Acting Classes in Chicago, IL

Sanford Meisner said that, "acting is the ability to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances."  In our first ten weeks together, we will work on the first half of that statement: living truthfully. Working through this series of innovative, step-by-step series of improvisational exercises will train you to be thoroughly responsive, emotionally...

The “Acting As A Craft” (AAAC) workshops are uniquely designed master class workshops incorporating a broad range of basic skills that an actor absolutely needs. Students will be given scene assignments from various film and stage plays and then paired up to work that particular scene as a homework assignment which will then be performed at the...

Classes consist of basic warm-ups, stage movement and basic dance skills incorporated into different musicals. Classes also include exercises to enhance acting skills, confidence on stage and characterization. Prerequisite: Must be enrolled in a ballet class at Chi-CDT Notes: Must wear jazz shoes or grecian sandals Please bring lunch. ...

Adult classes are taught in a positive and encouraging environment for beginners, returners, and professionals. Adult classes are open to drop-in students.

Activate your imagination and plumb the depths of your risk-taking to create forceful, personally-connected characters. Hone your emotional preparation while continuing to work behaviorally, moment to moment. Prerequisite: Tech 1 and instructor approval Note: School will reach out with a final interview call for verification after purchase.

Break down your behavior barriers and expose a reservoir of intense and powerful emotional life. Your breakthrough to brilliant acting begins here, "living truthfully" and working moment to moment. Prerequisite: Admission by interview Note: School will reach out with a final interview call for verification after purchase.

Musical Theater is a dance class focused on choreography from Broadway musicals, and integrates many styles of jazz as well as acting. Recommended for dancers and performers at Beginning/Intermediate level in ballet and jazz.

Acting is an emotional art form, yet as Meisner told us, ‘acting is not emoting.’ So how do we deepen our emotional life without becoming indulgent, self-conscious actors? How do we meet the emotional demands of the script without faking anything? Level 3 has the answers.  For ten weeks you will be guided through a series of exercises specifically...

Work intensely with another actor within the structure of two-person scenes and unleash deeply personal, imaginative and organic work. This is the bridge between Meisner technique and text work.   Prerequisite: Tech 1, 2, 3 Note: School will reach out with a final interview call for verification after purchase.

Musical Theater is a dance class focused on choreography from Broadway musicals, and integrates many styles of jazz as well as acting. Recommended for dancers and performers at Beginning/Intermediate level in ballet and jazz.

Here we will give you the interpretive tools you’ll need to put all your Meisner training into practice in the real world. You will learn how to read a script with the precision and dexterity of a surgeon, discover how to make active choices that work for you, and unlock your ability to personalize the given circumstances of the plays you work on....

Learn Piven’s core improvisational technique and apply it to scripted stories & scenes. Each session of the class is centered on a different theme. Past themes have included stories of the sea, family relationships, and magical realism.  Under the expert instruction of a senior teacher, students will create and perform stories...

Agency Theater Collective Co-Artistic Director Jack Schultz mixes writing exercises, movement exercises, improvisation, and elements of the Meisner technique to help students find the first act of their new solo performance. Informed by his experience creating and touring his solo show I’m Falling In Love All The Time, Jack creates a safe environment...

In this level, we will begin to explore ‘imaginary circumstances.’ New elements will be added to the exercises that will work to broaden your imagination, exercise your faith in given circumstances and ground your acting in your own unique point of view.  As you continue this work through the advanced exercises, we will begin to show...

Deepen your work, expand your craft and connect. In this repeatable advanced scene study class, you will be given the opportunity to work on two scenes utilizing all of the tools you learned in Levels 1-4. Practice personalization, script analysis, emotional preparation, particularization and impediments all while honing your ability to work off...