Online Acting Classes: What You Can Learn and 8 Live Options

What You Still Need a Room For

A screen flattens some things. Physical work is the first. Stage combat, partner movement and big ensemble exercises are hard to teach through a laptop camera. Voice work also loses something, because video compresses sound and you cannot feel a teacher’s breath in the room.

The other gap is contact. Acting is reacting, and a scene partner on a screen is a different experience from a person two feet away. Many actors split their training for this reason. They take online acting classes for camera work and audition prep, then add an in-person class when they can. Our guide to acting classes near me helps you find a local option, and do you need acting school explains when formal study pays off.

Formats of Online Acting Classes

The label “online” covers very different products. Knowing which one you are buying matters more than the name of the school.

Live group online acting classes

A teacher and a small group meet at a set time on Zoom. You perform, you watch others, and you get notes on the spot. This is the closest thing to a studio class, so the list below focuses on it.

Recorded and self-paced courses

You watch videos on your own schedule. They are fine for theory, such as technique lectures. However, nobody sees your work, so they cannot replace a class where someone responds to what you do.

One-on-one online acting coaching

A private coach works on your audition, monologue or scene, often on short notice. It suits you when you have a callback tomorrow, or when one skill needs extra work. Several studios below offer coaching next to group classes.

Online acting classes for self-tapes and auditions

These teach you to perform for the camera, set up your space and send a clean tape. If you want the technical side first, read our guide to how to record a self-tape.

Short intensives

An intensive packs a lot into a few days. Also, it suits you if you cannot commit to weekly sessions, or if you want to try a school before a longer program.

How to Choose Online Acting Classes

First, think about your goal. Screen auditions call for a different class than a stage monologue, and a beginner needs a different room than a working actor. Then look at the details on each school page.

• Is the class live and interactive, or pre-recorded? Both exist, so read the description.
• How big is the group? Small groups mean more time in front of the camera.
• Does the teacher have a real, searchable acting or coaching history?
• Does the page list levels, prerequisites or an application? Honest schools place you by experience.
• Is there a trial class or a free intro call? That lets you test the teacher first.
• What is the commitment? Some studios ask for a minimum number of months, so ask before you enroll.

Next, check your setup. You need a quiet room, a camera at eye level, steady light on your face and an internet connection that holds for two hours. A phone on a stand works for most classes. Ask the school if it has specific requirements.

Finally, compare two or three schools. Our broader guide to how to choose acting classes covers teachers, class size and trial sessions in more depth. If voice over interests you, see our list of voice acting classes.

Red Flags in Online Acting Classes

The online world is crowded, and some offers exist only to take your money. So walk away from any of these.

• A promise of work, an agent or a role in exchange for tuition
• Pressure to pay today because a “spot” is about to disappear
• A required headshot session, demo reel or package from the school’s own vendor
• Classes with no named teacher and no description of what you will do
• A “casting call” that turns out to be a paid class

Some legitimate studios also sell sessions with casting directors or agents. Treat those as audition practice, not as a path to representation. Nobody can guarantee you an agent. For the full list of scams, read our guide on how to spot a fake casting call.

Eight Places That Teach Online Acting Classes Live

These are options to consider, not a ranking. Every entry comes from the school’s own site, and every link goes to the official page. Programs change, so confirm the level, schedule and requirements there.

Stella Adler Studio of Acting

The New York conservatory lists Online Acting for Film & Television, an eight-week class for intermediate students. It meets weekly for two hours. You apply online and submit a video of a contemporary, realistic monologue or a demo reel, so it is not an open-enrollment class. The same site also lists virtual information sessions for the Studio’s programs. See the Stella Adler Studio’s online page.

RADA

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London runs two five-day online intensives for ages 18 and up. Storytelling covers voice, movement and text analysis. Monologue Workout builds a portfolio of speeches for auditions and self-tapes, using techniques from Stanislavski, Hagen and Meisner. Neither requires an audition. Groups are capped at 14 and sessions run in UK time, so check the hours against your time zone. See the RADA short courses page.

Ivana Chubbuck Studio

The Los Angeles studio teaches the Chubbuck Technique, a scene-study method, and posts a Zoom schedule with introductory, advanced and master classes. Its FAQ says classes meet once a week and that placement depends on your resume. Many actors begin in the introductory level. See the online class schedule.

Margie Haber Acting Studio

This Los Angeles studio teaches on-camera acting on Zoom, with the focus on auditions and self-tapes. New students start in an intensive, such as the Virtual Foundation Intensive, and then can join an ongoing class. It places students from beginner to master level by experience. It also has online classes for teens. See the Margie Haber online classes page.

The Heller Approach

Brad Heller’s studio teaches live on Zoom, and its page says sessions are not recorded. Group classes cover cold reading, audition technique, scene study and character development. Private coaching covers audition prep, monologues, scene work and on-camera performance. It welcomes beginners and working actors, and it offers a free intro class. See the Heller Approach online classes page.

Colorado School of Acting

Based in the Denver area and Colorado Springs, this school also teaches online via Zoom. Weekly workshops run for adults 18 and over and for tweens and teens 10 to 18, and trial workshops are available. An Elite program meets on Saturdays on Zoom, and you sign up to audition for it. See the Colorado School of Acting online page.

Actor’s Edge

Actor’s Edge is a Los Angeles studio that says its live Zoom classes match what you would get in person. It lists an ongoing adult class on Monday evenings (Pacific time), a youth and teen Zoom class, and private coaching for all ages. The page also states a three-month minimum enrollment, so read the terms. See the Actor’s Edge Zoom page.

Studio for Performing Arts LA

The studio offers live Zoom training in film and TV acting, scene study and audition preparation, led by working industry professionals. Its page says all experience levels are welcome. Online options include a multi-week scene study, one-on-one coaching and free webinars. See the Studio for Performing Arts online page.

Living in a city with a strong scene? Our local guides cover acting classes in NYC and Los Angeles, and many of the studios above also teach in person.

Getting the Most From Online Acting Classes

First, show up early and test your sound and light. Also, wear solid colors that do not blend into your background. Keep your camera at eye level and mute notifications. Then treat the class like a rehearsal, not a lecture.

Between sessions, practice what you learned, because repetition is what sticks. Record yourself doing the same scene and compare it to your first take. If you need material, our list of monologues for auditions is a good start. Teens who want to begin should also read our guide for teen actors, and current castings show where to use your new skills.