Youth Professional Training Program (PTP)

Classes are limited to 12 students. A small class size ensures that every student works at every class and gets individual attention. 

We have hundreds of lesson plans and curate a new syllabus for each school year. While we cover the same units (commercials, VO, film, TV, monologues, scenes, improv), the actual lessons and the scripts chosen vary every year. Because the classes are small (and because Amanda is a spreadsheet nerd!), we keep track of all the commercials, voiceovers, monologues, and scenes every student works on at Verve, and we provide a customized experience for each student.

If you want to audition for theatre, television, or film, this class will help you get and maintain a competitive edge. Also, if you want to get an agent here in Phoenix, this class is essential. Phoenix agents represent you “across the board,” which means in commercials, voiceover, film, TV, hosting, and print. You must have training and skills in all of these areas. Furthermore, if you want to get an agent in LA (First talk to your parents! That is a huge commitment!), the skills you learn in the class are applicable to large markets. Phoenix is the sixth market Amanda has lived and worked in, so the curriculum reflects that experience. If you already have an agent, you know that ongoing training is essential to being competitive. Most agents actually require you to train regularly.   

This training program is what you make of it. If you’re curious about acting, we welcome you to come, explore, and have fun! We also welcome students who simply enjoy acting as a hobby. Acting skills are life skills, and artistic expression is essential to long-term wellbeing. Regardless of whether you intend to work professionally, you’ll learn skills that will help you in life, and Verve’s youth programs are a safe place to explore and express your inner artist. 

PTP is designed as a year-long, ongoing curriculum where skills are introduced, developed, and expanded throughout the school year. Each unit of study builds upon previous training and typically spans two to six classes, meaning a single class does not fully represent the depth, progression, or variety of the overall program.

For example, a class focused on monologue performance will have a very different structure and objective than a class focused on commercial audition techniques, television scenes, or on-camera skills. Each session is one part of a larger training experience designed to help young actors grow over time.

Because of the progressive nature of PTP, we do not offer drop-in classes or trial sessions. However, we offer Weekend Workouts and summer camps as shorter-term options for students who would like to experience Verve training with a smaller time commitment. Weekend Workouts are available à la carte, allowing families to choose sessions that fit their schedules.

Amanda Melby designed all of the curriculum and materials. She has been a working actor for 30+ years, a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1997 and a member of AEA since 2000. She has a B.A. in Theatre and English from Concordia College in MN, has studied in Howard Fine’s and Gunnar Rohrbacher's master classes in LA, and has training from all of the markets she’s lived and worked in. Ashley Faulkner graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Theatre and Film Studies. Read their BIOS here. Additionally, teaching assistants are all graduates of or currently enrolled in ASU/Bachelor programs.  

Regular attendance is strongly encouraged, but when absences cannot be avoided, make-ups are allowed. Tuesday-Saturday classes all follow the same syllabus throughout the school year (with age-appropriate scripts for each day). If a student is unable to make their regular class, they can attend another class between Tuesday and Saturday of that week to make up the same material.

Awesome! When you audition for the play, list your class as a conflict. Production can often work around it. If they are unable to do so, you may pause your enrollment for one month, one time, between November and March (30-day written notice required). You can also leave early from class to get to rehearsal on time. If you are traveling frequently to LA for last minute auditions, contact Amanda to work something out. 

There is an intentional overlap in grades to accommodate both schedules and maturity.  4 - 6 grades meet Thursdays, 6 - 8 grades meet Wednesdays, 7 - 12 are Saturdays, and 9 - 12 are Tuesdays. Mondays class is 9 - 12, by invitation, and primarily for advanced students who have already completed 2 years of Verve classes.   

If you haven’t taken classes at Verve before but have taken more than a year of classes at other studios, contact Verve (info@vervestudio.net) to schedule an audition. Students must be proficient in commercials, voice over, improv, film auditioning and scene work to work in the Advanced Monday class. At the audition, students will perform two prepared, memorized, contrasting one to one-and-a-half minute monologues of their choice and a commercial cold read chosen by the studio. 

Tuition is based on the full amount of classes for the school year. You can opt for one payment (2% discount; no refunds), trimester payments (Sept, Nov, and Feb payments) or monthly payments. We also accept ESA/Class Wallet. Please email us to schedule invoices.

For monthly or trimester payments, we require a credit card to auto-bill on the set dates. If you are joining or re-joining mid-month, individual classes are $65/each.  

 We don’t offer one-time or irregular drop-ins. The drop-in option is only for those re-enrolling mid-month after dropping out due to a play or life event.

Yes, you can, space permitting. Select "Monthly" when you register.  

Yes! We do. Verve Studios, LLC is an approved Vendor.  

A good majority of Verve’s students have agents, are seeking agents, or are actively auditioning for competitive parts in film and theatre. The name more accurately describes what we are already teaching at Verve.