Acting
Plan of Study
The first year is a highly disciplined period of training, with a concentration on the basic principles of craft that lead to extraordinary acting. Models of realism are explored through work on a variety of scenes by contemporary and modern playwrights, as actors identify practical tools for mining the printed text for given circumstances, character, objective, and action. The second year begins with a focus on verse drama and creating embodied performances of Shakespeare. In the second term of the second year, the emphasis on developing an expansive sense of truth through heightened and extended language continues with work on diverse texts from world literature. The third year includes work on the plays of Bertolt Brecht, Suzan-Lori Parks, and other challenging writers, as well as the development of original self-scripted solo projects. Students also have multiple courses in learning to work on camera and in front of a microphone, transferring their techniques to the mediums of film and audio recording. A fourth year has been added to the curriculum for the Classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024, to give those students further opportunities to apply their training in rehearsal and performance when production work resumes at the School and at Yale Repertory Theatre.
Yale Cabaret provides an additional, although strictly extracurricular, outlet for the exploration of a wide range of material, including self-scripted material, company-devised original work, adaptations, and musicals. The department’s chair works directly with the Yale Cabaret artistic directors regarding approval of Cabaret participation by actors.
With the exception of those courses marked as “electives” in their schedules, students are required to attend all classes in their curriculum.
Class of 2024
Year Two (2021-2022)
DRAM 50a - The Theatrical Event
DRAM 51b - New Play Lab
DRAM 103a/b - Acting I
DRAM 113a/b - Voice I
DRAM 123a/b - First-Year Accents and Dialects
DRAM 133a/b - The Body as Source
DRAM 143a/b - Alexander Technique I
DRAM 153a - Play
DRAM 163b - Text Analysis I
DRAM 180a - Rehearsal Practicum: Meeting the Play
DRAM 403a/b -Introduction to Combat and Intimacy for the Stage
DRAM 563a - Activated Analysis II
DRAM 863a - Authentic Collaboration
Year Three (2022-2023)
DRAM 163a - Text Analysis II
DRAM 203b - Acting II: Plays of Extended and Heightened Language
DRAM 213a/b - Voice II
DRAM 223a/b - Second-Year Accents and Dialects
DRAM 243a/b - Alexander Technique II Tutorials
DRAM 263b263a/b - Clown
DRAM 273a - Character Analysis and Movement
DRAM 283a - Shakespeare Embodied
DRAM 405a - Advanced Principles of Stage Combat
DRAM 413a/b - Singing II Tutorials
Year Four (2023-2024)
DRAM 207b - Carlotta Tutorial
DRAM 233a - The Body on Set
DRAM 253a - Commedia
DRAM 303a - Acting III
DRAM 303b - Actor Showcase
DRAM 313a - Voice III Tutorials
DRAM 323a/b - Third-Year Accent and Dialect Tutorials
DRAM 343a/b - Alexander Technique III Tutorials
DRAM 363a - Creating Actor-Generated Works
DRAM 423a/b - Singing III Tutorials
DRAM 463a - On-Camera Acting Technique
DRAM 463b - Taming the Cyclops: How to Do Your Best Work in an On-Camera Audition
Class of 2023
Year Three (2021-2022)
DRAM 203b - Acting II: Plays of Extended and Heightened Language
DRAM 213a/b - Voice II
DRAM 223a/b - Second-Year Accents and Dialects
DRAM 243a/b - Alexander Technique II Tutorials
DRAM 263a/b - Clown
DRAM 273a - Character Analysis and Movement
DRAM 283a - Shakespeare Embodied
DRAM 405a - Advanced Principles of Stage Combat
DRAM 413a/b - Singing II Tutorials
DRAM 863a - Authentic Collaboration
Year Four (2022-2023)
DRAM 207b - Carlotta Tutorial
DRAM 233a - The Body on Set
DRAM 253a - Commedia
DRAM 303a - Acting III
DRAM 303b - Actor Showcase
DRAM 313a - Voice III Tutorials
DRAM 323a/b - Third-Year Accent and Dialect Tutorials
DRAM 343a/b - Alexander Technique III Tutorials
DRAM 363a - Creating Actor-Generated Works
DRAM 423a/b - Singing III Tutorials
DRAM 463a - On-Camera Acting Technique
DRAM 463b - Taming the Cyclops: How to Do Your Best Work in an On-Camera Audition
Class of 2022
Year Four (2021-2022)
DRAM 233a - The Body on Set
DRAM 253a - Commedia
DRAM 303a - Acting III
DRAM 303b - Actor Showcase
DRAM 313a - Voice III Tutorials
DRAM 323a - Third-Year Accents and Dialects
DRAM 343a - Alexander Technique III
DRAM 353b - Play and Story
DRAM 363a - Creating Actor-Generated Works
DRAM 423a/b - Singing III Tutorials
DRAM 463a - On-Camera Acting Technique
DRAM 463b - Taming the Cyclops: How to Do Your Best Work in an On-Camera Audition
DRAM 723a - Voices for Animation
DRAM 743b - Audition Workshop
DRAM 753b - On-Camera Workshop
DRAM 863a - Authentic Collaboration
Electives Offered
Please view the Bulletin of Yale University for the full list of electives and course descriptions.