AMDA News

The latest issue of The AMDA Magazine is now available online! [more]

AMDA earns the #2 spot on Playbill.com's Big 10 2022 List: The 10 Most Represented Colleges on Broadway in the 2021-2022 Season [more]

In case you missed it, we recently made a major announcement – AMDA officially debuted an entirely online BFA Music Theatre Degree Program. Learn more! [more]

Recently, we shared some very exciting news – AMDA officially launched the BFA Acting (Online) Degree Program, making us the first institution in the nation to offer this educational initiative. [more]

AMDA College of the Performing Arts Sends Six Recent Graduates to The Town Hall in New York City for the First Broadway Rising Stars Event in Three Years. [more]

AMDA College has answered the call to action to provide accessible performing arts education to everyone, everywhere with the launch of the first fully online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Music Theatre degree programs in the country. [more]

AMDA Featured in Education Magazine’s 10 Most Prominent Arts and Science Colleges of 2022. [more]

AMDA alumni and stars of Broadway's Hamilton visit our NYC campus for an in-depth discussion about how they got their starts after graduating AMDA, navigating the entertainment industry, and practical advice for today’s artists. [more]

We are outraged at the recent senseless attacks on members of the Asian Community. As a community of diverse creative artists, we understand the responsibility we all share in speaking out against all forms of violence and injustice when they occur. We acknowledge that is our diversity and our individuality that makes us who we are as people and as artists. [more]

3/1/21 UPDATE: See the list of AMDA alumni featured in major award categories, including two shows that won in their respective categories! [more]

We are so excited to announce our AMDA class of Fall 2020’s Virtual Commencement Ceremony this weekend! [more]

Congratulations to all AMDA Alumni Featured in 2021 NAACP Awards Nominations! [more]

Congratulations to all AMDA Alumni in productions nominated for 2021 Critics Choice Awards! [more]

AMDA Alumni Featured in 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations! [more]

AMDA Alumni Featured In 2021 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Nominations! [more]

Today, February 1, marks the start of Black History Month – a time specifically set aside by our nation to celebrate the history and innumerable achievements and contributions made by Black Americans to our culture, society, and country. It is a time for all of us to recommit ourselves personally and as a community to equality, diversity, inclusion, and justice. [more]

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared, “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there ‘is’ such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.” [more]

Niche.com has ranked AMDA #1 College for Performing Arts in America for 2021! [more]

Congratulations to all AMDA alumni in nominated categories for 2021 Grammy Awards! [more]

AMDA's National Director of Creative Programming, Marina Benedict, answers Backstage’s ongoing questionnaire as part of the "Reaching Higher" series! [more]

The AMDA On Broadway! series sits down with AMDA Alumnus Albert Guerzon ’00 to discuss his Broadway debut in MAMMA MIA! and forging one’s own path in the performing arts! [more]

To honor our AMDA graduates this Summer 2020 semester, we hope you can join us for the upcoming celebration of the inspiring work and accomplishments of our graduating students. [more]

Broadway may be dark for the foreseeable future, but the show must go on for the Tony Awards. [more]

This week, the AMDA On Broadway! series takes a walk down memory lane with AMDA Alumnus Kyle Taylor Parker ‘08. Learn about Kyle’s “why” for being an actor, his journey to Broadway, and producing his debut solo album Broadway Soul. [more]

The AMDA On Broadway! series continues this week with AMDA Alumni Monica Cioffi ’15 AND Brittany Conigatti ’10, the choreographic team behind the A Bronx Tale national tour. Learn how Monica and Brittany transitioned into the world of musical theatre as multi-talented triple threat performers. [more]

Up next in our AMDA On Broadway! series, AMDA Alumna and Broadway star of COME FROM AWAY and ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, KENITA MILLER ‘00 discusses her illustrious career on Broadway and aspirations for the future! [more]

AMDA Alumna and Waitress star Stephanie Torns shares her incredible journey from children’s theatre, to the Wicked national tour, to starring as “Jenna” in Broadway’s Waitress. [more]

The On Broadway! series shines a spotlight on several alumni and how their time at AMDA has impacted their careers on Broadway and beyond. The launch of this series features alumnus and HAMILTON star Christopher Jackson.  [more]

AMDA Alumnus Jeremy Pope, has been nominated for an EMMY, Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie category, for his role in Netflix’s HOLLYWOOD! [more]

AMDA Exclusive! Industry Spotlight with Martin and Jesse Kove [more]

We know the past few months have been an especially stressful time for you as international students and we want you to know that we care so deeply and are standing by ready to assist and support you. [more]

Experience the original Broadway Production of HAMILTON starring AMDA Alumni Christopher Jackson and Anthony Ramos! [more]

AMDA Performance Choir performs in "Dear Class of 2020" Youtube Livestream! [more]

AMDA's Spring 2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony took place on Saturday, May 30th at 1:00PM EST, 10:00AM PST. [more]

AMDA Alumni Catarina Kirst and Murilo Souza Ohl along with AMDA LA student Hosea Mundi, have advanced to the TOP 15 in BroadwayWorld’s Next on Stage Competition! [more]

AMDA Alumni, Broadway sensation, and star of Netflix's 'Hollywood', Jeremy Pope, is on the cover of the current issue of Backstage Magazine. [more]

AMDA alumna Caissie Levy performs on ABC’s Disney Sing-a-Long last night as part of a virtual Disney On Broadway ensemble singing “You’ll Be In My Heart” [more]

Learn all about AMDA's virtual audition process and how to prepare yourself in this Facebook Live Workshop replay featuring AMDA Alumna and Broadway triple-threat, J. Elaine Marcos! [more]

In celebration of its 65-year legacy, the Drama Desk Awards will be announced during a presentation of NY1’s On Stage May 31 at 7:30 PM. The awards will also stream on NY1.com and DramaDeskAwards.com. [more]

Check out all of the fabulous costumes worn by AMDA students this year. [more]

AMDA RANKS #4 on Playbill’s Big 10! [more]

Each summer AMDA welcomes high school students from around the world to our New York City and Los Angeles campuses to get a first hand look at what it’s like to be a student at one of the country's foremost performing arts institutions. [more]

  March is Women’s History Month, a month which commemorates and encourages the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. [more]

This past spring, AMDA alumna Janaye Furman made history by becoming the first African American woman to model the opening look for Louis Vuitton. We caught up with Janaye to discuss life after Louis Vuitton and her future plans as a model and performer. [more]

Leaving home to attend school is a big step, especially when leaving your home country to do so. We’ve sat down with AMDA’s own Dominique Franceschi Suescun, an international student from Colombia currently studying at AMDA Los Angeles, and discussed her personal experiences and advice on how to prepare for studying abroad. [more]

AMDA has been named #4 on Playbill’s top ten colleges currently being represented on Broadway. [more]

AMDA alumna and working actor Karlee Squires shares her personal experiences as a performer and tips on preparing for auditions. [more]

We recently sat down with AMDA alumna Karlee Squires to discuss ways of promoting yourself as a performer. Below are her tips for taking your performing arts career to the next level. [more]

Congratulations to our AMDA Rising Stars! Town Hall presents Broadway Rising Stars. [more]

AMDA alumna, Caissie Levy, will play the lead role of Elsa in the brand new musical adaptation of Disney’s Frozen. Disney’s Frozen, the film, won two Oscars in 2014: Best Song for “Let It Go” and Best Animated Feature.  The Broadway production is set to open at St. James Theatre in the spring of 2018. [more]

AMDA Alumni continue to be active and engaged in exciting performance opportunities. Here are some of the highlights! [more]

With the recent announcement of the 2016 Tony Award nominations, AMDA is pleased to report that ten of our numerous alumni on Broadway are performing in Tony-nominated productions! Spearheading the nominees is alum... [more]

To save actors from losing precious time—and sanity—Megan partnered with her husband Matthew Rybicki to release Bookster, a new app that redefines the convoluted audition process.

Available on the iTunes store, Bookster helps actors discover, manage and map their theatre auditions. Currently designed for iPhone users, Bookster offers a real-time list of daily auditions, which users can organize, take notes on and discuss with other actors via the app’s interface.

[more]

AMDA faculty Marina Benedict (“Flesh and Bone,” “Torchwood”) has been cast opposite returning stars Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell in Fox’s highly anticipated “Prison Break” revival, a nine-episode mini-series following the original award-winning action drama. [more]

Training a machine gun platoon in the heart of Australia, AMDA stage combat instructor Charles Currier found himself face-to-face with executive producer Tom Hanks, who wished to speak to the military tech team about his vision for HBO’s Emmy-winning miniseries “The Pacific.” “If this doesn’t look like documentary footage shot in HD from 1945,” Hanks said, “I’m sending you all home. Your job is to make it look... [more]

After 13 years of Broadway musicals, national tours and world premieres, Caissie Levy has landed more dream roles than most actors score in a lifetime: She’s played Maureen (Rent), Penny Pingleton (Hairspray), Elphaba (Wicked), Sheila (Hair), Molly (Ghost the Musical), and Fantine in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables. When not performing some of the greatest female roles known to Broadway, Levy’s out teaching students at AMDA New York, doing voiceovers for countless commercials or performing songs in concert from her debut solo album With You. [more]

Sitting in AMDA’s studio with iced coffee in hand, Madeline Brewer recounts her nerve-wracking audition for Netflix mega-series “Orange is the New Black”: “I auditioned with shaking hands, staring directly into the camera—it was crazy. I left and called my mom and sobbed for 20 minutes: ‘I’m never doing that again. That was the worst audition of my life. I’m not cut out for this TV thing... I’m not doing it.’” [more]

Alexander Hamilton: 18th century politician, founding father, freestyle rapper. Wiping the dust off American history books, Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) created his new musical Hamilton, which transitioned from its sold-out Off-Broadway run to appear before Broadway audiences for the first time in August. The production stars AMDA alumni Christopher Jackson (George Washington) and Anthony Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), both of whom originated their roles in the world premiere at New York City’s Public Theater. [more]

Just months after earning her BFA in Music Theatre from AMDA, alumna Briana Rapa was cast as one of Disney’s most beloved characters: Belle in the international tour of Beauty and the Beast. Rapa landed the cherished role after receiving an audition from her agent, who signed her on after seeing her perform at AMDA... [more]

The Winter 2016 edition of AMDA Magazine is now available online! This issue features AMDA alumni who currently star in Broadway’s hit musical Hamilton. Merging hip-hop with history, Hamilton paints America’s founding figures in a modern light, offering audiences a new perspective on the men and women who... [more]

AMDA is pleased to announce four outstanding alumni who have received nominations for the 2016 MAC Awards: Congratulations to Lennie Watts, Myriam Phiro, Jennifer Pace and William T.N. Hall! Hosted by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC), the MAC Awards pay tribute to artists, directors and producers who specialize in... [more]

Want to learn to sing? Here are three tips to develop smart practice techniques and unlock your potential as a vocal artist while keeping your instrument healthy. [more]

In a landmark production, Sheridan will perform on the Lyric Theatre stage in Paramour, a show-stopping musical marking the Broadway debut of entertainment titan Cirque du Soleil. Set in the golden age of 1940s Hollywood, Paramour spins the alluring tale of movie star Indigo, a glamorous beauty who finds herself trapped between love and silver screen stardom. [more]

Immense congratulations to alumnus Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who after eight years will return to perform on Broadway in Becky Mode’s culinary comedy Fully Committed! Jesse will play not one but 40 different characters of various ages, genders and ethnicities packed into one 90-minute performance. [more]

Shattering all previous records, AMDA alumni took Broadway by storm in 2015/6 with 40 graduates performing in 37 unique shows, landing AMDA once more among the nation’s top theatre schools! [more]

Working on a cruise ship can be incredibly rewarding...and taxing. AMDA alum John Dempsey explains the pros and cons of cruise ship performance as he prepares to set sail on the largest cruise ship in the world for nine months to star in Cats. [more]

Setting AMDA history, alumna Lulu Lloyd has become the first graduate from AMDA Los Angeles to make her Broadway debut! After graduating from the Studio Conservatory program, Lulu now rocks the Winter Garden Theatre as Swing and Assistant Dance Captain in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock, performing alongside fellow alumna Mamie Parris (Patty). [more]

“What was I going to do as a business major? I don’t even know. I had all these weird ideas of being an event planner.” [more]

Christopher Jackson’s spitting rhymes for charity. At the 27th annual Gypsy of the Year Competition, Hamilton star and AMDA alum Jackson took the stage with Lin Manuel Miranda and Wayne Brady in a freestyle rap session before a cheering audience. [more]

We are pleased to announce that AMDA’s own Barbara Schofield (Broadway World Nomination, Best Director) will be performing as Monica in the Open Fist Theatre Company’s upcoming workshop production of Murray Mednick’s The Gary Plays! Set in Los Angeles, The Gary Plays take a look at life in 21^st-century America, offering a profound, darkly humorous perspective on the convoluted relationships between people and the way we change over time. [more]

Alumnus Tim Dolan’s tour company, Broadway Up Close, specializes in offering patrons a unique perspective on the 40 theatres that make up Broadway. After six years of successful tours , Broadway Up Close has garnered rave reviews from customers and four consecutive annual Certificates of Excellence from TripAdvisor. [more]

AMDA offers heartfelt congratulations to alumnus Jesse Tyler Ferguson for his recent nomination by the 2016 People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Comedic TV Actor! This marks Jesse’s third nomination alongside... [more]

When your character dies after a firefight while trying to blow up a nuclear power station, it’s usually safe to assume you won’t be returning to the show. Not the case for AMDA alum Douglas Nyback, who, despite his brutal demise as Ben Daris on SyFy’s “Defiance” returned to play the recurring role Sgt. Frei Poole for the show’s final two seasons. Appropriately, gruesome death proved only a temporary deterrent for the committed actor: Nyback’s impressive versatility—as well as some pretty trippy alien prosthetics— made his unlikely return possible. With “Defiance” having wrapped its final season, that same dogged versatility has ensured his continued collaboration with the show’s creators, leading to some exciting opportunities. [more]

Be sure to tune in this Sunday, November 8 at 8:00 p.m. EST to watch Marina Benedict in the highly-anticipated new Starz series, “Flesh and Bone”! Set around a renowned New York ballet company, “Flesh and Bone” offers an unflinching comparison of ballet’s exquisite beauty with the profession’s gritty, often disturbing underbelly. Marina plays Toni Cannava, a transcendent choreographer and charismatic force of nature opposite the talented Ben Daniels (“House of Cards”) in episodes 3–8. [more]

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre’s stage reveals a seedy motel room in the Mojave Desert, the leaking A/C unit staining the wallpaper which peels over a narrow, hard mattress. The play centers around lovers May (Nina) and Eddie (Sam Rockwell), an on/off couple whose secrets from each other threaten to destroy them. [more]

Be an enchanted feather duster, see the world. Delighting audiences across the globe, AMDA alumnae are now performing in the national and world tours of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. [more]

AMDA’s illustrious alumna Chandra Lee Schwartz has landed a starring role in a world premiere...again. [more]

The 2014-15 Broadway season has brought a fresh face to its renowned stage, where AMDA alumna Savannah Frazier is making her Broadway debut in the powerful new musical Amazing Grace, helmed by first-time Broadway director Gabriel Barre. [more]

With Singin’ in the Rain the most popular movie musical of all time, AMDA faculty member and director Jon Engstrom knew that the audience would expect some of the iconic scenes from the film. Musical Theatre West brought in the expert to direct and choreograph their 2014-2015 season closer this summer at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. [more]

Broadway Rising Stars, an annual celebration of “the brightest talent" chosen from top college and conservatory performing arts programs, performs Monday, July 13, 2015, at 8 p.m. This spectacular display of young, gifted, up-and-coming professionals takes place at The Town Hall in New York City, a non-profit national landmark founded by suffragists in 1921. [more]

As summer is about to officially kick off, let’s take a moment to look back at the extraordinary work AMDA alumni have done on Broadway during the past year.  From long-running, blockbuster musicals (Wicked) to side-splitting comedies with puppetry (Hand to God), 30 AMDA graduates delivered bold, captivating performances in 25 different Broadway productions. [more]

On May 26, 2015, Q Lim, a recent Integrated Conservatory graduate, made her Broadway debut at the Lincoln Center Theater in The King and I. Less than two weeks later, the production earned four Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical. Taking a few minutes between shows, Lim graciously told us a little bit about herself and her transformative path to Broadway. [more]

AMDA congratulates alumna Sarah Stiles on her 2015 Tony Award nomination for her performance in Broadway’s Hand to God. Stiles is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. [more]

Alumna Tyne Daly, Broadway and small-screen legend, has been nominated for a Distinguished Performance Award at the 81^st Annual Drama League Awards on May 15, 2015. One winner is selected in this category, and it can be won only once by a performer in his/her professional career. Previous recipients include Kathleen Chalfant, Stockard Channing, Glenn Close, Rosemary Harris, Hugh Jackman, Cherry Jones, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane and John Lithgow. [more]

From a young age, AMDA alumna Rosa Alicia (Azuara Hernandez) Delain knew she was destined for the theatre. After every show that her mother took her to see, she would return home to re-enact each scene. There was “the  time we went to see an adaptation of Swan Lake for kids,” she recalled, “and all I did the whole week was repeat all the lines from the show that I could remember. I was four!” [more]

This Thursday morning, April 23, at the AMDA New York campus, high school counselors and teachers gathered to learn about AMDA’s mission and opportunities for prospective performing arts students. In addition to hearing from esteemed AMDA faculty members Mark Riherd, Elaine Petricoff, and Michele Hart-Haviland, counselors were treated to a musical and acting performance by current students. [more]

We all have a voice. We use our voices every day, all day without even thinking about it. Yet your voice, how you use it and care for it, is one of the most important responsibilities we have as performers. Your voice is as unique as your thumbprint—no one else has your identical sound. Owning something that is one of kind is a pretty exciting thing to recognize, explore and, ultimately, develop and care for. [more]

College graduates face the daunting task of finding a job that is not only fulfilling, but sustainable, the ultimate test to any young person’s perseverance. Now imagine the same struggle, but with the added layer of obstacles that immigrants face in the United States. This journey is all too familiar for Brazil native and AMDA alumna Julia Konrad (Viezzer), who attended AMDA New York to follow her dreams of being an actress. Juggling work and studies while pursuing her passion, Julia proved that she was up to the challenge; she landed her first major role in a film, straight out of school. [more]

When Jesse Karlan was seven years old, her best friend was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a degenerative lung and digestive disease. Jesse immediately took action at a young age and created a musical revue, Sing For A Cure, to raise money for cystic fibrosis research. She then sold tickets to her revue, along with three CDs she recorded at Universal Music, in order to raise money toward finding a cure. Today, you can find Jesse’s songs on iTunes, Rhapsody and Napster, with all proceeds going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Since her first performance of Sing For A Cure, she has raised over $100,000. [more]

Broadway is humming feverishly this spring with rousing new musicals and plays. And many AMDA alumni are part of the frenzy. From hilarious revivals to creatively adapted movies, nine Broadway shows currently have AMDA alumni—four of which will officially open this April. [more]

AMDA students eagerly anticipate the day they get to showcase their talents to industry professionals, in the hopes of securing an agent, manager or job before graduation. The students recognize, of course, the hard work that must be done to earn this opportunity. And when the day finally does come, students do not take it lightly. They've taken professional headshots, crafted enticing resumes (even with limited professional experience) and rehearsed many, many hours. [more]

Known for her Tony Award-winning performance as Vanda in the 2012 Broadway production of Venus in Fur, Nina Arianda is now sought after throughout the entertainment industry - landing diverse roles on TV and in film as well. [more]

On a recent WGN Radio interview, Trai Byers discusses his role as James Forman, in the highly acclaimed movie Selma. Byers explains that Foreman, an influential activist who served as executive secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), "didn’t really care for the one-man movement.” He continues, “If the man dies, will the movement die?” [more]

Shining in both new musicals and plays, as well as creatively reimagined revivals, AMDA alumni made 2014 another stellar year on Broadway. From leading roles to understudy and ensemble performances, our graduates delivered bold, imaginative and captivating performances. [more]

Part Some Like It Hot, part Anything Goes, and part Dames at Sea, Fabuous! draws inspiration from adored, familiar works, creating a guilty pleasure critics say is well worth seeing. Matthew Wexler, of Broadway Blog, writes: “For a fun homage to the old days of musical comedy, Fabulous! offers a refreshing evening of light-hearted fun, plenty of laughs and more sequins than a Cher concert.” The show also boasts two AMDA alumni: Josh Kenny and Cameron Lucas. [more]

AMDA alumna Tyne Daly returns to Broadway this coming March—in a musical, once again. And as a domineering mother, once again. It Shoulda Been You, directed by Tony Award-winner David Hyde Pierce, is scheduled to open April 14, 2015, at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Gypsy marked Daly's last musical on Broadway, garnering her a 1990 Tony Award for her portrayal of Mama Rose, the stage mother to end all stage mothers. In between then and now, Daly has performed in four Broadway plays: The Seagull, Rabbit Hole (Tony nomination), Master Class and Mothers and Sons. [more]

As part of AMDA’s continued investment in providing a world-class performing arts education and academic experience for our students, the Los Angeles campus is expanding its footprint in Hollywood with some recent additions to the campus. One of these acquisitions is the historic Gilbert Hotel, which will soon become our newest student residence. [more]

The limitations—one might imagine—to learning about the performing arts and pursuing professional work in a small Arkansas city did not slow down Caleb Ruminer. He started performing at the age of nine and, by 15 years of age, had signed with a talent agency in Little Rock, working professionally in local commercials. Caleb then made his way to AMDA Los Angeles where, just prior to successfully completing AMDA’s Conservatory Studio Program, he signed with The Savage Agency. [more]

Though its initial Broadway run in 1997 lasted a mere 91 performances, Side Show has had a passionate following of devoted fans throughout the years. The original cast album, with Tony Award nominees Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner (AMDA NY professor), is a must-have for musical theatre enthusiasts. And for those theatres and colleges across the U.S. willing to veer from more family-friendly musical theatre fare, Side Show continues to be a favorite. (AMDA mounted its own successful production of Side Show at the Los Angeles campus in 2011.) [more]

Since reissuing his recent EP Tattoos as the phenomenal full-length album Talk Dirty, along with its title track of the same name, AMDA alumnus Jason Derulo is once again raking in the award nominations. Most recently, he received two MTV Video Music Award nominations for Best Pop Video (“Talk Dirty”) and Best Choreography (“Talk Dirty”). Previously, in 2010, Derulo was nominated for two MTV VMAs for his song “In My Head.” In addition to these VMA nods, Derulo received four nominations for the Teen Choice Awards that will air on August 10. [more]

Launching September 4, 2014 is the 1st national tour of Kinky Boots, the six-time Tony Award-winning musical with a score by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Tony winner Harvey Fierstein. We’re particularly excited here at AMDA because the tour will have not one, but three AMDA Alumni! [more]

AMDA alumna (and LA faculty member) Chandra Lee Schwartz—who previously played the role of Glinda in Wicked both on Broadway and the tour—will once again don pink and silver dresses and blonde curls. She joins the company of the first North American tour on Tuesday, July 29 in Salt Lake City, UT. Already on the tour is AMDA alumna Jenny Florkowski, who assumed the role of Nessarose full time back on February 4. [more]

Congratulations to AMDA alumnus Jesse Tyler Ferguson on his Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for “Modern Family.” Since 2009, he has starred as Mitchell Pritchett on the award-winning comedy, and is no stranger to both nominations and awards. He received four prior Emmy Award nominations for his work on “Modern Family,” as well as a People’s Choice Award nomination in 2013 for Favorite Comedic TV Actor. [more]

The 2014 Tony Awards featured a number of AMDA's alumni contributing to a very special evening. AMDA congratulates Amanda Kloots-Larsen (Bullets Over Broadway), Kyle Scatliffe (Les Misérables), Anastacia McCleskey (Violet), and Gabrielle Reid (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) on their performances. [more]

With 20 AMDA alumni in 15 of the current 39 shows on Broadway, you’ll find it easy to catch our alumni in action. Starring in shows such as Les Miserable (Cassie Levy), Holler If Ya Hear Me (Christopher Jackson), Motown: The Musical (Kyrstal Joy Brown), Matilda the Musical (Christopher Sieber), Rock of Ages (Genson Blimline) and Mother and Sons (Tyne Daly), AMDA alumni give powerful and engaging performances night after night. We congratulate all of our graduates currently on Broadway for their wonderful work and achievements! [more]

AMDA is pleased to announce that alumna Caissie Levy will be our AMDA New York graduation speaker on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 11 am at Church of St. Paul the Apostle in NYC. [more]

Congratulations to AMDA Los Angeles Dance Department Co-Chair  Marina Benedict ("Burn Notice," "Torchwood," "ER") who has been tapped to join Starz’s new drama series "Flesh and Bone" from Emmy Award winning writer and executive producer Moira Walley-Beckett ("Breaking Bad") and Academy Award Nominated Executive producer Lawrence Bender (Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Bastards). [more]

AMDA alumnus Ray Fisher was just announced to play the role of Cyborg in the upcoming Warner Bros. film Batman vs. Superman! The sequel to 2013's Man of Steel features a cast of A-list stars including Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Amy Adams and Jesse Eisenberg. Cyborg (whose not-so-secret identity is Victor Stone) is a half man/half machine superhero and member of the Justice League in the DC Comics series on which the film is based. The film will be the first in a series of films planned around the Justice League characters, landing Ray the potential to be featured in many more films to come. The first film of the series is scheduled to be released in theaters in Spring 2016. [more]

Congratulations to alumna Tyne Daly nominated for a Best Actress Tony Award for her portrayal of Katherine Gerard in Terrance McNally's play Mothers and Sons on Broadway, and congratulations to all of our alumni who are in Tony nominated productions! [more]

AMDA congratulates all of our alumni nominated for Drama League Awards! Alumnus Christopher Sieber announced the award nominations alongside actress Judith Light. Alumnus Jesse Tyler Ferguson will host the ceremony in New York on May 16, 2014. The Drama League Awards are the oldest theatrical awards in America, chosen by thousands of audience members who attend Broadway and off-Broadway productions each year. [more]

Congratulations to AMDA alumnus Jason Derulo on this week's release of his third album, Talk Dirty, and the accompanying fanfare of press and appearances. Jason was featured on the Yahoo homepage and performed an iheartradio release concert. [more]

AMDA congratulates alumna Sarah Stiles on her 2014 Lucille Lortel Award nomination for "Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play" for her role as Jessica in the off-Broadway play Hand To God. [more]

Join us for a day of classes created specifically for our AMDA alumni, an opportunity to brush up on your skills and network with your fellow AMDA graduates. [more]

This special hour-long presentation of dramatic scenes will feature AMDA graduates Erin Dowling, Michael Hauschild, and Jon McCormick. [more]

Congratulations to AMDA alumnus Kyle Scatliffe who has been nominated for a 2014 Olivier Award for BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL for his portrayal of Haywood Patterson in the London West End production of The Scottsboro Boys! Kyle performed in The Scottsboro Boys throughout its West End run from October 18 to December 21, 2013. Directed by the multiple Tony Award winning Susan Stroman, the production is nominated for a total of 6 Awards. According to The London Evening Standard “the stand-out performance comes from the imposing Kyle Scatliffe as Haywood Patterson...," The Daily Mail called Kyle “charismatic” and says “Haywood’s songs Go Back Home and You Can’t Do Me are among the best of the numbers," and the Guardian UK proclaimed "The cast is dominated by the outstanding Kyle Scatliffe as Haywood Patterson – tall, commanding and with a hotline-to-heaven of a voice." [more]

AMDA LA is beyond thrilled to welcome Jason Alexander as guest speaker for our coming graduation ceremony! [more]

Meet AMDA graduate Sam Underwood. You may have seen him recently on Showtime’s award-winning TV series “Homeland” as Leo Carras or on the final season of “Dexter,” as Dexter’s killer protégé Zach Hamilton.  Sam recently made his debut on “The Following” as the handsome and creepy set of murderous twins, Luke and Mark. His plot-twisting performance sent the mainstream media, blogs and social media world buzzing, further confirming that Sam is a star on the rise! [more]

In the last two years, AMDA alumnae Theresa Murray and Julie Furrer both received full scholarships to dance with the esteemed Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. The festival takes place every summer in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts and it is recognized worldwide as a "hub and mecca of dancing" (TIME Magazine). It offers training to dancers with the opportunity to interact and work with top dance companies and choreographers, over 200 free performances, speakers and a range of events. Dance icon, Mikhail Baryshnikov, called it "one of America's most precious cultural assets." The Jacob's Pillow website states, " 'The Pillow' is a treasured 220-acre National Historic Landmark, a recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts, and home to America's longest-running international dance festival." One might simply call it the premiere cultural center for dance. [more]

Alumnus Kyle Scatliffe is currently starring in the U.K. premiere production of Kander and Ebb's The Scottsboro Boys, directed by Susan Stroman, at The Young Vic Theatre on London's West End. [more]

AMDA alumna Natalie Zea is an actor known for her versatility, her depth of artistry and her flawless character portrayals. Natalie’s diverse career already includes over 35 TV and film credits. Natalie currently stars in Fox’s hit series, “The Following,” as Claire Matthews, love interest to Kevin Bacon’s broken hero. Many also recognize her from her performances in the FX series “Justified,” in which she plays Winona Hawkins, and as heiress Karen Darling on ABC’s “Dirty Sexy Money.” Her many recurring TV roles include Jemma on “Hung,” Carrie on “Californication,” Michael Chiklis’ complicated love interest Lauren on “The Shield” and as bad girl Maxine in the CBS drama “Under The Dome.” [more]

AMDA graduate Ben Cotton will play the recurring role of Tweedle Dum in "Once Upon A Time: Wonderland," the new ABC TV series debuting October 10, 2013. [more]

Alumnus Lee Tergesen will speak at the Graduation Ceremony for AMDA New York's Summer 2013 graduating class, on Saturday October 5, 2013. [more]

AMDA congratulates alumna Kelly McCormack an internationally nominated screenwriter opening one of the most prestigious music and film festivals on her first film out of the box! Kelly's new film PLAY will have its  World Premiere at the Williamsburg International Film Festival  selected as the Opening Night Gala Feature film on Sept 19th. The film will also screen at the TriBeCa Film Centre in the Bootleg Film Festival on Sept 20th. After that Kelly will fly to LA for two more festivals and then to London where the film is nominated for Best Feature Film, Best Soundtrack and Best Original Screenplay. [more]

Congratulations to AMDA alumna Vasthy Mompoint who is currently in the new musical Soul Doctor, her 5th Broadway show! Vasthy plays the role of the blind guitarist and is understudy for the lead role of Nina Simone. Prior to Soul Doctor, Vasthy was a featured dancer/ensemble in Ghost the Musical on Broadway. Additional Broadway credits include: Good Vibrations, Hot Feat and Mary Poppins. [more]

AMDA alumnus Jeremy Pope has been praised in the New York Times for the third time in recent months, due to his breakout performance in the lead role of Pharus in the new gospel music-themed play Choir Boy, currently running at the Manhattan Theatre Club in NYC. In the most recent article, Jeremy is interviewed in a profile with a headline proclaiming him "A Breakout, Onstage and at Home." In it, Jeremy talks about his experience in the critically-acclaimed production along with what it it took to get there. [more]

Congratulations to all of our AMDA alumni in award-winning shows this season! [more]

AMDA Los Angeles and New York campuses hosted a round of Spring 2013 Alumni Workshops, offering a free day of classes to all AMDA Alumni. Some photos from both events are posted below. [more]

We were thrilled to catch up with our recent AMDA alumna Gabriela Garcia who has been a very busy lady since graduating with her BFA in Acting from AMDA in Fall 2012. Gabriela is currently the reigning Miss Tarzana (a city suburb of Los Angeles) and will soon be leaving to compete for the Miss California title. She will also be starting at USC this fall where she will be working toward her MFA degree. Gabriela grew up in Lancaster, California, which surprisingly enough was also Judy Garland’s hometown – a little fact that she likes to think of as good luck! [more]

AMDA is proud to announce the premiere issue of our revamped magazine, Spotlight. As "The Magazine of the AMDA Community," Spotlight features campus news and events, photo galleries, informative features and interviews, and updates on alumni and faculty. [more]

At AMDA, our goal is to prepare our students for a rewarding career in the performance industry. To achieve this, much of the way we operate mirrors the experience you will have when you enter the industry as a professional. Our application and audition process is no exception! [more]

AMDA Congratulates all of our alumni in nominated for Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League and Drama Desk Awards! Check out the list of AMDA alumni in nominated productions. [more]

AMDA LA Stage Combat Department works to train AMDA students and alumni in a variety of fight techniques as part of a top notch program that is recognized by the internationally renowned Society of American Fight Directors. In addition to our current AMDA students, any AMDA alumnus who has taken up to Stage Combat 3 is welcome to submit him or herself for the opportunity to come back and prepare for the Skills Proficiency Test with AMDA faculty Lacy Altwine. [more]

AMDA salutes alumnus Brian Burke! Brian graduated from AMDA and went straight into performing, but soon after found his calling as a successful choreographer and a director. Brian is now the Creative Director for the "X Factor UK ", as well as Director of the recent Il Divo "Wicked Game" tour, "America's Got Talent" and "Britain's Got Talent". We recently spoke with Brian and asked him to share his personal experience and how he went from performing to directing in such a high profile arena. [more]

AMDA New York Fall 2012 Orientation: New AMDA NY students were treated to some amazing guest speakers during their recent orientation. We would like to thank writer David Auburn, alumni star performer Christopher Jackson and choreographer/director Lynne Taylor Corbett for sharing their time and experience with us. Check out some photos and further details below. [more]

Congratulations to AMDA alumna Becca Tobin who joins the cast of "Glee" on Fox TV as Kitty, the newest cheerleader! Becca is from Marietta, Georgia. She too was a cheerleader in middle school before she went on to study dance. Becca graduated from AMDA in 2005, after which she performed in Rock of Ages on Broadway and the National Tour, and toured with the Trans-Siberian orchestra. "Glee" is Becca's TV debut! [more]