The Associate of Applied Arts Degree in Acting Performance is a 15-month program designed to meet the needs of students who wish to become professional actors. Upon completion of the 71.0 credit hour program, the graduate may expect to possess skills enabling him/her to compete in a professional environment in theatre, television and film.
PROGRAM CHAIR:
MICHAEL SERRECCHIA
Our Acting and Musical Theatre Program Chair, Michael Serrecchia, was an original cast member of A Chorus Line for which he received a Special Drama Desk Award and Theatre Critics Circle Award. Other Broadway credits include The Rothchilds; The Selling of the President; Heathen; Lady Audley’s Secret; Seesaw and Sing Happy. He spent four and a half years circling the globe as Chita Rivera’s dance partner in “Chita Plus Two” for which he won a MAC Award. Dallas directing and choreography credits include The regional premiers of: A Class Act (D/FW Theatre Critics Forum Award Best Direction of a Musical) The Full Monty (Column and Stoney Awards for Best Direction and Best Choreography of a Musical) The Light in the Piazza, The Drowsey Chaperone (Dallas Critic’s Choice Award) Next to Normal (D/FW Theatre Critics Forum Award Best Direction of a Musical). Non-regional premiers include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. (D/FW Theatre Critics Forum Award Best Direction of a Musical) On Golden Pond, Lobby Hero, Almost, Maine, Moonlight and Magnolias (Stoney Award Best Direction of a Play) 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Fort Worth Critic’s Award best Direction of a Musical) Duets, It’s Only Life, I’ll Leave it to You and the multi award winning production of Nine, the Musical. MichaelSerrecchia.com
Program Overview
Upon successful completion of the Acting Performance program, graduates may expect to possess skills enabling them to compete in the theatre, television, and film industry. The Acting program gives students an opportunity to work in an intensive, exploratory environment under the guidance of working professionals in the entertainment industry.
The primary aim of the Acting Performance program is to aid the student in developing a working methodology of character development while preparing them for the demands of the professional arena. The first semester focuses on exploring the practical and theoretical use of the body and mind as instruments for performance through intense movement, voice, and acting classes. The second semester is geared toward further developing strong emotional connections to characters through scene study and intensive on-camera training. In the third semester, students work on strengthening their listening and reacting skills, as well as identifying and developing the sub-text of a script in order to create multi-dimensional characters.
During the fourth semester, the curriculum concentrates on refining the skills students have acquired during the previous semesters while expanding their knowledge of the professional world as they prepare for an Industry Showcase for an invited audience of agents, casting directors, theatre and film directors, choreographers, producers and theatre owners — an introduction to the start of your professional career and building your network.
Instructors
Our instructors are selected on the basis of their professional experience and educational achievement. In order to ensure the highest standards of professionalism, we seek instructors from those sectors of the entertainment industry which closely relate to the subject area being taught.