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CostHelper > Schools & Job Training  > Acting Classes

Acting Classes Cost


How Much Do Acting Classes Cost?

 
average costCourses: $150-$2,000high costTheatre Degree: $20,000-$120,000+

Acting classes are typically led by seasoned professional actors and teach aspiring actors the skills necessary to perform in theater or on screen.

Typical costs:

  • Acting classes can be broken into three groups: courses, which meet once or twice weekly over the course of several weeks; one-day or two-day workshops that teach specific, focused skill sets; and private one-on-one coaching.
  • Courses in acting are more general, teaching the basics of acting or covering a breadth of information on a specific acting technique such as method, which focuses on realistic expression of emotion, or improvisation, which focuses on creating scenes on the spot with a group. Courses typically cost $150-$2,000, depending largely on location and the prestige of the school. For example, the Society for Theatrical Artists' Guidance and Enhancement[1] (STAGE) is a nonprofit organization for performing artists in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The American Academy of Dramatic Arts[2] (AADA) is a well-known nonprofit conservatory with schools in New York and Los Angeles. STAGE offers six-week courses for $150; the AADA offers a five-week program for $2,000.
  • Workshops are more specialized, teaching a specific skill. This may be an on-stage skill such as stage fighting or delivering a monologue, or it could provide practical knowledge for the profession, such as acting for commercials, finding an agent or even doing one's taxes. Acting Studio Chicago has a one-day voice workshop[3] for $80; Actors Talent & Casting Services of Oklahoma City offers a three-part workshop[4] to kick start an acting career for $150. Workshop costs range from $50-$325.
  • Many acting teachers offer private coaching sessions in which actors can receive one-on-one technique and career advice. Sessions cost from $50-$250, depending largely on the coach's popularity. For example, Barbara Kite of Portland, OR, offers one-hour sessions[5] for $150.
  • Most colleges offer degrees in theatre and related disciplines. Going to a four-year college costs $5,000-$39,000 annually. A three-year master's degree in Fine Arts is comparable in price, such as Florida State University's School of Theatre[6] , which costs $5,000 for in-state students or $20,000 for out-of-state students.
Related articles: Acting Portfolio, Talent Agent, College

What should be included:
  • Courses may include electives that cover any of a variety of supplemental acting skills. Many courses culminate in a live performance for friends and family or the general public.
  • Towns outside the main entertainment hubs -- Los Angeles, New York and Chicago -- are more likely to offer inexpensive acting courses.
  • Some workshops require basic acting coursework, which form the building blocks for such coursework.
  • Often, those taking classes are aspiring professional actors. Others who take such courses are fulfilling a lifelong interest or do it to gain confidence in groups or being in front of a crowd.
  • Usually, children and teenagers take classes with their peers. Prices for classes for children and teenagers are typically the same as for adults.
Discounts:
  • For children and teenagers, siblings taking classes together may be offered a deal. STAGE charges $300 per session, or $500 for two siblings.
  • Some schools, such as the AADA, offer scholarships[7] . Scholarships may be based on merit (i.e., the student's performance) or needs-based.
Shopping for acting classes:
  • For serious actors, it's important to find an acting coach with whom they connect and work well. Coaching is a personal experience, and having a good relationship with a specific coach can garner successful sessions that could last for years, advises longtime acting teacher Jill Place.
  • If in the Los Angeles or New York area, check out Backstage.com's list of favorite teachers[8] as chosen by readers.
  • There are many unions, guilds and associations to reach out to seeking a reputable school or instructor. Try Backstage's[9] compilation of groups around the country.
  • Actor Tom Cruise's official website features a list of well-known acting schools[10] .
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
acting class
Amount: $175.00
Posted by: Barbara KIte in Portland, OR.Posted: November 10th, 2012 08:11AM
Instructor: Barbara KiteNumber of Courses: weekly fee
In one week 12 hours of intense, small group, training occurs. More professional than college, and more supportive by the coach and the class, this ends up costing less. The coach is all important in this mix. In college you don't get to choose, they tell you who you get. Privately, you get to sit in and decided which is the most for your money.
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External Resources:
  1.  www.stage-online.org/index.php?pageID=1201
  2.  aada.edu/summer-program/five_week.php
  3.  www.actingstudiochicago.com/class/voice.html
  4.  www.actorscasting.com/
  5.  www.barbarakite.com/acting-classes/classes-and-coaching/#0.3_Anchor_01
  6.  theatre.fsu.edu/
  7.  aada.edu/admissions/financial_aid.html
  8.  www.backstage.com/news/spotlight/2011-readers-choice-winners-announced/
  9.  www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/resources/unions-guilds-and-associations_2/
  10.  www.tomcruise.com/blog/2010/09/13/aspiring-actors-guide-resources-training/#4
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