Scene Study is an actor’s gym - a place for you to hone your craft and keep your skills sharp. It’s an environment for actors to get their reps in, continually tackling new material and gaining confidence in their process. How are you keeping your artistic self in shape?

Considered some of the best scene study classes in New York City, T. Schreiber Studio's courses have a following with award-nominated actors and television series regulars. These scene study classes provide an environment for experienced actors to enhance their ability to act from a deeply personal and freely imaginative place, bringing spontaneity and truthfulness to their work. Tools and exercises will be incorporated with scene work to develop the actor’s instrument and build technique.

These ongoing Scene Study classes meet once a week in-person and are offered in cycles of 4 or 6 weeks. Once you have joined an ongoing class, you may re-enroll to continue developing your work. 

Scene Study is for you if you...

Need help taking risks and making more interesting acting choices.
Have acting blocks you want to address.
Want to incorporate improvisation in your character and relationship development.

After this course, you will…

 Incorporate new tools and exercises to deepen your character work.
Connect with your body and inner life more deeply.
Reinforce your authenticity by personalizing and pursuing your character objectives.

Actors will engage in group warmups, relaxation techniques, and sensory/stimulus work and work with partners on an assigned scene from a play. Personal in-depth work, first read techniques, character exercises, and relationship improvs designed to tap into the actor’s inner life and imagination will be applied.  In future cycles, actors are assigned a variety of new scenes and partners as they continue to develop and strengthen their process.

Advanced Scene Study 

James trained at the American Conservatory Theatre (MFA Acting) and UC Santa Barbara (BFA Acting). His career bridges performance and teaching - blending professional experience with a commitment to integrative actor training.

As an actor, James has worked extensively on new and classic American plays at theatres including The American Conservatory Theatre, The Magic Theatre, Theatre at Boston Court, San Jose Rep, Aurora Theatre, and Katonah Classic Stage among others. He has collaborated with celebrated playwrights such as Theresa Rebeck, Will Eno, Jackie Sibblies Drury, Lauren Gunderson, Steve Yockey, and Chris Peña. James’ film work includes leading roles in several award-winning independent short and feature films, and his aesthetic leans toward poetic work that is smart, vigorously physical, and emotionally complex.

In addition to acing, James has been teaching and coaching for over two decades. He has taught at The American Conservatory Theatre, The Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, and privately in Los Angeles and New York.

James also completed a PhD at the California Institute of Integral Studies (with funding from The Esalen Institute), focusing on spiritually integrative approaches to performance. This has led to the development of a unique approach — one that explores mind, body, and spirit to support actors’ artistic and professional growth.

James lived and worked professionally in Denver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles before landing in New York City, where he continues to teach and work in theatre.