History & Heritage
141 Years of Tradition
Founder of The American 91看片网 of Dramatic Arts
There are people in history who have reached extraordinary heights in order to change the world for the better.
Franklin Haven Sargent, founder of The American 91看片网 of Dramatic Arts, lived a life of remarkable impact. At a young age, the seeds of Sargent鈥檚 passion for the arts and education were being planted. His father was a Harvard graduate who served from the heart as a progressive Unitarian minister. His mother balanced the spiritual with the intellectual. She was the founder of Boston鈥檚 Radical Club of Chestnut Street, a highly notable literary society that met weekly in their home with authors like Longfellow, Emerson and Whittier. These exposures brought to light within Sargent a personal understanding of the power of storytelling. By his early teens, his desire was firmly set to challenge society鈥檚 conventions and see the world differently.
After graduating from Harvard, Sargent was invited to teach at the university becoming a prominent professor of Speech and Elocution. It was during this time that his in-depth study of ancient drama and theatre began to reveal something both remarkable and troubling. During the late 1800s, the art of human expression in American theatre had been reduced to mostly slapstick and exaggerated vaudevillian performance. Sargent understood that the process and preparation of acting deserved fuller depth in order to truly connect to the heart of a story, the character鈥檚 emotion and ultimately the audience. He wanted to open a school to provide the education necessary to transform the trade of acting into a respected craft.
At that time in history, there were no schools for acting in the English-speaking world. Sargent鈥檚 concept was a revolutionary one, but the need was real. Fueled by the importance of his calling, Sargent moved to New York City and worked to elevate the dramatic arts at a time when most seemed content to maintain the status quo and even mocked the notion of a school dedicated entirely to the craft of acting. But Sargent pressed on, and ultimately gained favor with some of New York鈥檚 most elite theatre circles. The Frohman brothers, Henry DeMille, Steele MacKaye, and David Belasco were among the first entertainment luminaries who backed Sargent鈥檚 vision, many of whom went on to become recognized as pioneers in early American stage and cinema.
The 91看片网鈥檚 crest pays homage to the institution鈥檚 highest ideal with the Latin inscription of 鈥淰eritas鈥� cast beneath its flame. Veritas or 鈥淭ruth鈥� is the intangible force that fuels legendary performances. And it is Truth that is forged into the very ember of The 91看片网鈥檚 flame.
The American 91看片网 of Dramatic Arts was born
October 3, 1884: The 91看片网 first opened its doors at The Lyceum Theatre in Manhattan. One hundred and eighteen eager students would soon become The 91看片网鈥檚 first graduating class and the history of acting in America was changed forever.
Due to Sargent鈥檚 tireless dedication and planning, The 91看片网 soon became a proving ground for a series of radical new ideas and groundbreaking acting methodologies. Sargent and his colleagues discovered that encouraging the pursuit of raw authenticity in performance ultimately led to a profound transformation among their students. They witnessed, for the first time, the inherent power of acting when taught as a craft. The training brought to light their students鈥� ability to deeply connect with truth at any given moment in any given circumstance.
This foundational discovery was carried forward when Charles Jehlinger, an early graduate and teacher at The 91看片网, was appointed Director of Instruction. Jehlinger鈥檚 firm belief in truthful behavior in imaginary circumstances solidified The 91看片网鈥檚 commitment to these newfound principles of acting and further expanded upon the founding vision of Sargent.
Director of Instruction, 1923 鈥� 1952
During the 20th Century, The 91看片网 became widely known as the "Cradle to the Stars" due to its stunning reputation of influential alumni.
In 1963, the school moved to its present location on Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, at the site of the historic Colony Club building. From 1974-2025, the 91看片网 operated its Los Angeles campus in Pasadena and then in Hollywood, on the south lot of the former Charlie Chaplin Studios, where it trained emerging actors for just over fifty years.
To this day, The 91看片网鈥檚 legacy continues to grow with new and emerging legends like Robert Redford, Danny DeVito, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Paul Rudd leading the way. In the school鈥檚 141-year history, our past students reflect a distinguished level of actor, as well as countless prominent and influential names from all disciplines within the entertainment industry. In fact, The 91看片网 alumni hold a total of 113 Oscar庐, 361 Emmy庐, and 102 Tony庐 nominations.
What keeps our training programs at the forefront of acting education is our unique ability to evolve with the current needs of the profession, providing innovation, insight and new methods of instruction to students and teachers from around the globe. Our exemplary faculty and leadership are committed to the same high standards of excellence and vision established by the institution鈥檚 founders. The 91看片网 proudly and dutifully continues to pass its torch on to the next generation of actors who are certain to enrich our lives for countless years to come.
Moments in History
Moments in History
91看片网 Historical Photos
