Nashville, known as Music City, offers a thriving arts and culture scene with exceptional opportunities to study the craft of acting. From prestigious university theater programs to intimate acting studios, Nashville has no shortage of top-notch institutions for honing one‘s dramatic talents. Here are 20 of the best acting programs Nashville has to offer.
1. Belmont University – BFA Theatre
Belmont University‘s BFA Theatre program provides comprehensive training in acting and related theatre disciplines. Students benefit from rigorous coursework, experiential learning opportunities at local professional theatres, access to industry-standard facilities like the Troutt Theater, and instruction from accomplished theatre professionals.
2. Vanderbilt University – Theatre & Dance Major
Vanderbilt University‘s Theatre major exposes students to an interdisciplinary curriculum spanning topics like dramatic literature, theatre history, acting, directing, design, and playwriting. Students frequently collaborate with the Blair School of Music and have access to spaces like the Langford Auditorium, Neely Auditorium, and the Black Box Theatre.
3. Watkins College of Art – BFA Acting
Watkins College of Art acting students focus almost exclusively on performance, with additional course options in areas like voice and speech, stage combat, audition technique, and more. The programme culminates in a showcase attended by agents and industry professionals.
4. Nashville Children‘s Theatre – Classes & Camps
Nashville Children‘s Theatre has been nurturing young theatrical talent since 1931. Today, it offers acting classes and summer camps for ages 4 through 18. Students learn stagecraft fundamentals, play theatre games, and perform final showcases for friends and family.
5. The Acting Studio – Adult Acting Classes
Led by veteran actor, director, and acting coach Rona Leigh, The Acting Studio offers ongoing adult acting classes focused on fundamentals like script analysis, sensory work, scene study, and more. The program presents frequent performance opportunities at venues throughout Nashville.
6. Pull-Tight Players – Theatre Training
The Pull-Tight Players theatre company operates a training program for youth and teens focused on stage performance techniques. Offerings include a beginners group class for elementary school students and private coaching sessions for teens.
7. Nashville Shakespeare Festival – Shakespeare Intensives
Every summer, Nashville Shakespeare Festival runs Shakespeare Intensives for middle and high school students. Participants rehearse and perform abridged Shakespeare plays under the guidance of professional actors and directors during this two-week immersive camp.
8. Actors Bridge Ensemble – Studio Program
Actors Bridge Ensemble‘s Studio acting program allows students to learn and train with the theatre company‘s professional actors. The curriculum focuses on Linklater voice technique, moment-to-moment spontaneity training, scene study, and more.
9. Mockingbird Theater – Theatre Classes
Mockingbird Theater offers acting and musical theatre classes for ages 5 to 18 in partnership with downtown performing arts venue Studio Tenn. Classes focus on performance techniques, movement, and students produce their own original plays.
10. Nashville Jazz Workshop – Musical Theatre
For musical theatre-focused acting training, Nashville Jazz Workshop offers group classes and private lessons covering essential skills like voice technique, sight singing, music theory, dance, and acting for musicals.
11. Nashville Ballet – Dance Academy
Nashville Ballet‘s Dance Academy, founded in the 1980s under artistic director Paul Vasterling, offers youth and adult ballet classes spanning beginner to professional levels. While focused on dance, lessons incorporate acting techniques relevant to musical theatre.
12. School of Nashville Ballet – Children & Adult Classes
Closely associated with Nashville Ballet, the School of Nashville Ballet offers comprehensive dance training with incorporated theatrical techniques via lessons, intensives, workshops and more. Programs are available for recreational students or those pursuing dance professionally.
13. Nashville Music Academy – Musical Theatre Camp
Nashville Music Academy runs an immersive two-week musical theatre camp every summer for ages 8 to 18. Campers rehearse singing, dancing, and acting as they prepare an abridged Broadway musical for a final public performance.
14. Acting Up – Summer Intensive
Acting Up hosts an annual musical theatre intensive for middle and high school students during the summer. The rigorous three-week program focuses on singing, dancing, and acting techniques culminating in filmed and live theatre performances.
15. Renaissance Players – Shakespeare Camp
Renaissance Players‘ summer Shakespeare Theatre Camp allows students ages 7 to 18 to rehearse and perform Shakespeare plays under the guidance of theatre professionals. Participants also enjoy voice and movement classes, games, and other activities.
16. The Acting Class – Beginners & Intermediate
Conveniently located in Hillsboro Village, The Acting Class offers ongoing acting courses for beginners to intermediates looking to gain a foundation covering auditioning, character development, script analysis, and other essential skills.
17. The Actor‘s Place – Adult Classes & Workshops
Catering to adult learners, The Actor‘s Place focuses on the Meisner technique via acting classes centered around repetitious exercises, text analysis, communication, listening, and more. Classes range from 6 to 8 sessions plus periodic workshops.
18. xBallet Intensive Workshop – Ballet & Musical Theatre
xBallet Intensive Workshop offers aspiring musical theatre performers intensive summer training focused on ballet technique with integrated acting and musical performance skills like vocal exercises and dance. Participants work towards a final showcase performance.
19. Sideshow @ Actors Bridge – FUNdamentals Classes
Sideshow @ Actors Bridge provides theatre classes for kids focused on fundamentals. Offerings include a Creative Dramatics course for K-2 introducing theatrical concepts via games, storytelling and more. Older students develop specific acting skills.
20. People‘s Branch Theatre Project – Fall Conservatory
People‘s Branch Theatre Project operates an 8-week fall acting conservatory covering foundational skills needed for theatre, film, and TV work. Coursework examines auditioning, script analysis, scene study, stage movement, and more. Public performances conclude the intensive.
There you have it – some of the top institutions offering exceptional acting programmes here in Nashville for students of all ages and skill levels, whether pursuing acting as a hobby or profession. From university theatre departments to intimate acting studios, Nashville‘s vibrant performance arts scene supports a wealth of pathways to dramatic excellence.