The National Alliance of Acting Teachers is proud to partner with ACTF to recognize exceptional teachers of acting—who will receive membership in our organization and one of whom will be awarded the National Alliance Outstanding Acting Teacher Fellowship to attend the Alliance’s Teacher Development Program this summer.

ACTF Fellowship

Congratulations on your National Alliance of Acting Teachers’ Acting Teacher of Excellence Award!

Each of the eight regional recipients will receive an Acting Teacher of Excellence certificate, one year’s guest membership in the National Alliance of Acting Teachers, and will be invited, with registration fees paid, to attend the annual National Congress presented by the National Alliance of Acting Teachers in New York, June 12-14, 2026.

In addition, you are invited to apply for the National Alliance Outstanding Acting Teacher Fellowship to our Teacher Development Program which covers full tuition. Please ensure you are available to attend either the LA or NY program.

Application Deadline is March 20, 2026. Apply Now.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

The recipient of the National Alliance Outstanding Acting Teacher Fellowship will be announced at the end of March. That teacher will receive a full tuition fellowship to attend the Teacher Development Program. Now in its 30th year, the Teacher Development Program is a 11-day intensive devoted to the craft of teaching acting, with locations in both Los Angeles and New York City. The dates for the two Teacher Development Programs are May 26 – June 6, 2026 in Los Angeles, presented in collaboration with the USC School of Dramatic Arts; and June 15 – 27, 2026 in New York, presented in collaboration with The Juilliard School. (Please note that travel and housing are not included.)

Application Materials

Teaching CV

Acting Resume

Written Statement

1-2 pages about your own teaching and approach to the craft, as well as why you wish to attend the Teacher Development Program.

More information on the National Alliance of Acting Teachers, the National Congress, and the master teachers who will be teaching in this year’s Teacher Development Program can be found at ActingTeachers.org.

Professor Celena Sky April of Salem State was the inaugural recipient of the National Alliance Outstanding Acting Teacher Fellowship and had this to say about her experience –

“The TDP was experiential, immersive, deep and delightful. It is a brilliant structure with Master Teachers who continue even now as generous companions along my journey of teaching and making theatre. Profound and at the same time wonderfully practical: concepts we explored at TDP have been embraced by my entire department; and handouts and exercises we learned are relished by my students. The work we shared at TDP LA 2019 has transformed my entire landscape of university theatre. TDP rocks!”

Please contact Jane McPherson, Managing Director of the Alliance, with any questions:

jmcpherson@actingteachers.org / (310) 850-6448.