Janet B Milstein

Hi! I’m Janet — an award-winning acting instructor, private acting coach, best-selling author, filmmaker, and working actor with over 15 years of experience helping performers grow and thrive in the industry.

I hold an MFA in Acting from SUNY Binghamton and a BA in Theater with Distinction from the University of Delaware. Over the years, I’ve taught thousands of students at acting schools, universities, summer programs, studios, and national workshops.

I’m also the author and series editor of 16 acting books for kids, teens, and adults (published by Smith & Kraus), including two Barnes & Noble Top 10 bestsellers in the Auditioning category. In addition to teaching and writing, I’ve directed over 20 plays and films, bringing a deep understanding of both performance and production to my coaching.

My students have booked roles on Law & Order, Empire, Chicago Fire, Nickelodeon’s All That, One Life to Live, and national commercials for Cheez-Its, McDonald’s, AT&T, and more.

Subjects I teach include:

(***Please note: I do NOT teach singing***)

• Audition Prep: Theater/Film/TV/Commercial/Industrial/VO/Agent/College/School 

• Audition Technique: Cold Reading, Monologue Selection & Preparation

• Acting Fundamentals & Concepts

• Acting in Film & TV

• Scene Study & Script Analysis

• Commercial Technique

• Getting Started in the Industry

• Voice-over for Beginners

As a performer, I’ve appeared in productions across Chicago, New York, Milwaukee, and more, and in indie films shot throughout the Midwest and East Coast. I’m also a founding member of Fearless Flicks and the Chicago Female-Focused Film Meetup.

I live in Chicago with my cat Sprinkle (meow!) and love writing screenplays, inventing games, and supporting actors as they find their voice, confidence, and creative spark.

I love teaching and making learning fun! I believe in creating a supportive and collaborative environment in which students can feel safe taking risks and trying new things outside of their comfort zones. Jumping in, being creative, supporting classmates, and being open to feedback are more important than "getting it right" in my classroom. I believe every student has potential, and acting is not a talent one is simply born with; it is a craft that requires study, hard work, practice, and fun.