Our Teachers

The Piven Theatre Workshop Training Center provides professional-quality theatre arts training and mentorship to all interested students.

Training is available beginning at the age of nine for residents throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, both at its location in Evanston and through various offsite residency programs. For over 50 years, we have been providing essential arts education to our community. We are dedicated to community based theatre training that responds to the needs of our community.

At the Workshop, students learn how to devise, dissect scripted work, apply acting values, and much more. Through the Piven methodology, students are challenged to learn new skills that help them develop confidence and a strong sense of self. This concentrated work leads students to success in all areas, as our students, first and foremost, are expert collaborators and communicators.

Piven’s faculty is almost entirely composed of former students who have gone out into the community, participated in the professional field, and returned to the Workshop to apprentice as teachers, progressing to senior faculty. This cyclical nature is something we cherish, as it nourishes and renews our organization. Whether or not our teacher apprentices choose to pursue teaching later in life, we feel this opportunity offers an enriching experience, offers a valuable chance to give back, and encourages leadership.

The mentorship and professional development that we offer is an important part of our mission to support emerging artists and to train the next generation of educators. Community is at the heart of what we do at the Workshop and mentorship is an essential part of supporting our community. We are committed to training inquisitive, professional, and creative teachers who are deeply committed to the Piven methodology. As a result our team is among the best acting teachers in the Chicago area. We invite you to get to know our teachers better below.