Young actors Lab
The Young Actors Lab (YAL) is a FREE pre-professional Acting program for students of all experience levels.
Scroll down to see our upcoming YAL Programs
The Young Actors Lab is part of the Mission Academy of Performing Arts @ Brava Theater Center and programming is led by SFBATCO. Take a look at all of our current Youth Programs here and our previous Youth Programs here.
UPCOMING YAL PROGRAMS
FREE Fall 2026 College Audition Intensive
Ages: 14-22 years old
Over the course of the fall students will work with teaching artists to curate, rehearse and tape their college audition monologues. Students will receive monologue resources, a self tape workshop, on camera acting training, and coaching on their monologues & slate performances. Up to 12 students will be selected for the intensive.
Teaching Artists
Sedrick Cabrera - On Camera Acting & Contemporary Acting Coach
Adam Maggio - College Career & Acting Coach
Rodney Earl Jackson Jr. - Vocal & Acting Coach
Aidaa Peerzada - College Career & Acting Coach
Location
Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street, San Francisco
Dates
Group Session 1 - Saturday Sept 19th 10am - 1pm
Workshop: Understanding the landscape of college programs and arts career paths.
Group Session 2 - Sat Sept 20th 10am - 1pm
Workshop: Monologue selection & Classical Monologue performance
Group Session 3 - Saturday Sept 26th 10am - 1pm
Workshop: Self tape best practices
Group Session 4 - Sat Sept 27th 10am - 1pm
Workshop: Contemporary Monologue Performance & On Camera Acting
Individual Coaching Session 1 - Saturday Oct 3rd & Sunday Oct 4th
1 hour time slots available between 10am - 6pm
Individual Coaching Session 2 - Saturday Oct 24th & Sunday Oct 25th
1 hour time slots available between 10am - 6pm
Final Filming Sessions - Saturday Nov 14th & 15th
90 minute filming session 90 minute time slots available between 10am - 7pm
Apply here today >>
Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis, so get those applications in!
Reach out to aidaa@sfbatco.org with any questions.
FREE Fall 2026 Acting Workshops
We are excited to announce our spring 2027 production: Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel Play.
This fall we will host three workshops in which students can practice essential theater skills, meet the team members who will work on Mirror of Most Value and learn more about the Young Actors Lab.
Workshops are open to students of all experience levels from 8th - 12th grade and are FREE to attend.
Workshops:
Saturday Sept 12th, 10:00am - 12:30pm - Combat Workshop with Raisa Donato, Fight Choreographer for Mirror of Most Value
Wednesday, Sept 16th 4:30pm - 6:30pm - Audition Prep Workshop with Aidaa Peerzada, Dramaturg for Mirror of Most Value
Wednesday, Oct 14th - 4:30-6:30 - Stage Composition Workshop with Michelle Talgarow, Director of Mirror of Most Value.
Location: Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street
Reach out to aidaa@sfbatco.org with any questions.
Spring 2027 Play - Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel Play
More details to come!
Reach out to aidaa@sfbatco.org with any questions.
Testimonials from past YAL students
“Through YAL, I broadened my acting repertoire and experimented with new pieces, preparing me for the college audition process. Everyone in the program received personalized feedback and engaged in workshops that were not only efficient, but fun and exciting. The teaching artists provided a space that was welcoming, supportive, and dared you to broaden your horizons; coming to the program was one of the absolute highlights of my summer!”
“SFBATCO and MAPA have had a huge impact on my growth as an artist, starting at age 13. Their youth workshops and general mentorship have profoundly changed my life. Despite not attending an arts college, I have already performed with major local companies like ACT and Word for Word. SFBATCO is a major factor in my success as a theatre artist today.”