantha Girard, Blake Noonan

April Deutschle

Jacob Fuentes & Samuel Prince

Wei Jung Tsai & Manuel Cruz

In a Kingdom by the Sea / Frank Diaz

Caged / Samuel Prince

Not For Comedy / Mario Mazzetti

Golden Child / Yangkun Li, YiYi Li

House of Corrections / Michael Houston, Jack Clendenen

VIEW ALL STUDENT WORK

Master Your Craft

The School of Acting helps prepare you to become a leading artist in theater, film, and television. This in-depth focus on both acting for stage and for camera helps you gain dynamic skills in acting technique, and qualifies you for diverse acting work. Below are posters from performances where students from the School of Acting have worked to master their craft.

Almost Maine

Black Comedy

Crimes from the Heart

Detroit

Golden Boy

Legally Blonde

THIS

No One is Alone

Six Degrees of Separation

Summer Shakespeare

The Rocky Horror Show

Tigers, Be Still

Featured Alumni

Amber Patton

AA Acting

Actress, Filmmaker

“Everything about it spoke to me in the same way the Marine Corps did,” she explains. “I knew I would get as much out of the experience as I put in it.”

Industry Partnership

New Horizons Picture Corp

Recognizing the extraordinary opportunity for Academy students, Diane Baker and Curran G. Engel, stepped up as executive producers and ensured a successful partnership with New Horizons Picture Corp, film producer Roger Corman’s production company.

Careers in Acting

As graduates of one of the premier acting schools in the country, Academy of Art University acting alumni have a range of opportunities to choose from. Our facilities, faculty, and hands-on learning approach are designed to provide you with the tools you need to succeed as a professional actor.

We’re more than just a good college for acting that will teach you how to nail auditions — we’re a top school committed to cultivating your skills, giving you real-life experience, and helping you master your craft. Visit us or attend an open house to experience for yourself what we have to offer.

VIEW ALL CAREERS

Your career starts here.

Take the first step.

Or call 415-274-2222 to request more information about this program.

On-Camera Actor

As a on-camera actor for feature films, television, commercials, and industrials, you'll bring characters to life through technique, emotion, and presence. Use physicality, reaction, reflex, and listening skills to engage audiences and fully embody any character.

Stage Actor

Connect your craft to performance and become a stage actor, singer, or dancer. You will use technical proficiency, script analysis, and character research to deliver engaging and emotional performances for live audiences.

Voiceover Artist

As a voiceover artist, you'll apply your acting skills to animation, video games, commercials, narration, radio, TV, and character work. Find your vocal signature, learn accents, and bring characters to life.

COMPANIES THAT HAVE HIRED OUR GRADUATES

Why Enroll at Academy of Art University?

There’s a lot to consider when choosing between acting schools. Ultimately, you want to attend the best college for your interests, unique talents, and greater career goals. Whether your dream is to land a lead role in a broadway musical in New York, to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, or to simply travel the world performing and entertain thousands — it all starts with finding an acting academy where you can hone your craft and build on your talents.

Here are the top reasons aspiring actors choose to enroll in our schools for acting:

State of the Art Facilities

When it comes to stage sets, film equipment, and motion-picture technology, our acting university is truly an industry frontrunner. We continuously invest in our studios, performance spaces, sound booths, and software programs so our students can gain hands-on experience with the professional-grade facilities they’ll be exposed to in the real world.

Competent and Credentialed Leadership

Our students have unrestricted access to highly-knowledgeable, well-versed, and distinguished performing arts professionals, including Academy-award winning writers and producers. These faculty members are capable of not only teaching the theory behind our acting programs but of sharing key insights and lessons from their lived experiences.

Priceless Industry Partnerships

Due to our long-standing history and proven track record of success, many production companies, theater groups, and talent agencies look to our acting schools when seeking performers and other professionals for their projects. These connections are of indispensable benefit to our students, as they open the doors of opportunity and provide breakthrough career moments that would have otherwise been difficult to obtain.

Join Us at Our Next Open House

Find the Event Nearest You

RSVP NOW

If you wish to follow the social media accounts of any Academy of Art University department or program but are having difficulty with accessibility, please contact Accessibility Resources at Accessibility@academyart.edu to discuss accommodations that meet your needs.