New Conservatory Theatre Center Classes

San Francisco, United States

4.9

10 reviews

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Telephone:
+1 415-694-6148
Website:
www.nctcsf.org
Address:
25 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94102
Civic Center, Hayes Valley
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
260 ftVan Ness Muni
270 ftMarket St & Van Ness Ave
300 ftMarket St & South Van Ness Ave
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Bussiness info

Good for Kids
No

Today

Today –
Local time (San Francisco) 04:07 Monday, 2 June 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Classes and Camps provide theatre training to youth and teens. Classes include Comedy, Musical Theatre, and Teen Performance Ensemble.

NCTC has provided high quality arts education since 1981. Conservatory students flourish in a fun, supportive and non-​competitive atmosphere where each student is provided an opportunity to shine. Emphasis is placed on skill building through theatre games and exercises, with culminating performances punctuating the end of each class experience.

All classes are taught by leading theatre teaching artists and are held at our convenient downtown San Francisco location.

History

Established in 1981.

Offering top quality productions, Pride Season is an 11-​month LGBT theatre performance program which produces the work of local, national and international playwrights.

Theatre Arts School provides professional training programs for ages 5 — 18, as well as acting and singing classes for adults.

Young Audience Performances presents 4 – 5 shows each year for families, Youth Centers, and Schools. Young Audience Performance Program Acting Companies are comprised of NCTC students and professional actors.

Each summer, NCTC produces a four-​month series highlighting local writers, singers, and musicians which features cabaret solo shows as well as ensembles and original musical work.

NCTC sponsors celebrity events which have included: Annette Benning, Jack Lemmon, Mathew Broderick, Julie Harris, Lily Tomlin, Joanne Worley, Cloris Leachman, Terrence McNally, Charles Nelson Reilly.

Meet the Business Owner

Ed D.

Business Owner

Ed Decker is the Founding Artistic Director of the New Conservatory Theatre Center. A graduate of San Francisco State University and a former Director of the American Conservatory Theatre’s Young Conservatory, Decker is particularly proud of NCTC’s Conservatory Training Program and the YouthAware touring education program. Since 1981, Decker has produced and/​or directed over 500 plays, musicals, and special events for NCTC. Decker is recently married to his partner of 21 years, Robert Leone, and the two have embarked on the writing of a new play, Rights of Passage, exploring LGBT human rights progress around the world.

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Nearby

Near this location:
20
ft
Civil Service Commission
25 Van Ness Ave Ste 720
20
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Growing Home Community Garden
25 Van Ness Ave
20
ft
Department of Public Health
25 Van Ness Ave Ste 500
20
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San Francisco Rent Board
25 Van Ness Ave., Ste. 320
20
ft
San Francisco Dept of Public Health
AIDS Research Office 25 Van Ness Ave
20
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San Francisco Taxicab Commission
25 Van Ness Avenue Suite 420

10 reviews of New Conservatory Theatre Center Classes

No registration required
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
NCTC is such a great place for kids. It really fosters a sense of community beyond simply taking classes. Not to say the classes for kids aren’t great because they are! And all of the shows I’ve seen have been terrific!
Place rating: 5
Larkspur, CA
NCTC does an amazing job with kids and teens! My son has been acting with NCTC for 5 years and loves it! He has done the summer camps with NCTC as well. He is always energized and inspired by the teaching and the enthusiasm of the program. We are so glad we found it. The classes are all wonderful and Stephanie Temple is an incredibly fun and inspiration teacher for the kids!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I have been associated with New Conservatory Theatre since 1994 and I LOVE it. I know the staff to be kind, extremely talented, and very trained in the performing arts. If you are looking for your child to cultivate their inner artist or focus your wild star– NCTC’s on site and off site classes (they can come to your school!) and plays is the place! Really– check them out– first day of school year class is FREE!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Couldn’t think of a better way to spend 3 weeks of summer. My daughter absolutely loves NCTC camp and has been going for the past 4 years. She’s already looking forward to next summer and can’t wait to see what play she’ll be working on as a brand new member of the Teen Ensemble.
The teachers and staff have great energy and teach the kids a lot of theater and music skills and knowledge in just three weeks. The end of session plays they put on are always delightful.
It would be great if the year round classes were offered on other days besides Saturdays, as my daughter can’t attend those due to other commitments.
I will always recommend NCTC!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Ed Decker has grown this theatre company over the years into one of the best venues for new work and old standards. My daughter studying acting there as a young girl and last year was voted best Spoken Word Artist in Santa Cruz! Thanks Ed for the inspiration.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
my daughter has been taking acting classes in s.f. since she was 3, we find new conservatory the best fit. Andrew and Jomar really understand how to make play acting real, fun and educational, we couldn’t be happier.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
My son attended the NCTC summer camp for the first time at age 9 and has gone every year since – this summer will be his 8th year. We plan our summer travel around NCTC! This year he is also doing the Teen Performance Ensemble, having the time of his life in the terrific, funny show «Muni». The kids’ programs are just excellent, and we have been so impressed with how much they are able to accomplish in a short time. Kids of any and all levels of ability and experience are welcome, and they all learn and grow through these programs while having a great time.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
This review is based mostly on the outstanding job that NCTC’s Youth Conservatory does in the community. For 9 years, my son has been attending classes at NCTC, and has benefited tremendously from the experience. Not only has he gained theatre skills (acting, writing, stage tech), but he also has learned the value of project management within a tolerent team. And he has had roaring good fun and made lifelong friendships too! Those who are in Youth Conservatory classes are given many opportunities to follow their theatre passions, whether that means acting in the delightful, excellent-​quality Conservatory shows, or stage managing/​run lighting/​you name it. In addition, students are able to attend (for free) those Youth shows in which they haven’t been cast, as well as see mainstage NCTC productions which are appropriate for youths/​teens. In short, NCTC’s Youth Conservatory offers a complete theatre adventure — and scholarships are available to those who are in need. One of the best arts groups in the city, in my estimation. Bravo NCTC!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
NCTC was a second home for me for 11 years of my life. I started taking classes there when I was 6 and by the time I turned 12, I was there at least twice a week, singing and acting my guts out. I credit this community with who I am today. It is an excellent place to be, make friends, learn to act, and get a wonderful education outside of school. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
New Conservatory Theater Center offers a wide selection of performances, which I highly recommend. And should you get bitten by the performance bug yourself, they also have classes for both kids and adults. I have no direct experience of the kids’ classes, but the kids all look/​sound very excited to be there so I’m guessing that it’s a good program.
I just finished my first, 9-​week course: «Sing Out,» a musical theater course for adults. It was fabulous — nine students in the class, and we met weekly to go through whatever piece we wanted to work on that week. The teacher, Scrumbly, is superb at coaching students to connect with the emotional «charge» of the song to call forth in their performances.
The course culminated in an incredibly fun recital. We each sang a solo and at least one duet, and ended up with a group number «Hey, Big Spender» complete with hip bumps and sultry shoulder wiggles. Considering that half of the class was over 40 and male, that was especially fun.
If you are afraid of showtunes and jazz hands — stay away. Or, better yet, use this excellent class as an opportunity to work through your bizarre phobia.
The only thing that keeps this from being five stars was that I wanted more «ME» time in the rehearsals. With nine students and so many pieces (solos, duets, group) to run through, there often wasn’t the time to delve deeply into an individual piece. This class whetted my appetite for individual instruction, so I think I will take this group class again and supplement with private lessons.
Mi, mi, mi, it’s all about me :-)