Acting Lessons Near Me

What's that in the sky? Its the Superhero Kittens signal! Jump into action where kiddos will save the day with pretend play, facing challenges and making friends along the way! There may be obstacles, but Superhero Kittens always land on their feet! This will happen at our smaller side studio located on 4207 24th street. This is a wonderful opportunity for our younger age friends to join a shorter camp day filled with magic! Drop off is from 9am - 9:30 and pick up is 2pm. Please Note: -Your child must be 3.5 when the camp starts. No exceptions for younger friends. -Your child must be fully potty trained. This means they are able to use the larger toilet. -We do not offer naps. You are welcome to pick up during our lunch window from 12pm - 12:30 if your child still naps and needs to head home. -There is no final performance for these camps. These camps are all about pretend play centered in the theme of the week. -We do not take kids to the park, but we will spend time in the larger studio at the end of the day. -We do not offer after-care. If you have a sibling in the other program, you must still arrange for pick up at 2pm for this camp. 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.

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.

High School Impromptu Speaking Grades 9–12 | 5-Session Series This high-energy 5-session course helps high school students think fast, speak clearly, and express themselves with confidence in any situation. Through engaging games, fast-paced speaking challenges, and real-world scenarios, students learn how to organize their thoughts on the spot and speak up without fear. Whether participating in class discussions, giving presentations, interviewing for opportunities, or communicating with peers and adults, these skills support students academically, socially, and emotionally. At Highest Speak, we focus on: WHAT to say • HOW to structure it • HOW to speak confidently—anytime, anywhere. Why This Skill Matters Strong communication skills help students: -Participate confidently in class and presentations - Perform better in interviews, leadership roles, and group work - Build social confidence and self-advocacy skills. - Reduce anxiety and develop lasting self-confidence Communication is one of the most critical skills for college, careers, relationships, and mental well-being. How Each 1-Hour Class Works • Confidence warm-ups to break the ice and lower anxiety • Skill of the day (organizing thoughts, starting strong, speaking clearly under pressure) • Small-group practice with lots of speaking and personalized feedback Every student speaks multiple times each class in a supportive, encouraging environment. All sessions are led by expert Highest Speak instructors. For classes with more than 10 students, two instructors ensure individualized attention and feedback. This upbeat, confidence-building class helps high school students find their voice, think on their feet, and speak with confidence—everywhere it matters.

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 our talented cast of young performers and learn how theater can make everyone the hero of their own story! 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 both in the classroom and on professional stages, and feature a customized curriculum designed to challenge and showcase the strengths of each young performer. PRODUCTION ADMIN FEE INCLUDES: *2 Full Cast Rehearsals *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 Theater AFTER SCHOOL PICK-UP: Stages offers after school pick-up from Skinner West, Skinner West Branch, Montessori Academy of Chicago, Intercultural Montessori & World Language Academy. Pick-up will be approximately 20min before the start of class to give us enough time to gather students and walk over to Soul City. WHAT TO EXPECT: --Weeks 1-2 (Jan 5 - 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, 2025. 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. 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 19 - 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. Every audition will look different as every child is different. For children who are new to performing or nervous about auditioning, this will be an informal, low-stakes experience. For children who are older, have been performing for a while, or are ready for a challenge, this will be treated as a more formal audition. How Does This Work? Each class will be assigned specific scenes and songs from from our musical, not the entire musical. Classes will come together for the final performance to perform the show in its entirety. EVERY CHILD WILL BE GIVEN A ROLE OR SPECIAL PART IN THE SHOW. We will work together with participants to make sure they have a speaking line, solo, duet, etc. that they are excited to perform! --Weeks 5-12 (Feb 2 - Mar 21): 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 13-16 (April 6 - April 25): Prepping for Opening Night-- 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. --Week 17: Tech Week– Monday, April 27 - Thursday, April 30 The week of the show, we will be having rehearsal after school April 27 - April 30 where ALL of the classes are brought together to run the show in the space. These rehearsals will be MANDATORY. *Students in K-2 Classes will not be required to attend every night during tech week. Dates will be confirmed mid-March to give families plenty of time to make arrangements to ensure their child’s attendance. SHOW DATES: May 1-3, 2026 SHOW LOCATION: The Biograph Theatre (2433 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614)

***This course is ONLY for Grades 4-5*** Students will be introduce to the fundamentals of improvisation - listening, cooperation, creativity and confidence, through playful age appropriate theater games. If you have a financial hardship, please contact: | Si tiene dificultades económicas, póngase en contacto con: Rachel Long at rlong@nredlearn.org

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.

For Grades 2–4 5-Session Series This super fun and high-energy 5-session class helps young speakers learn to think fast, speak boldly, and express themselves with confidence in ANY situation! Through exciting games, silly prompts, movement, and tons of speaking practice, students learn the exact tools they need to speak up without fear. 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 start with fun, fast, confidence-boosting games that get kids moving, laughing, and ready to speak. Instant comfort → instant participation. 2. Fun Lesson of the Day A quick, kid-friendly lesson teaches one impromptu skill—how to organize thoughts fast, how to start strong, or how to speak clearly without overthinking. Short, simple, and immediately useful. 3. Small-Group Practice + LOTS of Speaking Kids jump into pairs or small groups for fast-paced speaking rounds and silly challenges. Every child speaks multiple times each class and receives warm, supportive, personalized feedback. All sessions are led by our expert Highest Speak instructors, ensuring your child gets focused attention and guidance in a fun, supportive environment. For any more than 10 students, we always have two instructors to ensure plenty of individual attention and feedback. This lively, upbeat class helps kids find their brave voice, think on their feet, and shine—one fun, high-energy moment at a time!

This class is for all our little ones who want to dive into their imaginations! Everything we do is centered in the importance of play. We will use the power of make believe to travel on many adventures! Every class includes music time, a theatrical adventure, dress up and most importantly time to explore the depths of each child’s unique ideas! 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 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.

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 - Descendants Monday, October 13 - Kpop Demon Hunters Monday, October 27 - Zombies Tuesday, November 11 - Wicked Monday November 24 - Eras (Taylor Swift) Tuesday, November 25 - The Lion King Wednesday, November 26 - Zootopia ​​​ Friday, January 2 - Kpop Demon Hunters Monday, January 5 - Shrek Monday, January 19 - Beauty & the Beast Monday, February 16 - K Pop Demon Hunters Tuesday, February 17 - Seussical Tuesday, March 17 - Hamilton Wednesday, March 18 - The Little Mermaid Friday, April 3 - Mamma Mia 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.

Calling all aspiring mermaids! Welcome to Mermaid Lagoon, where the magic of theater meets the enchantment of the sea. Our Mermaid Camp combines the best of both worlds, offering young performers the opportunity to turn into their very own shimmering mermaid and dive into the world of theater. Please remember to pack a water bottle, nut-free lunch and a yummy snack. Masks are optional. Drop off is from 9am - 9:30 and pick up is anytime between 3:30 - 4:00pm. 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.

What's that in the sky? Its the Superhero Kittens signal! Jump into action with this day-long camp where kiddos will save the day with pretend play, facing challenges and making friends along the way! There may be challenges, but Superhero Kittens always land on their feet! Please remember to pack a water bottle, nut-free lunch and a yummy snack. Masks are optional. Drop off is from 9am - 9:30 and pick up is anytime between 2:30 - 3:00pm. 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.

Our Tiny Tots class covers improv, storytelling and live music! 🥁✨ It is drop-in style and a great stepping-stool for toddlers to socialize and work on public specking, focus and listening while having fun! Ages 2-4

Duration: 5 Weeks | 1 Hour Per Class Get ready for a high-energy, fun-packed experience where your child 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.

🎤 Sky Divers: Intro to Debate (Grades 5–8) Beginner Level • No Prior Debate Experience Required Curious about debate but not sure where to start? This beginner-level course is designed specifically for middle school students who want to learn the foundations of debate in a fun, supportive, and confidence-building environment. This class is not intended for experienced debaters. Over 6 high-energy weeks, students will explore what debate is, how to build clear and logical arguments, and how to deliver their ideas confidently—all through interactive games, small-group practice, and instructor-guided coaching. Students will learn how to: Structure simple but powerful arguments Support their points with strong reasons and examples Listen actively and respond thoughtfully Practice both written arguments and impromptu (on-the-spot) arguments This is the perfect introduction for students who may be interested in joining debate in middle school or high school, or for those who simply want to think more critically, speak more confidently, and strengthen their communication skills. Every class is designed to be engaging, approachable, and fun—while still building real skills that students can use in class discussions, presentations, interviews, and beyond.

🎤 Persuasive Speaking: Level 1 Duration: 5 Weeks | 1 Hour Per Class Get ready for a high-energy, fun-packed experience where your child 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, students learn how to persuade clearly and confidently—while having an absolute blast! ⭐ LEARN • Explore the elements of persuasive speech and writing through interactive lessons and real-world, kid-friendly class discussions. • Be introduced to simple debate techniques in a playful, low-pressure way that builds confidence. • Learn how to quickly structure both impromptu and prepared persuasive speeches using fun, fast-paced activities. • Discover how to captivate an audience with humor, creativity, and confident delivery. • Understand how to persuade different audiences using the right content and tone. • Learn strategies to manage public speaking anxiety and speak up with ease. • Build a strong foundation in structure, tone, and delivery—within a lively, supportive environment. ⭐ DO • Practice both impromptu and prepared pitches, presentations, and persuasive speeches in high-energy speaking rounds. • Create imaginative, funny, and creative pitches with teammates during collaborative challenges. • Participate in demonstrations, role-playing, and interactive games that make learning unforgettable. • Receive individualized, supportive feedback to help every child grow—no matter their starting point. ⭐ IMPROVE • Strengthen public speaking and persuasion skills through instant feedback and hands-on practice. • Apply feedback immediately during the same session to reinforce learning and growth. • Benefit from personalized coaching that meets each student exactly where they are. • Build confidence, creativity, clarity, and expressive skills that carry over into school and everyday life. ⭐ INSTRUCTOR EXPERIENCE For classes with more than 10 students, two enthusiastic instructors lead the sessions to ensure every child gets the attention and feedback they deserve. Our instructors are professional educators and performers who bring tons of energy, humor, and warmth to every class. Students leave each session laughing, learning, and eagerly looking forward to the next one! Please note: Occasional at-home assignments may be given to maximize the class benefits.

For classes with more than 10 students, two expert, high-energy instructors lead the session to ensure every student receives ample one-on-one 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 reinforce skills and maximize progress.

Feeling like your Broadway Baby is ready for the next step? Then this class is just for you! Broadway Mini-Stars uses the magic of musical theater to help ease the transition from toddler to preschooler by combining the Broadway & Me class you know and love with structured activities designed to encourage independence and help your little one adapt to a group classroom setting. Each week, little 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. After that, it’s time to dive into a process art activity inspired by the show of the week. Created by a professional performer turned early childhood development specialist, Broadway Mini-Stars is both entertaining and developmentally appropriate!

Experience the magic of "Fairy Frolic" week at our Summer Camp! Kids will embark on a creative adventure, building whimsical wooden houses and crafting tiny furniture using a variety of materials, including natural elements and cardboard. Guided by our attentive staff, campers will design and construct their own enchanting fairy worlds, transforming imagination into art. Join us at The Giggling Pig Art Camp for a week of creativity, hands-on fun, and fairy tale magic! ​

Dive into a magical week of sea life! From seashells and sandcastles to mermaids and starfish, campers will explore all the wonders of the ocean through hands-on creativity and imagination. This week, your child will bring home starfish sculptures, canvas paintings, and beautiful ocean-inspired illustrations—plus a few surprise seashell treasures we can’t wait to share! Join us for a wave of fun and creativity!

Get ready to travel to The Magic Garden and delight in a day of theater games and pretend play. There will be singing, dancing, dress up, puppets, and of course... a VERY silly tea party! Adults are invited to come early on the last day for our tea party performance! Drop off is from 9am - 9:30 and pick up is anytime between 2:30 - 3:00pm. 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.