ABOUT
Our mission is to enrich the lives of students and professionals of all ages through radial acceptance,
positivity, and disciplined study in order to foster closer connection, higher self-esteem, and deeper empathy.
The Acting School is a place for professional actors and acting students, both teens & adults, to explore, play, and strengthen
their skills. I offer private lessons in Acting & Singing, and group classes in Acting, Singing, & Musical Theatre. Focus areas
include Audition Technique, Neutral Mask, Character Mask, Clown, Alexander Technique, and Advanced Scene Study.
Private Sessions in Acting or Voice are $50/hour or $40/half-hour, and can be
booked by emailing TheActingSchoolNC@gmail.com, or by texting 704.701.3255.
About the Teacher
Photo by Aleigha Tucker
Tommy Foster is a versatile actor, director, and teacher with a rich background in both classical acting and musical theatre. In 2013, after a fifteen year career in New York City, he returned to his roots, right here in Concord, North Carolina.
With experience in regional theatre, commercials, and international performances on cruise ships, Tommy has also made a mark in the cabaret scene, winning the 2005 Bistro Award for Best Theme Show for which he was featured on CNN, NY1 News, and in the Leading Men section of Playbill.com. He holds an MFA in Classical Acting from the Shakespeare Theatre Company, a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan, and is a high school graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Drama; alongside training from prestigious programs like Carnegie Mellon University and the Yale School of Drama Summer Cabaret.
As an actor, Tommy's had the privilege of playing all but one if his dream roles, including Billy in Carousel at The Gateway Playhouse, Burrs in Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party for Kalliope Stage, Willard in Footloose at the Ogunquit Playhouse, Jerry in The Full Monty for Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Jamie in The Last Five Years for the Gorilla Playhouse, and the titular roles in Jekyll & Hyde and The Scarlet Pimpernel for CPCC Summer Theatre. On camera he's appeared in commercials for Nickelodeon, McDonalds, Food Lion, and on the final season of Sex & the City. Since moving back to North Carolina, Tommy has become known as a generous yet uncompromising director, helming productions of Reasons to be Pretty for Carolina Actor's Studio Theatre, Into the Woods for Lexington Live!, Steel Magnolias, South Pacific, and Hello, Dolly! at the place that introduced him to this crazy world, the Old Courthouse Theatre. Tommy also consults as a Dialect Coach helping actors perfect any dialect or accent they may need, and when the occasion calls, a hand-to-hand fight choreographer.
Tommy has been an influential figure in the world of theatre education since 2001. He has been a Teaching Artist for Children's Theatre of Charlotte's School of Theatre Training for 11 years where he has been a fixture on their MainStage. While their audiences have seen him as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda and Aslan in Narnia the Musical, he's also directed the substance abuse education tour, Liars, and teen summer productions of Sweeney Todd, Evita, Chicago, and The Tempest. As a former Assistant Professor of Theatre at Catawba College he directed productions of The Children's Hour, Anything Goes, and Hamlet. Additionally, he has contributed his expertise to Acting Up! Children's Theatre, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Davidson Community Players, and has successfully maintained a private studio of students, nurturing the next generation of actors.
Testimonials
"When you say the name Tommy Foster, people know they’re going to get someone insanely talented, dedicated, passionate, and loving. I have never known someone to give as much love and support as he does. I wouldn’t even have considered pursuing this dream if it weren’t for him during Sweeney Todd. When I got that role, after one of the most professional auditions I’d been through, I felt like I could actually pursue this dream. And throughout that rehearsal process, he even gave us his personal time on the weekends to teach us about active listening and how to create an emotionally available performance."
Caroline Kirk,
Former Student
BFA Musical Theatre,
Catawba College
“Tommy teaches not how to be an actor, but how to be an artist. I feel so lucky to have met him when I was just beginning because he gave me tools that helped me approach my acting work freely and relentlessly throughout the next decade. I’m still able to go to him for professional references when pursuing work, encouragement when it gets hard, and support when my soul needs it. He’ll always be a champion in your corner.”
Emily Absher
Former Student
BFA Acting,
Texas State University
High School Graduate,
University of NC
School of the Arts
"Tommy Foster has been a light in my life as a teacher and as a director. I had the opportunity to work with Tommy at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte where he directed me in one of the most challenging roles I’ve played to date: Eva Peron. With his guidance I was able to breath life into a complicated historical figure, and the tools he gave me during this process I still use regularly. Tommy’s passion to create and teach drives not only his peers to work harder, but his students as well."
Meg Gwyn
Former Student
BFA Acting,
The Hart School
"I loved teaching with Tommy! He was devoid of ego- equally willing to defer as he was to lead. We had great rapport and loved watching one another work with our students. His energy and generosity in the classroom is infectious."
Steven Levine
Former Co-Teacher
Director of Production,
Children's Theatre of Charlotte