Intensive Training at TKS
Train in person in NYC with Voice & Movement, or study Acting from anywhere with our in-person and online Intensives.
Are you a passionate actor committed to excellence?
Intensive Programs are where actors develop foundational skills, discipline, and structure needed for confident, consistent acting.
The Intensive Programs at Terry Knickerbocker Studio are designed to give you consistent, foundational training that builds the basis of your craft. No gimmicks. No shortcuts. Instead, a reliable practice that leads to lasting transformation.
When you commit to the work, you won’t just become a better performer—you’ll become the kind of artist who’s ready for anything.
Program Features
- Small class sizes (capped at 22) that ensure personal attention and a strong sense of community.
- Multiple training pathways to fit your goals, with the option to incorporate in-person Voice or Movement to your Acting Intensive.
- Located in-person at our studio in Brooklyn, NY.
- Online Acting training for those outside NYC, with Levels I–III fulfilling the full first year of the Conservatory.
Submit an Inquiry
Intensive Programs
Acting (Meisner)
What It Is: A focused, short-term immersion covering the first 18 classes of the Meisner curriculum.
Duration / Weekly Commitment: 9-week intensive
What You’ll Get:
Training to get out of your head, tap into emotional truth, and respond spontaneously to imaginary circumstances.
Scene work & character study — learning to bring authenticity and depth to your roles.
Tracks: Fundamentals, Fundamentals+, and Essentials differ mainly in time commitment and whether they include voice, movement, or specialty courses. The chart below outlines these differences.
Voice Intensive
What It Is: A specialized intensive focused on voice and breath work using the Linklater Voice Technique, designed to deepen the actor’s vocal instrument and support their Meisner acting work.
What You’ll Learn:
Increased self-awareness of breath, body, and how tension affects vocal expression.
Techniques for releasing habitual tension in jaw, tongue, soft palate, and throat — allowing for freer, more resonant and authentic vocal expression.
A more flexible, physical, and expressive instrument — essential for truthful, emotionally honest acting.
*Voice is included in the Acting Essentials track and optional in the Acting Fundamentals+ track.
Movement Intensive
What It Is: A physical-training intensive rooted in the Williamson Movement Technique— helps free the actor’s body and build a strong physical presence that supports emotional truth.
What You’ll Learn:
A movement vocabulary and toolkit to embody emotional truth naturally, without tension or habitual physical constraints.
How the body responds to sensory stimuli in the imaginary world — enhancing physical responsiveness and authenticity in performance.
Integration of physicality with emotional truth — allowing for freer, more alive performances.
*Movement is included in the Acting Essentials track and optional in the Acting Fundamentals+ track.
Online Intensives
What It Is: A fully remote version of the first-year of TKS conservatory acting training (if taking Online Intensive Levels I-III). Ideal for actors outside NYC who want flexible training or intend to transition to in-person later.
Structure & Commitment:
The Online Intensive is broken into three levels. Together, they amount to 64 classes — the equivalent of year-one training.
You can enroll in just one level, or all three. Completion of all levels fulfills first-year requirements of the 2-year conservatory.
Spring/Fall In-Person Intensives
Spring: February 16 – May 2, 2026; Fall: TBD
| Fundamentals | Fundamentals+ | Essentials | Voice | Movement | Voice + Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 Prices Includes $150 admin fee | $2,125 | $3,000 | $3,600 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,750 |
| Time Commitment | 5-7 hrs / week; 9 weeks | 9-11 hrs / week; 9 weeks | 13-15 hrs / week; 9 weeks | 4 hrs / week; 9 weeks | 4 hrs / week; 9 weeks | 8 hrs / week; 9 weeks |
| Meisner Acting |  | | |  | | |
| Voice | | Choose Voice or Movement | | | | |
| Movement | | Choose Voice or Movement | | | | |
Summer In-Person Intensive
June 15 – July 31, 2026
| Fundamentals | Fundamentals+ | Essentials | Voice | Movement | Voice + Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 Prices Includes $150 admin fee | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Time Commitment | 6-10.5 hrs / week; 6 weeks | 16.5-18.5 hrs / week; 6 weeks | 22-24 hrs / week; 6 weeks | 4 hrs / week; 6 weeks | 4 hrs / week; 6 weeks | 8 hrs / week; 6 weeks |
| Meisner Acting | | | | | | |
| Voice | | | | | | |
| Movement | | | | | | |
| Emotional Processing for Actors | | | | | | |
| Choice of Three (3) Specialty Classes | | | | | | |
Online Intensives
| Online I | Online II | Online III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 Prices Includes $150 admin fee | $1,900 | $2,400 | $2,300 |
| Time Commitment | 4 hrs / week; 18 classes | 4 hrs / week; 24 classes | 4 hrs / week; 22 classes |
| Timing | September – November | January – April | April – June |
| Meisner Acting | | | |
*Bundled pricing is available for those planning to take multiple levels
Scenes from the Program
Still unsure of where you fit?
Book a one-on-one chat with our Director of Admissions and Enrollment. We’re here to help you determine if Terry Knickerbocker Studio is the right fit for you.
FAQs
Find answers to commonly asked questions about the Conservatory Program.
What is Terry Knickerbocker Studio?
Terry Knickerbocker Studio is a premier acting school in New York City founded by Terry Knickerbocker.rnrnWith over 30 years of experience in training and teaching, Terry himself has coached actors on more than 300 film, television, and theater projects, and has also consulted with playwrights and screenwriters on their scripts. Notable actors he has worked with include Sam Rockwell, Chris Messina,Emmy Rossum, and Natasha Lyonne, among many others.rnrnOur diverse faculty members bring unique perspectives and specialties to their teaching across Acting, Voice, Movement, and Specialty courses that, when combined, creating a holistic performance curriculum when combined.
What is the Meisner Technique?
The Meisner Technique is an exciting approach to acting created by Sanford Meisner. It’s all about helping actors respond naturally and instinctively to their surroundings and fellow performers. Here are some key elements that make it special:rnrnRepetition Exercise: Actors dive into a repetitive dialogue exercise that encourages them to really listen and respond honestly to their scene partner, building spontaneity and connection.rnrnEmotional Truth: This technique helps actors tap into their genuine emotions, allowing them to portray authentic feelings in their performances.rnBeing Present: Actors learn to stay in the moment, reacting to what’s happening around them instead of sticking to preconceived notions or lines.rnrnThe technique often includes improvisation, giving actors the freedom to explore their characters and situations in a creative way.rnrnFocus on Relationships: It emphasizes the importance of relationships between characters, encouraging actors to develop a deep understanding of their roles and interactions.
Who are the Intensive Programs for?
TKS Intensives are for actors ready to commit to real, foundational training. Whether you’re just beginning your journey, expanding your skills, or preparing for future conservatory study, these programs give you the essential tools and structured immersion needed to ground your craft and grow with confidence.
Do you offer Scene Study classes?
Scenework is critical to the Conservatory experience, as well as in post-Conservatory Advanced training. rnStudents learn to act from a first-person perspective, using their authentic selves while incorporating fictional characters and interacting with other actors.rn rnAdvanced Character Scenes become a key focus of COnservatory Year 2, allowing actors to fully embrace new personas that are outside their own experiences.rnrnMasterclasses are offered to students who have completed conservatory training or have equivalent work experience.