American Academy of Dramatic Arts

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a two-year performing arts school. It has two locations. The first is at 120 Madison Avenue, Manhattan, New York City. The second is at 1336 North La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, California. AADA is the oldest acting school in the English-speaking world. The 2015 tuition is $30,650. About 81% of those who apply are accepted. AADA is a private non-profit institution.

 History 
The academy in New York City was founded in 1884. Its purpose was to train actors for the stage. The landmark building was designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club. In 1974, the academy opened another campus in Pasadena, California. This made AADA the only professional actor training school in both major theatrical centers in the US. The Los Angeles campus moved from Pasadena to Hollywood in 2001.

Program
The academy remains dedicated to training professional actors. It offers a two-year program. Students have to be invited back for the second year. Auditions are held at the end of the second year for the third year company."The Academy's Approach"  on the AADA website As well as training for the theatre, it now offers courses in the movies and television. Students who graduate in New York receive an Associate of Occupational Studies degree. Students who graduate in Hollywood receive a Certificate of Completion or an Associate of Arts degree in acting. Students from New York and Los Angeles can get a Bachelor of Arts degree from selected universities.

 Notable alumni 
Notable alumni include:

 Hank Azaria
 Lauren Bacall
 Conrad Bain
 Anne Bancroft
 Diana Barrymore
 Laura Branigan
 Adrien Brody
 John Cassavetes
 Kim Cattrall
 Jennifer Coolidge
 Hume Cronyn
 Bob Cummings
 Cecil B. DeMille
 William Devane
 Danny DeVito
 Colleen Dewhurst
 Kirk Douglas

 Julia Duffy
 Christine Ebersole
 James Farentino
 Nina Foch
 Ruth Gordon
 Bruce Greenwood
 Anne Hathaway
 Dennis Haysbert
 Florence Henderson
 Judd Hirsch
 Kate Jackson
 Grace Kelly
 Johnny Knoxville
 Dina Merrill
 Elizabeth Montgomery
 Carrie-Anne Moss
 Sarah Paulson

 Tom Poston
 William Powell
 Robert Redford
 Don Rickles
 Thelma Ritter
 Jason Robards
 Eric Roberts
 Edward G. Robinson
 Gena Rowlands
 Paul Rudd
 Rosalind Russell
 Jaclyn Smith
 Loretta Swit
 Gene Tierney
 Spencer Tracy
 Claire Trevor
 Peter Weller

 References 

Category:Schools in Manhattan
Category:1884 establishments in the United States
Category:Schools in California
Category:Performing arts
Category:1880s establishments in New York (state)
Category:1884 establishments in California