American Academy of Dramatic Arts

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) holds the distinction of being the first conservatory for actors in the English-speaking world, founded in 1884 in New York City by Franklin Haven Sargent with the revolutionary mission of establishing acting as a legitimate profession worthy of formal, rigorous training. For over 140 years, AADA has been at the forefront of American actor training, evolving its curriculum and methods while maintaining the core commitment to comprehensive, immersive conservatory education that has defined the institution since its founding. The Academy operates campuses in both New York City and Los Angeles — the two primary entertainment capitals of the United States — giving students the unique option of training in either or both markets during their education. AADA's influence on American acting is incalculable: it pioneered the concept of systematic actor training in the United States and has produced generations of performers who have shaped the entertainment industry across theatre, film, and television. The institution's longevity and continued relevance in a rapidly evolving industry demonstrate the enduring value of the comprehensive, craft-centered education that has been the Academy's hallmark for nearly a century and a half.

AADA's alumni roster reads like a history of American entertainment, featuring legendary performers spanning every era of the industry's development. Graduates include Grace Kelly, Robert Redford, Anne Hathaway, Danny DeVito, Jessica Walter, Kim Cattrall, Paul Rudd, and countless other performers who have achieved the highest levels of success in film, television, and theatre. This extraordinary alumni network is not merely a point of institutional pride — it represents a practical career asset for current students, who benefit from the connections, mentorship opportunities, and industry goodwill that the AADA brand provides. The Academy's reputation among casting directors, agents, managers, and producers means that AADA graduates enter the professional world with a credential that opens doors and signals a level of training and commitment that the industry respects. The dual-campus model adds further value by allowing graduates to access alumni networks in both New York and Los Angeles, the two cities where the vast majority of professional acting careers are built.

The core program at AADA is a rigorous two-year conservatory curriculum designed to develop the complete actor through immersive, full-time training that covers every essential performance skill. The first year establishes foundational skills in acting technique, voice and speech, movement, script analysis, and the principles that underlie effective performance across all media. The second year builds on this foundation with advanced work in on-camera technique, audition preparation, professional development, and the applied skills needed to transition from student to working professional. A selective third-year Company program provides advanced students with the opportunity to perform in fully produced showcases for industry professionals — agents, managers, and casting directors — creating direct pathways to professional representation and career opportunities. The full-time, immersive nature of the program means students are training six to eight hours per day, five days per week, replicating the intensive commitment of professional production schedules and developing the stamina and discipline that working actors need.

The training experience at AADA is defined by the comprehensiveness and intensity of the conservatory model, which immerses students in all aspects of the performing arts simultaneously rather than allowing them to specialize prematurely in a single discipline. Students work with a faculty of experienced professionals who bring diverse backgrounds in theatre, film, television, and related fields to their teaching, providing multiple perspectives on the craft and its application in different professional contexts. The curriculum is structured to develop the actor's full instrument — body, voice, imagination, intellect, and emotional life — through an integrated approach where skills developed in one discipline reinforce and enhance work in others. The conservatory environment creates an intensity and focus that is difficult to replicate in part-time or class-based training, as students are surrounded by peers who share their commitment and who become their creative collaborators, scene partners, and professional network. The third-year Company showcases represent the culmination of the training, providing students with the professionally produced performances that serve as their introduction to the industry and often lead directly to representation and career opportunities.

AADA attracts a diverse, international student body of committed actors who are ready to invest in the full-time, immersive training that a conservatory education provides. Students come from across the United States and around the world, drawn by the Academy's historic reputation, comprehensive curriculum, and the dual-campus model that provides access to both the New York and Los Angeles markets. The student body includes recent high school graduates who know they want to pursue acting professionally and want the strongest possible training foundation, college graduates who have decided to commit fully to an acting career and want a conservatory alternative to MFA programs, career changers who are redirecting their professional lives toward performance, and international students who want to train in the American acting tradition at its most historic institution. The diversity of the student body creates a rich learning environment where actors from different backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences enrich each other's work and expand each other's understanding of the human stories that acting exists to tell.

Tuition at AADA is significant, consistent with the full-time conservatory education it provides, with annual costs typically in the range of $35,000 to $40,000 per year for the two-year program. This investment covers the intensive, all-day training schedule, access to professional-quality performance and classroom facilities, and the comprehensive curriculum that includes acting, voice, speech, movement, on-camera technique, and professional development. Financial aid, merit-based scholarships, and payment plans are available to help offset costs for qualifying students, and the Academy actively encourages prospective students to explore all available funding options including federal financial aid, private scholarships, and institutional grants. The third-year Company program, for students who are selected, provides additional value through professionally produced showcases that create direct industry access. When evaluating the cost against potential return, the professional opportunities, industry connections, and career momentum that the AADA credential and showcase system provide represent significant career value that can accelerate a graduate's path to professional work.

AADA is the gold standard for actors who want a full-time, immersive conservatory experience backed by the prestige and alumni network that only the oldest acting institution in the English-speaking world can provide. The Academy is particularly well-suited for actors who are ready to commit fully to intensive training, who value the comprehensive development of all performance skills, and who want the career-launching benefits of the third-year Company showcase system. If you prefer the academic framework of an MFA program with a university affiliation and graduate degree, programs at schools like Yale, Juilliard, or NYU provide that structure. If you cannot afford full-time conservatory tuition or cannot commit to the intensive schedule, high-quality studio training on a class-by-class basis provides a more financially and logistically manageable alternative. AADA works best for actors who are ready to immerse themselves completely in their training and who want the historic credential and professional network that the Academy uniquely provides.

Immerse yourself fully in the conservatory experience and resist the temptation to spread your energy across outside commitments — the intensive schedule is designed to produce maximum development, and you will get the most from it by giving it your complete attention and effort. Take every discipline in the curriculum seriously, including voice, speech, and movement classes that may feel less immediately relevant than scene study — these foundational skills will distinguish you throughout your career and become increasingly valuable as you tackle more demanding material. Build strong relationships with your classmates, as your conservatory cohort will become your professional network for decades to come. Prepare thoroughly for the third-year Company showcase if you are selected, as this is the most direct career-launching opportunity the Academy provides and deserves your absolute best work. Take advantage of the dual-campus structure by understanding both the New York and Los Angeles markets, developing professional contacts in each city, and making an informed strategic decision about which market to pursue first based on your strengths and career goals.