Program Description

American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Summer Program
New York City, New York, and Los Angeles, California


		Program Description Program Overview Visit Web Site Get Free Info See Photos

For More Information, Contact
Karen Higginbotham, Director of Admissions, Los Angeles and New York

New York
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
120 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
212-686-0620
800-463-8990 (toll-free)
http://www.aada.org

Los Angeles
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
1336 North La Brea Avenue
Hollywood, California 90028
323-464-2777
800-222-2867 (toll-free)
http://www.aada.org
E-mail: ptufel@ny.aada.org

Type of Program: Dramatic arts conservatory
Participants: Coeducational; teenagers (ages 14 and older), college students, and adults
Enrollment: Approximately 100 students at each campus
Program Dates: Six weeks in July and August
Heads of Program: Roger Croucher, President/CEO, New York; Constantine Scopas, Director of Instruction, New York; James Warwick, President, Los Angeles Division; Dr. Nina LeNoir, Director of Instruction, Los Angeles Division

Location

The Academy’s New York home, an outstanding example of the architecture of Stanford White, is an official New York City Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The six-story building is centrally located in midtown Manhattan.
The Academy’s West Coast home is set on a 2½-acre campus in the heart of Hollywood.

Background and Philosophy

Founded in New York in 1884, the Academy was the first school in America to provide professional education for actors. The soundness of the Academy’s approach is reflected in the achievements of its alumni, a body of professionals unmatched by any other institution of actor training.
    In 1974, a west coast campus was established in the Los Angeles area.
    The six-week Summer Program was established for those who want to test their interest and ability in an environment of professional training. It provides an opportunity to evaluate educational goals and to assist the student in choosing a profession. Academy training involves the student intellectually, physically, and emotionally while stressing self-discovery and self-discipline and cherishing individuality.
    The Academy is accredited in New York and California by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Program Offerings

Summer students take classes in acting, voice and speech, vocal production, and movement. Students are expected to participate in all classes.
Acting Through exercises, improvisations, and scene study, students learn the importance of relaxation, concentration, involvement, contact, and sense memory and gain a sense of truthful behavior.
Voice and speech Starting with basic principles of vocal production, placement, and control, students develop the speaking voice as an instrument of better communication both on and off the stage.
Vocal production This course augments the Academy’s emphasis on the development of an expressive and flexible speaking voice through singing.
Movement Students are exposed to a variety of dance and movement techniques for the development of the imagination, coordination, and body awareness necessary for an actor.
At the conclusion of the six-week program, each student performs in a presentation of scenes.

Enrollment

Students attending the Academy come from all over the world, united by their shared commitment to acting and the challenge of working to become the best actors they can be. Students are grouped in sections that are carefully selected to ensure as much similarity of background, maturity, and objectives as possible. Teenagers are grouped separately.

Daily Schedule

At both schools, summer classes take place Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for morning students and from 2 to 6 p.m. for afternoon students. Elective options are scheduled between 1 and 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and all day on Friday.

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Depending on the interests expressed by applicants, electives such as fencing, improvisation, camera technique, dancing for the actor, Alexander technique, and musical theater may be offered.

Facilities

The Academy’s New York building includes classrooms, rehearsal halls, dance studios, a student lounge, locker areas, dressing rooms, a prop department/production workshop, a costume department, a library/audiovisual learning center, three theaters, and a TV/film production studio.
The Hollywood campus has similar facilities, including classrooms, dance studios, a theater, a library, full production facilities, and ample parking.
The Academy offers off-campus housing options.

Staff

Most of the Summer Program faculty members also staff the full-time two-year program. Others are distinguished professionals who are available to the Academy only in the summer. The Academy’s faculty comprises alumni of the most esteemed acting schools in the world. Their professional experience encompasses Broadway, off-Broadway, stock, regional theater, film, and television in a variety of positions. In both New York and Hollywood, the Summer Program is staffed by a faculty of 12 or more instructors.

Costs

The 2008 Summer Program fee was $1900 for six weeks. A nonrefundable $50 application fee was also required. Each elective cost an additional $90. No refunds are granted after classes have begun.

Transportation

Students at the New York school generally travel to and from classes by public transportation. The Academy is a short distance from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and both Grand Central and Pennsylvania Stations and is within walking distance of PATH trains to New Jersey.
California students generally rely on cars to get them to and from class every day, although some use bicycles or public transportation.

Application Timetable

Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling timetable. All applicants must audition. An audition is scheduled after the completed application and $50 application fee have been received. The deadline for auditions is June 22 for domestic applicants and May 1 for international students. An audition consists of the delivery from memory of two contrasting monologues (one comedic, one dramatic) of up to 2 minutes each from published plays. Auditions can take place at either the New York or California school for acceptance at either school.