Dallas Acting Schools

Browse our listings of Dallas acting schools below to see detailed information on acting schools in Dallas, Fort Worth and the surrounding areas.

Each listing includes a brief description of Dallas acting classes offered, along with performance and career opportunities, acting degrees available, tuition fees, financial aid and how to apply.

SMU Meadows School of the Arts

Considered one of the best Dallas acting schools, SMU offers both an undergraduate and graduate degree in acting.

The BFA degree in theater/acting is comprised of two steps: 2 years of basic acting training followed by 2 years of advanced training. Classes include acting, voice, movement, script analysis, stage construction and stage management.

This is one of the only Dallas acting schools that also offers an MFA in Acting, a 3-year professional development program that focuses on the individual actor and classical training.

Performance opportunities: Students get to perform in one of the many state of the art performance spaces at the Owen Arts Center, which houses three theaters presenting several productions each year.

Students also have the opportunity to take part in a 3-day performance festival in France. Graduate students create a performance piece as part of a 2-week in-residence workshop with French performance artists in Lyons.

Career preparation: Among Dallas acting schools, SMU has unique partnerships with the professional theater world, which allows many students to experience working in professional productions. Undergraduates also take a theater business class to prepare for a career in theater. MFA graduates attend an industry showcase in New York and LA.

Degree: BFA in Theater with a specialization in Acting; MFA in Acting.

Financial Aid: A high percentage of students receive artistic scholarships, in addition to other need-based and merit-based scholarships and scholar programs available.

What you’ll need to apply: Aspiring actors need to both apply to the university and schedule an interview and audition for the theater department. Auditions consist of 2 contrasting monologues and a song and are held in Dallas as well as in other major cities throughout Texas and the country. Graduate students don’t need a song but only have a choice of 3 places for auditions.

Acceptance rate: Only 20-25 undergrads from 300 plus auditions. Only 8 graduates every other year for the MFA program.

Audition policy: Participation in professional productions is encouraged through the school’s network.

Website: www.smu.edu

University of Dallas

This Dallas acting school offers classes in acting, voice, movement, improvisation, experimental theatre, theatre plays, playwriting, theater history, directing, stage management, theatre production, stage craft and stage design.

Performance opportunities: The University Theater produces 10-12 shows each year in its 80-seat thrust stage performance space.

Degree: B.A. in Theatre.

Financial Aid: There are several scholarships for academic achievement, including the possibility of National merit finalists to get a full tuition scholarship. You can also audition for the drama scholarship of $1,000 – $3,000.

What you’ll need to apply: Application and fee, test scores and transcripts, teacher evaluation, personal essay and statements.

Website:www.udallas.edu

Theatre Wesleyan

Theatre classes include acting (acting techniques, scene study, characterization, monologues, classical theater acting), script analysis, movement, dance, stage combat, voice, dialects, screen acting, musical theater acting, Shakespeare, improvisation, comedy, technical theater and theater design (scene painting, costumes, make-up, etc.), stage management and theater marketing, directing, playwriting, theatre history, film production and more. Actors also need to take general education and related courses to graduate.

Performance opportunities: Acting students can participate in production labs, as well as mainstage productions at Theatre Wesleyan and performances in a black box theater that can adopt various stage configurations.

Career preparation: Students learn from a faculty of working actors and take auditionning classes, as well as workshops with industry professionals. Internship opportunities in professional theaters and other business related fields are available.

Degree: BA in Theater.

Financial Aid: In addition to a range of academic scholarships, you can audition for a theater performance scholarship. Other financial aid is also available, including grants, loans and work-study programs.

What you’ll need to apply: Application, test scores and transcripts, headshot and resume, interview and audition (2 contrasting monologues).

Website: www.txwes.edu/theatrearts

Want to go beyond Dallas acting schools? 
Check out our listings of acting schools throughout the country.

Mountainview College

This community college offers Dallas acting classes and performance labs for students interested in getting an Associate Degree with an emphasis in acting.

Beyond acting technique classes, students can take classes in movement and voice, acting styles, musical theater techniques, costume design, make-up, stagecraft, lighting design, theatre history and film appreciation.

Class sizes are small, allowing for more personal personal attention. To obtain the degree, you will also need to take other foundation courses like English, Math and History.

Performance opportunities: This Dallas acting school stages 3-5 full productions each year in addition to lab performances from acting classes.

Career preparation: Students have an opportunity to work with guest artists through production labs and performances.

Degree: AA Theatre – Associate in Arts with Theater Emphasis.

Financial Aid: In addition to other financial aid, the DCCCD Foundation offers several scholarships for students who want to attend Mountainview College.

What you’ll need to apply: A completed application, test scores and transcripts (or a recommendation for the principal of your school).

Acceptance rate: Open door policy.

Website: www.mvc.dcccd.edu

TBell Actors Studio, Inc

This is one of the acting schools in Dallas where you can get professional and personalized coaching. Owned and operated by acting coach Theresa Bell, who studied with Roy London and went on to land guest starring roles on numerous television shows and parts in over a dozen films. She has also won awards for her successful screenwriting abilities.

Current classes open for enrollment:

– Childrens acting classes
– Adult acting classes
– Online acting classes

Career preparation:

Ms. Bell is dedicated to turning all of her actors into working actors and many of her past students have found Hollywood success. TBell offers budding actors and actresses:

– Connections into the Film Industry
– Networking tips for amateur actors
– Resume and skills building tips
– Opportunities to further on-stage performing experiences
– Agency referrals

What you’ll need to apply:

Every student is requiured to participate in a scheduled audition, in order to gauge skill level and discover the right fit at TBell Actors Studio. Depending on the class size you will be admitted based upon your performance and need for coaching.

Website: TBell Actors Studio, Inc

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