The Art of Acting
A practice based acting class for adults who want excellent technique and expressive performances.
An 8-week, in person group program in San Francisco starting late September 2026. No Experience Required.
Meet Your Instructor
Brennan Pickman Thoon is a director, actor, writer, teaching artist, and proud Bay Area native. Recent work includes Sweeney Todd (Director) at the Throckmorton Theatre, Shrek (AD) and Matilda (AD) at the Presidio Theatre. He graduated with honors from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned a BFA in Drama and trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. As an actor, Brennan has performed with A.C.T., Berkeley Repertory Theatre, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Word For Word, Marin Theatre, and Marin Shakespeare Company, among others. SFBATCC Winner: Actor In A Leading Role. Member, AEA (Actor’s Equity).
This is for you if…
You've always wanted to act, but don't know where to start.
You sing in musical theater, opera, or contemporary styles and want your acting to become one of your greatest strengths.
You're an experienced performer who wants to strengthen your technique and expand your range.
Stage fright or performance anxiety has been holding you back—and you're ready to change that.
You want to start auditioning for theater, film, or television with greater confidence.
You're finally ready to pursue something you've wanted to do for years.
Fall Course Dates
Tuesdays 7:00 - 8:30 PM
September 29th - November 17th
At DAMATO studio in Noe Valley, San Francisco
If students have to miss one class, they will have access to a recording of the class to review, and any materials will be provided at their next class. It is recommended to not have more than one absence.
When you leave this class, you’ll…
Have a strong foundation in acting technique
Know how an actor prepares for auditions, rehearsals, and performances
Enhance your skillset with improvisation, staging, and physical & vocal tools
Have a rehearsed, coached monologue or scene to use for auditions
Be able to break down a text using script analysis with techniques from the teaching of Stella Adler and Konstantin Stanislavski
Feel ready to perform for an audience, with confidence and skill
Tuition & Enrollment
Tuition Includes:
10+ hours of in-person training for the price of < 4 hours of private acting lessons
A small, artistically-aligned acting cohort
A final scenes performance for friends & family
Personalized acting feedback and coaching
A set of DAMATO acting technique handouts
1 complimentary month of studio membership upon course completion
Access to schedule 1on1 sessions with our acting or vocal coaches
We recommend reserving your spot early - there’s a very limited class size
$475
$425 Early Registration