Rocky Balboa may have gotten the statue, but he’s not the only icon from Philadelphia. From luminous Golden Age icons like Grace Kelly to modern-day A-listers like Will Smith and Bradley Cooper, the City of Brotherly Love has produced some of the most successful performers in Hollywood history. If you’re a Philly native or transplant looking to add your name to that list, you’ll need to up your skills first.
Here, we’ll run through six acting schools in Philadelphia that will make you a more well-rounded thespian.
Founded by Robert Carnegie and Jeff Goldblum in the 1980s in Los Angeles, Playhouse West is known for its top-tier programs, with many of its members becoming A-listers, such as Tessa Thompson and Ashley Judd. In 2012, Tony Savant, Playhouse West’s senior instructor and artistic director, established a branch in Philadelphia. “Playhouse West is not just a class; it is a school with a serious, intense, professional training program,” the program’s site says. “Our goal is to prepare actors to work professionally, at the highest levels of industry. [Actors] will also learn what it means to be a professional and what it will take to meet the rigors of this profession.”
Playhouse West-Philadelphia’s acting classes run year-round, offering lessons on fundamental exercises, script analysis, characterization work, and more. Before enrolling, prospective students must sit in and audit a class to better understand how the school trains actors. The program also specializes in classes such as Voice & Speech for the Actor, Film Lab (taught by award-winning filmmaker Robert Boyd), and Screenwriting Savant.
Founded by professional actor, director, and producer Bernard Glincosky, the Philadelphia Acting Studio helps performers find new ways to grow their skills. The studio offers a wide array of classes, including the six-week Intro Acting Accelerator for newcomers looking to book their first roles. Students can also access helpful digital learning resources, such as Glincosky’s 3 Biggest Mistakes Actors Make seminar. Philadelphia Acting Studio alumni have booked roles in M. Night Shyamalan’s horror film “Knock at the Cabin,” Tony Basgallop’s Apple TV+ series “Servant,” and Taylor Sheridan’s crime drama “Mayor of Kingstown.”
If your ultimate goal is to be onscreen, check out John Pallotta’s Actors Theater. Headed by seasoned coach Pallotta, who has trained under the likes of Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and Uta Hagen, this in-demand studio offers classes on auditioning, self-tapes, commercial improv, and more. In its On-Set Scene Study course, “students will be guided in applying more advanced acting techniques such as script analysis, character development, and imagination work,” the site says. “Physical, emotional, and intellectual blocks will be explored, to help the actor grow as an artist, eliminate bad habits, and develop as a storyteller.”
Alumni have appeared in numerous productions, including Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Fleabag,” and Netflix’s “The Crown” and “Stranger Things.”
Founded by former actor Bryan Fox, Actors Lab Philly helps launch the careers of students and actors of all ages and levels. Classes are based on a mix of techniques like Stanislavsky, Strasberg, and Meisner, but as the site says, instructors “don’t make or advise [their] students to subscribe to one belief only.” Instead, the Lab aims to cover every aspect of being a working actor, from the business of the industry to auditioning on camera, cold reading, and improv. Students have booked work with some of the world’s biggest studios and streaming services, including HBO, Hulu, Disney+, AMC, and Prime Video.
“I can not speak highly enough of how instrumental the Actor’s Lab class has been in my acting career,” said actor Johnath Davis (“Blue Bloods,” “FBI”). “I have been a part of this class for the last four years, and I have seen my skill set, creativity, and technique grow tremendously.”
Philadelphia has a rich scene dedicated to live comedy. If you’re eager to join that world, look no further than the Philly Improv Theater—that includes anyone still on the fence about their comedic abilities. The theater offers Intro Drop Ins, 90-minute sample workshops that offer a taste of more intensive classes.
For more seasoned performers, take a look at the Philly Improv Theater’s award-winning adult classes that are “designed to boost your confidence, quick thinking, and comedic skills.” PHIT also hosts more straightforward acting classes for those with improv experience looking to add to their toolkit.
If your child has dreams of acting, the Wolf Performing Arts Center is a great place to get them started. With weekly classes for children in pre-K (3–5 years old) through 12th grade, Wolf PAC covers a comprehensive range of skills for aspiring performers. This includes dance and sing-along for younger students, and writing, scene study, and stage combat for older children. In addition to classes, the school puts on a schedule of performances for all age groups to audition for, and offers private lessons in voice, acting, dance, musical theater, and audition technique.
