for performers who are, or soon to be, #ready4newyork, Ages 18+

DATES: January 8th — January 19th, 2024

in New York City.

GET WITH THE PROGRAM! EVERY DAY INCLUDES:

• ACTOR THERAPY (Lindsay Mendez and RSO’s revolutionary musical theatre workshop, focused on song interpretation, selecting the right “cuts” for auditions, and seeing every actor as an individual to unlock the artist within.)

• ACTING techniques (Storytelling is the basis of what we do, and your ACTING class will focus on the basics of STORYTELLING. Whether it’s monologues, scene study, or audition sides for your dream role, your coach(es) will have you working hard and ready for that next audition (or table-read!)

• DAILY VOICE LESSONS (technique, vocal health and general pedagogy with top NYC voice teachers)

• ART & BIZ - An Actor Therapy EXCLUSIVE, to get your business-mind focused and bolster your heart for the long haul! Navigating the “Biz” aspect of showbiz is a HUGE part of what we do…and it ain’t easy!

• HEADSHOTS with the geniuses at renowned NYC photography studio MurphyMade

• A final SHOWCASE for invited agents and industry professionals, highlighting the student’s growth during the program—each attendee will provide written feedback for every performer

• VIDEO FOOTAGE of your final showcase performance (for your website, social media, etc!)

• A public INVITED DRESS REHEARSAL (of your Showcase) for friends and family

• … PLUS Daily MASTER CLASSES with Broadway stars, top NYC Casting Directors, Writers, Directors, etc.

  • Recent Master Class Instructors have included: L. Morgan Lee, Matt Doyle, Derek Klena, Natalie Weiss, Jeanna de Waal, Amber Iman, Christy Altomare, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jessie Mueller, Tara Rubin Casting, ARC Casting, Kate Baldwin, Jason Gotay, Natalie Weiss, Jessie Hooker-Bailey, Stewart/Whitley Casting, Eleri Ward, Telly Leung, Eden Espinosa, Heath Saunders, Britney Coleman, Wesley Taylor, Ruthie Ann Miles, Wojcik Group Casting, Adam Chanler-Berat, Krystina Alabado, Afra Hines, Jason Styres Casting, Drew Gasparini, Katie Rose Clarke, Ben Fankhauser, Kuhoo Verma, Ben Crawford, Anne L. Nathan, Julia Murney, Jason Forbach, Paul Hardt Casting, Kerstin Anderson, Douglas Lyons, and more…

with our Award-Winning FACULTY!

But a little more about the program …

The two-week Intensive is a course designed for performers who are preparing to live the actor’s life in NYC. Open to ages 18 and up, this AT intensive is perfect for students currently in college, actors who have recently relocated to the NYC area (with or without college), recent college graduates, or students taking a gap year. No matter what brought you here, you’re in the BIG CITY now, so let’s get you #booked! Classes will focus on how to adjust to life as an artist in NYC, as well as how to successfully navigate that competitive audition circuit….with the incredible AT faculty as your guides!

The intensive will enroll approximately 16 students per class, so class sizes are small to emphasize maximum attention per student.

SO, HOW DOES IT WORK?
We run 9AM—6:30PM Monday—Friday for the two weeks of the program. It includes following courses.

DANCE
with some of the industry’s most accomplished dancers and choreographers.
Focusing on jazz, musical theatre, and contemporary styles. Students will divide themselves into beginner and intermediate/advanced groups.

ACTING
BASIC TECHNIQUES & MONOLOGUES and ADVANCED SCENE STUDY
Guided by top NYC instructors, students at the beginning of their acting journey will focus on monologues and textual analysis, while students with extensive acting training will be challenged with scenes from popular plays, really digging into the material.

VOICE LESSONS + LUNCH & COACHINGS
with top NYC voice teachers and coaches
During this period, every student will have a 30-minute voice lesson with an assigned vocal instructor, a break for lunch, and the option to work with our vocal coach to prep cuts for class or to record rehearsal tracks.

ACTOR THERAPY
with Ryan Scott Oliver and more
Just like a golden age standard, this class never goes out of style. RSO and co. will focus on each student’s individual needs — maximizing strengths while recognizing and helping improve weaknesses. Audition technique, book building, marketing your type, and ultimately discovering yourself as an artist are all components of this amozzzzing class.  

DAILY MASTER CLASSES (INCL. CASTING DIRECTOR SESSIONS)
All of the above and master classes to boot? (How’s that for a resume builder…) These will include Tony Award winning performers, directors, music directors, dancers, choreographers, writers, composers, and more.

ART & BIZ
We like to focus on the business — your strategies, your types, your marketing, your finances, your time-management, and more. But we also want to talk about your heart and spirit — how do we stay sane and emotionally grounded in this incredible business we call show—especially after the pandemic?

But wait there's more below ... !

*Instructors are subject to change.

All of the above culminates in a small private SHOWCASE FOR INDUSTRY PROS (including top NYC agents, casting directors, and actors) on the final day of the intensive, with students performing material they’ve been working on, curated by their instructors, and an INVITED DRESS REHEARSAL for family and friends earlier in the day.

But Jesus Christ Superstar, there’s more! INCLUDED with tuition are:

• A HEADSHOT session by acclaimed New York Headshot Studio MurphyMade at their official studio. Students will receive a retouched digital photo file (with more retouching options available at a separate cost).

• Filmed showcase footage (plus filmed dress rehearsal) so you’ll have excellent VIDEO CLIPS for your website.

• A WRITTEN EVALUATION by your daily instructors AND written feedback from our industry showcase guests, focusing on your growth, with notes for the future, featuring a diagnostic and final assessment.

TUITION INFORMATION

TUITION INFO / HOW DO I APPLY?!

The regular cost for our two-week program FOR NEW STUDENTS* is $3,999.00 USD, which includes everything listed above. All students will be automatically considered for a merit-based scholarship and notified on the timeline indicated below.

*Have you taken a previous Actor Therapy Session or Intensive, or are you AEA?
See below for your special rate!

HOW TO APPLY

Students apply by completing an online application form (below). When applying, you’ll want to make sure you have the following information ready to go:

1. YOUR BASIC INFORMATION

2. UP TO THREE VIDEO RECORDING(S) of you singing. Any quality is acceptable. All videos must be via dropbox or another file LINK. Any genre is okay! Musical theatre, pop, anything. If you send more than one video recording, please try to demonstrate range or contrast. We prefer audition cuts, rather than performance clips, but will accept either. Please do not send links to more than three recordings/videos.

3. YOUR HEADSHOT AND RESUME. Any quality is acceptable. Students who do not yet have a professionally shot picture may send any photo that best represents them now. Students who do not yet have a professionally formatted resume may send an actor bio up to 200 words.

4. ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION. All students will be considered for a merit-based scholarship. If there’s something else you’d like us to know about your current situation, include that here.

5. OPTIONAL: Send us a video of a monologue and/or you dancing, if you’d like. Reels are okay. Any genre is okay!

APPLICATION AND SCHOLARSHIP WINDOWS:

#1: Now through October 13th, 2023 (highest scholarships given)

#2: Oct 14th-November 3rd, 2023 (some scholarships given)

#3: Nov 4th-December 8th, 2023 (scholarships given if possible)

Students submitting from December 8th, 2023 onward will be eligible if any scholarships are left.

Got all that? Great! You’re ready to submit.
CLICK HERE TO: APPLY NOW!

Before applying, please make sure to read our TERMS AND CONDITIONS (in full).

You will be notified of your application’s status within two weeks of submission. Once a student receives confirmation of their admission/scholarship, they have one week to place a non-refundable $350 deposit through a PayPal link given to admitted students by email. If the deposit is not made within one week, the students spot and/or scholarship may be forfeited.

RETURNING RATES:

The cost for RETURNING STUDENTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN A TWO-WEEK ACTOR THERAPY INTENSIVE is $2,749, and those students will still be considered for merit-based scholarships.

The cost for RETURNING STUDENTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN 5-WEEK ACTOR THERAPY COURSES is $3,249, and those students will still be considered for merit-based scholarships.

AEA actors receive a 5% discount off their post-scholarship balance.

F.A.Q.S

Where is the Actor Therapy Summer Intensive located?
We will be housed in midtown Manhattan at Open Jar Studios.

I’m more of a singer than an actor, or more of a dancer than a singer, etc. … is this still the right program for me? 
As long as you have some level of experience in singing and acting, it’s totally normal to have strengths or weaknesses, and this program is perfectly designed to help students with their individual needs. For students who have little experience in dance, that’s okay, too — our beginning level dance classes are designed just for you!

How many students will be enrolled in the intensive?
16 students will be enrolled in the Intensive, and some classes will be split (based on enrollment) to allow for maximum 1-on-1 time with our amazing faculty.

I didn’t go to, nor do I plan to go to college for musical theatre.  Can I still handle this program?
Can you?  This is ideal for you! We know a lot of very talented people who decided the college route is not for them (like Lindsay Mendez herself!), and it worked out pretty darn well. :)

I have a conflict with one or more days of my session.  Can I still enroll? 
We allow up to one pre-approved day of conflict. (Known conflicts must be submitted at time of application.  No conflicts are allowed on the first day of each session, or the final day of each session - which is the day of the student showcase.)

But really … Dance class scares me. Help!
Don’t be nervous! Our beginning dance class is designed to help student develop a positive and rewarding relationship with starting-level dance techniques.

What does each student need to bring with them? 
Any or all sheet music in use by the student; some clothing options to showcase in; headshot/resume if applicable; dance/athletic attire and shoes for dancing.  Students should also bring any medications that they are prescribed, and water in a reusable bottle every day as workshops will be physically demanding.

What will students do for lunch during the day?
Students will have a break for lunch every day and are welcome to bring food with them or will have time to purchase lunch from a local business.  

Where can I find the teachers and artists leading the classes and workshops?
Scroll up on this page for more information! (OUR FACULTY WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY!)

How are teachers and artists selected to lead classes and workshops?
RSO and Lindsay personally select each teacher/artist based on their knowledge and skill level in their related area of expertise relating to theatre and performing arts. They are our friends, our colleagues, and truly—the best of the best.

After the deposit is paid, when is the balance due?
The balance for each student’s session is due in full one month before the starting date.  If you are interested in discussing a payment plan, you can email actortherapy@gmail.com, subject: Payment Plan.

Are there any discounts?
Yes!
• AEA (Equity) Member: 5% off post-scholarship tuition.

What if my plans change and I can no longer attend the workshop I signed up for.  What options do I have for refunds?
Both the deposit and the balance, once paid, are non-refundable and non-deferrable.  That said, if a student must cancel their attendance between paying the deposit and paying the balance, then only the deposit is forfeited.

What are the requirements to be considered eligible for the Returning Student Rate?
If you have taken an Actor Therapy Intensive OR 2+ full sessions of Actor Therapy (In-Person), you’re eligible for the (heavily discounted) Returning Student Rate. See above!

I have another question … How do find out more?
Email us at actortherapy@gmail.com!

*Instructors are subject to change.