Adult Acting Classes
Ages 18+
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Adult acting classes at The Inspired Acting Company offer a welcoming, professional space for adults who want to explore acting at any stage of their journey. Whether you are brand new to theatre, returning after time away, or seeking to deepen your craft, our classes are designed to meet you where you are.
All adult acting classes are taught by Jeff Thomakos, Producing Artistic Director of Inspired Acting Company. Jeff is a seasoned director, actor, and educator with extensive professional and academic experience. He is a certified Master Teacher of the Michael Chekhov Technique and has taught, directed, and coached actors at the university, professional, and community levels. His work emphasizes imagination, presence, physical storytelling, and emotional truth, grounded in a belief that the actor is the most powerful special effect on stage.
Classes focus on presence, imagination, and truthful storytelling through physical and imaginative exercises, ensemble work, and scene exploration. Students are encouraged to take creative risks, trust their instincts, and reconnect with the joy and humanity at the heart of acting. The emphasis is on process rather than performance, creating space for curiosity, play, and growth.
Classes are held at our theatre in Downtown Walled Lake and are open to adults 18 and up. No prior experience is required. Just bring a willingness to move, explore, and engage fully.
Inspired Acting Company believes that acting is for everyone, and that strong communities are built when people feel supported, challenged, and inspired to show up fully as artists.
Acting rooted in imagination, presence, and human connection.
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
Early Bird: $300 if registered by February 16
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 experience?
No. Our adult classes welcome beginners as well as actors with previous training or performance experience. Exercises and scene work are adaptable, and students are supported at their individual level.
What will we do in class?
Classes focus on acting technique through movement, voice, ensemble work, and scene study. Students explore presence, focus, physical awareness, and imaginative engagement in a supportive, collaborative environment.
Is this class appropriate if I’m nervous or returning after a long break?
Yes. Many students are returning to acting after time away or trying it for the first time. Classes are structured to be challenging but supportive, with no pressure to “perform” before you’re ready.
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.
Will there be a performance?
Most adult acting classes focus on training and skill development rather than a public performance. Any sharing or scene work takes place within the class unless otherwise noted.
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.
Are accommodations available?
Yes. If you have any injuries, medical conditions, or accessibility needs that may affect participation, please notify us in advance so we can best support you.
What is the refund policy?
Full refunds are available with at least 72 hours advance notice prior to the start of the first class. Once the course begins, refunds are not available.
Who should I contact with questions?
For all questions related to adult classes, please contact classes@inspiredacting.org.