Coach Caleb Clark: The Best Acting Coach I’ve Ever Had

This post does not contain affiliate links; I just believe so much in Caleb’s work that I had to share.

I absolutely loved working with Caleb. Hands down the best acting coach I’ve ever worked with.

He asks really good questions and will call you on your BS if you’re not being honest.

I happened to take his MiniMFA while I was in Romeo & Juliet and Gender Play, and I could see my acting process improving in real time.

And it wasn’t just me: two directors that I worked with during the MiniMFA process were impressed.

One said, “Thank goodness I have you here.”

The other was surprised I was in my early 20s, saying, “So talented for one so young.”

Caleb’s focus on detail work was the key. Suddenly, I had a dependable wealth of tools to launch me into any scene without dragging up unprocessed trauma. Caleb’s teaching literally made me feel safer to act.

One of my favorite parts of the Mini MFA was the time he took to help me establish daily and weekly habits that ensure I’m taking care of my whole self. Habits that support my health and make me feel like an actor even when I’m not acting.

The whole process was over Zoom, but it felt like we were in the same space. I loved having my weekly 1-1 sessions before our group cohort meetings.

The group cohort meetings helped me feel like part of a team, like I wasn’t doing this alone. The group was super supportive, helping each other figure out ways around whatever we were struggling with that week (whether acting or just general life stuff).

Caleb organized masterclasses to give our cohort specialized training in text, musical theatre, camera work, and voiceover.

Those masterclasses alone were priceless. I learned so much in those 60-90 minute chunks. Because the cohorts are so small, we got a lot of individual attention even in those group masterclasses.

Caleb genuinely cares about you, not just as an actor, not just as a multihyphenate (he gave me some fantastic advice on producing that I literally printed onto my wall), but as a whole person.

I’d seen Caleb perform as Richard the Third at the Hoosier Shakespeare Festival in 2021.

I have never remembered so many moments of a single performance so clearly. 

Even four years later, I can recall whole sections of his performance, from incorporating variables of outdoor theatre like a passing ambulance into his scene, to his incredibly precise movement, to the way he connected one-on-one with specific audience members throughout the show.

Every person I’ve talked to who’s seen Caleb perform says the same.

Caleb’s MiniMFA is more than worth the price of admission.

You spend most of your time working on your craft, but he doesn’t neglect the variables that surround performance.

I’ve mentioned the time he took to establish healthy habits, but that wasn’t all.

He tailored his guidance to my professional goals.

As I was a playwright dipping my toes into producing, we talked about fundraising, marketing, mission and vision.

He asked me point-blank during our last 1-1: “Do you believe the work you’re doing makes a difference?”

Without hesitation, I said “Yes.”

He smiled. “That’s the most I’ve ever believed something you’ve said. So don’t feel bad about asking people for money. If they donate, they had extra. You’re not hurting them with your fundraising. You’re redistributing surplus wealth to people who need it.”

As a queer performer, I would absolutely work with Caleb again.

He was so kind in working with me to figure out how I approach characters as a trans aroace person. He always said to hold a boundary if he ever asked a question that was too invasive (I never had an issue with anything he asked).

I can’t recommend Caleb enough. https://www.thecalebclark.com/coaching

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