Teen Summer Conservatory

Early Bird Application Deadline: February 15th, 2025

The Stella Adler Teen Summer Conservatory is a five week, thirty-hour-per-week intensive for 14-18 year olds; it is the most rigorous of its kind.

This demanding program is based on the conviction that young actors can be trained with the same rigor and discipline as adults. The faculty in this program is the same as, or comparable to, the Studio’s Conservatory or NYU Tisch Undergraduate Drama programs. Actors exercise all the aspects of craft required to achieve the highest professional standards: voice and speech, movement, improvisation, scene study, Shakespeare and acting technique. As with all of the Studio’s programs, the Teen Summer Conservatory is informed by the insight that “growth as an actor and growth as a human being are synonymous.” Young people are therefore acquainted not only with core elements of actor training but with the artistic, cultural and humanistic values that support a life in the theater and film.

Classes: Movement for Actors, Voice and Speech, Improvisation, Acting Technique, Scene Study and Shakespeare.

Master Classes (might include): Physical Theatre, Acting for Film and TV, the Business of Acting, Monologue prep, College Auditions

Program ends with an “Open Class” where students show work from Scene Study and Shakespeare Classes. Parents welcome.

Housing accommodations are not included. However there are housing options available from third parties for teens ages 16 and older.

Read About Recent Teen Alumni Success!

Going through the Teen Conservatory specifically helped immensely with my transition in to the NYU Tisch Drama program because I became accustomed to nine-hour days, five days a week. The skills I developed within the Teen Conservatory program are invaluable. They continue to inform my acting and how I operate in my every day life.

Katarina Zhu, NYU Tisch BFA Graduate

Admission Information

Admission to the Teen Summer Conservatory is by audition and interview. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents between the ages 14-18. Student visas for international study are not available for this program at this time.

Applicants must submit the following:

A completed Online Application Form.
Headshot (Photo) and Resume. If you do not have a professional headshot, it is okay, any clear photo of you can work.
One Letter of Recommendation, including the referee’s address and telephone number. The letter should be from a teacher or person who can supply a recommendation as to the applicant’s character and potential. Referees may be contacted directly.
A $50 non-refundable application fee (payable to Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Inc).

The Audition

The audition should consist of a memorized performance of two monologues: one Shakespeare and one Contemporary, no longer than 90 seconds each. Phone Interviews and Video Auditions are acceptable, if necessary. After the interview and audition have taken place, applicants will be formally notified by phone regarding their acceptance in the program.

APPLY ONLINE TODAY!

COVID-19 Policy: Please visit the studio’s Health & Safety page for the latest updates, policies and list of measures the studio has taken to protect the community against COVID-19.

Musical Theater Workshop for Teens (In-Person)

Fridays, July 11 – August 8, 2025
5 Weeks, 3 hours of class per week (Fridays, 3:30pm-6:30pm)
Tuition: $375
*This course can be added on to the Teen Summer Conservatory as it does not conflict with other classes, or it can be taken by itself.

The Musical Theatre Teen Workshop gives young actors a chance to explore Musical Theatre interpretation and performance as well as songs useful in auditions. Technical coaching such as appropriate songs to sing, breath support for both sound and interpretation, the arc of the song’s story, and how to act a musical scene are all integral to the program.

Audition Process: A performance of one musical selection (60-90 seconds) submitted by video. Upload the musical audition to Youtube or Vimeo and then submit the video link on our Video Audition Google Form.

*For any musical theatre applicants who are not current students, former students, or have not previously applied to the Stella Adler Studio, please submit a completed application form before submitting your video audition. If you are applying to the Teen Summer Conservatory, there is no need to submit this application as well. The application form can be found at: https://ste-web.scansoftware.com/cafeweb/tapestry?page=Workshops-NYC