Return to Act One Classes page
Programme Overview

Program Options: We offer full-year (36-week) and Winter (18 or 20-week) options for courses in Acting for Stage and Film, Improvisation, Sketch Comedy, Voice Acting and Musical Theatre..


• Instructional Levels: Most of our classes allow for the combination of both introductory and advanced student participants, as well as being divided by age to allow students a more enjoyable learning experience amongst peers of similar maturity. In all classes, the teachers pay special attention to ensuring all students are challenged with material and activity appropriate to their experience level.
  
  
• Teaching Format: We utilize a combination of instructional and "direct involvement" formats throughout most of our classes. In general, students can expect the first half of most course curriculum to be structured around theatre games and exercises, as well as scene and monologue work. The focus is on providing the students with a foundation of techniques, skills and knowledge from which they can build upon. The second half of the course will be delivered more in a practical or "rehearsal" environment, where the instructor will select an appropriate play or performance project for the class depending on its size and the students' personalities. All students will be cast in roles and the rehearsal process will be used to reinforce, reiterate and demonstrate the importance of the concepts learned in the first half, as well as giving all students significant opportunity to learn more involved concepts and put their new found skills to real, live use.
  
  
• Staff to Student Ratio: We believe that a key part of the learning experience is a close instructor-student relationship. To better ensure this, almost all our classes are capped at a maximum of 16 students. We also make sure that our classroom student to staff ratio never exceeds 10:1 (it is usually lower). When a class exceeds 10 students, an experienced Teaching Assistant is automatically assigned to help the instructor maximize the students' enjoyment and learning opportunities. The only exceptions are our Music Theatre classes, which by course design can accommodate up to a maximum of 20 students. The Music Theatre classes for Ages 7-11 and 12-15 automatically have a Teaching Assistant assigned for the entire year.
  
  
• Performance Opportunities: Live performance is an integral part of the drama experience. All classes offered by Act One are structured to provide the students with the opportunity to showcase their work and newly acquired skills for family and friends.
  
  

  • 36-Week Theatre, Sketch Comedy, Voice Acting & Improvisation program options: Students will perform in their class' second term play for family and friends during a dedicated show that takes place during the second-to-last or last class of the year. Students also have the opportunity to participate in Act One's Winter Cabaret each January. where they can showcase their scene work from the first term. Students also have the opportunity to perform in Act One's " A Weekend of Monologues" show which takes place in March of each year.
    
    
  • 18 or 20-week Week Winter Term Theatre: Students will participate in the class year-end production. More experienced students may also have the opportunity to participate in the Weekend of Monologues show.
    
    
  • 36-Week Film: Students enrolled in this class will have the opportunity to create their own commercial or short informational broadcast during the first term. Their second term will involve them in the production of their own short film.
    
    
  • Improvisation, Sketch Comedy and Performance classes: These may also participate in more frequent shows and additional external performances, depending upon student availability, interest and event opportunity.
    

Registration & Course Fee Overview

• Registration Deadlines: We accept new student registrations in all classes without restrictions up until mid-October for 36-week programmes and from January until mid- February for Winter Term registrations. After October for the 36-week option and February for the Winter term option, due to class formats, new students can only be accepted at the agreement of the specific course instructor.
  
  
• Payment Options: We offer three payment options for students.
  
  
  • Course fees for 36-week programmes can be paid in 4-week session installments over the nine sessions; twice a year for 18-weeks each; or in advance for the full 36 weeks.
    
    
  • Course fees for the Winter Term programme option can be paid in 4-week installments or in advance for the full term.
    
    
• Students paying in advance for 18-weeks in the full-year or the full term for the Winter term receive a 10% discount off the 4-week rate for their course fees.
  
  
• Students who pay in advance for 36-weeks receive a 15% discount off their course fees.
  
• Important Note on Fees: Please be aware that the difference in fee levels between the courses in white and those highlighted in grey below is almost entirely due to the fact that the courses in grey are two hours per week rather than 1 1/2 hrs for those in white. For the courses in grey, this translates into an additional 2hrs of instruction per session (4-wks), 9hrs per term (18-wks) or 18 additional hours over the course of the entire year (36-wks).
  
  
  
  2009-10 Fee Schedule
  
  

• Refund Policy: For students paying in advance for 18, 20 or 36-weeks, Act One will provide no questions asked, pro-rated refunds on unused portions of pre-paid fees, should a student notify us in writing of their intent or need to withdraw from a course. Refunds will be calculated based on when written withdrawal notification is received not last class attended. A nominal administrative surcharge may apply.
  
  Act One understands that life happens. People may need to move unexpectedly for instance. We also know that many students, especially the younger ones, may be trying theatre for the first time. While we believe that theatre can be fun and rewarding for everyone and we strive to provide an environment that supports this, we also realize that due to individual personalities and interests, it will not be for everyone. In keeping with our teaching philosophy of making it as easy as possible for people to learn about drama and discover whether or not it is for them, we believe this to be a fair and flexible refund policy.
  
  
• Other Discount Options:
  
  
• Multiple Class/Family Discounts: Act One offers a 10% discount off the course fees for every course taken after the first one by the same student or another member of their immediate family.
  
  
• Returning Student/ Summer Camper: Act One offers a 5% discount for any student who attended an Act One class in the previous year for at least 18 weeks as well as a further 5% discount for any student who attended at least one session in the preceeding summer's theatre camp.
  
  
• Referral Discounts: Act One provides an additional 5% referred student discount off the fees of any new student who has not attended Act One in the preceeding two calendar years and was referred to the school by an exisiting student. The referring student will also receive a 5% referral discount off the fees of one class, conditional on the new student completing at least 18 weeks of classes in the same school year. Referral discounts are cumulative; referring two students will earn a 10% referral discount; three students 15%, etc.
  
  
• Late Start Discounts: Students who register late will receive a discount based on the number of initial classes missed.