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Evaluation Professional Actor Training - Certificate Program - 2 Years Our courses are designed to provide evaluation and feedback to the student on an almost daily basis. The intense workshop atmosphere and small class size provide ample opportunities for students to receive immediate feedback on their progress. There are also several opportunities for students to be seen and evaluated by the entire faculty and administration. At the end of the year, first year students perform scenes that are brought from the classroom to the stage. The entire student body and faculty attend those two-person scenes, which continue for three days and form a part of the evaluation of students for invitation to the second year. Second year students usually participate in two productions. The first is a series of three to four in-house performances to which friends and families are invited. These performances are based on materials that arise for the most part out of the Singing and Movement classes. There are also Voice/Speech demonstrations presented within the school for faculty and students. An end-of-the-year production occurs in May and usually consists of ten performances on alternate nights of two different programs. Each second year student has an important part which gives him or her the opportunity to create a character, performance, and a chance to be evaluated on the full range of his or her technique. The plays chosen are mostly contemporary three-act and one-act plays. Second year students also prepare Special Showcase Audition Scene Nights for Industry Representatives which serve as vehicles to demonstrate their availability in the professional marketplace. Agents, managers, casting directors, directors and producers are invited to attend. Instructors provide written evaluations of each student's progress twice yearly. Evaluation Professional Actor Training - Summer Workshop - 6 Weeks The work in the Summer Workshop is mainly classroom oriented with culmination classroom projects at the end of the summer. Instructors provide evaluation of student's progress after the summer workshop concludes. Summer Workshop students who apply to continue in the fall two year program will be evaluated based upon their Summer Workshop progress. Probationary Period The first three months of the two year Certificate program are regarded as a probationary period. Continuance in the program is based on the results of the first written evaluation in December. Second Year Only those students whose work is approved unanimously by the faculty and staff are admitted for the second year of the two year Certificate program. Admission to the second year is highly selective, with approximately one out of three first year students being selected A letter of completion will be given to all students successfully completing the first year program, whether or not they are invited to return to the second year. Advisement The small size and intimate atmosphere of the school make it possible for students to receive academic advice whenever they need it, often without the neccessity of formal appointments or assigned advisors. In addition to the faculty, all of whom are available outside of class, the Director and the Director of the Acting program are always available to students. Leaves of Absence Leaves of absence are granted in special cases of emergency only. Dismissal The school reserves the right to ask a student to withdraw for any action which is detrimental to the welfare of the school as a whole or to the students. Advanced Standing The nature of our program is such that all students must begin at the beginning. Therefore no advanced standing or transfer credit is awarded for work completed at other schools or colleges. Outside Engagements During the school year, students are not permitted to seek or accept engagements to appear in public, either on the amateur or professional stage or in the media, without special permission. General Rules and Regulations 2 Year Certificate Program Prior to the commencement of the program, students will be supplied with a copy of the Student Handbook, which contains the General Rules and Regulations with which they will be expected to comply. The contents of the Student Handbook are based upon procedures and standards of conduct found in the professional theatre, and also those suggested by the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Students are expected to conform to those standards. Satisfactory Progress Each student's progress is evaluated by each faculty member twice yearly during both years of the program. At the end of the first year, the entire faculty meets to discuss each and every first year student, to ascertain if they have successfully completed the first half of the two year work. Of the 60-90 First Year students so discussed, 25-35 are asked to return to the Second Year Program. Second Year students with less than satisfactory (Fair) progress are warned and occasionally asked to withdraw if the situation warrants it. Grading System The faculty uses a grading system accepted by our accrediting agency (NAST) as follows: A Excellent 85%-100% B Good 70%-84% C Fairn 60%-69% D Poor Below 60% The student is evaluated in three areas: 1) Work Capacity 2) Growth 3) Recommendation to continue (December) or be asked into the Second Year (May) The first two parts of the evaluation are made available to the student and kept part of the student's file. If a student receives a less than Fair evaluation, the school administration will contact, confront and warn the student regarding his inadequate progress, and, in some cases, dismiss students who do not meet our standards. Students should be advised that the instructor's evaluation comments and assignment of a grade are made considering both potential and growth over the period of study. Direct classroom assessment of the work from day to day may be a clearer indication of progress in most cases. If a satisfactory student is unable to complete the two year program within the two year time frame due to reasons which are understandable and acceptable to school officials, then the administration would allow the student to complete the course of study during the following year. This late completion would be carefully monitored and evaluated so as to make sure that satisfactory progress is maintained. |
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