The first year NYU acting program is about introducing students to the Method Acting process and Lee Strasberg’s work. Students will gain a basic understanding of the exercises, a comfortability with the foundations of relaxation and concentration, and an idea of how the work relates to scenes. Students will become aware of habits of inexpression, areas of physical tension, and feel a strengthened imagination through sensory and improvisation. In addition, students will develop a neutral and supported voice and a strong understanding of one’s bodies through voice, speech, dance and tai chi.
| First Semester | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| Method Acting (4 Hrs) | Method Acting (4 Hrs) |
| Method Acting (4 Hrs) | Method Acting (4 Hrs) |
| Anatomy of Movement (2 Hrs) | Ballet (2 Hrs) |
| Voice (2 Hrs) | Voice (2 Hrs) |
| Speech (2 Hrs) | Speech (2 Hrs) |
| Tai Chi (2 Hrs) | Tai Chi (2 Hrs) |
| Improvisation (2 Hrs) | Improvisation (2 Hrs) |
The second year is about integrating the basics developed in the freshman year into more advanced scene work. Students will gain an understanding of how a scene functions within the context of a play, how to dissect a scene, how to identify objectives/needs, and then how to use that information to fuel the imagination and fulfill those demands using the sensory work. The addition of singing challenges the actor to apply basic vocal production skills to a more rigorous technical form putting increased demand on maintaining relaxation and technique while performing. Dialects integrate basic vocal production and speech skills into a more specific function testing the student’s command of previous skills. Movement classes emphasize the further understanding of the body and the reduction habits of free expression improving student’s ability to connect to the work.
1st Semester |
2nd Semester |
Method Acting (4 Hrs) |
Method Acting (4 Hrs) |
Method Acting (4 Hrs) |
Method Acting (4 Hrs) |
Dance I (2 Hrs) |
Dance II (2 Hrs) |
Movement (2 Hrs) |
Movement (2 Hrs) |
Script Analysis (2 Hrs) |
Script Analysis (2 Hrs)
|
| YEAR LONG VOCAL ELECTIVES* |
| Singing |
| Voice into Speaking |
| Dialects |
* Electives Subject to Change
Advanced Professional Training Track emphasizes the application of the technique to more complex scenes and new forms. Students will develop a greater understanding of how to apply the sensory work to film and television as well as to the development of characters. An additional acting class such as Building a Character or Career Prep is offered each term to round out the acting curriculum. These classes vary by term and are selected based on the avail- ability of specialized faculty and the unique needs of each cohort. The elective system used in Advanced Training allows students to choose classes in voice and movement which will best further their personal growth and encourages them to individually tailor their remaining semesters.
CORE CLASSES:
Method Acting (4 Hrs)
Method Acting (4 Hrs)
Film and TV (4 Hrs)
ADDITIONAL ACTING CLASSES:
Career Prep (2 Hrs)
Building a Character (2 Hrs)
MOVEMENT ELECTIVES*:
Advanced Dance
Stage Combat
Movement (Feldenkrais)
VOCAL ELECTIVES*
Singing
Advanced Dialects
* Electives Subject to Change
The Transfer Track at Strasberg is a unique program that allows students with two semesters of Primary training from a different Tisch Drama studio transfer into the Lee Strasberg Advanced Training Program. In this advanced training program, students will learn the fundamentals of Lee Strasberg’s Method work, such as sensory and relaxation, while building on their previous training and taking advantage of the offered advanced electives. After completing the transfer track, students are eligible to continue with the Advanced Professional Training program the next semester and/or can audition for the Practicum Program.
CORE CLASSES:
Method Acting (4 Hrs)
Method Acting (4 Hrs)
Film and TV (4 Hrs)
Improvisation (2 Hrs)
MOVEMENT ELECTIVES*:
Advanced Dance
Stage Combat
Movement (Feldenkrais)
VOCAL ELECTIVES*:
Singing
Advanced Dialects
* Electives Subject to Change
The Independent Curriculum is intended for students who have completed their primary training at Strasberg (or Advanced Transfer Track) and wish to continue studying at The Institute without taking on a full course load. The program also provides more flexibility for students who are pursuing other majors, have other extra-curricular obligations, or require fewer credits to graduate. Students can select classes from the Advanced Professional Training Curriculum and create a schedule that suits their needs. Available classes are always dependent on availability. Students should talk to their NYU Advisor to discuss if the Strasberg Independent Curriculum is right for their individual academic trajectory.
The Fall Program builds on a strong acting curriculum with a focus on a career in Theatre. Students will graduate with in-depth knowledge about specific playwrights, genres and styles while having worked with professional stage directors, casting directors, managers, and agents. The Fall Program focuses on fusing the artistic and technical aspects of the previous years of training and applying the breadth of that training to a full-scale production. Students in this program will participate in The Clifford Odets Ensemble Play Commission production, a new play written and developed specifically for the Practicum student ensemble. This commission provides an incubating space for the development of true ensemble plays in New York City and cultivates the next generation of collaborating artists. Many of the plays have gone on to further productions.
The Spring Program builds on a strong acting curriculum with a focus on a career in Film and Television. Students will work with professional directors working across styles and genres and develop a strong understanding of how to translate their Method Acting work to the unique demands of on-camera mediums. Students will hone audition technique and develop an understanding of industry expectations through work with casting directors, managers and agents. In lieu of a production, students will rehearse and shoot small scenes that will be edited into a reel, ready for professional use.
Admission to The Practicum is based on audition. Students may participate in both Fall and Spring practicums but are required to audition each semester. The core classes and electives are the same for both Fall and Spring Practicums with emphasis placed on different mediums accompanied by a unique slate of directors and industry professionals.
CORE CLASSES
Method Acting (4 Hrs)
Method Acting (4 Hrs)
Working with the Director (4 Hrs)
Casting Workshop (2 Hrs)
MOVEMENT ELECTIVES*
Advanced Dance
Stage Combat
Movement (Feldenkrais)
VOCAL ELECTIVES*
Advanced Singing
Advanced Dialects
*Classes are subject to change
The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute sees all extracurricular activities as opportunities to challenge the students in new ways and offer them valuable insight into their Method Acting training. Through shows, talks, workshops, and scene nights, students are encouraged toward new understandings of The Method, creative and imaginative ways to apply their training, and opportunities to integrate their process and test their technique in professional settings. These opportunities are an integral part of the composite training program at The Institute and should be experienced by all students at all levels.
FIRST YEAR
While First Year students are not eligible for shows, they can participate in the various scene nights offered throughout the year. Students are also eligible to submit for StrasbergWORKS which takes place in the Spring/Summer.
SECOND YEAR
The Second Year Program culminates in a Spring performance project facilitated through the Script Analysis class. This performance fuses basic production technique with the skills acquired in primary studio. Second Year students are also eligible to audition for the Fall and Spring NYU shows at the Institute.
STRASBERG FALL & SPRING SHOWS
Second Year, APT, Transfers and Independent Curriculum stu-
dents are all eligible for our Fall and Spring shows. These shows are an extra-curricular opportunity to apply in-class work in a production setting. Working directors are employed to direct a play that reflects The Method work, supported by a team of designer technicians.
StrasbergTALKS is a lecture and workshop series designed to provide students with inspired knowledge of The Method, its application in a professional setting, as well as insights into the professional demands of the industry. Guests range from actors and alumni to directors, writers, agents, and casting directors. The focus is always to provide a new perspective on the work, exposure to role models with similar trajectories, and anecdotal experiences navigating the training. These lectures are a seminal part of the actor training model here at Strasberg, and students should make themselves available to attend when possible.
StrasbergWORKS offers students a crash course in producing and developing their own work. Students are called upon to assemble a production team of designers, producers, and stage managers (made up of their peers) in order to mount and produce an original work. The Institute offers selected projects access to the school’s resources, space, and minor production help, in addition to a nominal stipend. All projects are vetted by the Production Department and the performance slots chosen by consensus of that committee. Projects are chosen based on the completed application, including quality of application, thoughtfulness, attention to detail, the assemblage of a team, and the originality of the idea.
Scene Nights are offered throughout the year to students wishing to further their in-class work by taking that step towards performance. Scene Night participants are chosen by Institute president Victoria Krane and vetted by the administration. Showcased scenes and student pairs are chosen for a variety of factors including their in-class work, their strong attendance and participation levels during their regular classes, their seniority, semesters until graduation, and choice of material. These evenings are part of a long-standing tradition of faculty and students collaborating to collectively grow their intellectual and practical understanding of Lee Strasberg’s Method Acting technique.