While some people still believe that to be a good actor all you need is natural talent most have come to the realization that it is a job like any other that requires extensive training. But unlike most other careers like working in a factory making cable glands, there is not just one path to get where you want to go. Every actor needs to find their own way. For those starting out in the business there are many different forms of training that might work for you. Here are some of the most popular choices when it comes to studying the world of theatre.
College or university theatre arts program. This is the most straightforward choice for someone who wishes to get a degree or diploma out of their post-secondary education. Many university programs focus more on the scholastic side of theatre, studying its history and methods, while college programs tend to be more hands-on. In a college or university setting you may have the chance to play everything from a farmer who does manure handling to a doctor as part of school productions but will not receive as much personal attention as you could with other training programs.
Private performing arts academies. There are many schools designed especially to train those in the performing arts now available throughout the world. These will not earn you a university level degree but are usually two years or less and act as a concentrated intensive program. The best of these schools will give you all of the basics you will need to enter the theatre business. You could get the lead in that play about a womens hockey tournament but will also endure speech and movement classes, classical theatre training, and perhaps even dance and music studies. While some of these schools provide quality training and brilliant teachers, others are just a cash grab for students wishing for the dream of being famous. So choose your program wisely.
Acting classes and coaches. More and more people these days are foregoing the formal acting programs in favor of individual classes or hiring an acting coach. These are great because they allow you to focus on certain skills where you may hold your interest or feel that you are lacking. You could learn to speak as someone taking English as a second language Canada in a dialect class or work on your Shakespeare monologues in a classical seminar.
Hiring an acting coach will certainly be more expensive than attending a class but comes with a wide range of advantages. Many people still work with their coach long into their theatre career. You could start by getting help on your organic baby shampoo commercial sides and still want training when you get to your Broadway auditions. Theatre is an ever-changing art form and working with the right acting coach is a great way to become the best actor you can be.
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