The 6 Best Acting Schools in Miami

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Photo Source: Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB/Shutterstock

Miami, Florida, is more than just sandy beaches and spring break: It’s also a bustling metropolis full of passionate creatives. Anyone who has spent time there knows there’s no shortage of opportunities for those willing to put in the work. But if you’re an aspiring or working actor in Miami, where do you go to hone your craft? In this article, we’ll highlight top-tier acting schools in Miami that offer a diverse range of classes and are led by experienced instructors, with alumni who have achieved notable industry success.

1. University of Miami - Theatre Arts
The Theatre Arts program at the University of Miami offers BFAs in performance, musical theater, theater management, stage management, and design/production, and a non-specific B.A. in theater arts. It boasts state-of-the-art performance and rehearsal spaces, including a mainstage proscenium and a flexible black-box space.

The program regularly hosts guest artists that have really made a name for themselves in their respective fields. Recent guests include the Tony-winning playwright-composer Jason Robert Brown, the Tony-winning actor André De Shields, and the incomparable Angela Lansbury. Actors Majel Barrett (who portrayed multiple characters on the “Star Trek” franchise) and Steven Bauer (of “Scarface” and “Ray Donovan” fame) are among the school’s impressive alumni roster.

2. Florida Atlantic University - Theatre & Dance
If the heat feels a little too on in Miami proper, FAU’s campus in Boca Raton is just an hour from the Magic City. Offering BFAs and MFAs in a variety of disciplines, there are opportunities for students at all levels to participate in some of the best new work in the country. Their department of theater and dance strives to be a “community of artists and scholars who believe in the collaborative exploration of the human spirit through the study, practice, and celebration of theatre and dance.” 

FAU’s Theatre Lab, headed by artistic director Matt Stabile, is one of the top new play-development incubators in the state, hosting such talents as John Guare, Marsha Norman, and Christopher Demos-Brown. Students have the opportunity to work with the professional residence company to gain invaluable hands-on experience both onstage and behind the scenes. Just ask Broadway star Marc Kudisch or comedian Carrot Top, who both attended FAU.

3. Florida International University - Theatre
Florida International University offers a B.A. and BFA in theater and performance studies. B.A. students have a more well-rounded liberal arts education that supports performance studies, while BFA students go on to take advanced acting courses, preparing them for a career in entertainment. The program only accepts between 10 to 14 new students per year, ensuring the cohort remains small and that each student has copious one-on-one time with faculty.

FIU students can elect to major in performance, musical theater, or design, as well as minor in theater or dance. The curriculum is designed to ensure that students have a variety of methods in their arsenal, including Stanislavsky, Meisner, and on-camera acting and audition techniques. “Law & Order: SVU” fan favorite Danny Pino and actor-playwright Apphia Campbell refined their performance abilities at FIU.

4. New York Film Academy, Miami
The New York Film Academy is a renowned school for hands-on film training—and it has a campus in South Beach, offering a BFA and MFA in acting for film, as well as several certificate programs. What’s unique about NYFA is that it’s totally immersive: You can expect to learn from working professionals in the world of film and TV, such as director Mark Mocahbee and casting director Lori Wyman, and hone your craft by working on cinematic projects.

NYFA Miami is an especially strong choice for someone who’s passionate about the film- and TV-making processes as a whole, since NYFA graduates not only act in films but write, direct, and edit them, as well. Students also have the unique opportunity to visit NYFA’s satellite campuses across the globe, including in Australia, Italy, and, of course, New York and Los Angeles. Alumni of the school’s global campuses include Emmy winner Bill Hader (“Barry”) and Emmy nominee Issa Rae (“Insecure”).

5. The Miami Acting Studio
Geared toward working professionals looking to brush up on their skills, the Miami Acting Studio will teach everything you need to know to build a career in the performing arts. It even offers a free trial class so that you know what you’re getting prior to signing up.

Headed by filmmaker Ralph Kinnard (“Miami Love Affair,” “Recipe of Love”), the studio guides its students through practical elements so that you leave armed with headshots, a great couple of monologues, and an amazing demo reel to help you land work as a professional actor.

6. Take One Studio
The acting academy at Take One Studio offers courses for kids, teens, and adults covering theater, film acting, voiceover, dance, comedy, and commercial acting. Programs are self-paced, meaning that students can begin and end when they feel ready.

Take One welcomes actors of any skill level, with the promise that they’ll leave with a strong foundation of performance techniques. Its diverse array of class offerings and times means it’s possible for even the busiest working professionals to fit in one (or a few!).