Celebrating 12 Years of Acting Excellence!
The Ottawa Acting Studio
Welcome to the Ottawa Acting Studio, where your acting journey begins! Whether you’re taking your first acting class, thinking of acting as a hobby or profession, or simply want to have fun and challenge yourself, our dedicated team of experienced instructors are here to guide you every step of the way. Located in the heart of the Glebe, our downtown studio offers acting classes in the perfect creative space to learn and enjoy.
Connect with a community
Both the Ottawa Acting Studio and the Kanata Acting Studio provide hubs for creative individuals passionate about the performing arts. Both studios offer acting classes in a supportive environment where actors, from absolute beginners to the more experienced, can hone their craft, explore their abilities, and connect with a community of like-minded individuals.
What's Coming Up!
Shakespeare in Performance: A Scene Study & Showcase
Sundays / 6:30 - 8:30
April 6 - May 25
6:30 - 8:30
Adults
Instructor: Murph Hickey
Step into the world of Shakespeare and bring his words to life in this dynamic acting course designed for all levels! Whether you’re a seasoned performer or new to the Bard, this class will guide you through the fundamentals of performing Shakespeare with confidence, clarity, and creativity. Over the course of the program, students will explore selected monologues and scenes, learning essential techniques for understanding and delivering Shakespearean text. Through engaging exercises, character exploration, and vocal work, you’ll develop the tools needed to approach classical theatre with ease.
Acting for TV: Sketch Comedy Scenes
Acting for TV: Sketch Comedy Scenes
Discover the excitement of bringing sketch comedy to life in front of the camera! This dynamic class immerses students in the art of both writing and performing short, comedic sketches designed specifically for television. Participants will explore key techniques of acting for the camera, crafting sharp dialogue, and delivering humour effectively on camera.
The Young Actor's Showcase
Wednesdays
4:30 - 6 pm
May 7 - June 18
Ages 11 - 14
Instructor: Mary Tsai
In this dynamic course, students will explore the fundamentals of acting, develop confidence on stage, and experience the thrill of bringing a short play to life. Through teamwork, creativity, and hands-on rehearsal, participants will build essential performance skills while collaborating in a supportive and engaging environment. The course culminates in a live studio performance on the final day, giving every young actor the chance to shine.
Ottawa Acting Studio Welcomes Rick Kaulbars
Rick Kaulbars Screenwriting Instructor
Rick Kaulbars has been working as a writer/ actor and comedian for over twenty years. As co-writer on the Comedy Network’s (now on Tubi/Roku) cult TV series, Kevin Spencer (1997-2005), he wrote over 40 half-hours, making it (at that time) the longest running, situation-based comedy in Canadian television. Rick was also a voice on most episodes. He's written for such internationally respected series’ as “For Better or for Worse”, “White Fang”, and “Toad Patrol.” In digital media, Rick wrote for and appeared in the Macromedia Award winning interactive digital drama “Midnight Stranger” for Animatics Corp. and in the summer of 2013 was the voice of Fred Flintstone for a game app produced by Wave Generation of Montreal.
Rick’s strength is his humour, and he worked for several years as a split middle, stand-up comic for Yuk Yuks. In 2014 he performed stand-up with “Kids in the Hall”s Kevin McDonald and also performs as his hilarious top-hat poet character, Emerson Lake. Onscreen, Rick has appeared with Colin Mochrie in the CBC series "Getting Along Famously", playing the tyrannical head of the CBC. Onstage, he starred in the 2011 Fringe Festival production “Satanic Panic” (a play written by one of his student graduates) and, more recently, played an 1800s pimp in the 2014 Fringe production “Finished Girls”, which he also wrote.
In 2023, Rick won FADE IN Magazine's prestigious Grand Prize in the Short Film Category entitling him to a gold pass for to their Los Angeles "Pitch Event.” 2024 saw him return to the stage in “Murder She Read”, a best-of- fest winning parlour comedy.
Rick’s been teaching screenwriting for over fifteen years and has graduates working in the industry from NBC to TVO. He remains in contact with these many former students to keep him aware of the modern production landscape.
Ottawa Acting Studio Upcoming Classes
Acting Level 2: Bringing Scenes to Life
Acting Level 2: Bringing Scenes to Life
Acting Level 2: Bringing Scenes to Life
Mondays 7 - 9:00 PM
April 28 - June 2
6 weeks
Adults
Instructor: Joey McDougall
Glebe Studio
Step into the world of high-stakes storytelling in The Art of the Scene, a dynamic acting class focused on dramatic two-person scenes. Through in-depth character exploration, emotional connection, and script analysis, participants will learn how to bring authenticity and depth to their performances. Each session will emphasize techniques for building strong scene partnerships, developing compelling subtext, and making bold choices that elevate dramatic tension.
An Introduction to Acting
Acting Level 2: Bringing Scenes to Life
Acting Level 2: Bringing Scenes to Life
Tuesdays 7 - 9:00 PM
May 6 - June 10
6 weeks
Adults
Instructor: John Muggleton
Glebe Studio
$265
Whether you're a complete beginner or have some previous experience, this course is designed to give you a solid foundation in the craft of acting. Explore acting techniques, scene study, character development while also learning the ropes and how and where to audition. Although this course focuses more on stagecraft, the skills learned build the foundation for both to stage work and acting for TV. Whether you're looking to break into the world of acting or simply want to try something new, we invite you to join us for this exciting and rewarding journey
Screenwriting Essentials
Acting Level 2: Bringing Scenes to Life
Screenwriting Essentials
Wednesdays 7 - 9:00 PM
May 14 - June 25
7 weeks
Adults
Instructor: Richard Kaulbars
Glebe Studio
$265
Have a great idea for a movie or TV series but don’t know where to start? Join veteran actor and writer Rik Kaulbars in this engaging and practical screenwriting course, where you’ll learn how to craft compelling scripts, create memorable characters, and bring your story to life on screen. Through interactive discussions, writing exercises, and professional insights, Richard will guide you through the essential elements of screenwriting.
Acting for TV & Film
Studio 55 Afternoon Showcase
Screenwriting Essentials
Thursdays
7:00 - 9:00 PM
May 8 - June 19
7 classes
Adults
Instructor: Tim Progosh
GLEBE STUDIO
Acting for TV: Sketch Comedy Scenes
Discover the excitement of bringing sketch comedy to life in front of the camera! This dynamic class immerses students in the art of both writing and performing short, comedic sketches designed specifically for television. Participants will explore key techniques for developing engaging characters, crafting sharp dialogue, and delivering humour effectively on camera.
Studio 55 Afternoon Improv
Studio 55 Afternoon Showcase
Studio 55 Afternoon Showcase
Tuesdays
1:00 - 3:00 PM
May 6 - June 17
7 weeks
Adults
Instructor: John Muggleton
GLEBE STUDIO
$265
Step into a world of creativity, laughter, and connection with our Afternoon Improv Class, designed specifically for adults aged 55 and over. Just as physical exercise keeps your body fit, improv exercises your mind, boosting mental agility and fostering a vibrant social life.
Studio 55 Afternoon Showcase
Studio 55 Afternoon Showcase
Studio 55 Afternoon Showcase
Thursdays
1:00 - 3:00 PM
May 15 - June 26
7 weeks + Showcase
Adults 50+
Director: Venetia Lawless
GLEBE STUDIO
$265
This unique 7-week course offers participants the opportunity to develop a practical process for acting—from preparation and rehearsal all the way to performance. Whether you have some experience or are an absolute beginner, this class provides an excellent opportunity to build upon existing skills in a supportive and fun environment.
The Shakespeare Showcase
The Young Actor's Showcase
The Young Actor's Showcase
Sundays
6:30 - 8:30
April 6 - May 25
* No class Easter Sunday
7 sessions
Adults
Instructor: Murph Hickey
Glebe Studio
Shakespeare in Performance: A Scene Study & Showcase
Step into the world of Shakespeare and bring his words to life in this dynamic acting course designed for all levels! Whether you’re a seasoned performer or new to the Bard, this class will guide you through the fundamentals of performing Shakespeare with confidence, clarity, and creativity. Over the course of the program, students will explore selected monologues and scenes, learning essential techniques for understanding and delivering Shakespearean text. Through engaging exercises, character exploration, and vocal work, you’ll develop the tools needed to approach classical theatre with ease.
The Young Actor's Showcase
The Young Actor's Showcase
The Young Actor's Showcase
Wednesdays
4:30 - 6 pm
May 7 - June 18
7 weeks
Ages 11 - 14
Instructor: Mary Tsai
Glebe Studio
Get ready for an audience!
An exciting and immersive acting class designed for young performers of all experience levels—even those who just want to have fun! In this dynamic course, students will explore the fundamentals of acting, develop confidence on stage, and experience the thrill of bringing a short play to life. Through teamwork, creativity, and hands-on rehearsal, participants will build essential performance skills while collaborating in a supportive and engaging environment.
The course culminates in a live studio performance on the final class, giving every young actor the chance to shine.