SYAA one-week acting workshops are conducted by adult educators and interns experienced in both theatre and education. The goal of the workshops is to give participants solid training in theatre basics: focus, cold reading, confidence in front of an audience, use of body and voice to convey meaning, memorization techniques and teamwork. The teachers/interns teach with hands-on activities and fun theatre games that illustrate these activities.

The workshops' daily time-frame includes time onstage where students get to practice theatre skills on stage under the lights in SYAA's performing space. The students produce a show in one-week, with basic costume/props bits and pieces. Their show is written especially for them by guest artist, Jessica Rainwater-Grigson.