The Brandeis Acting Program aims to develop actors who are physically, vocally and imaginatively alive-actors with a strong sense of truth on stage and a craft that will support them in a variety of styles. The first year is centered on building a strong foundation. The acting curriculum is designed to engage the actor in a deeper use of self, physically, mentally and emotionally, and to integrate use of self with basic acting tools, and to apply these new skills and perceptions to text.
Speech work is aimed toward heightened awareness of sounds and their use in the English language.
Phonetics and its application to acting is introduced. Movement training focuses on alignment, relaxation, flexibility. Emphasis is placed on developing the physical imagination and creative use of space. Stage combat is a dynamic component of the movement training. First-year actors are not cast in productions until the second semester, when they participate in a first year project.