The Academy offers part-time programs in New York for those who want to study in a professional training environment, but who may not find it possible to commit to full-time training.

The Saturday Program offers high quality training employing the principles and practices on which the Academy is founded. The training is specifically tailored for children and teens. Adult courses are offered as well.

Pre-teen Course
Open to ages 8 to 12, the three-hour sessions consist of training in the fundamentals of Voice and speech, Movement and Acting, one hour each for Pre-Teen II & III. Pre-Teen I is a two-hour course consisting of Acting & Movement. The acting course is taught through Creative Dramatics a technique designed to stimulate the full use of the imagination and prepare the student to participate in improvised drama. Students are guided in expressing their own ideas and emotions in creating characters, action, and dialogue of a story. Gaining creative freedom prepares them for the more complex scene work of the Advanced Pre-teen courses. A final performance for advanced pre-teens is given in one of our three theatres at the end of the term. There is a 2 hour beginner's course for some 8 and 9 year olds.

Teen Course
Open to ages 13 to 17, the three-hour sessions consist of training in the fundamentals of Acting, Voice and Speech and Movement, one hour each. The course aims to develop relaxation and concentration, along with the development of technique. Creative acting exercises help free the imagination and encourage the actor to work with honesty and involvement. Students apply these techniques to a scene or monologue to be presented at the end of the term, before the instructors. Advanced Acting (entered by invitation only) is extended from 1 to 3 hours and covers more complex techniques including script analysis and character development. A final performance for family and friends occurs at the end of the term in one of our three theatres.

Adult Course
The four-hour sessions consist of training in the fundamentals of Acting (2 hours), Voice and Speech, and Movement. Through acting exercises, the course aims to develop relaxation, concentration and a free imagination to promote the fullest, most open and honest use of oneself in the work. Students will be assigned a scene to test out the techniques covered and it will be presented before instructors at the end of the term.

Advanced Courses (entered by invitation only) offer advanced techniques and more difficult scenes are assigned. Final performances take place in one of our three theatres,
before an invited audience.

Tuition and Admission

Pre-teens and Teens $550.  Adults $595 (per 12 week term)
2 hour beginners course for some 8 and 9 year olds is $495.

Fall Term begins October 6, 2007 (advanced) October 13, 2007 (basic). Thanksgiving Break 11/24/07. Christmas Break 12/22/07 & 12/29/07.

Spring Term begins February 16, 2008 (advanced). February 23, 2008 (basic). Easter Break 3/22/08.

Please call 212-686-9244 or 1-800-463-8990 or email us at saturday@ny.aada.org to arrange an appointment for an audition and interview. The audition will consist of a reading of material supplied by the Academy.