Find acting classes in New York, NY

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.

Confirm your location to see the best acting classes near you.

Zip code

Find acting classes in New York, NY

Confirm your location to see the best acting classes near you.

Zip code

Top 10 acting classes in New York, NY

Students agree: these New York 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.com.

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 New York acting classes

Recent success stories from people in the New York area.

Dawn R.

Tremendous! Lori Kee is enthusiastic, passionate and knowledgeable. I enjoyed her energy, her presence and her patience.

KEE Acting: classes that Nurture, challenge and celebrate YOU!

- R.

"When I go to improv, I step into a safe, nurturing, stimulating class with supportive and gentle classmates and a teacher who gives creative and meaningful prompts and insightful feedback."

Improv Innovations

April W.

David is a phenomenal, award-winning actor and director who knows how to pull the best out in anyone, and push them to fully embody their talent. He is a champion for all of his students, and fights for them at every turn. I highly recommend him!

David Wenzel

Antonella G.

Taking vocal lessons with Sarah has been the best decision for my voice. She’s helped me build confidence and feel secure in every performance, audition, and rehearsal. What I love about Sarah is how she explains things in multiple ways to help any student understand. I’m a visual learner, and she always gives me clear mental images that make concepts easy to grasp. Beyond her amazing teaching, Sarah is the kindest person. She makes every lesson feel comfortable, no matter what kind of day I’ve had. I recommend her to all my friends and will continue to do so. Thank you to Sarah!

Sarah Beth Andrews

Vanessa (.

Marc cultivates the outrageous in his students, urging us to risk bigger choices, all the while providing a safe platform from which to explore. His background in Lecoq and his compassion for fellow humans makes Marc a keen observer of his student's personal clowns which means that the practice room is exhilarating. Marc encourages but holds students accountable for their choices. Equally skilled as a performer and director, Marc models a mind-body approach to acting more often found in Europe than the US. I find his approach to my acting challenges super specific and personal to me. I highly recommend spending some time unlocking with Marc!

Boucai- QPOC Positive Body Based Actor Training

Joey K.

Working with Hadasah on my first film was an amazing experience. I loved how she was able to direct me in such a way that helped me to present what it was she was asking of me in my own artistic way. She has an amazing eye and vision for the message that she wants to portray. So happy to have shared this experience with her!

HadasahVision Acting Conservatory

Elisabeth P.

Mark has an amazing ability to unpack monologues and scenes with startling clarity, which makes emotionally complex moments become distilled and act-able! He is eternally supportive and unfailing in his guidance in order to help the actor hit a pitch-perfect moment. He's an utter pleasure to work with and I highly recommend him!

ACTOR COACHING

Vassilis P.

One of the best collaborations I can recall is that with Maria Tsaroucha, who directed and led in my play “The Missing- an interesting life. This is a play which, on the occasion of the “difficult” subject of people missing in the aftermath of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, deals with contemporary issues such as intentional ignorance and fear. The play had already been produced several times but Tsaroucha’s presentation surpassed all expectations. She presented it from the point of view of an ancient Greek tragedy and the production was enriched by the ancient emotion of Methexis and Catharsis. Through PAD, she was able to interlink contemporary theater with the rituals and the sacred emotion of Ancient Tragedy, thus presenting the audience with a invaluable esthetic experience. A unique experience also for the actors who participated and had the opportunity to explore their limits and abilities past the boundaries of the conventional acting technique. Moreover, Maria Tsaroucha, who had one of the leading roles, gave a live and fully characteristic instance of PAD, attaining to a performance overwhelming in its simplicity and naturalness.