Before you enter the world of professional theater, you need to master the fundamentals. At the NSLC Acting Intensive, you will be immersed in an accelerated training environment, where you will have the opportunity to hone the skills necessary to succeed on stage and screen. This 18-day program is comprised of classes in voice, text analysis, scene study, movement, and basic acting technique. Taught and facilitated by professional actors, vocal coaches, and university professors, this rigorous program takes place in a conservatory-like environment and focuses on the personal and professional growth of each young actor.
Program Highlights
Conservatory-style learning
Sharpen essential performance skills through a rigorous curriculum of scene study, text analysis, voice work, and the fundamental acting techniques of theater legends.
Take risks in a safe space
Master classes in musical theater, physical theater, improvisation, monologues, and Shakespeare strengthen the foundations of your craft.
Award-winning productions
Experience theater festivals, Broadway, and Off-Broadway shows, meeting the casts in post-show talkbacks and learning about the journey of becoming a working actor.
Learn how to get the job
Discover the qualities that universities and casting directors are looking for in the audition room, including insider tips on great headshots and resumes, to help you stand out from the crowd.
Dates & Locations
Note: Space is limited. Please login to the online application to see up-to-date session availability.
Columbia University
NSLC is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Columbia University.
Experiential Learning
In addition to your work on-campus in the studio, you will have the opportunity to craft your own production, which you will perform at the end of the program. The NSLC Acting Intensive will also expose you to the vast world of professional theater, through trips to top regional summer theater festivals and, of course, Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.
Designed to supplement the training you receive in high school and prepare you for the training you will receive in college, the NSLC Acting Intensive is comprised of college-level classes and workshops in a conservatory-like environment.
Voice Gain access to one of the actor’s most essential tools through exploration of breathing, range, projection, variety, and how to use your voice most effectively.
Text Analysis The root of modern drama, text analysis is a vital skill for all actors. Expand your ability to think critically, delve deep beneath the surface of a text, establish a common vocabulary for the rehearsal room, and learn how to seek active choices and improve your acting through text work.
Scene Study Work in small groups to develop the skills of analysis, connection, and expression. Text-based and including both scene and monologue work, this class is a fundamental building block.
Movement Learn to understand your body and posture, and the way your physical presence contributes to developing characters and your effectiveness as an actor.
Basic Acting Technique There is no singular way to approach acting, and you will explore the techniques and theories of several masters in this survey of acting approaches.
Meet Theater Professionals
While at the NSLC summer Acting Intensive, you will learn from theater professionals and university professors.
Examples of past guest speakers include:
Shona Tucker
Director of Theatre, Vassar College
David Strickland
Vocal Coach
Donald Margulies
Professor of Theater Studies, Yale University
Mary Ann Plunkett
Tony Award-Winning Actor & Acting Coach
Claire Warden
Education Director, The Shakespeare Forum
Ron Carlos
Lecturer in Acting, Yale School of Drama
Nikkole Salter
OBIE Award-winning actress and writer
Michael Cassara
Casting Director, Michael Cassara Casting
Eddie Schnecker
Music Director & Audition Coach
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
An important part of the NSLC summer Acting Intensive is experiencing theater and seeing the sites around some of our nation’s greatest cities. These trips are designed as both sightseeing tours and exclusive educational trips specifically tailored to Acting Intensive.
Trips may include:
Columbia University
Broadway and Off-Broadway Shows | Manhattan Theater Club | Radio City Music Hall | Times Square | Top of the Rock
Leadership Training
At the heart of the NSLC is a leadership curriculum designed to build concrete leadership skills that will help you succeed. Interactive lectures and small-group workshops will give you an opportunity to build upon your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
Leadership topics tailored to Acting Intensive include:
- Personality Styles
- Art for Social Change
- Group Dynamics
- Public Speaking
- The Art of Communication
- Commitment & Follow Through
- Conflict Resolution
College Credit Option
American University (AU) and NSLC have a unique partnership that enables you to earn college credit by enrolling in a supplemental online course designed to correlate with your NSLC program’s area of study. By enrolling in this credit course, you will enjoy a stimulating, innovative, and personalized college-level learning experience that builds on your NSLC accomplishments. The course is for one credit and is taught in a self-paced, asynchronous format across six weeks, allowing ample time to complete assignments. The course is designed to work within the framework of NSLC; students are not expected to complete coursework while on campus. Students may register for college credit via their personal student portal (myNSLC) once they have enrolled in an NSLC session.
Click here to learn more about this opportunity.
Tuition
Program tuition includes housing, all on-campus meals, course materials, academic expenses, and activities. Tuition also includes chartered, air-conditioned motor coaches for off-campus briefings and tours. Note: Students are responsible for the cost of travel to and from the program as well as individual spending money for souvenirs, laundry, and a few off-campus meals during fields trips and tours.
Click here to view our cancellation and refund policy.
| Location | Tuition |
|---|
| New York City | $6,995 |
