Professional Development
In Person in NYC
Acting for International Students
February 28 – March 1, 2026
36 credit hours
$275
Acting for International Students
in NYC
Acting for International Students is a fun, welcoming weekend class for anyone curious about acting. No experience needed. Through theater games, group exercises, and short scene work, you’ll explore how actors use voice, movement, and imagination to bring characters to life.
We’ll also read and analyze scenes, then work on scenes in small groups. You’ll learn how to connect to a character, understand the story, and perform with confidence — all in a supportive, low-pressure environment. This class is perfect if you want to try acting, express yourself creatively, and share a lively, collaborative experience with other international students.
Your guide on this adventure is Melissa Shaw, internationally known theater artist.
in person
36 credit hours
$275
February 2026 schedule:
Class in Person in NYC
Sat–Sun
February 28–March 1
10 am–4 pm
Mandatory Online Final Project Submission
Tue, March 3
6:30–10:30 pm
Class meets in Person in NYC at BMCC Main Campus
Requirements:
Your course will consist of a pre-assignment, independent coursework, and final assignment as well as live online class sessions with your teacher and other au pairs. Credit for J-1 visa students is 36 hours. Students earning J-1 visa credit must attend all sessions and complete all homework.
Please note that your pre-assignment will be emailed to you one week before your first online class session. You will receive details on how to log-in to your online class sessions one day before the start of the course.
Once the final online class session has concluded, you will have one week to submit your independent coursework and final assignment to your teacher.
Students are required to be present during all in-person and live online class sessions.
Students who require their certificate sooner than outlined above should request their final assignment in advance by contacting BMCC at aupair@bmcc.cuny.edu. Please note that BMCC needs two days from the date a student submits their final assignment to issue an educational certificate.
If you have any questions at this time, please email us at aupair@bmcc.cuny.edu.
About your instructor:
About Melissa Shaw
Melissa Shaw received her MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, where she trained as a theater artist and writer. Melissa has taught internationally in the arts, social justice, diversity and inclusion, and social emotional learning. She facilitates in universities, schools, summer camps, detention centers, yeshivas, churches, corporate offices, and long-term temporary housing centers.