Being able to see young talent from DC and around the country before they strike it big? Awesome. Being able to see some classic plays for free? Even better. The National Conservatory is DC's answer to the FAME school in Manhattan or the Berkley school in Boston. The main focus of the Conservatory is as a school, which teaches actors all aspects of working on stage, on TV or film. It hosts a few open houses a year as well as free "graduation" performances. The ticketed performances are reasonably priced, around twenty dollars a person. read more

National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was a student at the Conservatory and completed the two year program and then went on to be a member of the 3rd year repertory program. I can't say enough about the education I got here. I started off as a complete non-actor and after 6 semesters of study, I had an excellent foundational education as an actor. I went on to NYC and was an actor there for 8 years. I would recommend this school to anyone local or otherwise to develop an acting pedigree and prepare yourself for life as an actor. read more

I entered NCDA a miserable lawyer who had given up on himself; acting had always been a dream of mine but who was I to pursue my dreams? I left NCDA having discovered sides of myself I thought I had lost long ago, the happiest version of myself emerged through their process of acting. Attending NCDA was simply the most transformative experience of my life. Not only did I get the opportunity to learn from masters of their craft, I met lifelong friends along the way, who continue to shower me with support and love. If you're looking for the perfect combination of professionalism and never ending encouragement , look no further than NCDA! They will help you grow as an actor regardless of your prior experience. I went from having zero experience and playing a nervous professor in The Bug Play (Attend and you'll find out about it) to playing Iago in Shakespeare's Othello. Much love to NCDA!!! read more

National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This school is magic! I graduated May 2019 and I'm so thankful for the training I have received. Its the only accredited acting conservatory in D.C and much more financially feasible than similar programs in other cities. Your constantly being challenged and pushed to be great. Weather its comedy, realism, drama, Greek or Shakespeare. Your constantly growing. The more you energy and work you put in the more you get out of this program. Its so rewarding to watch you and your ensemble elevate week by week. The staff are all caring and genuinely want to see their students thrive. The staff are also all insanely talented actors who work in the DMV area. So you graduate with not only a better level of mastery of your craft but also an amazing network of colleagues and alum. Its truly become a second home for me. I've made friendships here that mean the world to me. Plus as alum you get access to use the building for rehearsal, self taping, or full on productions. And your more than welcome to retake any of the classes or seminars for free If your looking for a sign to to choose this school: THIS IS IT trust me you wont regret it read more

I am an Alumni of NCDA and the training I got there has helped me with my educational, work, and theater/film goals. The 2-year program offers the basic foundation of acting and film work and the 3rd year program offers you a more advanced training, at least 3 full plays that you can add to your resume, and a film reel. It is an accredited institution so you can get financial aid. The networking opportunities are amazing! I am so happy I made the decision to attend this school and I would highly recommend it. read more

What attracted me to this school is that it's accredited, probably the only accredited acting school in the area. So I guessed that they are organized and thorough and honest and you know what, they are! The teachers are extremely talented, knowledgeable, accommodating, caring, genuine and well connected. This is a school, but also a community, a family if you will; I still visit this school, serve and get involved whenever I can. There's so much to say, so in short: this school is simply the best! Good luck! read more

I completed the two-year program at the conservatory and I'm glad I did. As a bit of background, I had studied acting briefly at a major university known for its theatre program, but felt it was riding on a decades-old reputation and was no longer as strong as perhaps it once was. It seemed more concerned with faculty reputations and grooming a handful of favorite students than providing a solid foundation for all its students. (And damnably, I never saw so much as a one-hour seminar offered on anything related to the business of acting.) In contrast, the Conservatory's faculty is completely focused on giving every student dedicated attention. Small classes mean an excellent student to teacher ratio. The audition and business classes are particularly important, meaty, and useful for such a competitive industry. And the faculty continues to care, long after you're gone--I have asked advice of a number of staff members since graduating two years ago, and they are always extremely generous with their time and attention. The people who handle enrollment, financial aid, billing, etc. are also very responsive, helpful, and friendly. Classes include script interpretation, scene study, voice & movement (with a focus on Michael Chekhov), auditioning, business of acting, and rehearsal projects in Greek, Shakespeare, Commedia dell'Arte, Realism, and Absurdism. I loved every one of my classes and felt each was essential to the overall experience. The overall acting focus, which they call "the Job of the Actor" provides every student with a solid foundation in playing ACTIONS. Graduates can continue to attend seminars of interest, or audit classes if they'd like a refresher, and borrow from the play library. Graduates of the advanced program can even use the rehearsal and performance spaces for their own projects. Enrollment, currently, is not competitive. This would be the main disadvantage I could cite. However, if you have a dream of being an actor, have zero experience, and perhaps not even that much raw talent, you can get in and if you put in the work, they will make a decent actor out of you. For those with some experience who are looking for a more competitive environment, and hoping to learn as much from the other students as you do from the faculty, it's a bit of a crap shoot. Depends on who ends up in your classes with you. More aggressive recruiting could help here. The Conservatory clearly does not have much money, and that's a bummer. I would love to see a much more extensive, up-to-date, electronically cataloged play lending library. While the facilities are sufficient for the small classes, it would be awesome to have two larger, more versatile performance spaces than the cramped, column-blighted one they have now (not to mention a bit more room for costume, prop, and lighting storage, and set building and painting areas). Note that they are wholly focused on acting, with only minimal time given to other aspects of stagecraft, despite their name indicating they're a conservatory of dramatic "arts," plural. I would love it if I could get as thorough an education in stage management or directing, for example, as I did in acting. As far as I know, the Conservatory doesn't have any big name alumni despite its 30+ year history. I don't know why that is, because the education is excellent. Most of the graduates I know are very good to excellent actors. I do know that the current administration is fairly new. Maybe they are better than the previous generations of faculty, and then it's only a matter of time before some of these excellent actors hit the big time. read more

If you are serious about obtaining this education and committed to the process, then this is the place to be. It is not for those who are looking to take a class or two, or those who are not sure what they want to do. You will get out of it what you put in- on all levels - training, knowledge of the business, respect for the craft and others in the profession. I know because I attended NCDA, and it was the foundation on which I base my career. read more

I completed 4 semesters of the diploma program at NCDA, and went on to complete the ART program. I began my training in early 2005. I was initially most interested in the school when I learned that it was based on European conservatories and includes ongoing training in various disciplines needed for the craft of acting. At NCDA, actors train their bodies and their voices. They learn how to analyze scripts and most importantly, a technique that they can depend on to help them play their parts. The thing that clicked for me more than anything else is that technique. Its something I came to rely on in the many performance opportunities I had while there, and since, as a working actor. This is a conservatory...if you are not serious about the craft of acting, then you should not go here, period. There are plenty of places to just take a class, that's not what this is about. That's not to say that its all glum - the first time I walked in the building, before I ever applied - I noticed the warm atmosphere of the place. One meeting with Nan and I knew it was the place for me to be. Talking to her, my dream once again seemed possible. It became the center of my life, and after 2 years of hard work with great teachers who are working professionals, I realized it was one of the best decisions I ever made. read more

I graduated from the advanced acting program at NCDA in 2011. My experience as a student was positive, and I've also had a positive experience as an alum. The faculty continues to take an interest in the students even after they graduate, and that's been immensely valuable to me. They really want to see their students succeed. read more

As a graduate of the Conservatory, I can proudly say it was one of the best decisions of my life. The faculty and staff are all working actors and could not be more supportive, especially Nan Ficca. Nan makes you feel welcome from the minute you walk down the steps until the day you graduate. I graduated in 2005 and have been working professionally as an actor ever since, first in in the DC area and now in Los Angeles. For any one thinking about enrolling at the Conservatory I can say with out any reservation that you will not regret it!! read more

Enrolling at NCDA was easily the best decision I've ever made. They teach a system that will prepare you for a real career in the arts. The faculty are top-notch and the student-faculty ratio is low so you'll get lots of personalized instruction. I was a much better artist (and a much better person) when I finally graduated. read more

I have been very disappointed with the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. As a accredited school dedicated to teaching the art of acting, you would expect the institution to produce successful actors in the various forms of stage work. The school has produced little, if any known talent and wastes the time of actors trying to become successful. The National Conservatory is often spoken of as DC's version of the great schools such as Berkley in Boston. However, there is absolutely no comparison to be made. Berkley or Fame produces great talent who have learned to perfect their art through their studies at these institutions. The National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts spoils its talent. In addition, the cost of enrollment is ridiculously high given the caliber of education received. Most actors would be better off throwing the $7000 down the drain than spending it on attendance at this school. I would not recommend this school to any serious and motivated actor. read more

Attending the Conservatory was an incredibly rewarding experience. And not only because of the excellent training I got to be an actor, which is very thorough in covering both technique and the business side. I developed friendships with a number of talented people - both graduates and faculty - who I see working regularly all the time, and occasionally have been lucky enough to work with in productions. That network has also been very helpful since graduating. But I think the most important thing the school provides is support once you've completed the program. I've called or stopped in many times with questions or looking for guidance about something, and they are always happy to assist. I took classes many different places, but will always be grateful that the Conservatory was where I found a home. read more

Disclaimer up front. I am a graduate of the two year program at NCDA, and for the last 6 years have been a member of the faculty. That said, I cannot recommend this school highly enough for anyone who wants to get the necessary training to be a successful professional actor. Especially if your financial situation makes an MFA program (typically 25-50K per year for 2-3 years) an impossibility. NCDA is an accredited school, which allows access to financial aid, and the per semester cost is a fraction of that of MFA type programs. You can either join a day or night ensemble, allowing for flexibility for work and family commitments. Training includes theater training from Greek through Contemporary styles and texts, Voice & movement, Film & Camera Technique, as well as Auditioning and Business of Acting classes. In other words, the focus on the training is not just acting theory or performance, but all aspects of being a working, professional actor. The teachers are all working professionals in the theater and film community of DC and Baltimore who bring their real world experience to every class. NCDA supports alumni with opportunities to teach, perform, produce, network, and continue their education even long after graduation. Because the commitment is substantial, classes are small, which creates a family atmosphere for students and teachers. When I came to NCDA in 2007, I had a very inconsistent acting career. I had a certain amount of ability and a little training. But I had no comprehensive preparation, and knew next to nothing in the way of the practical aspects of being an actor. In the eight years since I graduated, I have been in a couple dozen commercials, training videos and other film projects, performed in plays from Shakespeare to Shear Madness, joined Actors' Equity, and taught acting and improv for thousands of students in DC and Baltimore. Since 2011, all my work has been directly connected to performing, teaching and directing scripted theater and improv. I'm not rich but I'm not broke either. It would be impossible for me to be where I am now without the amazing folks of NCDA. If you are serious about getting the necessary training to be a working actor, no place in DC is better than NCDA. read more

Hands down the only place in the world that I could ever imagine receiving an acting education! The staff cares about each an every student as if they were family. The educators are booth skilled and motivational. If you are looking for a place to really learn the craft of acting NCDA is for you !!! read more