Acting Essentials:
Preparing for a Role
Industry Experts
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 Extension. Add this credential to your resume to stand out and signal your commitment to the craft.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Approach any script with a methodical, repeatable preparation process.
- Analyze text closely to uncover character, motivation, and interpretation.
- Research and build a fully-realized character from the page up.
- Use rehearsal time and improvisation to deepen a performance.
- Prepare for both stage and screen performance.
- Build a sustainable life and career as a working actor.
Skills You'll Gain
Build Your Craft
The course is built around hands-on, project-based work, so you leave with a methodology you can recreate for any future role you're cast in.
Character Analysis & Script Breakdown
Read a text like a detective and map your character's clues and choices.
Research Dossier
Gather the research and inspiration that bring a character to life.
Rehearsal Plan
Design how you'll use rehearsal time to build the performance.
Performance Approach
Develop a ready-to-perform approach for stage or screen.
Your Personal Methodology
A repeatable preparation process you can apply to any future role.
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.
Great Acting: A Mirror Up to Nature
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.
Close Reading & Textual Analysis
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.
Research & Inspiration
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.
In Rehearsal
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.
Ready to Perform & After
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.
Results, Not Just Lessons
I recently got a new manager after sharing I did the course, which could have influenced her decision to work with me. I also booked a major supporting role on a vertical series after completing the course.
I firmly believe this course helped me land my first agency. I'm now a proud member of Evolution Talent.
I have gained more knowledge regarding becoming an actress and learned how to really dissect a script, learn from it, and use that research to play my role as best as possible.
I know much more about acting and the industry.
I've accepted a new job offer as Dance Program Director, Arts Integration Specialist, and Educator at a Middle School in the Greater Atlanta Area. This course has provided me with an added credential and credibility which has enhanced my resume and opened doors for performing arts related career opportunities.
Choose How You Pay
Same full course either way: 5 modules, real scenario projects, and your Juilliard Extension Certificate of Completion.
One-Time Payment
4 Monthly Payments
12 Monthly Payments
Have a discount code? Add it at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Actors at any stage who want a methodical preparation process for stage and screen, plus anyone serious about the craft of performance. No prior training is required.
Five self-paced modules. Most learners finish in well under 30 hours on their own schedule.
Yes. The course is 100% online and on-demand, so you can study on your own schedule from anywhere.
A non-credit Certificate of Completion from Juilliard Extension that you can add to your resume and casting profile.
No. The course is a basic-to-intermediate study of actor preparation, designed for newcomers and working actors alike.
Yes. Request the course catalog and a program advisor can walk you through payment options and any current offers.
Acting Essentials: Preparing for a Role includes five on-demand modules guiding students through the entire process of preparing for a role as an actor, emphasizing techniques in script analysis, research, rehearsal practices, and character development. Each course module takes 4 to 5 hours to complete and is broken into shorter lessons and activities that students work on at their own pace.
The course is taught by The Juilliard School faculty, supplemented with insights from working actors.
By the end of this course, you can expect to develop the ability to successfully analyze, interpret, and embody a character using professional acting tools and rehearsal strategies. You will gain confidence in script analysis, character development, and collaborative performance. Students who complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion from Juilliard Extension which can be added to your resume, CV, and LinkedIn profile.
Students must be at least 13 years old to enroll.
Enrollment includes unlimited access to all course videos and materials for one year from your enrollment date. If you need more time after that, you can pay a monthly subscription fee to extend your access.
Most major credit and debit cards are accepted, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. If you enroll outside the United States, tuition is charged in your local currency at the prevailing exchange rate.
You can withdraw within 24 hours of enrollment for a full refund. After that, you have up to 7 days to withdraw for a full refund minus a $100 cancellation fee. No refunds are issued after 7 days. Subscription plans can be canceled before your renewal date by emailing [email protected].
Tuition is $1,499 when paid in full. Two payment plans are also available at checkout: 4 monthly payments of $399 or 12 monthly payments of $139.
