1^st lesson free

Samuel

5 (10 reviews)

Rate $127
Response 1h
Students
Number of students Samuel has accompanied since arriving at Superprof
50+
Number of students Samuel has accompanied since arriving at Superprof

5 (10 reviews)

$127/h

1^st lesson free

Acting
Musical Theatre

Experienced tutor in Acting in Chicago, Samuel offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Acting
Musical Theatre

Lesson location

- online

About Samuel

About Me

Hi, I’m Sam. I’m an actor, writer, and teacher based in Chicago, and I’ve been performing for more than a decade. I trained and graduated from The Second City, the world’s largest school of improv and sketch comedy, and I’ve also worked in theatre, film, and live entertainment across the city.

What I love about teaching acting and voice acting is that it’s not just about technique. It’s about finding your own voice and your own truth. I believe realism is the strongest foundation for any performance. Whether you are playing comedy, drama, or stepping into a voice booth, audiences connect most when you are grounded, honest, and present.

What You’ll Learn

Acting Lessons: Build authentic characters, connect emotionally, and stay real even in heightened or comedic situations. You will leave each session with tools you can use on stage, on camera, or in everyday confidence.

Voice Acting Lessons: Learn breathing, diction, pacing, and performance. You will discover how to bring scripts to life, make strong choices, and adapt your voice for commercials, narration, animation, and more.

My Teaching Style

My classes are structured but flexible. I always come in with a plan, but I make space for discovery and surprise. That is often where the best breakthroughs happen. My goal is for you to leave not just with improved skills, but with a sense of excitement about your own creative voice.

Why Work With Me

I have produced and performed in Chicago theatre, created original shows, directed marketing campaigns, and trained with some of the best teachers in the business. I bring that wide-ranging experience into every lesson. Students tell me they feel supported, challenged, and surprised in ways that make them grow.

If you are curious, motivated, or just looking to try something new, I would love to work with you. Let’s get started.

In college I took two courses. One of them was youth directing where I got to work with a high school to direct their one act play for speech contest. The second was a psychology of Theatre class which included a teaching element. I worked with a Kindergarten class to help them perform a classroom version of The Three Little Pigs. My life was definitely influenced by good teachers, and my independent acting instructor was no exception. I like to think I bring that to my students.

In Des Moines Iowa at the 7-Eleven theater competition I received awards for audience Choice twice, judges Choice twice, Best in Show twice, best performer once, best writing twice, and won the overall competition three times. I then moved to Kirksville Missouri where I studied theater at Truman State University. There I also founded the independent performance and art coalition to help students produce their own work. Through it I produced and directed over 10 creative projects. After this I was an apprentice at downstairs Cabaret Theatre in Rochester New York. After this I moved to Chicago to study improv and comedy at the Second City. I was added to the Ensemble for under the gun theater, and did three shows a week there for a full year. I am the original Creator director and producer of MASHterpiece Theater, ImprovOpoly, #GrindMe, Action Jackson, and The Adaptation Game.

About the lesson

Depending on a student's skill level, I will discuss the fundamentals. If it is clear that they understand the fundamentals the most important thing for me is to assess what the student would like to accomplish. I like to attack student goals with fervor and focus. A lot can be gained from Theory, but really each individual student is far more important than Theory. As far as I'm concerned, every student has something new to teach me. They will be given this opportunity.

I've worked with students as young as two to three years old, though I would not recommend that for independent acting classes. I have also coach students as old as 18 and 19. My age range is wide.

The only way and acting instructor is worth your time is if they help you find material and monologues to perform, and assess your goals. Without those two things the entire class can feel like a waste of time.

I have a friend who studies film directing at Columbia, and this year she was kind enough to feature me for a documentary project. She focused on my work, and featured the fact that I was recovering from a medical issue. I'm extremely fond of this omage and respect.

A few things worth thinking about before reaching out
Why do you want to act? Are you interested in enough in acting to make an investment? If you are willing to make that investment, what do you expect to get out of it?

Review

All of our reviews are collected by us and are 100% reliable. They correspond to a real experience lived by the teacher's students.

5 (10 reviews)

S

Samuel
- 5
Perfect! Sam is a great instructor. He has helped me greatly to understand the audience and context of a script, to speak as the character, and to relax, open up, and let go of expectations, while sticking to the timing of the piece. His curriculum was very targeted for my skill level and Sam knows how to cultivate a healthy relationship with his students. I highly recommend!
Read more See the response Samuel

S

Samuel

Perfect! Sam is a great instructor. He has helped me greatly to understand the audience and context of a script, to speak as the character, and to relax, open up, and let go of expectations, while sticking to the timing of the piece. His curriculum was very targeted for my skill level and Sam knows how to cultivate a healthy relationship with his students. I highly recommend!
G

Geoff
- 5
Perfect! As a complete beginner to the process, I was pleased by how approachable Sam was with his lessons. He truly loves the art of acting and brought that to the class. He made me realize how many different aspects can be tapped into for voice over work that I didn’t even consider. I actually feel very secure moving forward. Thanks Sam.
Read more See the response Samuel

G

Geoff

Perfect! As a complete beginner to the process, I was pleased by how approachable Sam was with his lessons. He truly loves the art of acting and brought that to the class. He made me realize how many different aspects can be tapped into for voice over work that I didn’t even consider. I actually feel very secure moving forward. Thanks Sam.
A

Alex
- 5
Perfect! Sam made me feel comfortable instantly and has a passion for voice acting that got me equally excited about it as well! In addition to foundational acting techniques Sam also shared with me a practical, real-world approach to getting into the industry from studio equipment to demo reels and VA platforms. You won't regret booking Sam to help you on your acting journey!
Read more See the response Samuel

A

Alex

Perfect! Sam made me feel comfortable instantly and has a passion for voice acting that got me equally excited about it as well! In addition to foundational acting techniques Sam also shared with me a practical, real-world approach to getting into the industry from studio equipment to demo reels and VA platforms. You won't regret booking Sam to help you on your acting journey!
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Recommendations

Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the tutor.

Tanner

He has a very friendly, down to earth approach.
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T
Tanner
He has a very friendly, down to earth approach.
Kevin

He had an empathetic and introspective approach that was understanding yet challenging to the students he worked with. Sam is a very talented actor with great experience, but even more impressive is his ability to verbalize his acting process.
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K
Kevin
He had an empathetic and introspective approach that was understanding yet challenging to the students he worked with. Sam is a very talented actor with great experience, but even more impressive is his ability to verbalize his acting process.
Bailey

Sam is awesome! Through the multiple projects we’ve worked on together he has always helped me feel safe and empowered while giving me feedback that allowed me to grow and reach new goals as a performer!
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B
Bailey
Sam is awesome! Through the multiple projects we’ve worked on together he has always helped me feel safe and empowered while giving me feedback that allowed me to grow and reach new goals as a performer!
Maddie

Sam has a great way of achieving his vision without forcing it on anyone. He's smart about using exercises/directional notes to get actors to feel the work, and not just replicate instructions.
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M
Maddie
Sam has a great way of achieving his vision without forcing it on anyone. He's smart about using exercises/directional notes to get actors to feel the work, and not just replicate instructions.
Josh

It was a while ago, but I knew that I trusted Sam which made me comfortable taking risks. Sam is serious about the work that he is working on and it translates to when he instructs. Sam’s genuine laughter is so warm, it means a lot when you (as an actor) can get him to laugh like that. He was also an instructor for my acting course in college and worked with people on various levels of performance progress. I believe improvisers make some of the best instructors across all disciplines.
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J
Josh
It was a while ago, but I knew that I trusted Sam which made me comfortable taking risks. Sam is serious about the work that he is working on and it translates to when he instructs. Sam’s genuine laughter is so warm, it means a lot when you (as an actor) can get him to laugh like that. He was also an instructor for my acting course in college and worked with people on various levels of performance progress. I believe improvisers make some of the best instructors across all disciplines.
Sydney

I took one an acting class as a young new theatre baby right into college. While the class was a few years ago, it was one of my favorites I've ever taken, and Sam was one of the reasons it's stuck with me. Sam was always open with sharing his experiences and what he learned from them, and created a space for us all to learn along with him. He often took part in our assignments, instead of simply "grading" us, which allowed me to see Sam as a peer instead of as a teacher. This is one of Sam's greatest strengths; he can create a space to feel comfortable taking risks and growing as an actor, instead of feeling stifled, while teaching us and giving feedback in a constructive manner.
Read more

S
Sydney
I took one an acting class as a young new theatre baby right into college. While the class was a few years ago, it was one of my favorites I've ever taken, and Sam was one of the reasons it's stuck with me. Sam was always open with sharing his experiences and what he learned from them, and created a space for us all to learn along with him. He often took part in our assignments, instead of simply "grading" us, which allowed me to see Sam as a peer instead of as a teacher. This is one of Sam's greatest strengths; he can create a space to feel comfortable taking risks and growing as an actor, instead of feeling stifled, while teaching us and giving feedback in a constructive manner.
Julie

Sam is an excellent director with great comedic timing and insight. He is excellent at organizing a group, keeping things moving, and making smart choices that really demonstrate his expertise. Sam’s professionalism and commitment can make any show look great!
Read more

J
Julie
Sam is an excellent director with great comedic timing and insight. He is excellent at organizing a group, keeping things moving, and making smart choices that really demonstrate his expertise. Sam’s professionalism and commitment can make any show look great!
View more recommendations

Rates

Rate

$127

Pack rates

5 h: $635
10 h: $1270

free lessons

This first lesson offered with Samuel will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.

1hrs

online

$127/h

Details

I charge 50 for an hour lesson, 70 for an hour and a half, or 85 for two hours.

Experienced tutor in Acting in Chicago, Samuel offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Lesson location

Recommended

About Samuel

About the lesson

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free lessons

online

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Experienced tutor in Acting in Chicago, Samuel offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Lesson location

Recommended

About Samuel

About the lesson

Review

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

free lessons

online

Details

Other tutors in Acting

Oceana

Jacelyn

Axelle

Shirley

Sally

Josa

Anik

Deva

Aidan

Chanelle

Bharat Bhushan

PAUL

Trevor

Maria

Zeboria

Kam

Laura

Holly

Jon

Ronald

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