Pace University - Actors Studio Drama School

The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University holds a singular position in the history of American actor training as the only accredited MFA program officially affiliated with the legendary Actors Studio, the institution that has been synonymous with Method acting since its founding in 1947. The Actors Studio itself was co-founded by Elia Kazan, Robert Lewis, and Cheryl Crawford, and became the artistic home of Lee Strasberg, who served as artistic director from 1951 until his death in 1982. The MFA program was established in 1966 at The New School before moving to Pace University in 2006, where it became part of what is now the Sands College of Performing Arts in downtown Manhattan. The program offered three-year MFA degrees in Acting, Directing, and Playwriting, training students in the Method tradition that produced some of the greatest actors in American history, including Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Marilyn Monroe. The Actors Studio affiliation gave students access to the Studio's legendary sessions, where professional members work on scenes and monologues in the tradition established by Strasberg. The program represented a direct lineage from the founders of American Method acting to each new generation of students.

In October 2024, Pace University announced that the Actors Studio Drama School would discontinue operations in 2027, with no new students being admitted as of that date. The three cohorts enrolled at the time of the announcement will complete their degrees before the program closes. This closure marks the end of an era for Method-oriented actor training, as no other accredited MFA program carried the official Actors Studio affiliation. The decision was part of broader institutional changes at Pace University and reflects the financial pressures facing many specialized arts programs at private universities. During its decades of operation, the program trained hundreds of actors in the Strasberg, Adler, and Meisner traditions, producing graduates who went on to work on Broadway, in major films, and on television. Bradley Cooper is the program's most famous alumnus, and other notable graduates include Chris Stack, featured in the Tony-winning Broadway play Stereophonic, and Javier Molina, appointed Co-Artistic Director of the Actors Studio. The closure underscores the importance for prospective actors to thoroughly research program stability before committing to a multi-year graduate education.

As of October 2024, the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University is no longer accepting applications. When the program was actively admitting students, the application process involved submitting an application to Pace University, including a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and an audition. The audition typically included prepared monologues and may have involved additional exercises that assessed the applicant's suitability for Method-based training. The program historically had a relatively high acceptance rate of approximately 81% compared to peer MFA programs — a figure that reflected both the program's desire to build diverse cohorts and its broader admissions approach. Applicants were expected to have a bachelor's degree and a genuine commitment to the Method tradition. The three-year program structure meant that admitted students committed to a substantial time and financial investment, making the program's upcoming closure particularly impactful for the final cohorts of students who enrolled.

The three-year MFA curriculum was rooted in the Method tradition established by Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and Sanford Meisner — the three defining figures of American acting technique. Students studied emotional memory, sense memory, affective memory, and character development as core elements of their training, alongside supplementary coursework in voice, movement, and on-camera technique. The program's structure included common courses taken by all MFA students across the Acting, Directing, and Playwriting tracks, creating a collaborative repertory environment. The most distinctive feature of the training was access to the Actors Studio's legendary Tuesday and Friday sessions at their Midtown Manhattan location, where professional Studio members work on scenes and monologues in front of their peers. These sessions provided students with a living connection to the tradition of Strasberg, Kazan, and their successors, and the opportunity to observe master-level actors engaging with the Method in real time. Students also had the opportunity to perform in productions staged at Pace's downtown Manhattan campus and at other venues in the New York theater community.

The Actors Studio Drama School attracted actors who were specifically passionate about the Method tradition and who wanted to train in direct lineage from the masters of American acting technique. Students ranged from recent college graduates to career changers and working professionals who sought to deepen their craft through formal graduate training. The program's most famous alumnus is Bradley Cooper, whose career trajectory from Actors Studio MFA student to Academy Award-nominated actor and filmmaker represents the program at its best. Other notable graduates include Chris Stack, who was featured in the Tony-winning Broadway play Stereophonic, and Javier Molina, who was appointed Co-Artistic Director of the Actors Studio itself. The program's alumni are spread across theater, film, and television, with many working steadily as character actors, ensemble members, and supporting players in New York and Los Angeles. The program's relatively high acceptance rate meant that cohorts were diverse in their experience levels and backgrounds, creating an eclectic ensemble environment.

When the program was accepting students, tuition was approximately $47,000 per year for the three-year MFA program, bringing the total educational cost to roughly $141,000 before living expenses. Financial aid included merit-based and need-based awards, and the Sands College of Performing Arts offered institutional scholarships through a holistic review process. The downtown Manhattan location meant that students also faced New York City's high cost of living on top of tuition. Compared to tuition-free programs at Yale and Juilliard, or the lower-cost options at UNCSA and Rutgers, the financial commitment was significant. The program's upcoming closure means that the financial question is now moot for prospective students, but current enrolled students should be aware of all available financial aid and support services as they complete their degrees. The closure serves as a reminder for prospective MFA students to evaluate program financial stability alongside tuition costs when making enrollment decisions.

As the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace is no longer accepting applications and will close in 2027, prospective students must look elsewhere for Method-focused graduate training. For actors passionate about the Strasberg tradition specifically, the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York and Los Angeles offers conservatory programs, though not accredited MFA degrees. NYU Tisch's BFA program includes the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and Stella Adler Studio as studio options, providing Method training within an accredited framework. For actors seeking a broader MFA with strong technical foundations, Yale, Juilliard, and Carnegie Mellon offer world-class options. If affordability is a priority, UNCSA and Rutgers provide excellent conservatory training at public university tuition rates. The closure of the Actors Studio Drama School leaves a genuine gap in the landscape of MFA acting programs, and prospective Method actors should consider how to access this tradition through alternative pathways.

If you are currently enrolled in the Actors Studio Drama School, maximize the remaining time by taking full advantage of the Actors Studio sessions — this access is finite and irreplaceable. Build relationships with Actors Studio members and faculty that will endure beyond the program's closure, as these connections to the Method tradition are among the most valuable assets the program provides. Document your training process and the techniques you develop, as the specific combination of training the program offers will not be available in this form after 2027. If you were considering applying to the program before the closure was announced, redirect your search to programs that share the Method emphasis — the Strasberg Institute, NYU Tisch's Strasberg and Adler studios, and other performing arts offerings may partially fill the gap. For anyone interested in the Actors Studio specifically, consider applying for membership as a professional actor — the Studio's sessions will continue even after the MFA program closes, and lifetime membership remains one of the most valuable resources for Method-oriented actors. Keep your training practice alive through scene study groups, workshops, and professional development opportunities that continue the Method tradition outside of formal degree programs.