Students learn to apply theories through frequent scene study. Movement courses define the individual actor's physical and mental mannerisms and broaden their range of non-verbal communication and creativity. Voice and speech training formally begins at the sophomore level with emphasis on relaxation, voice and breath awareness, phonetics, and diction. The junior level introduces classical stage speech with all its aspects of phrasing, intonation, and inflection. Accents and dialects are taught and used with a variety of texts.
Seniors continue vocal training with an emphasis on advanced work.
The junior and senior years constitute the upper division of the Professional Actor Training Program. A comprehensive movement program has also been designed to relate to different periods and styles. Upper division actors are also trained to become certified stage combatants. They are tested at the end of two quarters training by a fight master from the Society of American Fight Directors. In addition to studying singing, dance, and movement, acting students study theatre history, dramatic literature, English composition, natural science, and other courses in the social sciences and humanities.