ACTeen

ACTing for Teens

Summer Programs
New York, New York


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

For More Information, Contact
Rita Litton, ACTeen Director
ACTeen
35 West 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10036
212-391-5915
Fax: 212-768-8918
http://www.acteen.com

Type of Program: Acting conservatory with a film and television concentration
Participants: Coeducational, ages 13–15 and 16–20
Enrollment: Limited to 20–30 students per session
Program Dates: June 23 to July 3, July 7 to July 31, August 4 to August 20, or July 12 to August 16 (Saturdays)
Head of Program: Rita Litton, Director

Location

ACTeen is located in New York City’s Broadway theater district, near Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. ACTeen occupies the entire sixth floor of a midtown office building.

Background and Philosophy

ACTeen was created in 1978 by successful theater and commercial actress Rita Litton as the first on-camera acting curriculum for teenagers. Stories about ACTeen have appeared in the New York Times, New York Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and the Wall Street Journal; on television and news broadcasts; and in various acting books, including praise in How to Be a Working Actor by Mari Lyn Henry (former head of East Coast casting for ABC-TV) and Acting Like a Pro by Mary McTigue. ACTeen is consistently recommended to clients and prospective clients by more than 30 New York City talent agents and managers. Hundreds of ACTeen graduates have achieved successful careers in film, television, and the theater. Many ACTeen graduates have starred on TV series (One Tree Hill, Related, Third Watch, That 70’s Show, Charmed, The Sopranos, According to Jim, Boston Public, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Guardian, Homicide, and Freaks & Geeks) each of the last nine seasons. Many alumni acquired their overall professionalism and first representation through ACTeen’s industry showcases.
The ACTeen Summer Academy accepts dedicated beginners and preprofessionals, developing them into technically proficient, versatile, and marketable actors. ACTeen combines theatrical discipline with spontaneous, effective on-camera acting techniques, so students learn to successfully navigate both film and theater media with skill and professionalism. ACTeen believes that acting is action oriented and that emotions are the result of intentions successfully or unsuccessfully achieved. Therefore, various acting techniques are incorporated to offer more than one path to characterization. Students learn to function among diverse directors and actors with varying acting approaches. In addition, students benefit enormously from video playbacks (the ‘‘one picture is worth a thousand words” theory), which are an integral part of the on-camera acting classes and may be utilized in elective courses.

Program Offerings

While ACTeen offers courses during the fall and spring, its summer academies are more extensive. ACTeen offers six different courses in the June academy, sixteen in the four-week July academy, and nine in the three-week August academy. Students may attend full-time or part-time. There is also a four-course, six-week Saturday-only summer session. A typical 29-hour week for students who attend ACTeen’s July full-time summer academy includes 8 hours of on-camera acting technique and scene study, 4 hours of commercial audition skills, 3 hours of speech and voice, 3 hours of movement, 3 hours of improvisation, 4 hours of auditioning skills, and 4 hours of musical theater or Shakespeare. Various electives include directing and script writing. Students may choose from several course offerings, including those listed below.
Film Acting Technique Exercises involving intention, motivation, relationship, obstacles, and actions are tied to assigned film and television scripts to better relate process with result. All exercises and scenes are videotaped in a two-camera setup, and playback critiques are an essential part of class time.
Film Scene Study In multicamera studios, students explore the technique and emotional depth required for successful film acting. Emphasis is on creating characters common or unique to television and film—situation comedy, episodic TV, feature films, and daytime dramas.
Commercial Audition Technique Successful on-camera commercial audition techniques are taught while encouraging the actor’s natural delivery and unique personality. Students perform all work on videotape and audition privately for a guest casting director. Copyrighted text includes valuable information on agents, unions, photos, and getting started professionally.
Improvisation Using the wonderful theater games of Viola Spolin and Keith Johnstone, actors learn to listen, work creatively and physically, and channel fears into actions.
Movement for Actors Work includes centers, rotations, transformations, posture, and Alexander Technique.
Musical Theater An audition workshop is taught by an established New York City vocal coach and musical director.
Script Writing Students learn to refine plot structure, character, dialogue, and conflict while creating a short one-act script. This workshop is taught by an award-winning playwright/screenwriter.
Shakespeare Students explore the wonderful challenges and vocal demands of Shakespeare’s characters and text.
Speech and Voice This workshop develops the flexibility and musicality of the actor’s speaking voice. Speech exercises on phonetics develop standardized American speech, while voice work develops breath control, resonance, and tone.

Enrollment

Previous students have come to ACTeen from all over the world. Class size for each workshop is extremely limited—6 to 12 students maximum—for utmost personal attention. ACTeen seeks bright, dedicated teens who love to act. Prior experience is recommended but not required. Students requiring housing must be at least 17 years old by the summer to qualify for suggested off-site housing.

Daily Schedule

Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 9 to 5 and Friday from 10 to 3 (June), Monday through Thursday from 9 to 5 (July), or Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 5 (August), with appropriate lunch breaks. Students have the option of attending part-time. Beyond the classroom, students must devote time to homework preparation.

Extra Opportunities and Activities

ACTeen has a special VIP guest series on selected evenings, during which visiting professionals share their insights and expertise. In addition, students enrolled in the Audition Workshop work closely with New York City industry guests, including a Broadway director, a film/theater casting director, a commercial casting director, a monologue coach, and guest professional actors.

Facilities

ACTeen has seven air-conditioned on-camera video studios. Three studios are equipped with double cameras and simultaneous editing equipment. There are three lounges and office space.

Staff

The staff is exemplary and includes adults from professional acting, directing, and casting backgrounds. Many also teach in colleges, universities, and other acting conservatories, and the majority hold advanced degrees. Full-time academy students work with 6 to 8 different experienced instructors as well as special guest artists. The small class size enables a close personal relationship between students and faculty members. Teachers work creatively to tailor scenes and exercises to best stimulate each student.

Costs

Tuition for full-time programs ranges from $1450 to $1600 in June, $1950 to $2700 in July, and $1350 to $2250 in August. Individual courses cost $300 to $350, with discounts for multiple course selection. Limited scholarships are available for male actors via the Will Sears Scholarship Fund. ACTeen does not maintain housing or off-studio supervision for its out-of-state academy participants. However, affordable dormitory or apartment-style rooms are available at discounted rates for accepted ACTeen registrants (over age 17 only) through May 1. Fees range from $1000 to $2000 per month. Students may request a housing list after they submit their applications.

Transportation

ACTeen’s midtown location is ideally situated so that all public transportation is accessible. ACTeen is within walking distance of all the suburban transportation hubs, including Grand Central Station, Penn Station, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Application Timetable

ACTeen prefers on-site auditions and interviews, if possible. Long-distance applicants should request a registration packet. Completed summer applications (available online, under Download Forms) are accepted November through June, but Summer Academy students are advised to apply early, preferably by April 1, for the best housing opportunities. Tuition discounts are typically available through April 15.