Adult Acting & Improv Classes
Ages 18+
Acting rooted in imagination, presence, and human connection.
Adult classes at The Inspired Acting Company offer a welcoming, professional space for adults at any stage of their journey. Whether you are brand new to theatre, returning after time away, or looking to deepen your craft, our classes are designed to meet you where you are and move you forward.
All adult classes are taught by Jeff Thomakos, Producing Artistic Director of The Inspired Acting Company. A certified Master Teacher of the Michael Chekhov Technique, Jeff is a seasoned director, actor, and educator who has taught and coached at the university, professional, and community levels. His teaching centers on imagination, presence, physical storytelling, and emotional truth, grounded in the belief that the actor is the most powerful special effect on stage.
At The Inspired Acting Company, adult training is not about pressure or performance. It is about process, growth, and genuine human connection.
Adult Acting
Adult Improv classes invite adults to reconnect with play, creativity, and spontaneity in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
Through games, ensemble work, and unscripted scenes, students build confidence, sharpen listening skills, and learn to respond truthfully in the moment. The emphasis is on generosity, collaboration, and trusting your instincts rather than “getting it right.”
Ideal for:
• Adults seeking a creative outlet
• Actors strengthening spontaneity and ensemble skills
• Non-actors building confidence and presence
• Anyone who wants to laugh, play, and reconnect with joy
Adult Improv
Adult Acting classes develop presence and imaginative responsiveness through physical and ensemble-based exercises, character exploration, and scene study.
Students are encouraged to take creative risks, trust their instincts, and reconnect with the joy at the heart of acting. The focus is on process over product, creating space for curiosity, rigor, and artistic growth.
Ideal for:
• Adults new to acting
• Actors returning after time away
• Performers deepening technique
• Artists strengthening presence and emotional truth
Not Sure Which Class Is Right for You?
Acting focuses on character, text, and crafted storytelling.
Improv focuses on spontaneity, listening, and ensemble play.
Both strengthen presence, confidence, and creative courage.
SPRING 1 (MAR-APR)
Embodied Acting: Technique, Presence, and the Creative Actor
6-Week Course | In-Person
Mondays, March 2–April 6
10:00 AM–12:30 PM
Tuition: $350
This six-week acting class is designed for adult performers who want to deepen their craft through focused, hands-on training. Actors will explore the foundational tools of acting, including voice, movement, focus, physical awareness, and imaginative engagement, through structured exercises, ensemble work, and scene study.
The work emphasizes the connection between inner impulse and physical expression, helping actors move beyond intellectual choices and into performances that are alive, specific, and grounded in the body. Students will develop greater presence, clarity, and responsiveness onstage while strengthening their ability to listen, adapt, and play within an ensemble.
Classes are conducted in a supportive, collaborative environment that encourages curiosity and creative risk-taking. This course is ideal for actors seeking to refine technique, reconnect with instinct, and build performances that feel both free and fully embodied.
SPRING 2 (MAR-APR)
Improv: Character Lab
Improv Ages 18+
Length: 6 weeks
Class Time: 2.5 hours
Schedule: Mondays, April 13 – May 18
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Price: $350
Early Bird: $300
Course Description
This six-week improv course is designed for adults who want to create bold, memorable characters spontaneously and sustain them in dynamic, unscripted scenes. Rather than focusing primarily on games, this class dives into the craft of character creation in the moment: physicality, voice, point of view, emotional commitment, and behavioral specificity.
Through guided exercises, character-building drills, and extended scene work, students will explore how to make strong character choices quickly and fully inhabit them without hesitation. The work emphasizes transformation, specificity, and playable point of view. Students will practice shifting status, exploring archetypes, committing to physical changes, and allowing character to drive story rather than plot mechanics.
We will investigate questions such as:
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How does character live in the body?
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What makes a character playable and sustainable?
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How do we heighten through behavior rather than cleverness?
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How can character choices create instant chemistry in a scene?
This class is ideal for actors who want to expand range, improvisers looking to deepen their work, writers seeking stronger character instincts, or anyone who wants to move beyond “being themselves” in improv. The goal is fearless transformation rooted in truth, presence, and ensemble responsiveness.
Students can expect a supportive, high-energy environment where bold risks are encouraged and character discoveries are celebrated.
Improv in Action: Spontaneity, Story, and Ensemble
Improv Ages 18+
Length: 6 weeks
Class Time: 2.5 hours
Schedule: Wednesdays, March 4 – April 8, 6:00–8:30 PM
Price: $350
Early Bird: $300
Course Description
This six-week improv class is designed for adults who want to sharpen their spontaneity, creativity, and collaborative skills in a fun, supportive environment. Through a dynamic mix of games, exercises, and unscripted scene work, students will build the core skills of improvisation, including listening, adaptability, clarity, and confident decision-making.
The work emphasizes ensemble connection and presence, helping performers trust their instincts, respond truthfully in the moment, and discover story through action rather than planning. Students will explore how to heighten choices, support scene partners, and stay playful while grounded, whether they are brand new to improv or returning to it after time away.
Perfect for actors, comedians, writers, or anyone looking to build confidence, flexibility, and creative freedom, this class celebrates the joy of collaboration and the thrill of making something out of nothing.
SPRING 3 (MAY-JULY)
Character Lab: Building Bold, Specific, and Transformative Performances
6-Week Course | In-Person
Schedule: Wednesdays, May 27 – July 1
6:00–8:30 PM
Tuition: $350
Early Bird: $300 (ends 4/15)
Course Description
This six-week acting class is designed for adult performers who want to deepen their ability to create vivid, fully realized characters. Through focused, practical exploration, actors will examine the building blocks of characterization, including physical life, vocal choices, psychological gesture, tempo, status, archetype, and given circumstances.
The work emphasizes transformation through specificity. Actors will investigate how external choices influence internal experience, and how imaginative embodiment can unlock complex, dynamic character behavior. Students will explore how posture, rhythm, breath, gesture, and point of view shape performance, moving beyond generalized emotion into bold, playable action.
Classes incorporate solo exercises, partnered work, and scene study designed to stretch range and expand creative flexibility. Actors will experiment with contrast, opposition, and physical adjustment to discover characters that feel distinct, alive, and theatrically compelling.
Conducted in a supportive and collaborative environment, this course invites actors to take creative risks, make strong choices, and develop the confidence to fully inhabit roles that are far from themselves. Ideal for performers who want to expand range, sharpen specificity, and build characters that resonate with clarity and power.
Improv: Form & Framework
Improv Ages 18+
Length: 6 weeks
Class Time: 2.5 hours
Schedule: Mondays, May 25-June 29
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Price: $350
Early Bird: $300
Course Description
This six-week improv class is designed for adults who want to deepen their craft through longform structure, genre exploration, and ensemble-driven storytelling in a focused, supportive environment. Rather than concentrating on short games, students will work within defined frameworks that shape pacing, tone, character development, and narrative arc.
Through sustained scene work and exploration of longform formats, participants will build skills in pattern recognition, thematic development, callbacks, transitions, and emotional continuity. The class also investigates how genre influences language, rhythm, stakes, and physical life, allowing performers to adapt their choices to fit the world of the piece.
The work emphasizes compositional awareness and trust in structure, helping performers understand how form and genre can support spontaneity rather than limit it. Students will strengthen their ability to build cohesive, satisfying improvisations while remaining responsive, present, and collaborative.
Perfect for improvisers with foundational experience who are ready to move beyond short-form games, this class celebrates the artistry of structure and the freedom that comes from working inside a clear creative container.
Instructor
Jeff Thomakos is the Producing Artistic Director of The Inspired Acting Company and a professional actor, director, and teacher with decades of experience in theatre and actor training. His directing credits include A Doll's House (Herzog), The Book Club Play, Private Lives, John & Jen, and Now. Here. This. with The Inspired Acting Company, as well as multiple productions with Shakespeare Royal Oak (formerly Water Works Theatre). He also recently directed The Play That Goes Wrong at Wayne State University.
As a teaching artist, Jeff is known for an approach that emphasizes imagination, physical awareness, and psychological connection, guiding actors toward performances that are expressive, grounded, and dynamically responsive. He has taught at the university level and in professional and community settings, and his classes are designed to be rigorous, actor-centered, and deeply supportive.
Jeff believes that strong technique creates freedom, and that compelling acting emerges when the mind, body, and imagination work in harmony.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior acting or improv experience?
No prior experience is required. Our adult classes welcome beginners, returning performers, and experienced artists alike. Exercises and activities are adaptable and designed to meet students where they are.
What age range are these classes for?
Adult classes are open to participants ages 18 and up.
What will we do in class?
Classes focus on technique through movement, voice, ensemble work, improvisation, and scene study. Students explore presence, focus, physical awareness, imaginative engagement, and collaborative storytelling in a supportive environment.
Is this class appropriate if I’m nervous or returning after a long break?
Yes. Many students are returning after time away or trying acting or improv for the first time. Classes are structured to be challenging but supportive, with no pressure to perform before you feel ready.
What is the class environment like?
Classes are conducted in a collaborative, low-pressure setting that values curiosity, generosity, and creative risk-taking. The focus is on growth and exploration rather than performance for an audience.
Will there be a performance?
Most adult classes focus on training and skill development rather than a public performance. Any sharing or scene work typically takes place within the class unless otherwise noted.
What should I wear?
Please wear comfortable clothing that allows for movement and closed-toe shoes. No costumes or special materials are required. A water bottle is encouraged.
Do I need to prepare anything in advance?
No preparation is required unless specifically noted in the class description. Simply come ready to participate.
Who teaches the classes?
All current adult acting and improv classes are taught by Jeff Thomakos, Producing Artistic Director of The Inspired Acting Company, with decades of professional experience as an actor, director, and educator.
What if I miss a class?
Consistent attendance is encouraged, as classes build week to week. If you need to miss a class, please notify us in advance at classes@inspiredacting.org. Missed classes are not refundable or prorated unless otherwise noted.
What is the refund policy?
Full refunds are available with at least 72 hours’ notice prior to the start of the first class. Once the course begins, refunds are not available.
Are classes accessible?
We are committed to accessibility and inclusion. If you have injuries, medical conditions, or accessibility needs that may affect participation, please contact us in advance so we can best support you.
Where are classes held?
All classes take place at The Inspired Acting Company in Downtown Walled Lake.
Who should I contact with questions?
For all class-related questions, please email classes@inspiredacting.org