The Huntington Academy
The Huntington Academy is open for students of all ages to learn, play, and engage with the theatrical arts. Courses, workshops, corporate training, and more will be added to The Academy’s catalogue throughout the season.
Academy courses provide an opportunity for students of all ages to explore playwriting and performance. Led by industry professionals, Huntington Academy students will also develop essential life skills through theater games, scene work, and performance. Discover and cultivate your acting skills, unlock your creative problem-solving skills, gain a deeper understanding of the theatre industry, and more in these courses.
Course Offerings:
Age: Adult (18+)
Instructor: Jesse Garlick
Tuition: $350
Recommended Experience: This course is designed for adults with a degree/certification in theatre arts, acting, and/or performing arts, or equivalent professional experience.
Dates: Mondays 6-8:30pm and one Saturday 10am-12:30pm
9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/18, 10/20
*No session on 10/13 for Indigenous Peoples Day
Description:
Get ready to explore deep, play hard, and bring scenes to life in this high-energy course!
Led by professional actor and educator Jesse Garlick (The Band’s Visit at The Huntington), this course is all about sharpening your skills through rich character work, emotional honesty, and powerful scene study.
Through a mix of dynamic exercises, including sense memory, active listening, and character motivation, you’ll explore new ways to connect with your scene partners and the text. Guided by Jesse’s expert coaching, you’ll rehearse selected scenes in a collaborative, rehearsal-style setting where feedback is all about growth, discovery, and giving space to take creative risks.
Whether you’re looking to deepen your technique or just want to have a blast growing as an actor, this course is a chance to stretch your instrument, explore fresh approaches, and build something amazing with your fellow performers in a professional and safe environment. It all leads up to a final scene sharing—part performance, part celebration of your work and the journey you’ve taken to get there.
Age: Adult (18+)
Instructor: Susan Thompson
Tuition: $350
Recommended Experience: No previous performance/theatre experience is required.
Dates: Wednesdays 6-8pm
9/10, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29
Description:
Get ready to tumble headfirst into the wonderfully weird world of clowning. In this high-energy, joy-fueled course, you’ll explore the playful heart of comedy through improvisations, games, status exploration, costumes, song and dance, and glorious moments of delightful disaster.
Led by Lecoq-trained teacher, director, and theatre artist Susan Thompson, this class is your personal playground to uncover your unique clown persona. Along the way, you’ll laugh, flop, connect, and create with your fellow fools, culminating in a final sharing that showcases your collaborative clown brilliance.
No experience required — just bring your curiosity, your willingness to look silly, and your most honest self. Leave your ego at the door and bring your heart to the floor. It’s time to clown around!
Age: Adult (18+)
Instructor: Angie Benitez, in partnership with The Click
Tuition: $300
Recommended Experience: Previous performance, movement, and/or theatre experience is recommended, though not required.
Dates: Tuesdays 6-8pm
10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18
Description:
In partnership with The Click, this course aims to support performers in connecting and expressing their inner emotions and thoughts through physicality, dance, and devising. Students will explore how movement qualities and rhythms can convey relationships, characters, and stories. Throughout this course, there will be offerings of movement prompts and accessible contemporary dance exercises. Students will use images, music, and poetry as stimuli to create meaningful movement compositions individually and collaboratively. Led by dancer and educator Angie Benitez from The Click, students will be invited to build a new language of cross-disciplinary artistic expression by creating more grounded and truthful performances.
To learn more about The Click, visit their website or follow them on Instagram @the.click.boston
Age: Adult (18+)
Instructor: Jalyse Ware
Tuition: $325
Recommended Experience: No previous performance/theatre experience is required.
Dates: Mondays 6-8pm
10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8
Description:
Ready to loosen up, laugh out loud, and think on your feet?
Led by dynamic theatre artist and performer Jalyse Ware (recently seen in Boston Ufot Family Cycle play #5, Kufre n Quay, at Boston Arts Academy), this high-spirited introduction to improvisation is perfect for anyone curious about the art of making it up as you go. Through various games, creative challenges, and laugh-until-you-snort moments, you’ll build the core skills of improv — listening, collaborating, trusting your instincts – and, yes – discover the joy of saying yes, and….
Whether you’re an actor, a comedian, a curious creative, or just someone looking to shake things up and have some fun — all are welcome. No script, no problem. Let’s play!
Age: Adult (18+)
Instructor: Oliver Rizzo
Tuition: $350
Recommended Experience: No previous performance/theatre experience is required.
Dates: Thursdays 6-8pm
10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11
Performance on 12/15
*No session on 11/27 for Thanksgiving
Description:
Under the umbrella program EPIC: Empowered Performers in Conversation, this course is for actors ready to explore their physicality, ensemble work, and creative writing! Using current events as inspiration, you’ll collaborate with peers to create an original theatre piece using devised techniques—with a focus on social activism.
Together, you’ll craft characters, text, and blocking, all while pushing your creativity and taking bold risks. At the end of the semester, you’ll perform your work at the EPIC: Festival, celebrating your creations alongside fellow performers!
Ready to create something EPIC? Let’s get started!
Course Payment, Cancellation, and Refund Policies
Full payment is due at the time of registration. Please check each course description for pricing. The Huntington accepts debit cards and all major credit cards for payment. If you would prefer to mail a check, please email us at academy@huntingtontheatre.org before completing your purchase online.
This course requires a minimum of 8 students to be registered 14 days before the first session. The Huntington will provide you a full refund of your tuition if the course does not run. If you cancel with at least 21 days’ notice from the start of the course, you will receive a 75% refund. If you cancel between 14-20 days prior to the start of the course, you will receive a 50% refund. If you cancel with less than 14 days notice, you will not receive a refund.
Once you have completed the registration purchase, you will receive an email from The Huntington’s Education Department to complete all required paperwork for the course. Payment and completion of this paperwork is required to complete registration. The Huntington reserves the right to release your spot if registration is not completed within 7-days of purchase.
If you have any questions, please email us at academy@huntingtontheatre.org
