AADA vs. AMDA

[Bigfatactor01]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 9:27pm

Ive heard AMDA isnt the best from other post and word of mouth....but not too much about American Acadamy of Dramatic Arts (AADA)....I was definitly planning on auditioning there (I'm sure it's not comparable to Royal Acadamy of Dramatic (RADA) or Julliard....but is it an acceptable back up????

Any help would be great

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[pab]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:08pm

"I'm sure it's not comparable to Royal Acadamy of Dramatic (RADA) or Julliard"

How can you make that statement while asking the question at the same time? If you are so sure it's not comparable then why bother?

Most acting schools are as good as the faculty they employ and I've witnessed faculty move from one institution to the other while the actual training program of each institution was pretty much the same. It's best to investigate the background of the faculty members of whatever institution you plan to attend because at the end of the day you are in their hands.

[broadway_dreamer281]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 9:25pm

i did a workshop for aada back in march. it's such a neat school. the teachers i met were quite amazing. it really was wonderful experience. i highly recommend the school.

[ChenoInTraining]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 10:35am

I auditioned for both AMDA and AADA. After the less than professional environment and rude treatment from AADA, I chose AMDA. I'm glad to. I did my first year in LA and I will be continuing this coming fall in NY. The LA campus is truely a gem. The teachers are amazing and if you put your all into it, thats what you get out. That is the one thing everyone should know about amda who is considering going there. "you get out of it, what you put in"

[AngActing]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 2:35pm

The history of AADA is incredible . . . I attended when the NYC school turned 100 years old; so it was a big deal at the time. I don't know what the school is like nowadays. Nevertheless, I can say that all of us from my class learned a lot and have all had our share of success; in the ways we chose.

I tend to agree with 'PAB' who said it "depends on the facility the school employs" -- and every person responds to certain teaching styles differently.

We had some incredible teachers when I attended -- and some which were questionable. Nonetheless, from the 'questionable' and the excellent teachers you still learn something (i.e. how not to act as a teacher [if they are questionable]). And certainly, rough or difficult teachers are great for practicing 'rejection' and difficult directors, producers, etc. which you'll undoubtedly meet in your journey to a professional career in this business of 'show'.

If you're an actor, especially; anything you do in life is a potential learning experience. It is called "character study" and the world of human beings is your school.

All and all, whatever you decide and where you auditioned and get accepted -- regret nothing as it is all educational! And be kind, or at least, decent to fellow students, teachers, etc. as sometimes they turn out to be casting directors, directors, producers and others who may be helpful to you in later years!

My class at AADA included Billy Baldwin and a year ahead of us was French Stewart -- who was still in attendence when we started our first year!