Exercises performed in acting class provide techniques a performer can use repeatedly.
Despite the invaluable experience and expertise an actor garners from auditions and working on productions and projects, she will inevitably benefit from some sort of acting class or workshop. Without the demands of creating a role that must fulfill the requests of a director, and eventually, an audience, a class allows you to try out new methods or concentrate on one aspect or genre of acting.
Basic Skills and Technique
An acting class provides you with tools you can use repeatedly as an actor in creating a role. Acting classes incorporate movement, voice and concentration exercises that you can go to time and again for effective warm-up and character exploration. These techniques can also help break bad habits (for example, not knowing what to do with your hands onstage).
Seeing Other Actors Grow
Acting class also enables you to see how other actors, perhaps very close in skill level, approach their craft. If you find that a certain actor has consistently solid, interesting characters, you may be able to see how he creates those characters through his exercises and character work. Watching other actors overcome obstacles also brings about self-awareness for you and the obstacles you'd like to get past.
Feedback and Confidence
As a student actor, you're also getting the benefit of regular, professional feedback, something that is harder to come by when simply preparing for one audition after another alone in your room. Performing in front of others also helps build confidence in your work, which is imperative in being a successful actor. If you lack self-confidence, you cannot fully concentrate on character work and the world of the production.
Professional Advancement
Agents and casting directors will almost certainly look at the education section on your resume. A strong, professional actor is constantly learning; therefore, she is always taking new classes and workshops to improve her skills. This shows agents and casting directors you are serious about your craft. It's important to keep your mind and body in tune.
Script and Character Analysis
Analyzing the script in reference to your character is one of the earlier (and very significant) steps in the acting process. Acting class gives you an opportunity to explore methods of analyzing who your character is in relation to the other characters in the production as well as his role in the overall picture. Acting class provides a forum to improve script and character analysis without the pressure and time constraints of an actual production.
Collaboration in a Safe Setting
Acting classes and workshops are often close-knit environments where a performer can feel safe to try new and bold techniques or feel free to "fall flat on her face," taking risks she might not take in an audition or actual role. It also nurtures the idea of collaboration, since many exercises are group based, and actors must often give each other constructive feedback. Since working in theater (and film) is all about working together, this is a very important skill to build.
