Save Yourself Both Time and Money At The Only Accredited Acting School in the Entire Mid-Atlantic Region.
The Conservatory's curriculum is based on the teachings of Michel Saint-Denis, as are the curricula of the Royal Shakespeare Company Studio and the Drama Division of the Julliard School in New York. Saint-Denis emphasized that a school is not only a place to learn from the past but a place to explore new ideas and experiment in ways not possible in commercial theatre. His fundamental aim was to provide in each school a comprehensive framework of techniques around which the student's initiative, imagination and invention could be developed.
The Conservatory offers its students a remarkable vision and gives them the tools to achieve that vision. Throughout the course of study, the student actor is instructed in the various professional requirements of the working actor. Specifically, the student actor learns all aspects of the professional audition process: preparation, protocol, motivation, goal setting and career planning.
Through Dramatic Interpretation the student actor learns how a professional actor approaches a script from research and analysis through rehearsal and performance. Student actors work through two plays each semester with new aspects of the rehearsal process, techniques and play styles introduced and explored.
Through Dramatic Technique the student actor learns to understand and utilize the body and voice as instruments of clarity and intent. Four semesters of progressive study and practice in stage movement and voice allow the student actor to explore his or her range and acquire the techniques necessary for performance.
The Conservatory Acting Program
This program is four semesters of study for a total of 60 credit hours and is normally completed in 16 months at which time the actor receives the diploma in acting. Courses included in each semester are listed here - and we can discuss them in more detail when you visit the school. As you can see from the semster breakdown - student actors complete 6 full-length plays over the course of this program - credits that then go onto the actor's resume!
Semester One
Acting I - Script Analysis
Acting II - Introduction to Acting
Acting III - Working the Process - Scene Study
Rehearsal Project I - The Rehearsal Process - Discovery
Professional Seminars - Theatre History and On Camera
Technical Theatre
Semester Two
Voice I - Exploring Vocal Range
Movement I - Exploring Physical Range
Acting IV - Positive Choices - Finding Your Tools
Rehearsal Project II - The Rehearsal Process - Greek Tragedy
Professional Seminars - Theater History and On Camera
Technical Theatre
Semester Three
Rehearsal Project III - The Rehearsal Process - Commedia dell'Arte
Voice and Movement II - Connecting to the Text
Audition Technique I - Monologue Repertoire Development
Rehearsal Project IV - The Rehearsal Process - Shakespeare
Professional Seminars - Theater Style, and On Camera
Semester Four
Rehearsal Project V - The Rehearsal Process - Realism
Audition Technique II - Audition Technique & Cold Reading
Voice and Movement III - Text Work and Audition
Business I - The Business of Acting
Rehearsal Project VI - The Rehearsal Process - Contemporary Realism
Professional Seminars - Theater Production, and On Camera
The Advanced Acting Program - Actors Repertory Theatre
The Advanced program is open only to sudents who have successfully completed the Conservatory Acting Program (or a similar, accredited conservatory program). This program is two semesters of study for 30 credit hours and is completed in 8 months. Courses are listed below and additional details will be discussed when you visit the school.
- Members of the Advanced Acting ensemble are cast in the four plays selected for the season and participate in the full rehearsal process (5 weeks each) leading to full production and a public performance run (two weeks each)
- Acting On-Camera - After a 20 hour camera intensive, the students film scenes from each play to learn how to adjust acting for the stage and acting for the camera. The class culminates in The Short Film Project, where students film several short films and monologues that are added to their film reel.
- Advanced Audition Technique and Cold Reading
Including Auditions for Local and Regional Casting Directors
- Business II - Individual Mentoring and The Business Plan
- New Play Development - The Actor's Role in the Creative Process
- Stage Combat - Unarmed
