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Thursday Evenings
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
September 17th through November 5th, 2026
Join SAG-AFTRA actor and Westside Improv member Patrick Thompson (IMDb link) for an 8-week acting journey designed to help you deliver grounded, authentic performances for stage and screen.
Rather than focusing on "performing" emotions, this class emphasizes truthful human behavior.
Through scene work, script analysis, and practical exercises, you'll learn to connect more deeply with your scene partner, trust your instincts, and respond honestly within the world of the story.
Whether you're completely new to acting or an improviser looking to transition into scripted work, this class will provide a supportive environment to strengthen the fundamentals of believable performance.
Throughout the course, students will explore:
• Living truthfully within the circumstances of a scene
• Developing genuine connection with a scene partner
• Listening and responding instead of planning performances
• Understanding text and discovering what drives a scene
• Building confidence while remaining spontaneous and present
• Bringing the same sense of play and freedom found in improv to scripted acting
After Week 4, each student will be paired with a scene partner and assigned a scene from a published play. The remainder of the course will focus on rehearsing, refining, and performing these scenes in a supportive, encouraging environment.
As a SAG-AFTRA actor with experience in film, television, commercials, radio drama, and live theater, Patrick brings both professional experience and a passion for helping actors discover truthful, connected performances. His approach emphasizes curiosity over perfection, presence over performance, and authenticity over imitation.
Whether your goal is to audition for theater, work on camera, strengthen your improv, or simply challenge yourself creatively, Acting with Authenticity will give you practical tools to help your performances feel more honest, alive, and uniquely your own.
Thursday Evenings
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
September 17th through November 5th, 2026
Join SAG-AFTRA actor and Westside Improv member Patrick Thompson (IMDb link) for an 8-week acting journey designed to help you deliver grounded, authentic performances for stage and screen.
Rather than focusing on "performing" emotions, this class emphasizes truthful human behavior.
Through scene work, script analysis, and practical exercises, you'll learn to connect more deeply with your scene partner, trust your instincts, and respond honestly within the world of the story.
Whether you're completely new to acting or an improviser looking to transition into scripted work, this class will provide a supportive environment to strengthen the fundamentals of believable performance.
Throughout the course, students will explore:
• Living truthfully within the circumstances of a scene
• Developing genuine connection with a scene partner
• Listening and responding instead of planning performances
• Understanding text and discovering what drives a scene
• Building confidence while remaining spontaneous and present
• Bringing the same sense of play and freedom found in improv to scripted acting
After Week 4, each student will be paired with a scene partner and assigned a scene from a published play. The remainder of the course will focus on rehearsing, refining, and performing these scenes in a supportive, encouraging environment.
As a SAG-AFTRA actor with experience in film, television, commercials, radio drama, and live theater, Patrick brings both professional experience and a passion for helping actors discover truthful, connected performances. His approach emphasizes curiosity over perfection, presence over performance, and authenticity over imitation.
Whether your goal is to audition for theater, work on camera, strengthen your improv, or simply challenge yourself creatively, Acting with Authenticity will give you practical tools to help your performances feel more honest, alive, and uniquely your own.