Application deadline
19 June 2026
2026 cycle; 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
In-person Program
Intermediate Acting Summer Institute
UCLA’s acting intensive develops camera and stage technique through audition practice, improv, stage combat, and sketch comedy, with content creation for an acting reel.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
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Intermediate Acting Summer Institute at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
Diploma; Theater 20 or equivalent
Age range / Year group
Ages 18+
Location / Region
UCLA campus, Los Angeles, United States
Cost
$4,753; $5,625; $5,785
Duration
4 weeks
Format
In-person
Latest deadline
19 June 2026 · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Get next-cycle reminderArtFilm
Accommodation: Independently arranged
Campus experience: Hollywood studio trips; improv nights
Credit / Outcome: 8 UCLA units; letter grades
Tutors / Faculty: Actors and filmmakers
Daily activity window: 9:30 a.m.–10 p.m., with breaks
Coursework: Theater 123 and Theater 138
Intermediate Acting Summer Institute summary
UCLA combines camera and stage acting with audition technique, improv, stage combat, and sketch comedy. Students create content for an acting reel while developing more deliberate performance choices.
Guest workshops, Hollywood studio field trips, and improv nights add practical context beyond coursework. The strongest fit is an actor seeking sustained practice rather than a brief introduction to performing.
What is Intermediate Acting Summer Institute?
The Intermediate Acting Summer Institute is UCLA’s intensive training program for camera and stage performance. Offered through UCLA Summer Sessions and the School of Theater, Film, and Television, it combines acting classes with audition technique, improv, Kung Fu inspired stage combat, and sketch comedy.
Students work on understanding scripts, relating to the camera lens, and making specific choices in the audition room. They also create reel content and take part in guest workshops, Hollywood studio field trips, and improv nights.
Why Succeed highlights Intermediate Acting Summer Institute
Camera and stage training gives students a useful basis for comparing different performance demands.
Reel-content creation produces material students can develop beyond the classroom.
Theater 123 and Theater 138 connect practical training with formally graded UCLA coursework.
Instructors bring professional experience across theater, television, film, and filmmaking.
Who is Intermediate Acting Summer Institute for?
Best for
Actors with foundational study who want concentrated camera and stage practice, audition preparation, and reel material.
Not ideal if
You want a beginner introduction, a residential package, or training that fits around substantial daytime commitments.
Is Intermediate Acting Summer Institute worth it?
The program offers a clear practical case for actors who want to strengthen audition choices and work across camera and stage settings. Reel content and graded college coursework give students concrete ways to document their work.
The commitment is substantial once daily travel, accommodation planning, and additional fees are considered. Its value depends on how closely the training matches your current acting needs; transfer credit remains the receiving institution’s decision, and the program does not promise professional bookings.
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Cost and what is included
$4,753; $5,625; $5,785; includes Unit fees for Theater 123 and Theater 138., Eight units of UCLA coursework..
Accommodation
Independently arranged
Provider details
Review the UCLA Summer Sessions provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
4 weeks; UCLA campus, Los Angeles, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Intermediate Acting Summer Institute need?
Effort level
High.
Best started
Begin four to six weeks before the next announced application deadline, allowing up to three weeks for review.
Main challenge
Combining sustained performance work with a reliable daily commute.
Typical preparation
Check that your previous study meets the Theater 20 equivalency requirement.
Choose and rehearse a short contemporary monologue, then record a new audition with clear sound and framing.
Prepare your transcript and resume or artistic-experience description before starting the application.
Plan travel and lodging early, and bring a laptop.
Useful if
You want to test your readiness for university theater training or entertainment-industry work.
What do students do on Intermediate Acting Summer Institute?
You build camera and stage technique through practical acting study, audition preparation, and complementary performance disciplines. Coursework is accompanied by reel-content creation and activities that connect training with professional settings.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Develop script interpretation and specific acting choices through Theater 123 and Theater 138.
- 2
Practice audition technique and working with the camera lens.
- 3
Explore improv, Kung Fu inspired stage combat, and sketch comedy.
- 4
Create content for your acting reel.
- 5
Participate in guest workshops, Hollywood studio field trips, and improv nights.
Intermediate Acting Summer Institute dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Programme dates
12 July-7 August 2026
Enrollment deadline
10 July 2026
12 p.m. Pacific Time; separate from applying.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 19 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Programme dates | 12 July-7 August 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Enrollment deadline | 10 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
18 or older by the first day of Summer Sessions.
High school diploma or equivalent.
College, graduate, or professional student audience.
Completed UCLA Theater 20 or an equivalent course.
Digital audition and instructor consent required.
International students may enroll.
How much does Intermediate Acting Summer Institute cost?
Program fee
$4,753; $5,625; $5,785 — Student-status-dependent program fees include coursework unit fees.
Funding or discounts
- UC registration fee: $175 — Required where applicable; non-refundable.
- Non-UC registration fee: $350 — Required where applicable; non-refundable.
- Summer financial aid: Eligible UCLA and UC students — UCLA students use UCLA Summer Aid; visiting UC students apply through their home campus.
What's included
Unit fees for Theater 123 and Theater 138., Eight units of UCLA coursework.
How to apply to Intermediate Acting Summer Institute
- 1
Review the diploma, age, and Theater 20 equivalency requirements.
- 2
Use UCLA’s official institute application and select Intermediate Acting Summer Institute.
- 3
Upload your transcript and resume, or a description of theatrical or artistic experience.
- 4
Submit a new 1–1½ minute audition video following the monologue and slate guidelines.
- 5
Allow up to three weeks for an emailed admission decision.
- 6
If admitted, complete the agreement and waiver and follow the registration and program-fee payment instructions.
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What does Intermediate Acting Summer Institute cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Camera and stage acting
Develop acting technique for performance in front of the camera and on stage.
Script and audition technique
Interpret scripts and identify specific choices for preparing and connecting in the audition room.
Improv and sketch comedy
Practice improvisation and sketch comedy alongside the core acting classes.
Stage combat
Explore Kung Fu inspired stage combat as part of the performance curriculum.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Intermediate Acting Summer Institute?
A typical day during the program.
Classes and activities
Classes, activities, and breaks take place within the published daily window.
Daily commute
Participants travel to the UCLA campus for their program commitments.
Who teaches on Intermediate Acting Summer Institute?
The instructor roster includes Lorene Chesley for Theater 123 and Toccarra Cash, Avery Clyde, and Shannan Leigh Reeve for Theater 138. Their professional backgrounds span stage and screen acting, voiceover, directing, stunt performance, and filmmaking.
Where do students stay on Intermediate Acting Summer Institute?
Non-residential plan
- Commuter attendance: Students commute to the UCLA campus each program day.
- Independent housing: The institute does not provide on-campus housing.
- Separate hostel option: The department identifies UCLA Summer Hostel on the residence hill as an independent lodging option.
UCLA Summer Hostel is booked independently and requires proof of eligibility and age 18 or older.
What happens after Intermediate Acting Summer Institute?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Develop content for an acting reel.
Earn eight UCLA units through successful coursework completion.
Receive letter grades recorded on an official transcript.
Build training relevant to university theater study or entertainment-industry work.
Transfer credit is determined by the receiving institution; official transcripts must be requested.
Where does Intermediate Acting Summer Institute take place?
The program takes place on UCLA’s campus in the Westwood district of Los Angeles. The campus is served by local and regional transit, and students can purchase daily or summer-term parking permits.
Specific classroom locations are communicated to enrolled students closer to the program start.
Intermediate Acting Summer Institute FAQs
Classes cover acting, audition technique, improv, Kung Fu inspired stage combat, and sketch comedy. Participants also create content for their acting reel.
Applicants must have completed UCLA Theater 20 or an equivalent course. They must also hold a high school diploma or equivalent and meet the College/Professional Institute age requirement.
The institute is commuter-only and does not provide housing. The department identifies UCLA Summer Hostel as a separately booked option for eligible students aged 18 or older.
The department describes classes, activities, and breaks within a 9:30 a.m.–10 p.m. daily window. This is not continuous classroom instruction.
Theater 123 and Theater 138 carry four units each, for eight units total, with letter grades recorded on an official transcript. Credit transfer is determined by the receiving institution.
Record a new 1–1½ minute monologue in one take against a blank wall or door. A phone or tablet is acceptable, and the performer must be clearly visible and audible.
Students should bring a laptop.
International students may enroll and may qualify for an F-1 visa. Students subject to I-20 requirements must complete the applicable visa documentation and enrollment procedures.
Content reviewed by
Sean Stevens
Co-founder, Succeed | Founder, Immerse Education (2012–2026)
Sean works at the intersection of academic enrichment, program quality and university preparation, with expertise in evaluating pre-university experiences for ambitious secondary school students.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- Summer Sessions Housing | Housing
- UCLA Summer Housing – Spend Your Summer in Los Angeles
- Application Management
- Intermediate Acting | UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television
- International Student Information - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Fee Calculator - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Calendar and Deadlines - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Enrollment and Academics - UCLA Summer Sessions
- College/Professional Summer Institutes - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Registration - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Payment Information - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Fees, Payment and Financial Aid - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Enrollment and Academics - UCLA Summer Sessions
- FAQ - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Intermediate Acting Summer Institute - UCLA Summer Sessions
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)
Official program page reviewed
Admission requirements compared
Program dates checked
Fee variations reviewed
Commuter arrangements confirmed
College credit verified
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Intermediate Acting Summer Institute
by UCLA Summer Sessions
Upcoming
May qualify for the £300 Succeed Programme Award.
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