Acting

Actors bring life to the characters they portray, and it takes passion, dedication and talent to perform the roles that entertain, amuse and enlighten us. The Ira Brind School of Theater Arts will help prepare you for a career in the spotlight, whether on the stage or on the big or small screens.

An innovative program in the heart of a major theater city
In addition to offering a wide range of training approaches that include voice, mask and acting for the camera, the Brind School’s Acting curriculum develops actors who possess well-rounded performance technique, strong text / script analytical skills, and vocal and physical freedom and efficiency. Through academic coursework in Theater and Liberal Arts, you will sharpen your analysis and critical thinking, expand your sense of historical context, and enhance communication skills.

Our award-winning faculty members — including a Tony Award nominee, a longtime member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, a Barrymore Award winner and a co-founder of Philadelphia’s renowned Freedom Theater — are working theater professionals who guide students to become well-rounded, versatile and resourceful artists. Among the methods studied are Meisner, Stanislavski, Viewpoints, Linklater and the Alexander Technique, all of which combine to provide a deep understanding of the actor’s craft and a vivid sense of theatricality. In addition, there are many opportunities for collaboration with students from other disciplines, as well as those at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in England.

As one of America’s great theater cities, Philadelphia offers countless performance opportunities to supplement more than a dozen shows staged by the Brind School each year. The University’s Avenue of the Arts location — at the heart of the city’s cultural district — is the ideal environment for Acting majors to learn, collaborate and create theater. The University of the Arts is located next door to the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (home to the Philadelphia Orchestra and Pennsylvania Ballet), as well as the Academy of Music and UArts’ own Merriam Theater, both of which host numerous national touring companies of Broadway hits. Six regional theaters are also within walking distance. 

Where do UArts Acting graduates work?
UArts Acting alumni have starred in such hit TV shows as “Private Practice,” “Law and Order” and “Ugly Betty.” They can be seen in national and regional theater productions, including the National Black Theater Festival and the prestigious Williamstown Theater Festival, and one directed a Pulitzer Prize-nominated play. Another is a top acting coach who has worked with stars including Queen Latifah and Shia Laboeuf. Others have started their own local theater companies, like Philly’s award-winning 1812 Productions.