FAQ

CURRENT COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

The Chris Thatcher Acting Studio follows SAG-AFTRA's COVID-19 safety protocols:

If an actor doesn’t feel well or feels sick, they must stay home, and their attendance at any audit, class, workshop, or coaching session will be rescheduled without penalty.

Any actor involved in an intimate scene, and/or in any scene involving extreme exertion and/or physical contact with another actor(s) will have the right to request a COVID antigen self-administered test of themselves and of any other actor(s) with whom they will be working in close or intimate contact. Those requests will need to be submitted by email to the Chris Thatcher Acting Studio at least 24 hours in advance. (The identity of the actor making the request will be kept confidential by studio staff to the extent possible under the circumstances.)

WhY A free Audit?

A free audit means that before you formally join a class, you participate in that class just like a regular student. That gives you a chance to experience if what Chris teaches is a good fit for your current acting goals, and it gives him a chance to evaluate your work. To schedule a free audit, please contact the studio. Note: Only 2 auditor spaces per class. Friends and family members may not audit at the same time. No walk-ins! No spectators! No guests!

How long are classes and workshops?

In-Person Classes are 4 hours long.

Online Classes are 4 hours long, and you will work extensively. [ONLINE CLASSES ARE CURRENTLY ON HIATUS]

Workshops include 4 hours of instruction per workshop, and more than one workshop may be scheduled per day. Workshops are billed individually, but students may attend consecutive workshops if space is available.

How big are your classes and workshops?

Enrollment for in-person acting classes and workshops is limited to a maximum of 12 students, 8 students for online classes. When a class or workshop is full, you have the option of being placed on a wait-list.

HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO TRAIN AT THE STUDIO?

19 is the lowest age we will consider for admission to studio classes and workshops. Parents, please do not contact the studio on behalf of your child. Adult actors are expected to deal with the studio directly.

For Boulder classes, please contact the studio to set up your free audit. After your audit, the instructor will evaluate whether classes at the Studio are a good fit for you and your current acting goals.

For online classes, please contact the studio to set up your free online audit.

Is this type of acting training appropriate for me?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
If you have untreated PTSD, this type of acting training is not for you! Please seek professional help and lower your trauma response to manageable and safe levels before requesting an audit or applying for admission to a workshop.

Prescription medications caveat
Some types of medications may flatten your emotional affect or they may have the opposite effect, which could be dangerous to you or others. Regardless of how hard you work and train, some medications may interfere with your progress. No acting technique or teacher can compete with mood-altering prescription drugs. However, please do not change your dosage or stop your medication without the consent and supervision of your physician.

Recreational drugs and alcohol
The use of recreational drugs or alcohol prior to or during a class, workshop, or rehearsal is grounds for expulsion from the Studio.

Other physical and mental health disorders

Stress and personal conflict are inherent to, and essential qualities of, acting training in the Meisner Technique and other method acting techniques, and this may aggravate and/or worsen certain physical and mental health disorders. Students have an affirmative duty to disclose to studio instructors in advance any physical or mental condition they have that they know, or should know, could be aggravated, triggered, and/or worsened by the stress and personal conflict of acting training in any of the techniques offered by the studio.

If during the course of acting training at the studio, a student manifests any physical or mental behavior and/or symptoms that raises a question for the instructor as to whether or not the student can continue to train without risk of harm to themselves or others, the instructor will remove the student from the class or workshop, and readmission will be contingent upon receipt of written and signed clearance by the studio from a licensed medical or mental health professional, competent to assess the exact behavior and/or symptoms at issue, that in their professional opinion continued training in the acting techniques offered at the studio poses no risk of harm to the student or others. Under such circumstances, any remaining class credits will be preserved up to one year from the date of purchase while the student seeks such clearance. If the student is unable to obtain said clearance to continue acting training at the studio, they are entitled upon written request by email to a refund of their remaining class credits, and the refund period will be one year from the date of purchase.

Are there class rules?

Yes. Every student will read and sign their agreement to abide by the Class Rules before they are permitted to attend their first class as a registered student. Failure to abide by the Class Rules, which include by reference, any rules of the theater complex or venue where classes are held, may result in expulsion from the studio, and there are no refunds for unused credits under those circumstances. Students are expected to behave professionally, both with instructors and other students. Disrespect towards others will not be tolerated.

What’s your absence policy?

Colorado and Online Students
24-hour advance notice by email is required in order to receive credit for a missed class or workshop session after your first paid and attended class. (However, the advance notice requirement is waived in instances of illness or severe bad weather). Credits are good for 3 months from the original date of purchase, credited per class, not per hour, but are not transferable to others. With instructor permission, credits may be applied to other studio classes and workshops.

Los Angeles Students
There are no credits or refunds for missed workshop sessions or classes.

How much does it cost?

Colorado Classes
Tuition is $150 (4 classes/4 hours long)

Online Classes
$100/month (4 classes/4 hours long)

Make a payment

Note: The studio no longer accepts checks. For online payments, please go to our Payments page.

What’s your refund policy?

There are no refunds, except as set forth above, but Colorado and online students may be eligible for class credits according to the terms of the Class Rules and the absence policy.

Non-discrimination policy

We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. We continue to challenge ourselves to uncover our biases so that we can meet the needs of our community with compassion and equanimity. #BlackLivesMatter

The Chris Thatcher Acting Studio does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, accepting or rejecting students, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students, staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors.

The aforementioned notwithstanding, the studio retains the right to remove any student from class for any non-discriminatory reason, including but not limited to violations of the Class Rules, at the studio’s sole discretion.