Sean Escamilla Zielinski booked a role on season 10 episode 19 of Chicago Fire!
At ASC we are especially proud of our top-notch faculty. As working professionals, they bring years of industry expertise, enthusiasm, and skill to their classes. Our instructors are a large part of what makes studying at Acting Studio Chicago such a worthwhile investment in your career.
Studio Director
Rachael Patterson
Studio Director, Rachael Patterson has led Acting Studio Chicago for 22 years and worked in the biz since 1983.
Faculty

Echaka Agba
Echaka is an award-winning theatre, film, and television artist & member of the Sundance Collab Institute.
Chris Agos
Chris Agos began his acting career in 1995, he continues to audition, work, and help other actors get what they want from their acting careers.
Christy Arington
Christy has been an actor, director and teaching artist for over 25 years bringing a bevy of experience and passion to her teaching.
Adam Belcuore
Adam is a teacher, as well as the Managing Producer of Chicago's Tony Award winning Goodman Theatre.
Jonathan Berry
Steep ensemble member, Jonathan Berry is prolific director who has directed at big and small houses throughout the city.
Dave Bisson
Dave Bisson is a seasoned actor and voice actor who brings his expertise to the VO classroom!
Henry Bolzon
Henry brings decades of experience as an actor, a visual artist, and as a meditation teacher extraordinaire to the table!
Norm Boucher
Norm brings a wide variety of stage, television, commercial, and VO experience to his energetic classes!
Nick Bowling
Nick is the founding Artistic Director of TimeLine Theatre.
Jane Brody
Jane tours internationally teaching workshops in career building, Shurtleff, camera methods, Stanislavski analysis, and super scenes.
Jack Bronis
Jack Bronis brings a wealth of acting, improv, and directing experience to his teaching at ASC!
Lili-Anne Brown
Lili-Anne is a dynamic director, actor and educator, and has performed in, directed, and produced many award-winning shows.
Sarah Charipar
Sarah brings her camera expertise and her extensive teaching credentials to ASC!
Wardell Julius Clark
Wardell earned his BFA degree in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. He is a working actor, director and producer in Chicago.
Stephen Cone
Indie filmmaker, director, and actor, Stephen Cone is one of Chicago's rising stars. We're thrilled to have him at ASC!
Esteban Andres Cruz
Esteban is a passionate and skilled stage and film actor, dancer, & teacher.
Adrianne Cury
Adrianne brings experience from Chicago's top theatres such as Writers, Chicago Shakes, and Lifeline.
Dado
Dado is a director and Ensemble Member of A Red Orchid Theatre.
Spenser Davis
Spenser is a Chicago-based writer-director, Goodman's 2020/21 Maggio Fellow & winner of the Osborn Award.
Adria Dawn
Adria brings inside knowledge of on-camera acting from her expansive roster of tv, film, & new media credits!
Kate DeVore
Kate brings her knowledge and extensive experience as a speech pathologist and dialect coach to her voice and dialect classes at ASC!
Deb Doetzer
Deb Doetzer brings an extensive career in voiceover and theatre to her dynamic classes at ASC!
Natalie Duke
Natalie Duke is a voice actor and a proficient audio books narrator who brings a breadth of expertise to her teaching.
Kirsten Fitzgerald
Kirsten Fitzgerald brings her experience as a renowned actress and is the Artistic Director of A Red Orchid Theatre.
Mary Franke
Mary specializes in working with younger talent!
Charles Andrew Gardner
Born and raised on Chicago's south side, Charles is an experienced actor, director, producer, and teaching artist.
Linda Gillum
Actress/Director Linda brings her warmth and experience to class and is the Casting Director of Remy Bumppo!
Jennifer Glasse
Jennifer's background acting and teaching with Court Theatre brings passion and dynamism to her classes.
Christina Gorman
Actress and fight choreographer, Christina brings energy, creativity, and industry knowledge to her classes!
Coburn Goss
We're thrilled to have TV/film, theatre, VO actor, as well as award winning playwright Coburn on our roster!
Brad Grusnick
Brad is a highly experienced Gaming and Animation VO artist who brings high energy and fun to his teaching.
Jerry Kernion
Jerry is a veteran actor/director/producer with over 50 television credits under his belt.
Ryan Kitley
A seasoned television, film, and theater actor, Ryan brings nearly 3 decades of experience to the classroom.
David Leffel
Dave is a veteran VO artist and audio engineer specializing in sound for Radio, Film, and TV at BAM Studios.
AJ Links
As a Casting Director for Paskal Rudnicke Casting, AJ brings a wealth of industry experience to her classes.
Jeff Lupetin
Jeff is an author and award winning VO artist recognized for his work for SC Johnson and Procter & Gamble.
Marti Lyons
Guest Director: Masters Scene Study - Artistic Director: Remy Bumppo Theatre
Sandra Marquez
Guest Director: Longtime ensemble member of Teatro Vista and a Steppenwolf Ensemble member.
Bob Mason
Bob Mason has been casting director at Chicago Shakespeare Theater since 2000.
Matt Miller
Matt brings insight from his extensive career as a theatre, commercial, and TV Director/Executive Producer.
Jennie Moreau
Jennie uses her extensive Chicago and NY theatre credits as well as her on camera experience here at ASC.
Shade Murray
Shade brings his experience as a theatre director and as an ensemble member of A Red Orchid.
Kurt Naebig
Kurt, a Juilliard grad, brings his 25 plus years worth of experience to his energetic and engaging classes.
Alice Pacyga
Alice Pacyga is an actor, improviser, and teacher. She received her MFA and BFA in Acting from NIU.
Marisa Paonessa
Talent agent extraordinaire, Marisa, the owner of prestigious Paonessa Talent, is here breaking down the biz at ASC!
Rachael Patterson
Studio Director, Rachael Patterson has led Acting Studio Chicago for 27 years.
Brian Plocharczyk
Brian works in VO and On-Camera with numerous commercials, corp. videos, and animated & gaming projects credits.
Siobhan Reddy-Best
Siobhan brings her acting experience to the other side of the table as an agent.
Robert Schleifer
Robert is a teaching artist and actor, leading classes and workshops all over the world including several programs in Austria and Italy.
Claire Simon
President/Director of Casting - Simon Casting
Donna Simon Dunn
Talent Agent at Grossman & Jack Talent.
Janelle Snow
Janelle is a graduate of NU and Harvard and has been active in our acting community for over 2 decades.
Danny Taylor
Danny Taylor brings his extensive experience as a performer to create a fun and dynamic acting class experience.
Risha Tenae
Risha received her MFA from Cal Arts and brings a wealth of stage & teaching experience to the classroom.
Michael Patrick Thornton
Guest Director: Founder & FormerArtistic Director of The Gift Theatre.
Jessica Dean Turner
With an MA from NYU in educational theatre, Jessica also brings her extensive theatre and on camera experience to ASC!
Sarafina Vecchio
As an actor and teaching artist for nearly 20 years, Sarafina brings her passion and fearlessness to the table.