Acting Lessons Near Me

Get ready for another fantastic year of creativity, laughter, and theatre magic—because Drama Club is making a comeback, and we’re bringing all the fun with us! We’ll revisit favorite activities from last year (can you say Murder Mystery Party?), while adding exciting new events along the way. Drama Club will meet once a month from August to May, offering an ever-changing mix of activities designed to spark imagination and deepen students’ love for theater. From local show outings and table reads to karaoke/master class nights, character-themed events, and interactive drama games, there’s something for everyone—whether you love being on stage, behind the scenes, or just hanging out with fellow theatre fans. There may be optional costs for field trips and special events, but the core experience is all about fun, friendship, and growing together as performers. Join us! Let’s make this year our most dramatic (and fun) yet!

Broadway Stars was created by a professional performer turned child development specialist with the primary goal of helping children develop the foundational skills and technique every musical theater performer needs while giving them the opportunity to find their voice, build confidence, and do what every budding Broadway Star loves most: PERFORM! Classes are taught by a team of professional teaching artists with years of experience in the classroom and on professional stages and feature a customized curriculum designed to challenge and showcase the strengths of each young performer while helping prepare them to participate in our mainstage musical this Spring. Each week, your child will participate in acting games, choreography rehearsal, and vocal coachings as they learn scenes and songs from Broadway Musicals that they will perform onstage for family and friends at the end of the semester. Whether your child is destined for the lights of Broadway or simply loves to perform with their friends, this class will spark their creativity and give them the confidence to shine both onstage and off! *While participation in our Fall Semester is not required to enroll in our Spring Production classes, it is strongly encouraged. *Our Fall Finale will take place on a weeknight the week of December 1 or December 15. Once we know how many students are participating in Stars this Fall, we will be able to finalize the location, day, and time and share that information with families.

Calling all secret agents! We are looking for a class of brave and adventurous kids to join for a day of make-believe espionage… In this camp we will make spy crafts, complete indoor obstacle courses, and pretend that we are secret agents on a mission! We will also work together to create a show about our mysterious experiences to share with friends and families on the last day. This is a wonderful camp for kids who love solving puzzles and riddles. We will order pizza, and have oranges and carrots for lunch! Drop off is from 9am - 9:30 and pick up is anytime between 2:30 - 3:00pm, but be sure to keep an eye out for the parade time. Refund Policy: Please note that we have a no refund policy. Full credits will be issued for anything with a 4 week notice and can be used for any future Rabbit Hole activity. After 4 weeks we are unable to credit. If your child is sick or you need to miss a day of camp we will have a camp bag ready for you at the studio. This bag will be filled with enchanted projects, art materials, audio and video links and anything your kiddo might be missing in class. Please email us ahead of time and let us know if you need to miss and would like an at-home camp bag! Photography Notice: We love to share the joy of our experiences on SmugMug and social media! Photos taken during our sessions may be used on our social media platforms. If you would prefer not to have photos taken of your kiddo, please add a note to your child's account on Care.com.

Duration: 5 Weeks | 1 Hour 15 Minutes Per Class Get ready for a high-energy, fun-packed experience where your tween/teen will discover the power of persuasion in the most exciting way! Persuasive speaking is a life-changing skill that helps kids express their ideas with confidence, influence others, and make their voices heard. Through lively games, engaging lessons, and creative challenges, your child will master the art of persuasion while having an absolute blast! LEARN • Explore the elements of persuasive speech and writing through interactive lessons and fun, real-world class discussions. • Be introduced to simple debate techniques in a playful and approachable way that boosts confidence. • Learn how to quickly structure both impromptu and prepared persuasive speeches in dynamic, fast-paced activities. • Discover techniques to captivate an audience with humor, creativity, and confidence. • Learn how to persuade different audiences with the right content while keeping things fun and engaging. • Learn how to better manage public speaking anxiety and nervousness, building confidence to speak up and present with ease. • Build a solid understanding of structure, tone, and delivery for persuasive presentations in a lively, supportive environment. DO • Work on both impromptu and prepared pitches, presentations, and speeches with high-energy practice activities. • Create imaginative and hilarious pitches with teammates for collaborative, laughter-filled challenges. • Participate in energetic demonstrations, role-playing, and interactive games that make learning unforgettable. • Receive individualized feedback, regardless of your child’s starting skill level, to ensure they improve in every session. IMPROVE • Sharpen public speaking and persuasion skills through instant feedback and hands-on practice. • Use the feedback instantly to ensure that the student captures it and applies it right away. • Benefit from personalized coaching that challenges and supports every student from their baseline. • Develop confidence, creativity, and clarity in expressing ideas, whether at school or in everyday life. Also, for classes with more than 10 students, two enthusiastic instructors will lead the sessions to guarantee every child gets the attention and feedback they deserve. Oh, and did we mention? Our instructors are professional educators AND performers who bring tons of energy and humor to every class. Your child will laugh, learn, and leave feeling excited for the next session! Please note: Occasional assignments will be given to maximize the class benefits.

Little Stars: Broadway Dance combines the magic of Broadway with a creative movement class that focuses heavily on creativity and helping young dancers discover new ways to move their bodies. Each class features music and activities that are inspired by a different Broadway Musical and designed to support fine and gross motor skills, imagination, rhythm, and body awareness while also introducing elements of formal dance classes such as a warm-up routine, “across the floor," and learning choreography in a fun, developmentally appropriate way. At the end of each session, Little Stars will get to show off their new Broadway moves in an Open House on the last day of class. Here at Stages, we believe that dance is for everyone! Our team is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all children can feel comfortable.

Preschoolers can now experience the magic of Broadway with a class designed specifically for them! Each week, Broadway Little Stars introduces preschoolers to a new musical through activities inspired by the “show of the week” and designed to get them singing, dancing, and acting along. Classes are taught by professional teaching artists who are experts at engaging and educating children in fun, developmentally appropriate ways. Whether your child is ready for the spotlight or simply loves musicals, this class is for them!

A class for new babies, new parents, and caregivers! What do you get when you combine the best music class in the city with an opportunity to connect with other new parents and caregivers PLUS chat about your little one's development with a licensed Developmental Therapist? The perfect first music class for Broadway Babies and their adults! Introducing Lullaby League. New to Stages? Your first session of Lullaby League is our gift to you! Just enter promo code NEWBABY at checkout. Created and taught by professional performers who also have M.S. degrees in Child Development from Erikson Institute, Lullaby League offers a unique opportunity to engage with your little one in a musical environment while learning about their physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and language development. Each week, infants and their caregivers are introduced to exciting new sensory experiences, songs, and stories as Broadway Musicals are brought to life. Throughout the class, teachers will moderate informal discussions about apects of your little one's developmental journey as well as answer all of your burning questions. There's also time for adults to socialize and build community!

Each week, our littlest Broadway fans and caregivers are introduced to exciting new songs, characters, and stories as Broadway Musicals are brought to life by a team of professional teaching artists. Created by a professional performer turned early childhood development specialist, Broadway & Me's unique curriculum is both entertaining and developmentally appropriate. Each class incorporates activities that are designed to support your little one’s physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and language development.

Puppet shows are back! Join us once a month on this Saturday mornings as we take kiddos on a story-time adventure with puppet pals Sneaky Pete, Tom the Rat, Meowzers, plus some new special guests! There will also be theater and movement games, dancing, and singing. Caregiver is required to stay.

Join us for this fun-filled class where we strive to spread delight and wonder by infusing the love of imagination with beginning ballet and other dance! Each day we will explore a new magical theme. All our dance classes are designed to encourage make believe and to allow children to create their own dances that live inside their hearts! We will frolic around in our favorite costumes using imagination-stimulating games to dance our ways through magical lands! Themes: 1/5 - 1/9: Winter Fairies 1/12 - 1/16: Magic Clock Shop 1/19 - 1/23: Around the Queendom 1/26 - 1/30: Dragon Taxis 2/2 - 2/6: Bumblebee 2/9 - 2/13: Valentines 2/16 - 2/20: Moon Magic 2/23 - 2/27: The Unicorn Ball 3/2 - 3/6: Dreamland Explorers 3/9 - 3/13: All Things Small 3/16 - 3/20: Luck 3/23 - 3/27: Carnival 4/6 - 4/10: Flower Fairies 4/13 - 4/17: Super Pups 4/20 - 4/24: Warrior Princess Forest 4/27 - 5/1: Prismatic Parade 5/4 - 5/8: Baby Dragons 5/11 - 5/15: The Great Mermaid Festival 5/18 - 5/22: Pirates! 5/25 - 5/29: Rainbow Jungle By purchasing this sessions, you are securing your weekly spot for this session via a monthly subscription. Subscriptions are charged on the first of every month at a rate of $120, and can be cancelled at any time. No class the week of 3/30 - 4/3 No class 1/19, 2/16, 5/26

Let your freak flag fly! We're bringing life to everyone's favorite fairy tale creatures for our 2026 Broadway Stars Mainstage Production, SHREK: THE MUSICAL JR.! Join the talented cast of our Middle School Broadway Mainstage Show and learn how theater can make everyone the hero of their own story! Stages’s unique approach to working with middle schoolers focuses as much on the process as it does the product, allowing young performers to learn audition technique, participate in character and scene study, and learn the fundamentals of song interpretation while rehearsing a fully staged production. Classes are taught by a team of professional teaching artists with years of experience both in the classroom and on professional stages, and features a customized curriculum that will challenge and showcase the strengths of each young performer in the cast. Stages was created by a professional performer turned child development specialist with the primary goal of helping children develop the foundational skills and technique every musical theater performer needs while giving them the opportunity to find their voice, build confidence, and do what every budding Broadway Star loves most: PERFORM! PRODUCTION ADMIN FEE INCLUDES: *Tech Week Rehearsals *4 tickets to our production (Additional tickets will be available to purchase closer to the performance) *Scripts & other class materials *Costumes (Families will NOT be asked to go out and purchase items for the show but may be asked to bring clothing you already own.) *Props & Sets *Week Long Rental at the Biograph Theatre WHAT TO EXPECT --Weeks 1-2 (Jan 10 to Jan 17): Setting the Stage— Families who are new to Stages are invited to join us for a FREE TRIAL the week of January 6-11, 2026. Click this link to book a free class to see if it's the right fit for you child! The first two weeks of the semester will focus on learning and perfecting the foundational musical theater skills every Broadway Star needs when performing on stage. Classes will participate in acting games and begin to learn music and choreography for their auditions. Students will be introduced to Uta Hagen’s Acting Technique, which we will utilize as a framework for character development throughout our rehearsal process. These first two weeks of the semester also allow our teachers to get to know students and start to determine which scenes, songs, and roles will be the best fit for each child. --Weeks 3-4 (Jan 24 to Jan 31): I Hope I Get It!-- During weeks 3-4 of the semester, students will participate in a personalized audition process. Auditions at Stages are designed to be a low stress, fun experience where Broadway Stars get to show off what they’ve been learning the first few weeks of the semester and tell us what they are most excited to do in the show. Middle School Musical students get the chance to do a comprehensive audition process with singing, acting, and dancing portions. Casting will be done more traditionally with 1-2 actors playing each role. EVERY CHILD WILL BE GIVEN A ROLE OR SPECIAL PART IN THE SHOW. We will work together with children to make sure they have a speaking line, solo, duet, etc. that they are excited to perform! --Weeks 5-12 (Feb 7 - Mar 28): Putting It Together-- During Weeks 5-12, children will begin putting together their show! Each week, classes will work on their assigned scenes and songs. During these classes, we will focus on learning and rehearsing musical numbers and choreography, blocking acting scenes, and introducing various theatrical elements that will be used in our show such as sets, props, and costumes. Don’t worry, it’s not all work. Classes will also have the opportunity to play theater games designed to introduce new performance skills and brush up on concepts we’ve learned in previous classes. --Weeks 13-15 (April 4 - April 18): Prepping for Opening Night-- During Weeks 13-15, classes will begin running doing “Run Thrus” where they perform all of their scenes and songs from start to finish. We’ll also start adding in transitions so performers know when and how to enter/exit the stage, when to get microphones, make a costume change, or pick up a prop from the prop table. These classes are VERY important and we ask that you do your best to ensure your child is at every class unless they are ill. TECH WEEK: Monday April 20 - Thursday April 23 The week of the show, we will be having rehearsal after school April 20 - April 23 where ALL of the classes are brought together to run the show in the space. These rehearsals will be MANDATORY. SHOWS: April 24-26th, 2026 SHOW LOCATION: The Biograph Theatre (2433 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614)

Musicians in the Making teaches foundational music concepts through fun cooperative games designed to reach aural, visual, and kinesthetic learners alike. Pitch, reading, rhythm, and dictation are just some of the skills students will learn, giving them a huge leg up on their musical journey. Taught by Jeff Award winner Ariana Miles, our resident music director/”friend behind the piano”, Musicians in the Making is a great introduction to music for children on the fence about taking lessons as well as a valuable learning supplement for those already in them. Finally, a music theory class your child will be excited to go to every week! *Sign up for both Musicians in the Making and Broadway Stars and get 15% off tuition for this class!

Broadway Stars was created by a professional performer turned child development specialist with the primary goal of helping children develop the foundational skills and technique every musical theater performer needs while giving them the opportunity to find their voice, build confidence, and do what every budding Broadway Star loves most: PERFORM! Classes are taught by a team of professional teaching artists with years of experience in the classroom and on professional stages and feature a customized curriculum designed to challenge and showcase the strengths of each young performer while helping prepare them to participate in our mainstage musical this Spring. Each week, your child will participate in acting games, choreography rehearsal, and vocal coachings as they learn scenes and songs from Broadway Musicals that they will perform onstage for family and friends at the end of the semester. Whether your child is destined for the lights of Broadway or simply loves to perform with their friends, this class will spark their creativity and give them the confidence to shine both onstage and off! *While participation in our Fall Semester is not required to enroll in our Spring Production classes, it is strongly encouraged. *Our Fall Finale will take place on a weeknight the week of December 1 or December 15. Once we know how many students are participating in Stars this Fall we will be able to finalize the location, day, and time and share that information with families.

No school? No problem! Spend the day with Stages! With singing, dancing, acting, and art inspired by your child's favorite musicals, we’ve got something for every creative kid. Choose to enroll for one day-off camp or join us for the entire school year for a discounted rate! Friday, September 26 - Eras (Taylor Swift) Monday, October 13 - Zombies Monday, October 27 - Kpop Demon Hunters Tuesday, November 11 - Hamilton Monday November 24 - Wicked Tuesday, November 25 - Descendants Wednesday, November 26 - Shrek Monday, January 5 - The Lion King Monday, January 19 - Superhero Monday, February 16 - Beauty & the Beast Tuesday, February 17 - The Little Mermaid Monday, March 16 - The Lion King Tuesday, March 17 - Zootopia Friday, April 24 - Seussical Stages is committed to making our camps accessible for all families. For information regarding free or reduced tuition, please visit https://www.stageschicago.org/tuition-assistance. ***Families are responsible for providing: - Nut free morning snack - Nut free lunch - Nut free afternoon snack - A water bottle. Please make sure that everything is labeled.

Broadway Stars was created by a professional performer turned child development specialist with the primary goal of helping children develop the foundational skills and technique every musical theater performer needs while giving them the opportunity to find their voice, build confidence, and do what every budding Broadway Star loves most: PERFORM! Classes are taught by a team of professional teaching artists with years of experience in the classroom and on professional stages and feature a customized curriculum designed to challenge and showcase the strengths of each young performer while helping prepare them to participate in our mainstage musical this Spring. Each week, your child will participate in acting games, choreography rehearsal, and vocal coachings as they learn scenes and songs from Broadway Musicals that they will perform onstage for family and friends at the end of the semester. Whether your child is destined for the lights of Broadway or simply loves to perform with their friends, this class will spark their creativity and give them the confidence to shine both onstage and off! *While participation in our Fall Semester is not required to enroll in our Spring Production classes, it is strongly encouraged. *Our Fall Finale will take place on a weeknight the week of December 1 or December 15. Once we know how many students are participating in Stars this Fall, we will be able to finalize the location, day, and time and share that information with families.

Each week, our littlest Broadway fans and caregivers are introduced to exciting new songs, characters, and stories as Broadway Musicals are brought to life by a team of professional teaching artists. Created by a professional performer turned early childhood development specialist, Broadway & Me's unique curriculum is both entertaining and developmentally appropriate. Each class incorporates activities that are designed to support your little one’s physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and language development.

Duration: 5 Weeks | 1 Hour and 15 Minutes Per Class Get ready for a high-energy, fun-packed experience where your tween/teen will discover the power of persuasion in the most exciting way! Persuasive speaking is a life-changing skill that helps kids express their ideas with confidence, influence others, and make their voices heard. Through lively games, engaging lessons, and creative challenges, your child will master the art of persuasion while having an absolute blast! LEARN • Explore the elements of persuasive speech and writing through interactive lessons and fun, real-world class discussions. • Be introduced to simple debate techniques in a playful and approachable way that boosts confidence. • Learn how to quickly structure both impromptu and prepared persuasive speeches in dynamic, fast-paced activities. • Discover techniques to captivate an audience with humor, creativity, and confidence. • Learn how to persuade different audiences with the right content while keeping things fun and engaging. • Learn how to better manage public speaking anxiety and nervousness, building confidence to speak up and present with ease. • Build a solid understanding of structure, tone, and delivery for persuasive presentations in a lively, supportive environment. DO • Work on both impromptu and prepared pitches, presentations, and speeches with high-energy practice activities. • Create imaginative and hilarious pitches with teammates for collaborative, laughter-filled challenges. • Participate in energetic demonstrations, role-playing, and interactive games that make learning unforgettable. • Receive individualized feedback, regardless of your child’s starting skill level, to ensure they improve in every session. IMPROVE • Sharpen public speaking and persuasion skills through instant feedback and hands-on practice. • Use the feedback instantly to ensure that the student captures it and applies it right away. • Benefit from personalized coaching that challenges and supports every student from their baseline. • Develop confidence, creativity, and clarity in expressing ideas, whether at school or in everyday life. Also, for classes with more than 10 students, two enthusiastic instructors will lead the sessions to guarantee every child gets the attention and feedback they deserve. Oh, and did we mention? Our instructors are professional educators AND performers who bring tons of energy and humor to every class. Your child will laugh, learn, and leave feeling excited for the next session! Please note: Occasional assignments will be given to maximize the class benefits.

🎤 Impromptu Speaking & Confidence: Level 2 For Grades 2–4 (Level 2 students MUST have taken our Impromptu Speech Class between 2024-2025 or be recommend by instructors to take. Please email info@highestspeak.com on questions of eligibility.) 5-Session Series Level 2 is the super fun, high-energy next step for young speakers who are ready for a bigger challenge! Students build on Level 1 skills with longer speaking times (1–3 minutes), more challenging prompts, and a stronger focus on structure and performance—all while keeping the class playful, supportive, and full of excitement. At Highest Speak, we work on WHAT to say, HOW to structure it, and HOW to say anything at ANY time with confidence! ⭐ How Each 1-Hour Class Works 1. High-Energy Ice Breaker & Warm-Up We kick things off with upbeat, silly, get-moving games that help students feel relaxed, energized, and excited to speak. Fun → comfort → confidence. 2. Skill of the Day (Level 2 Challenges!) A quick, kid-friendly lesson introduces a Level 2 impromptu skill like: how to organize ideas clearly for longer speeches, how to build strong openings and closings, how to add examples or opinions with structure, or how to stay confident during 1–3 minute speaking rounds. Still easy to understand — just more depth and more growth. 3. Small-Group Practice + LOTS of Longer Speaking Students jump into small groups for fast-paced, fun, and focused speaking rounds using longer speaking times (1–3 minutes) and more advanced prompts. Every student speaks multiple times per class and receives warm, encouraging, personalized feedback on structure, clarity, and performance. All sessions are taught by our expert Highest Speak instructors, ensuring a joyful, supportive environment where kids feel safe to stretch their skills and SHINE. Level 2 helps young speakers think on their feet, speak with clarity, and perform with confidence—one fun, high-energy moment at a time!

🎤 Persuasive Speaking: Level 2 Duration: 5 Weeks | 1 Hour Per Class Prerequisite: Students must have taken the 2024–2025 Persuasive Speaking class OR be recommended by a Highest Speak instructor. For eligibility questions, please email info@highestspeak.com . Get ready for a high-energy, challenge-packed series designed to take persuasive speaking skills to the next level! Level 2 dives deeper into structure, reasoning, clarity, and performance. Students will work with longer 1–3 minute speeches, more complex prompts, and higher-level persuasive strategies—all while keeping the fun, creativity, and excitement that Highest Speak is known for. This course is perfect for students ready for more challenge, more depth, and more speaking time. ⭐ LEARN • Dive deeper into the elements of powerful persuasive speaking, with more advanced frameworks and techniques. • Strengthen simple debate and reasoning skills in a fun, age-appropriate way. • Learn how to quickly and clearly structure longer 1–3 minute persuasive speeches, both prepared and impromptu. • Explore how to hook an audience with stronger openings, examples, humor, and emotional appeal. • Understand how to tailor persuasion to different audiences with the right tone, structure, and approach. • Practice strategies to manage nerves and speak with calm, confident energy—even under time pressure. • Build a more advanced understanding of organization, tone, evidence, and delivery in a supportive, encouraging environment. ⭐ DO • Create both impromptu and prepared 1–3 minute persuasive speeches using Level 2 prompts and frameworks. • Work on high-energy challenges, persuasive “pitches,” and creative team activities. • Participate in dynamic role-plays, demonstrations, mini debates, and interactive games that make learning unforgettable. • Receive targeted, individualized feedback designed to stretch each student from their current level and help them grow every session. ⭐ IMPROVE • Strengthen persuasive structure, clarity, confidence, and delivery through instant application and practice. • Learn to take feedback and implement it immediately in the next speaking round. • Benefit from personalized coaching that challenges advanced students and supports those still growing. • Build confidence, creativity, organization, and expressive skills—at school, socially, and in everyday communication. ⭐ INSTRUCTOR EXPERIENCE For classes with more than 10 students, two expert, high-energy instructors will lead the sessions to ensure every child receives ample individualized feedback and speaking time. Our instructors are professional educators and performers who bring energy, humor, and warmth to every class. Students leave each session laughing, learning, and excited for the next challenge. Please note: Occasional at-home assignments may be given to maximize progress and reinforce new skills.

No school? No problem! Spend the day with Stages! With singing, dancing, acting, and art inspired by your child's favorite musicals, we’ve got something for every creative kid. Choose to enroll for one day-off camp or join us for the entire school year for a discounted rate! Friday, September 26 - Eras (Taylor Swift) Monday, October 13 - Zombies Monday, October 27 - Kpop Demon Hunters Tuesday, November 11 - Hamilton Monday November 24 - Wicked Tuesday, November 25 - Descendants Wednesday, November 26 - Shrek Monday, January 5 - The Lion King Monday, January 19 - Superhero Monday, February 16 - Beauty & the Beast Tuesday, February 17 - The Little Mermaid Tuesday, March 17 - Zootopia Wednesday, March 18 - The Lion King Friday, April 3 - Seussical Stages is committed to making our camps accessible for all families. For information regarding free or reduced tuition, please visit https://www.stageschicago.org/tuition-assistance. ***Families are responsible for providing: - Nut free morning snack - Nut free lunch - Nut free afternoon snack - A water bottle. Please make sure that everything is labeled.

Each week, our littlest Broadway fans and caregivers are introduced to exciting new songs, characters, and stories as Broadway Musicals are brought to life by a team of professional teaching artists. Created by a professional performer turned early childhood development specialist, Broadway & Me's unique curriculum is both entertaining and developmentally appropriate. Each class incorporates activities that are designed to support your little one’s physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and language development.