Find acting classes in San Diego, CA

Q: How much do acting classes cost?

Acting classes cost $25 to $65 per hour on average for group classes or $50 to $150+ per hour to hire a private acting coach. Prices vary depending on where you live and the instructor's experience and reputation. Acting studios that offer ongoing weekly classes typically charge $150 to $350 per month . Acting courses and workshops can cost as little as $200 to as much as $2,800+ , depending on the content, number of sessions, and the instructor's demand. Some acting workshops are short, 1- or 2-day intensive classes focusing on one aspect of the industry, while other programs last 4 to 8 weeks and cover several topics, methods, and techniques. Most studios offer a free trial class so you can get a feel for the teaching style and decide if it's right for you.

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Find acting classes in San Diego, CA

Share a few details and we'll show you the best acting classes in your area.

Zip code

Top 10 acting classes in San Diego, CA

Students agree: these San Diego acting classes are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.

Your Acting Classes questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Lessons.

How much do acting classes cost?

Acting classes cost $25 to $65 per hour on average for group classes or $50 to $150+ per hour to hire a private acting coach. Prices vary depending on where you live and the instructor's experience and reputation. Acting studios that offer ongoing weekly classes typically charge $150 to $350 per month.

Acting courses and workshops can cost as little as $200 to as much as $2,800+, depending on the content, number of sessions, and the instructor's demand. Some acting workshops are short, 1- or 2-day intensive classes focusing on one aspect of the industry, while other programs last 4 to 8 weeks and cover several topics, methods, and techniques.

Most studios offer a free trial class so you can get a feel for the teaching style and decide if it's right for you.

Are online acting classes worth it?

Online acting classes are worth it if you want to pursue acting and are unable to attend acting classes in person. With online video calling platforms like Zoom and Skype, you can now study acting with the best in the industry from the comfort of your own home! Many reputable acting coaches—including those right here on Lessons—now offer online acting classes and teach the same methods and techniques that they teach in the studio.

Do you need acting classes to become an actor?

You technically don't need acting classes to become an actor. However, acting classes can help you gain confidence, learn new methods and techniques, analyze scenes and scripts, and build new industry connections and relationships. Acting classes can also teach you about the business side of acting, which is as important as acting itself.

How long do acting classes take?

Acting class length varies depending on the studio and the type of class. Some studios have 2-hour classes, while others have classes lasting 3 to 5 hours. Depending on the location, acting classes may be offered in several formats, such as ongoing weekly classes, weekend intensive workshops, and training programs that can run anywhere from 2 to 8+ weeks.

What skills do you need to be an actor?

While the necessary skillset varies depending on the type of acting you pursue (think Broadway theater vs. TV commercials vs. film), all actors need a broad range of skills to portray the expressions and emotions of a character so effectively that they temporarily transport the audience to a world where the actor is indeed that character. This often involves:

Memorizing lines and stage cues
Analyzing scripts and scenes
Developing a character's emotions and physical expressions
Working with other actors, directors, and production crews
Adapting to unexpected changes and situations
Speaking clearly and adjusting one's voice to align with the character
Learning and developing different acting methods and techniques
Being comfortable in front of an audience or camera

Reviews for San Diego acting classes

Recent success stories from people in the San Diego area.

Kayla C.

"Kayla comes and goes to L.A. for auditions from Washington State. She Skypes with Alisha to prepare for her video submissions several times a month. She has had several call backs in the past year. Alisha is really nice and fun...She helps me make it real. She has seen many movies and believes her favorite actor Johnny Depp slides into character amazingly; he lives and breathes his characters. Kayla hopes to master this some day. Alisha opened a door into a place that allows her to begin this form of great acting."Since working with Alisha, I have been cast in commercials for Toys R Us and Burger King, and the back to school print campaign for Target."

Acting with Alisha

Rosamaria T.

To Whom It May Concern: I am excited to provide a recommendation for Rosemarie Ballard. She has generously worked with our students at Bonita Vista High School for several months now. She has established herself as our performing arts specialist, seeing that she has performed as a mime, Charlie Chaplin, Chiquita, and is the director of Imagination Express All Abroad. It is obvious that performing/acting is her way of life. It brings Mrs. Ballard great pride and joy to be able to share her expertise and experiences with students and novice theater teachers such as myself. For the past few months, Rosemarie has helped students develop their character for the school play by working with them in small groups emphasizing on voice projection, movement, and body language. She is passionate about creating characters that are believable and stories that are entertaining and convincing. Her positive energy and dedication motivate students to "be" the character, use their imagination, and recognize their full potential. After the workshops, students have commented that they feel "confident" and that her feedback has been "very helpful." Mrs. Ballard has been a huge help! In addition to the workshops, Mrs. Mime has lead several 5- 10-minute warm-ups ranging from stretches, trust exercises, reenacting combat movements, tripping with style, diction activities, and etc. She recognizes areas where students need the most improvement and creates warmups that develop those skills. It is apparent that Mrs. Ballard is deeply committed to her craft…. Her fun, bright, energetic personality brings joy to many. Bonita Vista High School has been fortunate to have her here. Rosemarie Ballard has my highest recommendation.

Rosemarie Ballard

Anne B.

Melissa is a phenomenal acting coach! My ten-year old daughter has grown and learned so much through Melissa’s performing arts workshop. Melissa is extremely experienced and knowledgeable in acting techniques and the acting industry. Melissa is positive, energetic, fun and caring. She makes the classes fun for kids while simultaneously teaching. Highly recommend this workshop!

Melissa K’s Performing Arts Workshop

Donna

My daughter takes lessons with Cal Music and has taken voice, piano and guitar lessons. In the years she has taken lessons, she has learned alot and had many wonderful teachers. The performances have given her confidence beyond what I though they would. I would highly recommend this studios for beginners and advanced students. I have recently decided to try to learn to sing as well and they found me the perfect teacher who makes me feel comfortable and I love my lessons also. We will be long time students here and would not go anywhere else.