Program Description

Go deeper. 8 Saturdays of professional acting training in New York City — with a working Hollywood actor.

The 8-Week Acting for Stage, Film & TV workshop at The New York Performing Arts Academy (The NYPAA) is for actors who want more than an introduction. Led by Karina Arroyave — known for her roles in Crash, 24, Orange Is the New Black, and The Blacklist — this acting class in NYC gives you twice the scene time, twice the feedback, and a complete arc of growth across eight focused Saturday sessions.

“I took the 4-week first, then immediately signed up for the 8-week. The depth of work Karina goes into over eight sessions is on a completely different level. I finally understand how to actually build a character.”

— Danielle F., 8-Week · Fall 2025

“Eight weeks gave me enough time to actually fail, adjust, and grow. That’s what real training feels like. Karina pushes you in the best way.”

— Tom W., 8-Week · Spring 2025

“As a working actor in New York, this workshop fit my schedule perfectly and gave me professional-level feedback I wasn’t getting anywhere else.”

— Shannon M., 8-Week · Winter 2025

Contents

1 CLASS INFO

Why 8 Weeks? Here’s What the Extra Time Unlocks

Four weeks is a powerful introduction. Eight weeks is where real transformation happens. The additional sessions give you something no short workshop can provide: repetition, depth, and the space to fail and recover.

4-Week Workshop

Acting fundamentals
Introduction to stage, film & TV
Scene work with a partner
Audition prep basics
Immediate tools to take away

8-Week Workshop — Goes Further

Everything in the 4-week, plus:
Extended scene study & character arcs
Multiple rounds of feedback & revision
Deeper camera vs. stage technique work
Cold reading & advanced audition strategy

What You’ll Work On

Across eight sessions with Karina, you’ll build a complete acting toolkit for NYC’s professional landscape:

Versatile Acting Techniques: Master the nuances of performing across stage, camera, and television — understanding what each medium demands from your body, voice, and attention.
Character Development Over Time: Unlike a single-session workshop, 8 weeks lets you return to your characters, deepen them, and discover what’s really underneath.
Scene Study & Analysis: Work scenes repeatedly with partners, making bolder choices with each pass as Karina’s direction helps you find the truth in the text.
Professional Audition Strategy: Cold reading, monologue selection, self-tape technique, and what New York casting directors are actually looking for in the room.

Who This Workshop Is For

Actors ready to go beyond the basics: You’ve done a class or two and want real depth — this is your next step.
Working actors refreshing their craft: Industry professionals who want focused coaching without a full-time commitment.
Career changers & serious beginners: No audition required. Karina meets you where you are and pushes you forward.
Saturday-only schedules: Eight Saturdays — no weekday commitment. Professional training that works around your life in New York City.

Why Train at The NYPAA?

A working industry actor as your instructor: Karina isn’t just a teacher — she’s actively worked in the industry you’re training for, on projects you know.
Small classes, real attention: You get actual scene time and direct feedback — not just observation.
Midtown Manhattan location: 244 West 54th Street — in the heart of NYC’s performing arts district, steps from Broadway and major casting offices.
A clear path forward: 8-week graduates receive alumni pricing on the 12-week program — the most comprehensive short-format acting training The NYPAA offers.

Ready to Go Deeper?

Eight Saturdays with Karina Arroyave can change the way you work — and the way you walk into every audition room from here on. This is professional acting training in New York City, designed to fit your life.

Your work is waiting. Let’s begin.

INSTRUCTOR

Notable Credits

Crash — Oscar Winner
24
Orange Is the New Black
The Blacklist
Law & Order: SVU
Lean on Me

View full IMDB profile →

Karina Arroyave
Film, TV & Stage Actor · Acting Instructor

Karina Arroyave is a working professional actor whose career spans critically acclaimed films, major television series, and live stage — bringing real, current industry experience directly into the classroom. Her roles in Crash (Best Picture, Academy Awards), 24, Orange Is the New Black, The Blacklist, and Law & Order: SVU demonstrate a performer who has mastered the full range of the craft across every major medium.

Karina’s teaching philosophy is simple and powerful: emotional authenticity over technique-for-technique’s-sake. Over eight weeks, she trains actors to connect deeply with their characters’ journeys — the work that actually moves audiences and books jobs in New York and beyond.

In her classroom, students don’t just learn how to act — they learn how to think like an actor: breaking down scripts, mastering camera subtlety, commanding a stage, and walking into audition rooms with genuine confidence.

“Every actor has a unique story to tell. My job is to give you the tools to tell it fully and fearlessly.”
— Karina Arroyave

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Eight sessions means a complete arc — from fundamentals through advanced technique and a final critique performance. Here’s the full scope of what’s covered in this NYC acting workshop:

Acting Fundamentals

Basic Acting Techniques
- Acting principles: character analysis, motivation, and objective
- The critical differences between acting for stage, film, and TV
Character Development
- Building believable, three-dimensional characters
- Physicality, voice, and emotional life — developed across multiple sessions
Scene Study
- Partner work on scripted scenes — returned to and deepened over weeks
- Objectives, obstacles, and tactics in practice
Text Analysis
- Breaking down a script and understanding character motivations
- Subtext, relationships, and thematic depth

Medium-Specific Technique

Stage Acting: Projection, movement, blocking, and live-audience connection
Film Acting: Camera presence, facial subtlety, continuity, and technical awareness
TV Acting: Script pacing, character consistency, episodic structure
Transitioning Between Mediums: Adapting your performance — and understanding the career landscape in each

Advanced Technique & Performance

Audition Techniques: Monologue prep, cold reading, self-tape, and understanding NYC’s casting process
Rehearsal Process: Deepening character work over multiple sessions with applied feedback
Performance Stamina: Building consistency and energy across a sustained shooting or performance schedule
Final Scene Performance & Critique: Perform your final scenes for Karina and receive detailed professional feedback

Want to go even further? The 12-week program is the most comprehensive short-format acting training The NYPAA offers. Alumni pricing applies to all returning students.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is this acting class right for me if I’ve never trained before? +

No audition or prior experience is required. Karina’s approach meets actors at every level. That said, the 8-week format rewards commitment — if you’re completely new and want to test the waters first, the 4-week workshop is a great starting point.

How is the 8-week different from the 4-week workshop? +

The 4-week gives you the fundamentals and immediate tools. The 8-week goes further: you revisit your scenes, deepen your characters over multiple sessions, get more rounds of feedback from Karina, cover advanced audition strategy and self-tape technique, and finish with a final scene performance and detailed critique. It’s a more complete training experience.

What is the alumni discount and how does it work? +

Returning NYPAA students save $42.50 on this workshop (from $425 to $382.50). Select “The NYPAA Alum” in the Registration dropdown at checkout. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, contact us.

Are payment plans or financing available? +

Yes — financing options are available for NYPAA programs. Visit our Financing Options page for details, or contact us and we’ll help you find the right plan.

What happens after I register? +

You’ll receive a confirmation email with class location details, what to bring, and how to access the ASPIRE student portal. If you don’t see it within a few minutes, check your spam folder or reach out to us.

What is your refund or cancellation policy? +

All enrollments are non-refundable. However, if your plans change, your tuition converts to a full program credit with no expiration — apply it toward any future NYPAA class, workshop, or program. We’re committed to making sure your investment in your training continues to work for you.

Where is the acting class held in NYC? +

Classes are held at The NYPAA, 244 West 54th Street, 11th Floor, Room 1102, New York, NY 10019 — in Midtown Manhattan, easily accessible from Penn Station, Grand Central, Times Square, Port Authority, and Columbus Circle. Get directions on Google Maps →

CLASS INFO

⏰ Next session starts May 16 — spots are limited. Register now to secure your place.

✓ AUDITION NOT REQUIRED

✓ AGES 17+

✓ 8 SATURDAYS ONLY

✓ ANY EXPERIENCE LEVEL

🎓 Returning NYPAA student?
Select “The NYPAA Alum” at checkout to save $42.50 automatically.

💳 Payment plans available.
See financing options →

Want the full experience?
The 12-week program → is our most comprehensive short-format acting training. Alumni pricing applies.

Enrollment & Credit Policy

We want your investment in your training to keep working for you. While all enrollments are non-refundable, if your plans change we’ll convert your tuition to a full program credit — good toward any NYPAA class or workshop, with no expiration. Your commitment to your craft is never lost.

Additional Costs

Program fees cover instruction only. Travel, transportation, and any visa-related costs are the student’s responsibility.

About This Workshop Format

The 8-week workshop offers an intensive, focused training experience. For the most comprehensive coverage of all techniques, our 12-week program goes furthest — alumni pricing applies to all returning students.

Questions before you register?
📞 212-457-4060
✉️ service@thenypaa.org
Or request information online →

Event Details

Class Details:

Start time: 04:00 p.m. EDT

End time: 05:30 p.m. EDT

Venue: The NYPAA @ 244 W54th St., 11th Fl., Room 1102

Coordinates: 40.7642738,-73.9832921

Directions: From Penn Station Walking (approx. 15 minutes): Exit Penn Station onto 8th Avenue. Walk north on 8th Avenue for about 10 blocks. Turn right onto West 54th Street. The building will be on your right, between Broadway and 8th Avenue. From Penn Station Subway (approx. 8 minutes): Take the C or E train from 34th Street-Penn Station (Downtown & Brooklyn). Get off at 50th Street Station. Walk north on 8th Avenue for 4 blocks to West 54th Street. Turn left onto West 54th Street. The building will be on your right. From Grand Central Terminal Subway (approx. 10 minutes): Take the S Shuttle or 7 train from Grand Central to Times Square-42nd Street. Transfer to the C or E train (Uptown & Queens) at Times Square-42nd Street. Get off at 50th Street Station. Walk north on 8th Avenue for 4 blocks to West 54th Street. Turn left onto West 54th Street. The building will be on your right. From Grand Central Terminal Walking (approx. 20 minutes): Exit Grand Central onto 42nd Street. Walk west on 42nd Street to 8th Avenue. Walk north on 8th Avenue to West 54th Street. Turn right onto West 54th Street. The building will be on your right. From Port Authority Bus Terminal Walking (approx. 12 minutes): Exit Port Authority onto 8th Avenue. Walk north on 8th Avenue for about 8 blocks. Turn right onto West 54th Street. The building will be on your right, between Broadway and 8th Avenue. From Port Authority Bus Terminal Subway (approx. 5 minutes): Take the C or E train from 42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal (Uptown & Queens). Get off at 50th Street Station. Walk north on 8th Avenue for 4 blocks to West 54th Street. Turn left onto West 54th Street. The building will be on your right. From Times Square Walking (approx. 10 minutes): Exit Times Square onto 7th Avenue. Walk north on 7th Avenue to West 54th Street. Turn left onto West 54th Street. The building will be on your left, between Broadway and 8th Avenue. From Times Square Subway (approx. 5 minutes): Take the C or E train from Times Square-42nd Street Station (Uptown & Queens). Get off at 50th Street Station. Walk north on 8th Avenue for 4 blocks to West 54th Street. Turn left onto West 54th Street. The building will be on your right. From Columbus Circle Walking (approx. 5 minutes): Exit Columbus Circle onto Broadway. Walk south on Broadway for 5 blocks to West 54th Street. Turn left onto West 54th Street. The building will be on your left, between Broadway and 8th Avenue. From Columbus Circle Subway (approx. 3 minutes): Take the 1 train from 59th Street-Columbus Circle Station (Downtown & Brooklyn). Get off at 50th Street Station. Walk north on Broadway for 4 blocks to West 54th Street. Turn left onto West 54th Street. The building will be on your left.

Phone: 212-457-4060

Email: admin@nyperformingartsacademy.org