Graduate Testimonials

"The faculty at NCDA are highly talented, dedicated and nurturing professionals from a variety of backgrounds in the entertainment industry, and people I have grown to love, respect, and greatly admire. Their insight and their knowledge have enriched my understanding of the craft and the business. The high level of commitment they exercise and the encouraging environment they create for students made my experience richly rewarding. The guidance I have received have not only allowed me to develop an extremely solid foundation on which to build my acting career, but have made me even more committed, confident, dedicated, and prepared for the life of an actor.”

"When I decided to return to professional theater after a ten-year hiatus, I knew NCDA would help me up my game. What I didn't know was that it would not only give me a process, training, and encouragement but a deep network of professional actors, directors, and friends. The faculty aren't theorists, they're professionals you're as likely to see on stage or screen as in the classroom. The instruction ranges from creating characters and telling stories to the nuts-and-bolts of auditions and marketing. They say great people stand on the shoulders of giants; stand on NCDA's shoulders. They won't mind."

"NCDA offers a positive vibe and a warm and welcoming ambiance to its students. The training and guidance I received provided me with the tools to understand all aspects of acting - in depth - and to execute those skills successfully on the stage and in film. The school helped me create a strong resume in a highly competitive field. I have been introduced to many professionals who are active in the world of acting and may assist me in my future aspirations and work. NCDA is the only accredited school in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Enough said."

"I was following the American standard and attending college, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in theater until one day I found myself alone in my dorm amidst my chemistry books, confused, with no theatrical training and completely unhappy. I struggled with the fact that my path wasn't everyone else's path - that I had to find my own way - and following my path led me to NCDA. I am now not confused, a graduate of the two-year and third-year programs, and finally doing what I love. I am a better actor and, even more importantly, a better person. They nurtured me, and the best part is I can come back any time!“

“I had acted in several productions before, but I wasn’t an actor until I came to NCDA. The program gives you everything you need to be confident and successful once you graduate – as long as you work hard, absorb everything you can from the excellent faculty around you, and be open to exploring your own strengths and weaknesses. I use all of the skills that I learned at NCDA in each new production I’m in or audition I attend. NCDA nurtures and provides all kinds of support for both students and alumni once they’re out in the ‘real world.’ It’s a wonderful family to be a part of!

“My experience training at NCDA was one I will treasure all my life. Only a month after graduation, I was on a national tour, and I spent my first year after school exploring the country and doing shows in over 30 states. NCDA taught me how to be a professional, how to find work and, most importantly, how to act.  There is no better acting school in the mid-Atlantic region, and I would recommend NCDA to any aspiring actor.”

"Since  graduating NCDA, I have been on three auditions and have gotten into all three shows. Before my toughest callback, I was able to go back to NCDA for additional guidance; even after graduation, teachers and staff continue to help and support students in countless ways to help us further our careers and find jobs in the performing arts. This training has given me an edge - I can now walk out on stage and feel confident and prepared in a way no other training has been able to deliver.”