Acting Essentials:
Preparing for a Role
Online Certificate Course
An iconic performance for stage or screen is the product of methodical, passionate preparation that goes beyond raw talent and happens largely out of view. The Juilliard School’s celebrated faculty and alumni bring you the definitive guide to preparing for THE role: whether you’re stepping into a Broadway lead, facing the lights on a Hollywood set, or bringing life to tomorrow’s media platforms. Build a foundation in acting craft, explore classic and contemporary techniques, and develop your own methodology for memorable performances.
100% Online. On Your Schedule.
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Industry Experts
Mark Olsen
Faculty, The Juilliard SchoolFight Choreographer, New York Shakespeare Company & Roundabout Theater
Wendell Pierce
Actor, Superman, The Wire, Jacy Ryan, Tremé 
Jo Mei
Faculty, The Juilliard SchoolActor, Crashing & The Good Wife
Brian McManamon
Faculty, The Juilliard SchoolActor, Gotham
Artistic Director, Shakespeare Academy at Stratford
Jimonn Cole
Faculty, The Juilliard SchoolActor, Oregon Shakespeare Festival & The Equalizer
Claire Karpen
Faculty, The Juilliard SchoolActor, New Amsterdam & Sylvia
Alexander Shaw
Faculty, The Juilliard SchoolActor, Merry Wives of Windsor & Julius Ceasar
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Program Overview
REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES
You’ll learn directly from Juilliard faculty, alumni, and working actors who share their journeys and approaches to classic and original roles.
GET STARTED NOW
100% online and on-demand course materials allow you to complete the certificate program on a schedule that works best for you.
BUILD EXPERTISE
You’ll learn directly from Juilliard faculty, alumni, and working actors who share their journeys and approaches to classic and original roles.
SET YOURSELF APART
Earn a Certificate of Completion from the world-renowned Juilliard School Extension. Add this credential to your resume to stand out and signal your commitment to the craft.
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Curriculum
Master authentic acting preparation. On YOUR schedule.
The program includes five online modules with related skill-building activities. Each module is 3-5 hours, broken into shorter lessons for maximum flexibility. Assignments and hands-on projects reinforce the knowledge and build your skills for real auditions, rehearsals, and roles.
Earn a non-credit certificate of completion from Juilliard Extension.
1 |
Discover what makes iconic performances captivating. Explore philosophies, histories, and traditions of acting, and learn how seasoned professionals ready themselves for the roles that define their careers. Go inside the rehearsal room with Juilliard faculty Claire Karpen and trained Juilliard students. |  |
2 |
Begin with the text—without fear. Learn time-honored close reading techniques and how to approach scripts “like a detective.” Build interpretations and uncover clues to character and intent, guided by experts and peer discussions. |  |
3 |
Bring the role to life through personal research and creative inspiration. Learn academic techniques, develop mood boards, tap into musical and visual cues, and connect with a character on a personal level. |  |
4 |
Get the play or film on its feet! Demystify the rehearsal process with flexible frameworks. Explore improvisation, animal work, and collaborative exercises as active tools for character development. |  |
5 |
Prepare to maintain and evolve your character through live runs, filming, auditions, and the realities of a modern acting career. Learn how professional actors sustain their spark and navigate the changing demands of the craft. |  |
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