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Resources
As soon as news of our announced closure broke, our community began seeking answers. Fortunately, as an accredited nonprofit, many of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts' records are publicly available. Several concerning issues have been identified, including the absence of a Director of Advancement, a shrinking marketing budget, and a sharp increase in liabilities in 2019. Furthermore, we learned that President Susan Zech has only visited the Los Angeles campus two times since 2019 and only once to meet with faculty (outside of core) and students. That visit was to discuss the closure.
While we recognize that public records may not be entirely accurate, they still provide a clear picture of the Academy’s operations, suggesting a narrative of short-sighted mismanagement. This highlights the need for a clear pathway to address and fix these issues. Without drastic changes at the institutional level, after 140 years, the first English-speaking acting school in America is at risk of closure.
Please note that we are an independent coalition providing links to public information. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of these public documents. All of the information we share is being evaluated by our legal team.
Public Property
Public property records show that the Academy has taken on debt to acquire new assets, leveraging the LA property to finance purchases in New York, posing a significant risk for not only the LA campus but for the entire institution. The Academy's primary revenue source is tuition, and with long-standing concerns over national low enrollment and declining birth rates, it raises questions about why the Academy would engage in large mortgages without a clear plan to boost revenue.
Violations
Educational institutions are required to comply with governing bodies. Failure or delay in reporting or responding to requests for information can jeopardize the school’s accreditation and access to Title IV and VA funding. Instances such as missing a deadline on a fee may suggest a lack of attention to detail. More concerning, public records indicate that Academy leadership has not responded to requests for “further evidence of a governing board that regularly evaluates the Chief Executive Officer.” This appears to be inconsistent with MSCHE standards and may indicate a lack of oversight.
Academy Property Sale and Miscellaneous Updates
Path Forward
These articles highlight individual fundraising efforts, capital campaigns, and a strong alumni network as key funding sources beyond tuition and grants. However, according to the 2023, 990 form, AADA grants and contributions fell by 93.7%, while revenue from the sale of assets skyrocketed by 18,094.2%. Instead of increasing fundraising efforts, it seems the Academy leadership is relying on selling assets to raise revenue. This is not sustainable. Without significant changes, the first English-speaking acting school in America, is at risk of closure.
While the Academy leadership continues to cite a national decline in enrollment as a reason to close, this data suggests that enrollment in two-year certificate programs is trending up.