Scott Olson - Acting Lessons
About
I have been an actor in Chicago for over 25 years and a teacher in the Theatre Department at Columbia College for 18. I also was an instructor at Act One Studios for many years. I have taught a variety of classes in Acting on many different levels, have taught basic Voice classes, created a Viewpoints Scene Study class at Act One, and have taught many audition workshops and monologue coaching sessions. I am interested in helping actors get to the heart of their work, whether it is for audition prep or learning the skills of being an actor. As I tell my classes at Columbia, in order to succeed working with me you need to do two things: 1) you need to work hard and do the homework and 2) you need to have fun while we work together.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We first need to get together and discuss what it is the student is looking for: learning to be an actor, working on audition prep, helping find the right monologues, etc. Then we map out a plan that includes both long-term and short-term goals and we take it from there.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
B.A in Theatre from Muhlenberg College
MFA in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory
Over 30 years work as an actor and director
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
$40/ hour
How did you get started teaching?
Was working fresh out of college at Florida Studio Theatre where part of my job was to teach students in their Teen Acting Classes. Then, years later here in Chicago, I got a job at Columbia subbing for a teacher in their theatre department and found I loved being a teacher just as much as I loved acting and I've been pursuing both ever since.
What types of students have you worked with?
Mostly college age (18-25) but have also worked with teenagers and often coach adults in their 20's and 30's interested in audition coaching.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Meet with the teacher, get to know them not just as a teacher but as a person and see if you click. Ask them questions about not just their teaching style but themselves as well.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
The main one is what are your goals. If a student walks in to a first session with no idea of short or long-term goals, it makes it difficult for the teacher to make a plan for them. Even if it's as simple as "I want to be a better actor than I am now" it gives the teacher a starting point to work from.