donate now

Academy Admissions

Applicants for The Shakespeare Theatre Academy for Classical Acting at The George Washington University must hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning as well as demonstrate a strong foundation of study and practice in theatre and a willingness to undertake rigorous classical theatre training. All applicants must meet the requirements for graduate study at GW. Applicants without an undergraduate degree who have demonstrated professional commitment through their work in theatre are eligible to apply to the program; such applicants, if accepted, receive a Certificate of Completion in lieu of the MFA degree. Tuition and fees are the same for certificate and degree students.

Application Procedures

Applicants must submit the following to the George Washington University:

Complete an online application. For an application, click here and then click on “apply for admission.” If you have problems accessing an application or connecting to the GW website, please call 888.ACA.7004.
Pay a non-refundable application fee of $60
(do not send cash)
Request official or certified copies of academic records/transcripts to be sent to the George Washington University.

Mail To: The Academy for Classical Acting
516 8th Street SE
Washington , DC 20003

Send the following to ACA:

Current resume & headshot
Two letters of recommendation (one professional and one academic)
Copies of:
completed and signed application form
Statement of Purpose/Essay
Transcript (official or student)

(No GRE or other standardized test scores are required, except for international students, who must submit TOEFL scores along with the application.)

* Once your application is received, you will be contacted by the ACA to schedule an audition.

Audition Procedures
Auditions will be held in February 2009 in the following cities:

Chicago
San Francisco
New York
Washington D.C.

For the audition, please prepare two classical, contrasting monologues (from Shakespeare and in verse) that are 2-3 minutes each in length. Callbacks are held on the same day as your audition. If you are called back, you should have 1-2 additional classical monologues prepared as well as a contemporary piece. Those present at the ACA auditions may include Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company; Gary Logan, ACA Director; and Ellen O'Brien, ACA Voice and text Instructor.