Ask Me! – Good acting classes… again!

Hello Maya,

Thanks for sending in your question.

I have heard of some of these schools and would say it all depends on what you’re looking for out of the class. If you’re looking for a solid, 2-yr conservatory then TVI and the NYFA might not be good options for you. Schools such as NYU, Maggie Flanigan, Bill Esper or even The Actor’s Studio might be interesting in this case – you can meet with them to find out if they are right for you. If you are looking for something short-term to dust the cobwebs off or to simply play, then a class like Richard Scanlon’s scene study might work or if you want something on-camera Seamus McNally could be a good fit. Try googling “drop-in acting classes” and see what pops up. I don’t know Bruce Ornstein or Nina Murano but I know Brusce has come up in discussion here on the blog and might be worth investigating for the short term. Brooke and Mary over at House Casting do a good 3-day commercial class that I’ve heard people rave about, too. So there really are many options.

I don’t have any personal recomendations or endorsements beyond what I’ve mentioned primarily because I don’t really take straigh acting classes anymore and am pretty out of the loop. But, I do have a Best acting teachers survey/poll over on Facebook that you can check that also mentions a few acting teachers in the city.

Class costs will vary, but generally an 8-week one will run about $350 – but that’s just a guide line. It will cost much more than that if you do a conservatory, for example, which, as a beginner, I’d encourage you to do. Some commercial classes can run higher, too.

Good luck!