Vagabond School of the Arts

Vagabond School of the Arts We seek to provide a supportive home for artistic growth, professional training, and career-long wellbeing.

We are know as the most comprehensive on-camera training in the midwest.

Ready to see yourself on TV? Your actor journey starts here. Get the most comprehensive training in the midwest at Vagab...
08/25/2026

Ready to see yourself on TV? Your actor journey starts here. Get the most comprehensive training in the midwest at Vagabond School.

08/19/2026

We want to give a shout out to Vagabond founder Michael McCracken who’s most recent film is out on YouTube. Here is the trailer filled with amazing Chicago actors. Go check it out. The link is in his bio or search for “Break Away soccer film” on YouTube.

Last call! ⏰ Our 6-Week Scene Study with filmmaker starts next week. Don't miss your chance to take your training from ...
08/03/2026

Last call! ⏰ Our 6-Week Scene Study with filmmaker starts next week.

Don't miss your chance to take your training from the classroom straight to an independent film set. 🎬

Colby (co-director of Ganymede, Pig Hag, and the SXSW Narrative Competition alum) will coach you on realistic performances, staying spontaneous through preparation, and adapting to your scene partner and set environment.

You'll prep scenes in advance, then block and shoot them in fast-paced sessions built to feel like a real indie film set.

📸 Just send a headshot & resume so we can match you with a scene and partner — no H/R approval needed.
🔁 Taken it before? You can absolutely take it again.
👥 Class size is limited to keep the focus on scene work, so don't wait!

Sign up now before spots fill up!

🔗 https://sawyer-admin.hisawyer.com/marketplace/activity-set/1947441

Theater actor ≠ automatically a great on-camera actor. Here's why. 🎬We hear it all the time: "I've done theater for year...
07/21/2026

Theater actor ≠ automatically a great on-camera actor. Here's why. 🎬

We hear it all the time: "I've done theater for years, on-camera should be easy."

Not exactly.

They're both acting, but they're built on completely different scales. Theater is projecting to the back row. On-camera is trusting that a whisper, a blink, or total stillness is enough, because the camera is picking up everything.

We call it "adjusting your dials." Same instrument (your body, voice, emotions), just a different setting for a different room.

Swipe through to see the difference 👉 and read the full breakdown on our blog (link in comments) for how to actually train the transition: not just "do less," but learn what's necessary.

🎥 Ready to put this into practice? Our On Camera Technique for Working Actors class is a 4-week intensive covering commercials, TV/film under-5s, co-star roles, and larger roles, everything the experienced actor needs to bring stage skills to set. Register at https://www.vagabondschool.com/ocunit-1.

🌟 LAST CALL: DON'T MISS MASTERING MEMORIZATION🌟..and three other workshops to sharpen your craft this month 👇📝 July 15 ...
07/14/2026

🌟 LAST CALL: DON'T MISS MASTERING MEMORIZATION🌟..and three other workshops to sharpen your craft this month 👇

📝 July 15 — Mastering Memorization w/ Cheryl Graeff
Struggle to lock in your lines? Learn techniques to find your fastest path to memorization.

🎬 July 22 — Taking Direction Workshop w/ Cheryl Graeff
Practice pivoting on the fly so you're ready for any adjustment in the room or on set.

🎥 July 25 — Auditioning for Industrials w/ Sia Moody (2-day)
Break into the industrials niche 🤑: how to audition, what to expect, and how to book the job.

🎙️ July 30 — Becoming an Audiobook Narrator w/ Kevin Theis (3-week)
Learn to audition, record, and produce audiobooks, plus time in Vagabond's VO booth.

🎟️ Link in bio to sign up. Spots are limited!

Classes are back in session! 🎬🎙️Vagabond School of the Arts summer session kicks off July 6th — and we've got classes ho...
06/15/2026

Classes are back in session! 🎬🎙️

Vagabond School of the Arts summer session kicks off July 6th — and we've got classes hot and ready to go!

✨ Acting Core returns with Intro to Acting (Saturdays with Cheryl Graeff) and Viewpoints (Thursday nights with Adam Poss)

💰 Bundle Deal: Enroll in Summer On-Camera 2 + New-and-Improved Fall On-Camera 3 with Michael McCracken and save 10%!

🎥 More On-Camera options than ever with Ed Kross, Adam Poss, Cheryl Graeff, and Elizabeth Laidlaw

🎙️ Two sections of Voiceover with Kevin Theis

Whatever doesn't fill will be canceled, so don't wait to register! Head to vagabondschool.com today!

🚨Summer workshops start in two short weeks!🚨Flexible to suit your comfort, Ed Kross's 2 Day Self-Tape Workshop is availa...
05/27/2026

🚨Summer workshops start in two short weeks!🚨

Flexible to suit your comfort, Ed Kross's 2 Day Self-Tape Workshop is available both online AND in person at Vagabond. (Ed is offering Summer classes, too!)

Catch the workshop Wednesdays, June 10 & 17 from 6:30–9:30pm CDT.

We are also excited to welcome back Heidi Johanningmeier and her popular Audition Intensive offered fully online, Mondays from June 29 through July 20, 9:30am–12:30pm CDT.

Two workshops, two chances to walk into your next audition ready.

Head to https://www.vagabondschool.com/workshops to sign up. ✨

That’s a wrap on our conservatory’s short film - Lost and Found. Congrats to our ensemble for their hard work. Keep and ...
05/19/2026

That’s a wrap on our conservatory’s short film - Lost and Found. Congrats to our ensemble for their hard work. Keep and eye out for their work. Coming this summer!

05/06/2026

Have you always wondered what it would be like to act on camera?
Are you ready to put more tools in your toolbox as an acting professional through voice over?
Or have you been there, done that, and now you need some advanced scene study to keep you at the top of your game?

Vagabond School of the Arts has everything you need...and classes start next week! Jump in!

Address

4001 N Ravenswood Avenue, Ste 504
Chicago, IL
60613

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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