AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts

AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts was founded in 1964 by Philip Burton, the renowned Welsh actor, director, and educator who was also the adoptive father and acting teacher of Richard Burton. Burton's vision was to create a professional training institution that would combine rigorous conservatory-style performing arts education with accessible admissions that prioritized passion and potential over prior credentials. The original campus was established in New York City at 211 West 61st Street on the Upper West Side, just steps from Lincoln Center and the heart of Manhattan's cultural district. Over the decades, AMDA has grown from a small studio program into a nationally accredited college offering master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees, as well as professional certificates in performing arts. The institution's dual-campus model — with locations in both New York City and Los Angeles — gives students the unique opportunity to train in the two most important entertainment industry markets in the United States. AMDA has trained thousands of performers who work professionally in theatre, film, television, and new media.

AMDA's Los Angeles campus opened in 2003 in the historic Vine Tower Building in Hollywood, expanding the institution's reach to the West Coast and providing students with access to the film and television industry centered there. The LA campus mirrors the NYC campus in its curriculum and training philosophy while taking advantage of the distinct opportunities that Los Angeles offers, including proximity to major studios, casting offices, and the burgeoning live theatre scene in the city. Students at both campuses follow a conservatory-style curriculum that emphasizes intensive, performance-focused training with classes running throughout the day, six days a week during some program phases. The schedule is demanding by design, simulating the rigorous pace of professional performing arts careers and ensuring that graduates are prepared for the physical, emotional, and intellectual demands of the industry. AMDA's programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and the institution holds regional accreditation, ensuring that credits and degrees are recognized by other educational institutions and professional organizations. This accreditation is particularly important for students who may wish to transfer credits or pursue graduate study after completing their AMDA training.

The academic programs at AMDA span a range of performing arts disciplines, with degree and certificate options designed to serve students at different stages of their educational and professional journeys. The Bachelor of Fine Arts programs include Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance Theatre, and Performing Arts, each built around a four-year curriculum that integrates technical training with academic coursework. The two-year certificate programs in Integrated Performing Arts and Studio programs provide intensive conservatory training for students who want to enter the profession more quickly or who already hold bachelor's degrees in other fields. AMDA also offers a Master of Fine Arts program that provides advanced training for performers seeking to deepen their artistry and expand their professional credentials. The Musical Theatre program is particularly renowned, having produced alumni who have appeared in virtually every major Broadway production in recent decades. Each program culminates in showcase performances and industry presentations that connect graduating students with agents, managers, and casting professionals.

AMDA's training philosophy centers on the development of the total performing artist — a performer who is equally skilled in acting, singing, and movement, regardless of their primary area of concentration. Acting students take voice and movement classes alongside their scene study and technique work, while musical theatre students receive intensive acting training that goes far beyond the song-and-dance focus of some competing programs. The faculty is composed of working professionals who bring current industry knowledge and connections into the classroom, ensuring that students learn not just classical technique but also the practical skills needed to succeed in today's entertainment marketplace. Class sizes are intentionally small, typically ranging from 12 to 20 students, to ensure that each student receives meaningful individual attention and feedback. The curriculum evolves regularly to reflect changes in the industry, including the growing importance of self-taping, on-camera technique, and digital content creation. Students benefit from a structured progression that builds skills systematically while allowing for individual artistic exploration and development.

The location advantages of AMDA's two campuses cannot be overstated for performing arts students. The New York City campus places students in the heart of the American theatre world, with Broadway, Off-Broadway, and the vast ecosystem of NYC performing arts literally at their doorstep. Students regularly attend professional productions, participate in open calls and auditions, and build the kind of industry familiarity that can only come from immersion in the New York arts community. The Los Angeles campus similarly immerses students in the film and television industry, with access to studio lots, casting offices, and the diverse performance opportunities that range from 99-seat theatre to major film and television production. Some students choose to spend time at both campuses during their AMDA education, taking advantage of the institution's integrated model to build professional networks in both markets. This dual-market exposure is a distinctive advantage that few other performing arts programs can offer.

Tuition at AMDA varies by program and campus, with four-year BFA programs, two-year certificate programs, and the MFA each carrying different cost structures. Students should contact the admissions office directly for current tuition figures and explore the financial aid options that are available, including federal financial aid for eligible students, institutional scholarships based on talent and need, and payment plan options. Living expenses in both New York City and Los Angeles represent a significant additional cost that prospective students must factor into their planning, though AMDA provides housing assistance and resources to help students find affordable accommodations in both cities. The return on investment for AMDA training should be evaluated in light of the institution's strong placement record and the career outcomes of its extensive alumni network. Students who complete the program prepared to hustle in the competitive performing arts marketplace find that their AMDA training and connections open doors that would otherwise remain closed. Prospective students should request detailed financial information from the admissions office and carefully evaluate their personal financial situation before committing.

AMDA's conservatory model offers a distinctly different educational experience from university theatre programs that embed performing arts training within a broader liberal arts curriculum. Students at AMDA spend the vast majority of their time in studio classes, rehearsals, and performance-related activities, with academic coursework carefully designed to complement rather than compete with their artistic training. This intensive focus means that AMDA graduates typically accumulate significantly more hours of hands-on training than their peers at traditional universities, entering the profession with a level of technical preparation that reflects their concentrated study. The trade-off is that AMDA students do not receive the broad liberal arts education that university programs provide, which may limit their career flexibility if they ultimately decide to pursue paths outside of performing arts. Students who know with certainty that they want to pursue professional performing arts careers often find AMDA's focused approach more efficient and effective than four-year university programs where theatre competes with general education requirements for their time and attention. The choice between AMDA and a university program ultimately depends on each student's individual goals, certainty about their career path, and preference for focused conservatory training versus a broader educational experience.

AMDA is best suited for motivated, focused performing arts students who are ready to commit fully to intensive professional training and who want to be immersed in either the New York or Los Angeles entertainment industry from day one of their education. The program rewards students who are self-disciplined, collaborative, and hungry for professional careers in theatre, film, television, or musical theatre. Students who are uncertain about whether performing arts is their calling, or who want a traditional college experience with a wide range of academic and social activities, may find AMDA's conservatory intensity challenging. However, for students who arrive with clear professional goals and a willingness to work at the demanding pace that a professional performing arts career requires, AMDA provides exceptional training, invaluable industry connections, and a network of alumni who understand and support each other's career journeys. Prospective students should attend an open house, observe classes, and speak with current students to determine whether AMDA's unique conservatory environment is the right fit for their aspirations and learning style.