First Take Acting Program

First take is a wonderful acting class for beginners and more advanced actors alike. Nancy has an eagle eye for even tiny moments when the actor gets distracted or hasn’t completely thought out the reasoning for their line. She pushes students to be their absolute best, but is gentle and creates a safe space to try things you may not be 100% confident in.
I tried the hardest scene I’ve ever come across in class, it scared the heck out of me, but Nancy encouraged me to try it. And when I did, she showed me where I had succeeded and where I needed a little tweak. She didn’t let me off just because it was an incredibly hard scene, she helped push me to do something I had no idea I could.
Nancy’s unique style prepares actors for auditioning for film and television in the real world. She breaks bad habits, teaches you what to prepare for such as social etiquette in auditions, and of course hammers out a lot of scene work.
Plus, she sets up weekend workshops almost every month that students can sign up for to learn more about auditioning, casting directors and the business of acting. I was so glad when I audited her class and realized I’d found a great class in the Bay Area.

First Take was the very first acting school I went to. and I think I’ve been totally spoiled in that regard. Nancy is an incredible teacher– she really listens, understands, and most of all, she really does care about her students! Her teaching style has helped me grow immensely both as an actor and as a person.
I originally thought I’d try one session and «see how it went.» That was the tip of the iceberg– I was hooked and learned so much each session that I stuck with it, and now 1.5 years later, I find that I’m still learning by leaps and bounds every week. Nancy is honest with each of her students and tells them exactly what they need to know to move forward with their work.
As an aside, my workplace gives me free credit to take classes every year at the University– I’ve taken two 9-​week acting classes there (theater and film acting), and I found them nowhere near as helpful as First Take.
I realize that in the grand scheme of things I am still very much a beginner and have lots to learn, but thanks to Nancy’s class, I now have a safe place to learn, make mistakes (c’mon we all make them), and enjoy the process of acting. I also have a family of incredibly talented and supportive actors who I regularly see at auditions locally. Her students have accomplished so much in Film/​TV yet remain so humble and real.
I’ve also gotten callbacks and booked roles in commercials and independent films that I never did before. This month alone I booked 5 principal roles in commercial jobs and had 2 callbacks for lead roles in feature films that I would’ve never even auditioned for before First Take!
If you’re interested in auditioning well, being honest in your acting, knowing how to market yourself, and ultimately booking the job, First Take will help get you there. If not, then why are you reading this? :)

I LOVE studying at First Take. I have been taking classes as First Take since 2003, and it has been amazing. Definitely tough, but amazing. Nancy is a wonderful teacher, and cares so much about her students. She goes beyond just being a teacher. She’s very honest, and encouraging, and very generous with her students. Not only does her acting method work, you get guidance in other areas of being an actor as well. Advice on headshots, marketing, how to maintain good relationships with casting directors etc…
The class environment is really wonderful too. Everyone is very supportive of one another. There is no sense of cattiness or competition. It’s like a family. We support one another and are really rooting for each other’s success. This is so valuable, because being an actor is hard and can be really scary and feel really vulnerable sometimes. Being in an environment that is supportive, where you can feel free to be yourself, helps make you a better actor.
The method of acting that Nancy teaches really works! If you take this class and stick with it, you will improve as an actor! It’s all about bringing the magic and uniqueness of who you are to every scene and really making situations in the scenes real for you. This may sound simple enough, but it’s not. It’s hard, and requires training and discipline.
After studying with First Take for a little over a year I got signed by a very reputable LA agent. After 2 years I booked a guest starring role on a TV show on NBC. Since then I have booked multiple roles on network television shows, and films. I could not have done this without Nancy, and First Take.