GET PROFESSIONAL THEATRE CREDITS

WHILE YOU TRAIN

The Perseverance Theatre/UAS Acting Program offers a four-year professional actor training program leading to a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with an emphasis in Theatre and in one other area of study from the Humanities, Social Sciences or Natural Sciences.  A minor in Theatre is also available.

Each incoming class moves as a group through the four years of training.  Evaluations occur midway and at the end of each semester so the student may clarify the next step in their development.

First Year

This is a year of exploration and scene study.  The first semester is comprised of exercises designed to open up the actor’s emotional life, to free the actor’s impulses, to begin developing a technique, to introduce the student to the actor’s tools and to strengthen the actor’s powers of concentration.

The year culminates in a class acting project, exploring American realism, to be performed for the school.  Also in this year, the student is required to be on crew at Perseverance Theatre, thereby introducing the student to the world of professional theatre.

Second Year

The second year focuses on language and style plays.  The first semester will expose the student to Shakespeare and the tools used to make the language clear, expressive and alive. The second semester focuses on other acting styles (Shaw, Brecht, French Comedy, etc).  Workshops in Clown and Mask work may also be included in this year.

The year culminates in a class acting project, exploring one of the styles just mentioned, to be performed for the school.  Also in this year, the student is required to understudy shows at Perseverance Theatre, continuing the student’s exposure to the professional theatre.

Third Year

The third year focuses on identifying and tackling each actor’s specific acting problem.  This will occur through additional scene work and workshops focused on those particular issues.

This year marks the actor’s first steps into the professional theatre by allowing the student to be cast in Perseverance Theatre’s Secondstage productions.  In a smaller venue, with smaller production values, this opportunity allows the actor to test their skills in a supportive environment.

Fourth Year

The final year of training is dedicated to performance, to preparation for leaving school and to entering the profession.  Lessons include audition technique, choosing/preparing audition material, acting for the camera, etc.  Individual workshops and coaching are provided to supplement the above endeavors.

This year marks the actor’s debut into the professional theatre by allowing the student to be cast in Perseverance Theatre’s mainstage season.