Summer Acting Institute for Teens

Training Curriculum

All institute classes are taught by professional actors and directors. The summer program is directed by actor Deb Gottesman, a founder and co-director of The Theatre Lab, and includes a staff of highly trained instructors and specialists including critically-acclaimed director Randy Baker (Rorschach Theatre Artistic Director), who will direct the final production.

THE DRAMA WORKSHOP: An improvisational workshop designed to explore core acting skills, including: creating a character, activating needs, developing spontaneity and focus, and communicating effectively with others on stage. Students will be challenged to discover new ways of thinking, expressing themselves, and creating. 

AUDITIONING: An intensive seminar designed to prepare students to perform monologues in an audition setting, this course focuses on developing confidence, rechanneling nervous energy into creative energy, and using the body and voice effectively to tell a story. At the conclusion of the seminar, students use their monologues to audition. All students are guaranteed substantial and interesting roles.

STAGE MOVEMENT: Designed to increase the actor’s range of movement and physical expressiveness, this course incorporates elements of mime, dance, and improvisation, as well as training in relaxation and posture development, in order to maximize the potential of the body on stage.

SCENE STUDY AND VOCAL TECHNIQUE: An intensive exploration of scripted work, this course focuses on developing the actor’s process and understanding the potential of one’s own voice. Through the introduction of powerful rehearsal techniques, this course helps prepare students for their production.

In addition to the above classes, students participate in a variety of special workshops—such as acting for film and TV, video game voice acting, and stage combat—led by guest artists from the Washington theatre community.

Admission

The Theatre Lab is dedicated to providing accessible training for students seriously interested in learning about the acting process. Applicants will be accepted on the basis of their commitment to exploring the theatre craft and their willingness to collaborate in a group process of discovery with other young artists.

All applicants must complete a brief written essay expressing their interest in the program. Applicants must also prepare a 90-second monologue for an audition that will be scheduled upon receipt of completed application.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 1

Due to the limited nature of our enrollment, admission is competitive. You will be contacted shortly after the application deadline to schedule an audition. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered only if space becomes available.

Tuition

Tuition for the Summer Acting Institute is $1,420. Please note:  If you audition and are accepted into both the Musical Theatre Institute Session 1 and The Summer Acting Institute, you will receive a 10% discount on tuition for enrolling in both programs (total tuition is $2,670).

Financial Aid

At The Theatre Lab, we believe in making theatre education accessible to all. Partial financial aid is available through our Work Study program. In addition, a limited number of scholarships will be awarded through the Rob Stein Scholarship Fund. (Criteria: artistic curiosity and financial need.)