Chicago’s Premier
FILM ACTING SCHOOL

Logo for Vagabond School of the Arts featuring a man in a hat walking with an orange bindle over a stylized blue background.
CHICAGO
Logo for Elmhurst's Acting Studio, Vagabond School West, featuring a man in a hat walking with a bindle.
ELMHURST
Vagabond Online logo with a computer mouse, wifi signals, and a blue watercolor background.
ONLINE
A woman with long curly hair wearing a patterned blue shirt and jeans sitting on a chair, speaking into a microphone in a recording studio. She is surrounded by a small audience sitting on chairs, and the room has blue walls, large lights, a camera on a tripod, a large monitor, and audio equipment. A digital clock shows 10:15.
A diverse group of nine people, five women and four men, smiling and posing in front of a plain gray wall on a wooden floor. Six are standing, three are kneeling or sitting.
A man in a business suit is sitting at a wooden table, being filmed in a professional video setup with multiple cameras and microphones in a cozy room with large windows, bookshelves, and a lamp.
A man with short hair and a beard, wearing a dark green shirt, is smiling and gesturing with his hand in a conversation with two women seated nearby. One woman is wearing glasses and an orange top, the other woman is wearing a purple top. They are indoors with a dark curtain and bright window in the background.
A woman with glasses and braids sitting at a table with papers, next to a young man leaning over the table, both focused on reading or discussing documents in a room with a gray wall and wooden furniture.
Three women sitting and smiling at an indoor event, with a woman in a green T-shirt standing and laughing.

VAGABOND'S MISSION IS CLEAR:

At Vagabond School, we are dedicated to empowering actors with the most comprehensive acting training in Chicago by providing our students with the precise skills and techniques demanded by today's film, television, theatre and digital media landscapes. 

Community is the heartbeat of our school—we believe that great acting emerges from connection, collaboration, and collective growth. Vagabond students are part of a collaborative network that extends far beyond our classroom walls. We provide immersive, hands-on training that prepares actors to excel in an ever-evolving industry. Our mission is to transform passionate performers into industry-ready professionals through an unparalleled educational experience. 

Checkout the Showcase for our On Camera Program Graduates!

Black and white cityscape of skyscrapers from ground perspective at night with streetlights, overlaid with "Vagabond Showcase" in white and yellow text.

What People Are Saying About Vagabond

“Michael was always prepared for each class. He's very helpful in drawing out the best version of yourself while on screen. His direction was clear. His guidance, both while working through a scene and talking about the biz, was helpful. I love that he starts each session by saying something along the lines of we are all here to make mistakes, not to be perfect. This really helps take the pressure off and also helps establish such a supportive environment in the classroom. Overall really great teacher, excited to learn more from him.”

On-Camera: Unit 1 & 2

— Erica M.

“Vagabond is one of a kind. The tech is better than any acting class I have taken in Chicago. I have learned so much that I hope to continue taking class and soak it up until it becomes second nature.

On-Camera: Unit 1

— Alyssa H.

“I learned quite a bit in this crash course on memorizing lines. Cheryl did a fantastic job with instruction. We worked with a variety of scripts. Her coaching skills are phenomenal and encouraging. I walked away with learning of different ways to process lines from fellow students when given a script, whether it be commercial or film, and personalizing the script to make memorable work for you.”

Mastering Memorization w/Cheryl Graeff

— Ross S.

Questions? The Vagabond team is here for you!

Need help?

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