New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
 On-Camera Acting School | |
| Motto | Developing Actors the Industry Wants To Work With Since 1980 |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1980 |
| President | Richard Omar |
| Students | 200 admitted per year |
| Location | 39 W 19th Street, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Campus | Urban |
| Nickname | NYCDA |
| Website |
www |
The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts (NYCDA) is a professional acting training conservatory in New York City for actors focusing on acting for film, television and theater. Originally conceived for the purpose of training actors for television commercials, the conservatory began offering AOS degrees (associate degrees in occupational studies) – a two-year curriculum in either acting for film & television or acting for musical theater.
NYCDA is an institutionally accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).[1]
History
Actors in Advertising, which grew into the School for Film and Television (SFT) and later became the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts (NYCDA), was founded in 1980 by Joan See. She also founded Three of Us Studios, a successful casting facility. She is the author of Acting in Commercials: A Guide to Auditioning and Performing On-Camera.[2] See began her acting career more than 50 years ago and appeared in more than 300 commercials. She worked with many actors, including Julia Roberts, Paul Newman and Eva Gabor. See also served as Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild New York City. Joan See passed away in April 2017.
1996 saw the accreditation of NYCDA by the National Association of Schools of Theatre, and in 2013 the institution began granting an Associate degree in Film & Television Performance. In 2017, The New York Conservatory gained accreditation to offer an Associate degree in Musical Theater Performance.
NYCDA's campus is located in Manhattan's Chelsea/Flatiron district. New York Conservatory housing is located at 81 E. 3rd Street, New York, NY 10003 in Manhattan’s East Village, a 20-minute walk from campus.
Programs
NYCDA's curriculum is grounded in the Meisner technique, pioneered by American master Sanford Meisner.
- Professional Training Program in Film & Television: an Associate degree program seeking to deliver a step-by-step approach to the technique and discipline of the camera actor in all media
- Professional Training Program in Musical Theater Performance: a two-year Associate degree program designed to build the skills necessary for musical theater performers, and the business knowledge required of a working professional.
- Post-AOS degree: Graduates can pursue NYCDA's Theater Certificate Program.
- The Summer in the City Program is a four-week intensive program that covers performance for television, film and musical theater.