ATC OUTREACH PROGRAMS
AND PARTNERSHIPS
ATC: School Workshops
In an effort to offer more free arts education, ATC is now expanding its outreach initiatives to include FREE in-school acting workshops. Whether you have an established high school theatre department, or if you have an afterschool or community program in need of more art’s enrichment, let ATC help fill in the gaps.
Our workshops include:
Intro to On-Camera Acting
Students will learn basic on-camera acting skills and a technical vocabulary that will provide a foundational understanding of how to act and “just be” in front of the camera.
Emotions and Actions of the Character
At ATC, we believe that acting starts with just being. But how do you bring your own emotions and experiences to a character in a way that is uniquely you? In this workshop, students will experience “action-based” acting exercises that activate their emotions in a safe and fun way that can allow for a deeper understanding of a character.
Exploring the Physical Life of the Character
Sometimes the best approach (and the most fun way!) to gain insights into a character is to approach your character from “outside to in.” In this exploration, students will investigate a character through gesture, motion, and space; interacting with each other and the environment in order to deepen their understanding on character building.
Storytelling through Movement
This workshop teaches students that there is more to acting and storytelling than just saying the lines on the page. Through ensemble-based activities, students will collaborate with each other to tell a story from beginning to end using only their imaginations and bodies in space.
We would love to come and collaborate with your students and teachers so if there are other ways ATC can help with your arts programming, please let us know! For more information on how to set up your workshop appointment or if you have any other questions about what we do at ATC, please contact us at programs@actorstrainingcenter.com or complete our in-school workshop application to get started today.
ATC: Summer in the City
First launched in 2023, ATC’s Summer in the City program is a free acting intensive for Chicago high school students who are interested in learning about professional acting and personal development. Our goal is to help close the opportunity gap in high-quality arts education by providing a fully funded acting program. Taught by working industry professionals, students engage in acting exercises and experiences designed to amplify their curiosity about a career in the performing arts while promoting joy, confidence, and community.
Program Highlights
- On-camera acting and theatre training from working professionals
- A professionally photographed headshot
- A group trip to one of Chicago’s world-class theatres for a matinee performance
- Complimentary CTA passes to get to and from the program
- Lunch and refreshments each day
Summer in the City is typically held the third week in June, Monday – Friday, 10-3pm at Green Shirt Studio in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood. If you are a Chicago high school student (ages 15-18) and are interested in participating in our Summer in the City program, please contact our programs office and complete our online application.
Our Impactful Partnerships
Embarc Chicago
Since 2022, ATC has partnered with Embarc Chicago, which uses an experiential learning model across Chicago Public Schools to transform how students and teachers learn. On each experience journey, ATC provides a hands-on experience workshop in on-camera acting, storytelling, and creative expression.
My Block, My Hood, My City
In collaboration with M3’s Explorers Program, which aims to inspire students to envision possibilities beyond their block by introducing them to diverse cultures, cuisines, careers and communities throughout Chicago, ATC has created the Future Performers program – a workshop designed to expose students to the world of the actor while promoting curiosity, empowerment and self-expression.
Keshet
Partnering with Keshet’s Adult Day program, GADOL, ATC strives to adhere to its belief that theatre and the performing arts are for everyone. For this partnership, ATC has created a specialized acting workshop for adults with disabilities designed to foster self-expression, confidence, and creativity.
If you are a school or non-profit interested in partnering with ATC, please reach out to us at Programs@actorstrainingcenter.com. Additionally, if you would like to help support any of these fantastic outreach programs, please visit our Support page and make a donation today. Thank you!