Find a acting coach in Des Plaines, IL

Find acting classes in Des Plaines, IL

Find acting classes in Des Plaines, IL

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Find acting classes in Des Plaines, IL

Confirm your location to see the best acting classes near you.
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Top 10 acting classes in Des Plaines, IL

Students agree: these Des Plaines acting classes are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.

Karen Vaccaro Acting Coach

5.0Exceptional(12)
8 hires on Lessons.com
40+ years in business
Serves Des Plaines, IL & Online
Brayden B. says, "good" Read more

Four Winds Vocal Artistry

5.0Exceptional(5)
47 hires on Lessons.com
22+ years in business
Serves Des Plaines, IL & Online
Tammy C. says, "Kelli Ann is amazing!! Never having a singing lesson in my life she made me very comfortable. Extremely knowledgeable about all genres of music. Learned a lot about my voice. Bravo!! : )A++" Read more

David August Coaching

5.0(2)
11+ years in business
Serves Des Plaines, IL & Online
Marty B. says, "He's shown me that voice over is truly a form of acting, not just reading a script. He knows a lot about how to interpret a script and gets me to achieve far more than I could on my own." Read more

LaVie Acting

5.0(1)
2 hires on Lessons.com
15+ years in business
Serves Des Plaines, IL & Online
Laine W. says, "Yvia has a way of making you feel so comfortable and I really enjoy working with her. I am learning so much about acting and about myself. It has been a really wonderful experience. I think the world of Yvia." Read more

Weddington Studios

5.0Exceptional(6)
Serves Des Plaines, IL & Online
Anjelica M. says, "Mr. Weddington is inspiring and talented actor. He helped me prepare for my auditions to pursue my BFA in Theatre performance and has guided me into what to expect when it comes being in the room with casting directors. With his experience and knowledge in the industry, he has motivated me keep a level head and positive outlook on how discouraging auditioning/this industry can be. I will be coming back for more lessons and words of advice!" Read more

Chicago Actor John McDonnell

New on Lessons.com
54+ years in business
Serves Des Plaines, IL & Online
I am A Working Chicago Actor 🤭 And a Founding Father of the "Chicago Actors Studio " I Perform in Many Independent Films And Usually One Stage Play a Year 🤓 I'm an Acting Coach who Tries to Inspire my Students to Find the Moment in Their Performance 🤓 I like to bring Out your Intelligence so you can Bring forward the Truth in Your Characters 🤓 I've Studied At Northwestern and Performed with Juliette Lewis Dreyfus of " Seinfeld " , Clancy Brown of "the movie "The Shawshank redemption " And Margie Helgenberger from" CSI " I love to Spark and Inspire 😁🤗😉🤭🐼🤓☘️☘️☘️

Charles Johnston Acting Lessons

New on Lessons.com
13+ years in business
Serves Des Plaines, IL & Online
- Hold a MFA in Acting from DePaul University. Listed as one of the top 20 schools for acting in the world. https://actinginlondon.co.uk/best-acting-schools-in-the-world/ - I've done features, theatre, shorts, commercials. - I will help you make a monologue more active, and stand out in an audition in a positive way. - I will help with self-submission problems including but not limited to: diagnosing issues regarding sound and lighting, eye lines, who you're talking to, making the read seem more alive. - You really already have the ability. All I'll be doing is showing you what you didn't (or maybe you did already) know you knew....

Carl LaMark - Composer/Pianist/Actor

New on Lessons.com
16+ years in business
Serves Des Plaines, IL & Online
30 Years experience as aconcert artist and nearly a decade of experience on set experience for NBC and Showtime.

Curtain Up Classroom

New on Lessons.com
1 hire on Lessons.com
Serves Des Plaines, IL & Online
Combining both theatre experience as actor and director and teaching experience as Communications and Theatre Professor, Dr. Maria Bakalis provides unique acting education with an artistic touch. All Curtain Up Classroom programs reflect a steadfast commitment to creative training and are dedicated to building upon the philosphy that theatre is a collaborative experience for the actor and the audience. We hope you join us!

Chris Churchill

New on Lessons.com
Serves Des Plaines, IL
I am an extremely likable, intelligent, multi-talented and prolific performer and college professor. I have produced my own plays, independent movies, and audiobooks. I have performed stand up, sketch and improv comedy. I have directed children and adults in productions. I write for two digital magazines. I’ve done a few podcast runs. I’ve worked behind the scenes for tv shows and commercials. I teach Intro to Communication at a university. I have a Master’s Degree in Communication, Media and Theatre. My thesis project was a feature length documentary about mental illness that has gotten into a few festivals and even won an award at one....

Your Acting Classes questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Lessons.com.

How much do acting classes cost?

Acting classes cost $25 to $65 per hour on average for group classes or $50 to $150+ per hour to hire a private acting coach. Prices vary depending on where you live and the instructor's experience and reputation. Acting studios that offer ongoing weekly classes typically charge $150 to $350 per month.

Acting courses and workshops can cost as little as $200 to as much as $2,800+, depending on the content, number of sessions, and the instructor's demand. Some acting workshops are short, 1- or 2-day intensive classes focusing on one aspect of the industry, while other programs last 4 to 8 weeks and cover several topics, methods, and techniques.

Most studios offer a free trial class so you can get a feel for the teaching style and decide if it's right for you.

Are online acting classes worth it?

Online acting classes are worth it if you want to pursue acting and are unable to attend acting classes in person. With online video calling platforms like Zoom and Skype, you can now study acting with the best in the industry from the comfort of your own home! Many reputable acting coaches—including those right here on Lessons—now offer online acting classes and teach the same methods and techniques that they teach in the studio. 

Do you need acting classes to become an actor?

You technically don't need acting classes to become an actor. However, acting classes can help you gain confidence, learn new methods and techniques, analyze scenes and scripts, and build new industry connections and relationships. Acting classes can also teach you about the business side of acting, which is as important as acting itself.

How long do acting classes take?

Acting class length varies depending on the studio and the type of class. Some studios have 2-hour classes, while others have classes lasting 3 to 5 hours. Depending on the location, acting classes may be offered in several formats, such as ongoing weekly classes, weekend intensive workshops, and training programs that can run anywhere from 2 to 8+ weeks.

What skills do you need to be an actor?

While the necessary skillset varies depending on the type of acting you pursue (think Broadway theater vs. TV commercials vs. film), all actors need a broad range of skills to portray the expressions and emotions of a character so effectively that they temporarily transport the audience to a world where the actor is indeed that character. This often involves:

  • Memorizing lines and stage cues
  • Analyzing scripts and scenes
  • Developing a character's emotions and physical expressions
  • Working with other actors, directors, and production crews
  • Adapting to unexpected changes and situations
  • Speaking clearly and adjusting one's voice to align with the character
  • Learning and developing different acting methods and techniques
  • Being comfortable in front of an audience or camera

Reviews for Des Plaines acting classes

Recent success stories from people in the Des Plaines area.
Maurice D.
Karen is very personal and in tuned with actors she works with. She’s detailed and focused on bringing out the best with those she works with.
Karen Vaccaro Acting Coach
Kaitlin C.
Kelli Ann was very sweet and super easy to talk to! I was super nervous but she made me feel comfortable and welcome :)
Four Winds Vocal Artistry
Lori K.
Late in life, and during the pandemic, I decided to take one-on-one acting lessons. I've been working with David on Zoom for over a year and have learned so incredibly much! I was very nervous our first session but he very quickly put me at ease. He asked me lots of questions to learn the medium I want to focus on, find the right scenes for me to work on and how best to work together. He taught me how to come at a scene and character from multiple perspectives, always offering fantastic advice to achieve the intention, whether the intention I come up with or the challenge he's given me. If I'm struggling with something, he's great at shifting the angle to come at the challenge in a different way that will work better for me. He's a professional who is very patient, creative and fun to work with!
David August coaching
Mercury C.
I became more confident with projecting my voice and using the techniques he taught us. I use the tongue twisters he taught us to this day.
Weddington Studios
Markia M.
You taught everyone so much about theater and life, and we are all endlessly grateful.
Kevin Schwartz - Acting/Writing
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