CHICAGO TALENT DIRECTORY®
Acting Schools
& Studios
CHICAGO AREA
Acting Schools & Studios
Acting Studio Chicago
River North
Actors Training Center
Wilmette
Chicago Actors Studio
Bucktown / Elston Corridor
Piven Theatre Workshop
Evanston
On-Camera Training
Acting Studio Chicago
River North
Actors Training Center
Wilmette
Chicago Actors Studio
Bucktown / Elston Corridor
Forge Film Acting — Chicago Forge
North Center
The Green Room Studio
West Town
Vagabond School
Ravenswood
Improv Training
The Annoyance Theatre & Bar
Lakeview
iO Theater
Lincoln Park
The Second City Training Center
Old Town
To CAST • Be SEEN • Be HIRED!
Updated: July 2026
© 2026 Chicago Talent Directory®. All rights reserved.
Chicago Talent Directory® is a publication of Chicago Talent Enterprises Inc.
Chicago Talent Directory® is a federally registered trademark owned by Nanci T. Ponne'
Published by Nanci T. Ponné, Founder / Publisher.
Acting Schools & Training
The following Illinois acting schools and training programs are provided as professional resources for Chicago and Illinois performers.
Resources are organized first by location, then by general acting training, on-camera training for film and television, and improvisation training.
Chicago Talent Directory® does not endorse or guarantee any individual school, program, or instructor.
Performers should review current instructors, curriculum, tuition, scheduling, admission requirements, and policies before enrolling.
At this time, Chicago Talent Directory® lists only schools and training programs with publicly verifiable physical locations. Neighborhoods or communities are provided to help visitors quickly identify training opportunities in their preferred area.
This early-stage resource will continue to expand with additional schools, specialty training, workshops,
and professional instructors when the Chicago Talent Directory® Marketplace is introduced.
DOWNSTATE ILLINOIS
Acting Schools & Studios
Heartland Theatre Company
Normal
Hoogland Center for the Arts
Downtown Springfield
Peoria Area Performing Arts School
Peoria
On-Camera Training
Forge Film Acting — Central Forge
Rantoul
Improv Training
ComedySportz Quad Cities
Moline
OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE ILLINOIS FILM OFFICE -- 1991