Miami Acting Schools

Looking for good Miami acting schools? Just browse these listings of acting schools in Miami to find the perfect Miami acting classes for you.

Here you'll find all the information you need to choose where to study to become an actor in Miami. Each Miami acting school listing includes detailed information such as acting methods taught, performance opportunities, career preparation, degree earned, tuition fees and financial aid opportunities. You can also find out how to apply for each school as well as what are your chances of being accepted into each program.

Miami is an important entertainment center. There are many agents, casting directors and opportunities to audition for acting jobs here. If you decide to study at an acting school in Miami, you should be able to gain acting experience or at least find a good professional internship.

Featured School

University of Miami
www.miami.edu

This is one of the Miami acting schools that has a long list of working professionals among its alumni (not just actors like Ray Liotta, but also producers, directors, casting directors and other members of industry). Students get a conservatory-style training as they pursue a BFA in Acting or Musical Theater (those who want to keep their options open can also pursue a bachelor's degree). In a low teacher to student ratio of about 1 to 10, actors study acting, movement, voice and speech, singing, improvisation, play analysis, dance, makeup, stage combat, acting for the camera, as well as theater history and theater management. Electives include scene study, singing for actors and musical theater, directing and playwriting. Musical theater students have a slightly different curriculum with additional classes in singing and dance, piano, music theory and sight-singing.

Performance opportunities: The school produces about 5 mainstage shows each year in a fully-equipped theater with state of the art lighting and sound systems. Starting their sophomore year, students are required to audition for all mainstage productions (freshmen are not allowed to audition). There is also a black box theater for smaller performances.

Career preparation: Actors learn from teachers who are working professionals, as well as from guest artists lectures and master classes (recent guests include Jason Alexander, Richard Gere,

Degree: BFA in Acting, BFA in Musical Theatre.

Tuition Fee: $34,834 yearly (you can live on campus for about $10,000 per year).

Financial Aid: In addition to federal and state financial aid programs, this is one of the acting schools in Miami that offers several merit-based academic scholarships (one of which covers full tuition). You can also apply for the school's need-based grant, work program, or special acting scholarship.

What you'll need to apply: For the BFA programs, you will need to submit an audition application form and fee in addition to the school's undergraduate application, along with transcripts, test scores, a guidance counselor evaluation form and a personal statement. You can interview and audition at the acting school in Miami or in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Musical theater applicants need to be ready to act, sing and dance at their audition, as well as answer music theory questions.

Creative Workshops

This Miami acting school less then half an hour from the center of Miami has been around for more then 20 years. The founder of the school (who also teaches several classes) has coached many famous actors including Jon Secada and Gloria Estefan. The school has Miami acting classes and workshops for beginners to intermediate and advanced students. Here you can study improvisation, movement, scene study, speech, diction, stage and film combat, mask, mime, characterization, singing, dialects, character voices, classical theater, acting for the camera, acting in commercials, soap opera acting and screenwriting, and even hone special skills like voice-over or teleprompter reading. You can study during the day, evening or weekend depending on your schedule. You can even sign up for private coaching sessions or acting classes in Spanish!

Career preparation: Actors can take cold reading, monologue and auditioning technique classes, as well as workshops on the business of acting and how to market themselves. There is a special commercial audition class taught by a casting director. Voice-over workshops take place at a real recording studio. Classes are taught by teachers with extensive credits and working professionals.

What you'll need to apply: This is one of the Miami acting schools where all you need is to sign up (you may want to sign up early if you're interested in private coaching). Admission to some advanced acting classes is by teacher invitation.

Website: www.creativeworkshops.com

University Center for the Performing Arts

This performing arts school half an hour from Miami offers primarily dance classes (jazz, tap, ballet and more) but you can also study stage and screen acting here or take voice classes (contemporary, Broadway and classical voice). The acting training is based on the Eric Morris System and the need to "free the instrument" to act. Eric Morris himself teaches special weekend workshops.

Performance opportunities: Students who take the Adult Actor Workshop perform in a play at the school's black box theater after 8 weeks of preparation and rehearsal where they get both backstage and onstage experience. Students can also audition for any of the 4 mainstage shows produced each year by the school's resident theater company.

What you'll need to apply: You can sign up anytime for the regular acting class, but you'll need to apply for the performance and screen acting class.

Website: www.universitycenterfortheperformingarts.com

Want to look beyond Miami acting schools?
Check out acting schools in Orlando and Tampa.

Barry University

This acting university just outside of Miami offers a BFA in Acting. The core curriculum includes acting and theater history classes.

Actors then choose from a wide range of electives including voice, movement, characterization, scene study, stage combat, costumes, makeup, acting for the camera, theater management, directing, playwriting, as well as dance and music classes. Actors also learn technical theater through labs and backstage work.

Students can also pursue a BA in Theater, a BA in Dance Theater or a BFA in Dance Theater.

Performance opportunities: Mainstage shows are produced in a large auditorium that can seat as many 1,000. There is also a smaller theater on campus. Actors can perform on mainstage for credit.

Career preparation: Seniors can take a professional internship for credit.

Degree: BFA in Acting.

Financial Aid: In addition to federal and state programs, the school offers need-based grants and merit-based scholarships. You can also apply for a loan or student employment. 80% of students who go to Barry University get some financial aid.

What you'll need to apply: Transcripts and test scores (no audition is required).

Website: www.barry.edu

The Acting School of South Florida

This acting school less then half an hour from Miami offers 2 conservatory-style training programs comprised of two 4-hour classes each week. The Core Training Program is separated into 2 levels and takes about 8 months to complete. Included are classes in acting, improvisation, movement, voice, diction, scene study and audition skills.

The Ensemble Program is separated into 3 terms of 8 weeks each and includes classes in advanced acting, auditioning, scene study and screen acting. Those who just want to take acting classes in Miami can sign up for a single class in acting, movement and voice, improvisation, acting for the camera or commercial technique.

Performance opportunities: The Ensemble Program includes participation in 2 performance labs that culminate in a public performance. You can also sign up for a single performance lab for an opportunity to present scenes and monologues in front of faculty and other actors.

Career preparation: Students learn from working professionals. The school offers auditioning technique and cold reading classes, as well as one-day seminars to learn about audition monologues or the business of acting.

Degree: You receive a document of completion if you complete the Core Training Program and a certificate of training if you complete the Ensemble Program.

What you'll need to apply: You can just sign up for some workshops, but you'll need to interview and audition if you're interested in the conservatory programs and some advanced classes. You may also need a teacher permission to sign up for some advanced classes.

Website: www.theactingschool.org

Florida International University

This is one of the Miami acting schools that offers both a BFA in Performance and a BA in Theater for those who want a broader theater education. FIU counts among its alumni the American Idol finalist Syesha Mercado.

BFA students take classes in acting, movement, voice and speech, play analysis, dance, costumes and makeup, as well as music, playwriting, directing, theatre history, dramatic literature, basic lighting, scenic design and theater management.

Performance opportunities: The theater department stages about 4 shows each year.

Career preparation: This is one of the Miami acting schools where the faculty is made up of working professionals. Students learn how to work backstage through technical theater labs. Seniors are required to write, direct and perform in a play. Seniors also receive audition training.

Degree: BFA in Performance, BA in Theater.

Financial Aid: Federal and state grants, scholarships, loans and student employment are available. The university offers merit-based assistance and loans.

What you'll need to apply: Transcripts, test scores, an interview and an audition.

Website: www.fiu.edu