"After working with Janet, I have definitely seen a big increase in the number of jobs I book. Now I get sent out more than ever. She gives tangible and practical advice that is easy to understand and implement. I'm so glad I took my agent's advice and got an acting coach!"
"If you where to look up the word great in a thesaurus, all those words listed would describe Janet Milstein. She has been a big factor in all of my success. She is very dedicated and passionate about all of her students. Janet Milstein is the Yoda of acting coaches. I swear she has shown up in auditions with me that she didn't even know I was having. She is very personable and patient. She is there for you as long as you are willing to try. No matter how far and in between our conversation, she is still the same smiling person. Whether it is a day or months or years, you walk into her presence and it feels like you never left. I'd recommend her to anyone as I always do. I can go on and on but I'll stop here. Get her to coach you. I dare you. I am Arraon "Skippa" Hixson and I approve this message."
~ Arraon "Skippa" Hixson, Chicago
Janet B. Milstein continually coaches actors who get cast in
theater, film, commercials, industrials, voice-over, and commercial print in
Chicago, Los Angeles,
Here are just a few of her students' successes:
FILM:
Contagion starring Matt Damon, Jude Law & Kate Winslet, Stranger Than Fiction, The Break-up, Payback starring Mel Gibson, The Even Stevens Movie, Barber Shop, Barber Shop 2, Soul Food, Chain Reaction starring Keanu Reeves, Just Visiting starring Christina Applegate, The Lake House, One Missed Call starring Edward Burns, The Last Airbender, The Dark Knight, An American Crime, Blood Deep, Codename: Simon, Malibu's Most Wanted, Serenity, Ancient Evil: Scream of the Mummy, The Brotherhood, Mrs. Hobbes' House, D.I.N.K.S., Merry Gentlemen, Meet the Browns, Eagle Eye, Awaken the Dead, Beyond the Soul, Roll, Bounce, Let's Go to Prison, Cover, Dedicated, Chicago Heights, Leaving Atlanta with Ben Vereen, Converging with Angels, RiffRaff, The European Kid, Iris, Blindsided, The Kari Files, Power Singles, Not Scene, The Turndown, Beyond the Soul, Playing Dress-up, Jaded, The New Detective, Pirates, Last Stop, Iodine Ink, Fallen, Turtle, The Big Fish Story, Rough Start, Parallel, Happily After, Two Days in Limbo, Henchmen: At Dr. Death’s Door, Voice of the Vespers, Ephemeralbliss.com, 72h, She Wolf! Paddy's Bar, The Box, Delirium, Roadside, So Will Smiling, Fall(ing), A Penny For Your Thoughts, More Than Friends, The Whisperer, Late Rush, The Cyber Kid, Pen and Paper, The Pass Out Game, Through His Eyes, It's Always Cloudy, Ms. Lucky, Nighthawks, The Giver Should Be Thankful, Made in Chiraq, Counterfeit Luck, Dry, Chinese Jesus, Glamour, The Salesman, Denied, Pandemonium, Sam I am, L.A. Storm Zombie, Sick Day, Fading and more!
TV/Webseries:
Even Stevens, One Tree Hill, One Life to Live, Gilmore Girls, Carnivàle, Web Girl, Timeless: Live in Concert (starring Barbra Streisand), Habla más, The Giggle Club, Prison Break, ER, Roaring 20’s, The Blue Marble Gang, Reels, The Chicago Code, Pleading Guilty, and more!Theatre:
The Goodman Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Raven, A Red Orchid Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Second City, The Chicago Theater, Stage Left Theatre, The Artistic Home, Bailiwick Repertory, Teatro Luna, The Birmingham Children's Stockyards Theatre Co, Dream Theater, Collaboraction, Free Associates, Steep Theatre Co, Sandhill Theatre Co, Piccolo Theatre, Appetite Theatre, Point of Contention, Village Players, Oak Park Festival Theater, Hubris Productions, The Side Project, Nothing Without A Company, and more!
Commercials:
McDonald's, Pepsi, Bounty Paper Towel, Chevrolet, Miller Light, Harris Bank, Footlocker, Jordan’s, State Farm, PSP, U.S. Cellular, Toys R' Us, Virgin Mobile, Denny's Restaurant, Bright Start College Savings Fund, Time Life, Ms. Mary's Restaurant and more!Voice-over: McDonald's, Cellular One, Commonwealth
Commercial/Fashion Print:
McDonald's, Sears “Canyon River Blue Jeans”, JC Penney, JC Penney Bridal, Abercrombie & Fitch, Coca Cola, DeVry, Triton College, CNA Insurance, Man Alive, Real Faith in Life Magazine, Hamricks, Proffitt's Department Store, American Girl, Otis Spunkmeyer, Illinois Lotto, Kohls.Schools for Acting:
DePaul, Roosevelt University,
- Undergraduates at
- Students at Je Suis Talent & StarBright Talent at The
- Acting students at A.S.A. Talent Studio in
- Acting Students at the Skokie & Wilmette Park
Districts
- Students at John Robert Powers,
- Over 1,000 talent contestants for competition at the IMTA and iPOP conventions
in
- Theater Apprentices at
- Children and adults in various, specialized workshops
(e.g., 3-Day Competition Prep, On-Camera Commercials, Getting Started in
the Biz, Monologue Boot Camp, 2 hr Commercial Workshop for Kids, Casting
Talent for Your Film & Working with Actors)
Janet works as a private acting coach in Chicago. She trains beginning and professional actors in monologues and cold readings.
She offers sessions to meet the needs of each particular actor such as:
- One-time monologue brush-up
- Ongoing sessions to build a monologue repertoire
- Preparation for college/school acting program auditions
- Cold reading technique
- Career counseling and goal setting
- Last-minute callback sessions
- On-camera commercial technique
- Scene study (in pairs)
- Headshot & resume help
Janet's rates are very reasonable!
SCENE STUDY
SCENE STUDY CLASSES
Scene study class is the
place one truly learns to act. Whether you plan on a career in theater or film,
good acting is still good acting—only the technical elements change. Scene
study is where you do the actual work – put all of the elements together. It is
essential and exciting.
I am now offering small, semi-private acting classes/scene study for those students who are serious about improving their craft and who are ready to taking risks, work intensively, have fun, and commit to the group.
- Actors will be assigned scenes/roles that will challenge them.
- Actors will be expected to read the plays their scenes are
from when assigned.
- Actors will be expected to be off-book and
prepared to present their scenes to the class on the dates assigned.
- Actors will work on technique, script analysis, and participate in various acting exercises as well as work on scenes.
- Class meets once a week for 2 hours per class.
- Students must be at least 20 years old.
- Classes are limited to 4-6 students to ensure
plenty of individual attention.
- Janet’s permission is required to enroll in
class.
- Cost is only $25-30 per student per week/class.
FAQ
What background is required to take this class? If I
am new to acting will I put with experienced actors?
There are
two levels of Scene Study class being offered at the current time—Level 1 & Level 2. Level 1 is for
those students who are newer to acting. Perhaps you have taken a few classes or
you did a few shows in high school and now want to commit to a higher level of
training. Level 1 is for you. Level 2 is designed for actors who want
to really challenge themselves. Perhaps you have done a number of shows but
want to work with a higher tier of theatres; perhaps you have an undergraduate
degree in Theater and you’d like additional training or a new instructor who
will work you to your potential. Level 2
is for you.
What acting method do you teach?
I would say
that I do not subscribe fully to any one method but rather offer a mix of what
has worked for me as an actor and teacher over the years. I think that the
different methods out there have more in common than not. With that being said
my technique does draw from Stanislavski, Meisner, Shurtleff, & Robert
Cohen to name some main influences in terms of technique. I do offer actors a
technique and fundamental concepts which they can apply to various mediums and auditions,
not just to approaching a scene for performance. In my private coaching and
workshops I offer more specialized and specific instruction for commercial
technique, monologue work, and cold reading. However, the more overriding
technique and fundamentals are the same.
What makes your classes different?
First I
would say that I am extremely energized, motivated, and passionate about my
students’ growth and success in the classroom and beyond. I am not a teacher
who tears actors apart and then wonders why they have no confidence. I am also
not a teacher who applauds everything and doesn’t challenge my students. I
believe in creating a challenging, supportive environment and pushing each
individual student to his/her capacity without damaging egos. I also do not
have the pressure of sticking to a prescribed school’s/studio’s syllabus so I
am free to teach what I believe works and stray a bit when necessary for the
current learning situation. I have a committed interest in all of my students.
That is probably why the percentage of my students who get cast is very high. I
work from word of mouth, so I make sure my students are satisfied.
When are classes offered?
Classes are
currently offered on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings. New classes start when a group of at least 4 students can commit to the same day/time. I currently have a Wed afternoon class from 2:30-4:30pm and a Sunday evening class from 6:30-8:30pm. Classes start at various times depending on my students, so if you are interested, email me with your availability.
I see it says your permission is required to enroll
in class. What do I need to do if I am interested in taking Scene Study class
with you?
Hit the contact Janet button and let me know:
1) You are interested in Scene Study
2) Your
age
3) Your acting background/experience/training or email an H/R to me
4) Which days you would be
available Mon, Tu, Wed, Th, Sun.
I will then contact you.
