The San Francisco Academy for the Performing Arts is dedicated to developing and training artists in the disciplines of professional theater and the performing arts.  Founded in 1997 by Richard Nickol, John Florencio and Paula Leong, the Academy has enjoyed exponential growth and success by creating a balanced multi-disciplinary program, which includes voice, dance, drama and related performing arts.

Richard has used his expansive and varied background of performance and training to create the SFAPA curriculum, which is based on four interrelated components:

§         Group classes are an opportunity to develop the rigorous discipline of growing and maintaining skills that are necessary to derive the maximum benefit from the private instruction.  SFAPA offers performance seminar and vocal intensive classes.

§         Private instruction offers the student one-on-one time with the instructor to work on individual needs.

§         Workshops that provide our students the opportunity to learn from, and to be seen by, experts currently working in the performing arts industry.

For example, industry experts who have taught at SFAPA include casting directors Leslie Martinson from TheatreWorks, Marc Jacobs from Broadway by the Bay and Merri Sugarman from Tara Rubin Casting Agency in New York.  Joshua Finkel, who has Broadway, National Tour and film credits, has taught classes in audition techniques, comedy and cold reading.

§         Performing venues provide the opportunity to perform before a live audience on a regular and consistent basis – performing becomes second nature to our students.  SFAPA currently hosts two evenings a week at the Octavia Lounge. 

Combined, these components offer a unique and challenging curriculum that prepares our students to successfully participate in the performing arts.