Acting Classes
Milwaukee Rep Education & Engagement offers a variety of programming for students of all ages, interests and backgrounds, including adults.
Adult Acting classes at Milwaukee Rep are designed for adults ages 18+ who are interested in learning more about acting and stagecraft. Whether you are a total beginner looking to try something new, or a seasoned performer looking to sharpen your skills, we offer classes to fit your needs! Class sizes are limited to ensure one-on-one feedback for each student. Check back often as we continue to update our class schedule throughout the season!
For theater-based training for businesses and professionals, we offer Corporate Training workshops. Learn more on our Corporate Training page.
Contact
Register online or contact Xodia Choate, Education & Engagement Manager, at 414-290-0709 or xchoate@milwaukeerep.com.
Want to stay up to date on all Adult Acting offerings? Click here to join Milwaukee Rep Education & Engagement’s outreach list.
BASIC ACTING I: CREATING A CHARACTER
Session 5: Mondays, March 31 - May 5, 2025, 7:00-9:00pm
Location: The Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Instructor: George Lorimer, Milwaukee Rep Teaching Artist
Session 6: Wednesdays, May 14 - June 18, 2025, 6:00-8:00pm
Location: The Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Instructor: Barry Weber, Milwaukee Rep Teaching Artist
Class fee: $250 for 6 2-hour class sessions (12 hours total)
All great performances begin with building a compelling character. In this 6-session course, students will approach a theatrical text as a living, breathing roadmap, rather than a piece of static literature. Through monologue work and engaging performance exercises, students will explore character objectives, tactics, physical life, and much more! Whether you are a seasoned performer looking to revisit your roots, or new to the world of acting, this course is for you!
BASIC ACTING II: DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS
Session 2: Thursdays, January 9 - February 13, 2025, 6:00-8:00pm
Location: The Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Instructor: Stephen Thompson, Milwaukee Rep Teaching Artist
Session 3: Wednesdays, April 2 - May 7, 2025, 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Plymouth Church, 2717 E Hampshire St, Milwaukee, WI 53211
Instructor: Stephen Thompson, Milwaukee Rep Teaching Artist
Class fee: $275 for 6 2-hour class sessions (12 hours total)
Clear relationships are key to strong performances. This 6-session course will build on the character development skills acquired in Basic Acting 1 with a special emphasis on person-to-person interaction. On stage, participants will create believable moments by practicing active listening and responding. Off stage, they will learn how to safely and collaboratively share ideas with a scene partner to create a convincing fictional relationship.
Prerequisite: Basic Acting I
BASIC ACTING III: BUILDING THE WORLD
Session 1: Tuesdays, February 25 - April 1, 2025, 6:00-8:00pm
Location: Sugar Maple, 441 E Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Instructor: Barry Weber, Milwaukee Rep Teaching Artist
Session 2: Mondays, May 12 - June 23 (no class 5/26), 2025, 7:00-9:00pm
Location: The Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Instructor: Zach Woods, Milwaukee Rep Associate Director of Education
Class fee: $300 for 6 2-hour class sessions (12 hours total)
Imagination is one of an actor’s greatest tools. It allows us to make strong detailed choices and, when amplified by an ensemble of actors, to create a living world for our characters to inhabit. Participants will work together to explore where their unique characters and relationships fit in the broader context of a piece. Key concepts include establishing theatrical conventions, identifying style, and understanding how physical staging contributes to believable storytelling.
Prerequisite: Basic Acting I, Basic Acting II
Winter and Spring Intensives
Completed the Basic Acting sequence already? Struggling to find time for a 6-week course? Looking for something a bit more unique to add to your actor toolkit? Check out our slate of winter and spring Saturday intensives! These classes offer participants an in-depth exploration of specific topics and performance techniques. While each intensive is a stand-alone class, many of our 2025 offerings pair exceptionally well! Perform Shakespeare’s greatest works with James Pickering and then then learn to adapt them with Maya Danks. Create a unique piece of creative writing with Zach Woods and Maura Atwood and then transform it into a devised piece with Jeff Mosser. Bundle 2 or more intensives today for a 10% discount!
VOICEOVER FOR BEGINNERS
Schedule: Saturday, January 04, 2025, 10:00am-2:00pm
Location: The Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Class fee: $150 for one 4-hour session
Instructor: Abby Thompson, Emmy Award-Winning Voiceover Performer (https://www.abbythompson.org/)
Interested in auditioning for commercial work? Narrating an audiobook? Giving life to a video game character? Join Emmy-award-winner Abby Thompson for an in-depth introduction to the realm of voiceover acting. With a focus on copy coaching, building healthy vocal habits, and self-branding, actors will develop a foundational understanding of voiceover performance for theater, television, film, and other modes of media. Actors of all experience levels are welcome!
DISCOVERING SHAKESPEARE WITH JAMES PICKERING
Schedule: Saturday, February 22, 2025, 10:00am-12:00pm
Location: The Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Class fee: $100 for one 2-hour session
Instructor: James Pickering, Equity Actor
Unlocking the secrets of a Shakespearean text can be daunting, even for an experienced performer. Luckily, Milwaukee Rep is home to some truly fearless artists! Join veteran stage actor and Rep favorite, James Pickering, for a glimpse into a professional’s process. Learn some of Jim’s favorite preparation strategies and gain new insight into a classic as you analyze and perform Hamlet’s famous opening scene. Newcomers and experienced actors are welcome!
ADAPTING SHAKESPEARE
Schedule: Saturday, March 22, 2025, 10:00am-2:00pm
Location: The Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Class fee: $150 for one 4-hour session
Instructor: Maya Danks, Milwaukee Actor and Playwright
Theater makers tackling Shakespeare in the 21st century are faced with a daunting challenge: how to keep a 400-year-old play interesting and relevant? Adapting a script based on directorial vision, audience makeup, and unique production design is no small task. Luckily, local playwright, Maya Danks, has adapted countless pieces and is ready to pass the fundamentals on to you! Participants will study Shakespeare's style, voice, and plot structure so that they can ultimately “break” a piece, transforming it into their own take on a classic tale. Newcomers and experienced writers are welcome!
FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS: EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION IN CREATIVE WRITING
Schedule: Saturday, April 19, 2025, 10:00am-2:00pm
Location: The Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Class fee: $150 for one 4-hour session
Instructor: Maura Atwood, Milwaukee Rep Teaching Artist and Poet and Zach Woods, Milwaukee Rep Associate Director of Education
Writing is a powerful means of expression. It can convey our own emotions, or the emotions of characters within a story, highlighting their motivation and making the storyline more engaging. Join local playwright, Zach Woods, and poet, Maura Atwood, for a deep dive into the art of expressing emotion through the written word. Participants will engage in acting exercises, analyze text, and explore style and tone to create their own emotionally impactful poem, monologue, or scene. Ideal for beginners, but experienced writers are welcome!
INTRODUCTION TO DEVISED THEATER
Schedule: Saturday, May 17, 2025, 10:00am-2:00pm
Location: The Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Class fee: $150 for one 4-hour session
Instructor: Jeffrey Mosser, Milwaukee Rep Artistic Producer (Training and Audience Engagement)
Looking to create an original performance piece with a group of like-minded artists? Devised theater lies somewhere in the gaps between playwriting, improvisation, directing and editing, empowering artists to generate a brand-new piece from the ground up. Jeffrey Mosser, Milwaukee Rep’s Artistic Producer, will share collaborative techniques to develop a unique theatrical creation based on existing writing or a fresh idea straight out of your imagination! Newcomers and experienced artists are welcome!
Check this webpage often and sign up for our interest form to be the first to know when classes are added!