About Act One

Act One Studios, the Midwest's largest professional acting school, is a training center in Chicago offering small, practical, challenging acting classes in a supportive environment. We offer classes for adults in Acting, On-Camera, Voice, Movement, Directing, and How To Get Started In The Business. With our small class sizes (average ten students), you receive personal attention from our faculty - all working, professional actors and directors. Our classes allow Professional Actors to polish their craft and explore new media, and provide Beginning Actors the foundation for learning a wide range of skills -- from the first acting class to the first audition to the final performance. Classes may be taken one or more at a time, Intensively (4 structured courses for the price of 3), and we now offer a full-time, two- year acting Conservatory program. We also have a series of acting and film classes for high school students. Call us for a free consultation: 312-787-9384.

Performance opportunities abound for Act One Students. We produce over 20 shows a year. Check the website often for audition notices and performance dates and times.

We also offer many free services including our Actor's Resource Center which includes headshot and resume samples, Chicago-wide audition notices, and a script library accessble to all students.

Finally, we have been a part of Chicago's exciting Theatrical Community for 25 Years! Click here to see an article from PerformInk that tells our story.

With so many choices out there, why choose to train at
Act One Studios?

• Class size is limited to 8 – 12 students, depending upon the nature of the class. Smaller class size means more one-on-one attention for the student.
• Our instructors are trained, working professionals in the industry; who teach their area of expertise. Check out their bios!
• Act One Studios has been in business for 25 years, and understands the Chicago acting community inside and out.
• We offer the largest variety of classes and seminars in Chicago. You can't learn to act in a weekend. If you're serious, we have the training support system to help you succeed.
• FREE services that we offer our students (that other places charge for), including:

Stage Experience: Performance Opportunities every term. Act One Studios is the only independent school in town with its own theatre & production team, giving students the opportunity to audition for and be cast in productions. Stage time = experience.
Resume Wednesday: Just give us a call to schedule an appointment to receive FREE headshot/resume consulting. We will teach you how to set up your resume to reflect your experience properly.
Career Counseling: Our staff is more than happy to spend some time with you, mapping out a class schedule that will lead to you achieving your goals as a working actor. Call to schedule an appointment.
Rehearsal Space: Students can rehearse for classes at almost any time of the day, including Saturdays. Just call to schedule a time.
Resource Center: Act One Studios has a resource center that is open to the community, including audition postings, headshot photographer books and more!
Monologue Clinic: FREE to any current Act One student...a $15 valu

Act One Studios is located at 640 North LaSalle, Suite 535. We are North of the Loop on LaSalle between Ontario and Erie. The Studio is easily accessible by car, train or bus.

Car:

Kennedy/Edens (90/94)

Take the Ohio Street exit (one-way going East)
Stay on Ohio until you get to LaSalle (approximately 3 blocks)
Turn left on LaSalle
The building we are located in is on the left (across from the Amoco)

Parking

There is metered parking in the area. There is also a parking lot in our building: entrance is on Ontario Street, just past a Cingular store. Pull down into the garage and pay the Mac Garage Associates (Grey shirts) $8 cash, let them know you are a student with Act One. Please do not leave your car with the Gino's East Valets, they will not honor the discount.

Train:

The "L"

The red and brown lines will bring you within walking distance of Act One. On either train line, exit at the Chicago stop. Walk to LaSalle (head East from the brown line or West from the red line). At LaSalle, walk South (towards the Loop) for 3 blocks. Act One is on the right (across from the Amoco).

Metra

Metra commuter trains run to several downtown terminals, from which you can walk, cab, or take a bus to Act One.

Bus:

Bus Routes 11, 135, 136 and 156

These buses run on LaSalle. Some of these routes only run on weekdays and during rush hours.

Bus Routes 22 and 36

These buses will get you within walking distance of Act One. For either route, exit on Ontario. Then walk West to LaSalle, a distance of one-to-three blocks, depending on which bus you take.

More Info:

Trains and Buses

Call the Chicago Transit Authority / Metra / Pace at (312) 836-7000.

Maps

Here is a map to Act One,
and a zoom-in-map for more detail.

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Act One - About Us