There may never have been such a need for acting teachers to gather for mutual support, for the sharing of tangible ideas that advance our professional ways that truly serve an increasingly diverse body of student – and ultimately expand the viability of our field.
The Teacher Development Program (TDP) is designed to do just that – and to do so under the guidance of some of the world’s leading practitioners. It’s a rare opportunity for acting teachers, and professional actors interested in teaching, to return to the classroom and rediscover the joy and excitement that drew us to this profession.
The TDP’s mission has always been to elevate standards of training, enabling a deeper understanding of, and passion for, the craft of teaching by (1) exposing teachers to a variety of approaches and methodologies, (2) providing mentorship to future generations of educators, and (3) strengthening the bond of community within each TDP cohort and, by extension, the wider field of acting teachers.
In 2021, our flagship Teacher Development Program (TDP) returns for its 25th year – online and in-person (we hope!) Join us for an inspiring and revitalizing 12 days devoted to the craft of teaching acting alongside a cadre of exceptional and internationally recognized faculty. In attending the Teacher Development Program, those teachers in the room are asked to step into the work as ’student’. In doing so, we begin to identify once again with the physical, emotional, intellectual, and imaginative experience of those we instruct. This personal revisit is done within a group of like-minded individuals exploring a number of disciplines under the guidance of a distinguished group of practitioners. This ‘practice of process’ and discussion allow the participants to delve deeply into the ‘what’, the ‘why’, the ‘how’ and the ‘who’ in teaching the individual before them.”
2021 TDP provisional faculty:
Alexandra Billings, Viewpoints
Anita Dashiell-Sparks, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Peter Jay Fernandez, Scene Study
Antoinette LaVecchia, Games
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Scene Study
Kenneth Noel Mitchell, Pedagogy
Jane Nichols, Clown and Movement
Michele Shay, Acting
Fay Simpson, Lucid Body
Welker White and Damian Young, Screen Acting
Applications Open
Due to the participatory nature of the TDP, spots in both sessions are limited.
In each two-week intensive, participants engage as learners – remembering viscerally what it means to be an acting student – but always with an eye toward the craft of teaching. By offering multiple pedagogies side by side, the program creates a rigorous, fertile environment in which students work on their feet every day, questions are answered in “the doing,” and issues of teaching practice are examined first through experiencing, then through discussion. Students observe how to develop their diagnostic eye and hone their ability to teach to the individual, while learning ways to cultivate an instructional atmosphere that supports artistry and creative risk-taking.
Presented in collaboration with
The 2020 Teacher Development Program was made possible through the generous support of the Lui & Wan Foundation.
Applications are now being accepted and are evaluated on a rolling basis.
Due to the participatory nature of the TDP, spots in both cohorts are limited. Admission is made on a rolling basis to give applicants time to secure funding. Some education institutions have funds available to support faculty in professional development.
Admission is based on your stated personal approach to the actor’s process, your background, and your demonstrated interest in personal and professional development. To apply, please prepare the following items and attach on the application form at the bottom of this page.
Tuition for the Teacher Development Program is normally $3900 for the in-person sessions. In 2020 we lowered the cost for the program in its online form to $1900 and we will hold that tuition rate for the first 2021 session in June.
Some education institutions and foundations have funds available to support faculty in professional development. We encourage all participants to explore these avenues for financial support. Discounts are also made available to existing members of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers and alumni of the program.
In addition, we offer some partial scholarships for adjunct faculty, instructors, and coaches without access to professional development funding. We also offer need-based and merit-based scholarships to individuals who would otherwise not be able to attend. In order to be eligible for scholarships, individuals should first submit their application to the Teacher Development Program. Subsequently, please write to Managing Director, Jane McPherson at jmcpherson@actingteachers.org to inquire about scholarship availability.
The Teacher Development Program originated at The Actors Center in New York in 1996. In the 24 years since its inception the program has graduated more than 250 alumni, many of whom are now teaching at premier institutions across the country. Founded by J. Michael Miller, the program’s four initial faculty included Earle Gister, Michael Kahn, Lloyd Richards, and Ron Van Lieu. In 2017, the program expanded to the west coast for the first time and now continues on both coasts each summer.
Over the years, TDP faculty and guest speakers have included:
Maria Aitken
Christopher Bayes
Alexandra Billings
Per Brahe
David Bridel
Sharon Marie Carnicke
Robert Cohen
Slava Dolgachev
Olympia Dukakis
William Esper
Peter Jay Fernandez
Catherine Fitzmaurice
Richard Feldman
Earle Gister
Michael Kahn
Antoinette LaVecchia
Joanna Merlin
Kenneth Noel Mitchell
Jane Nichols
Hugh O’Gorman
Lloyd Richards
Fay Simpson
Ron Van Lieu
Gregory Wallace