The ACADEMY, our five-month acting conservatory, is Black Box’s most rigorous training program, designed for both already-working actors seeking process-based training and new-to-the-industry artists.
Applications for The Class of 2024 opened in August and are being reviewed on a rolling basis. Our conservatory was established in 2012 and our alumni have been thriving in multiple markets and benefiting from our alumni network for over a decade now. 2024 training dates, tuition information including financial aid, and application links can all be found below.
Students spend the first stage of training on The Black Box Method, our proprietary technique based in Meisner and Viewpoints. The second stage of the program focuses on application, preparing the ensembles for contemporary and classical theatrical work, audition technique, TV, film, and commercial work, and developing original content.
The conservatory culminates in the ACADEMY Industry Showcase, in which our actors rehearse and professionally film both scene work and monologues. Black Box then presents their work digitally to 300+ local and national agents, managers, casting directors, and other industry professionals across media. Students graduate with professional materials — headshot, resume, bio, and their filmed audition monologues — housed on individual actor webpages, along with our customized You Graduated, Now What? packet filled with templates for submission and audition tracking, guidelines for best practices, and other business-of-acting resources to ensure our graduates build on their momentum from showcase with the full institutional support of Black Box.
Since debuting this digital showcase format in 2020, we have propelled our graduates towards securing agency representation, booking roles in TV, film, and commercial projects, appearing on Chicago and regional theater stages, and making their own vital work.
The ACADEMY Class of 2024
Beginning on Friday, August 18th, 2023, our Admissions Team will be accepting applications and scheduling auditions in 2023 on a rolling basis for The 2024 Ensemble.
To begin your application process, please fill out The ACADEMY Application — General Information Form. Once we receive this general application, you will receive instructions to submit your remaining materials, which include:
- A self-taped artistic statement and video introduction (2-minutes maximum)
- An audition self-tape consisting of either a contemporary monologue OR scene of your choosing (2-minutes maximum)
- The Financial Aid Application (if applicable)
The above materials will be due no more than two weeks after you have submitted your General Application.
Our admissions team will review conservatory applications on a rolling basis as soon as we receive all components. If we are able to move forward with your application, we will reach out to offer you an in-person callback and interview. At that time, we will also ask for a letter of recommendation to be emailed to admissions@blackboxacting.com by your scheduled callback date.
In the 2023 round of auditions, applicants will either receive a commitment of early acceptance to the conservatory or a deferral to April decisions. All general admissions applicants as well as early admissions deferred applicants will receive a final decision on their admissions status in May of 2024.
For all applicants who submit in 2024, we will be adhering to the below application deadline schedule:
- Early Decision Application Deadline 1: FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2024
- Early Decision Application Deadline 2: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024
- General Admissions Application Deadline: FRIDAY MARCH 22, 2024
Again, our admissions team will review conservatory applications on a rolling basis as soon as we receive all components (artistic statement, self-tape, and Financial Aid Application, as detailed above). If we able to move forward with your application, we will be scheduling callbacks on the following dates:
- Early Decision Callback 1: SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2024
- Early Decision Callback 2: SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2024
- General Admissions Callback: SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2024
Early Decision applicants will either receive a commitment of early acceptance or a deferral to April decisions. All general admissions applicants as well as early admissions deferred applicants will receive a final decision on their admissions status in May of 2024.
Financial Information:
The ACADEMY tuition is $9000. A $2500 deposit is due no later than 10 days following an offer of acceptance. If you cannot meet this 10-day deposit timeline, please fill out the Financial Aid Application.
An offer of acceptance will include our standard payment plan options:
| Payment Date | Option A | Option B | Option C | Option D |
| Deposit Date | $9000 | $2500 | $2500 | $2500 |
| June 14, 2024 | – | $6500 | $3250 | $1625 |
| July 19, 2024 | – | – | – | $1625 |
| Aug 16, 2024 | – | – | $3250 | $1625 |
| Sept 20, 2024 | – | – | – | $1625 |
Limited Need-Based Financial Aid is available. Not all applications will qualify. To apply for financial aid, click here.
2024 ACADEMY Class Times:
June 3, 2024 – September 27, 2024
Classes will be held Monday through Friday.
The Daytime Ensemble will train from 10am-1pm.
The Evening Ensemble will train from 6:30pm-9:30pm.
Showcase Rehearsals:
September 30, 2024 – October 15, 2024
Rehearsals will be held Monday through Friday.
The Daytime Ensemble will rehearse between 10am and 2pm.
The Evening Ensemble will rehearse between 6:30pm and 10:30pm.
Filming, Performances, and Graduation:
October 16-19, 2024 both ensembles will be asked to hold 9:00am-10:00pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
ACADEMY Orientation will be held at the beginning of the first day of classes – June 3, 2024 – at 10am and 6:30pm, respectively.
If you have any further questions after reviewing the above information, please contact our Admissions Department, who can also connect you with conservatory alumni and members of our teaching staff to discuss the program further.
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