Teacher Development Program
When The Actors Center was formed in 1996, it brought together leading teachers from America , England , Russia and other countries. While our intent was to provide established actors with access to Master Teachers throughout their careers, we soon realized that these same Master Teachers should also be made available to other teachers.

The teaching of acting is an art in itself. We define a Master Teacher as “someone to whom a generation of established actors look to as their primary artistic influence.” Among our initial faculty were four acting teachers who embodied that definition: Earle Gister, Michael Kahn, Lloyd Richards and Ron Van Lieu . Those who joined us in ensuing years included: Maria Aitken , Robert Cohen, Slava Dolgachev, and Olympia Dukakis.

The art of teaching involves helping each uniquely gifted student discover and take ownership of his/her possibilities as an artist. The standards of artistic achievement that teacher holds to is key to the lasting effect. While there are more and more people teaching acting these days, there are fewer “Master Teachers” than there were fifty years ago. The Actors Center is doing everything it can to address that issue.

Learn More
>>June Workshops
>>Testimonials
>> Your Needs as a Teacher
>>Apprenticeship

TDP APPLICATION (Word document)

June Workshops
June 10-21, 2013

Participants in this workshop will be introduced to some of the most interesting and respected teachers in America and abroad. The goal is to re-enforce the tenets of the craft the participants would impart to their students. While the workshop is offered as a seminar for the benefit of established teachers and established actors who are starting to teach, it will be conducted essentially as an acting class. Everyone will work on their feet every day. Questions will be answered in "the doing." Issues of teaching methodology will be examined first through experiencing them, then through specific hours set aside to discuss their particular merits.

The workshop is an intensive two-week immersion. Classes run Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 10:00pm with additional acting classes on Saturday morning. Enrollment will be limited to fourteen (14) participants. We encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment. Admission is made on a rolling basis to give applicants time to secure funding.

Admission is based on your stated personal understanding of the actor's process, your background, and your demonstrated interest in personal development. To apply, please send a copy of your teaching résumé, your acting résumé and a 1-2 page statement of interest as it applies to your own teaching and/or approach to the craft. For full consideration, please submit all materials by April 1, 2013.  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis after April 1st if spaces on the program remain available.

WORKSHOP COST: $3,500

June Workshop Faculty:
Slava Dolgachev, Artistic Director, New Theatre of Moscow
J. Michael Miller, Founder, The Actors Center
Jane Nichols, Acting Teacher (Games, Physical Comedy, Clown), Yale School of Drama
Fay Simpson, Founder, The Lucid Body
Ron Van Lieu, Chair of the Acting Program, Yale School of Drama

Daily schedule for the Teacher Development Workshop
Monday through Friday:
Ron Van Lieu 10am to 1pm
Slava Dolgachev 2pm to 5pm
Monday through Thursday week one:
Fay Simpson 6pm to 10pm
Monday through Thursday week two:
Jane Nichols 6pm to 10pm
Friday evening:
J. Michael Miller 5:30pm to 10pm
Saturday:
J. Michael Miller 11am to 3:00pm

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Testimonials

Simply put, the three summers I spent in The Actors Center Teacher Development Program rank among the most important acting experiences I've had. I will never look at acting the same way. Earle, Slava and Per in their own idiosyncratic fashion profoundly affected how I look at our art form, how I think about it, how I do it, and, perhaps most importantly, how I now teach it. For any acting teacher, nascent or seasoned, serious about improving their approach toward, eye for, and understanding of the actor's work this program is de rigueur.

Hugh O'Gorman , Teacher Development Participant 2003, 2004, 2005
Actor, University of Connecticut


I feel immensely fortunate to have been a part of this program—easily the best training I've encountered anywhere. The two weeks of exceptional teaching, vital discussion, and intensive hands-on work continue to inspire me on a daily basis, and the connections I made with the talented and dedicated theatre artists who were my classmates have been strong and surprisingly lasting. I was challenged, encouraged, and renewed.

Amy Herzberg , Teacher Development Participant 2003 & 2004
Actor/Director, University of Arkansas


I just wanted to express my sincerest gratitude once again for an extraordinary two weeks. All the classes were tremendously stimulating, and I know my work will benefit and be informed by those experiences for years to come. I hope future grantees of the Fox Fellowship will follow my lead. I'm about to write a glowing letter to Emilya Cachapero at Theatre Communications Group regarding the whole experience. I don't know if there's anything she can do to steer people in this direction, but I'm certainly going to suggest that she think about it. Anyway, I hope that when I get back to teaching this season, I'll be able to pass on at least some of those traditions that Ron, Chris and Slava embody. I'm certainly anxious to have a crack at it. I hope that you are well and that you continue to do the great work that you've been doing all these years. Once again, thank you for an experience I will always cherish.

Bill McNulty , Teacher Development Participant 2008
Actor/teacher, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Fox Foundation Fellow

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What do you need?
Given our standards and objectives, where do you fit in? How can we help you?

Note: these two-week programs can be as helpful to established actors of twenty years experience as they are to teachers of twenty years experience. Re-examining one's basic assumptions and one's current practices in relation to each other is almost always a helpful exercise. Our goal is to re-ground those who would practice and those who would teach this art form.

Please email us your responses at michael@theactorscenter.org.

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Apprenticeship
TBD

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