ACTeen—Acting for Teens was created in 1978 by successful theater/commercial actress Rita Litton, as the first on camera acting curriculum for teenagers. ACTeen develops dedicated pre-professionals into technically proficient, versatile, and marketable actors. Combining theatrical discipline with spontaneous, effective on-camera acting techniques, students learn to successfully perform in both film and theater media with skill and professionalism.
ACTeen believes that acting is action oriented, and emotions are the result of intentions successfully or unsuccessfully achieved. Therefore, various acting techniques are incorporated, including Stanislavsky, Meisner, Uta Hagen & Stella Adler exercises. The goal is to offer possibilities and tools, and more than one path to characterization. Students learn to function among diverse directors and actors with varying acting approaches.
In addition students benefit enormously from the video playbacks (the “one picture is worth a thousand words” theory), which are an integral part of the on-camera acting classes and also utilized in elective courses.
Hundreds of ACTeen graduates have achieved successful careers in film, television, and the theater including: Max Schneider ("How to Rock Braces and Glasses"), Gillian Zinser ("90210"), Katelyn Tarver ("Big Time Rush"), Jon Seda (Emmy winner “The Pacific,” Close to Home.”” “Homicide,” “Selena”), Sofia Black D'Elia ("Skins"), Jamie Lynn Sigler (‘Meadow Soprano’ in HBO’s “The Sopranos,” ‘Belle’ on Broadway in “Beauty and the Beast”), Jordana Spiro (‘PJ Franklin’, “My Boys”), Danny Masterson (“That ’70s Show”), Kimberly Williams (“According to Jim,” “Father of the Bride”), Daniella Alonso (“Friday Night Lights,” “One Tree Hill”), Laura Breckenridge (“Gossip Girl”), Jordana Brewster (“Dallas 2012", "Fast Five,” “As the World Turns”), China Shavers (“ER.” “Boston Public,” “Sabrina, The Teenage Witch”), Samm Levine (“Freaks and Geeks,”), students on Broadway in "Bye, Bye Birdie," "Billy Elliot," "Jersey Boys", "Oklahoma," “Spamalot,” Emmy nominee Crystal Hunt (“Guiding Light”, ‘Stacy Morasco’ “One Life to Live”), and Emmy winner Dana Barron (“Beverly Hills 90210”). Many acquired their first representation through our industry showcases.
ACTeen is the proud recipient of Backstage newspaper's "2011 & 2010 NY Reader's Choice Award" for "Favorite Acting Coach/Classes for Teens" and runner up for "Favorite Commercial Workshop" among adults and teen courses. ACTeen is consistently recommended by over thirty New York talent agents and managers for their clients and prospective clients. In addition, our alumni roster includes graduates who have become successful talent agents, managers, film directors, screenwriters, and producers.
ACTeen Incorporated holds it’s classes at the Weist-Barron Studios, home of Weist-Barron, the first on-camera acting school in America, (established in 1958 ). Various Articles about ACTeen or Rita Litton, have appeared in “Seventeen”, “Cosmo Girl,” “The New York Times, ““New York Magazine,” “New York Post,” “The Princeton Review, “ “Chicago Tribune,“ “Backstage,” “Dramatics” magazine, “Variety,” on television, and in news broadcasts. ACTeen’s copyrighted curriculum is favorably mentioned in various books on acting, including praise in “How to Be a Working Actor” by Mari Lyn Henry (former Head of East Coast Casting for ABC-TV), and “Acting Like a Pro” by Mary McTigue.
