Quality Acting Classes In Houston & The Woodlands, TX For Adults And Children
Adult: dekeit5151@gmail.com
Youth/Teen: nextlevelactingstudios@gmail.
For more information, please call or text (346) 581.7937
Next Level Acting
Houston Classes
Next Level Acting
The Woodlands Classes
Our Team
Deke Anderson
Adult Director & Owner
Deke AndersonSee IMDb profile – dekeanderson.com
Deke Anderson has been a working actor for 40+ years and has Directed and Assistant Directed both Theatrically and Commercially.
Acting
Just a few of his many TV and movie credits include “Green Lantern,” “The Resident,” “Friday Night Lights,” (this performance quoted in “Sports Illustrated”), series regulars on “Days of Our Lives,” and guest star and recurring performances on “Cheers,” “Webster,” “Brisco County,” “The Show,” “Deep End,” “The Lying Game,” “Dallas” (2012 return), “Drop Dead Diva,” “Devious Maids,” and the Dick-Wolf produced “Nasty Boys.” He has acted in more than 30 features, including “Army of Darkness,” “The Hidden” and “The General’s Daughter.” He has performed in dozens of operas, musicals, and stage dramas.
Directing
Deke also directed more than 50 episodes of “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol,” and worked as a director/producer and 1st AD for Atlas Pictures/Commercials in Los Angeles, so he has a keen sense of what it takes to be successful both in front of and behind the camera. Deke is a highly respected actor’s director as well. During his twenty plus years of teaching actors, he has coached thousands of actors, including Bruce Campbell, Masi Oka, Shannon Elizabeth, Christopher Judge, Chandler Canterbury, Sarah Foret, Eliza Coupe and Amber Stevens.
Prominent Colleagues
Deke has also had the privilege of acting with Tim Robbins, Karen Black, Kevin Costner, Lance Henricksen, Dee Wallace Stone, Dick Van Dyke, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Franz, Seann William Scott, BeBe Neuwirth, Michael Nouri, Eddie Albert, Parker Stevens, Pamela Sue Martin, Ed O’Ross, Ted Danson, Charles Napier, Woody Harrelson, Finola Hughes, Charlotte Ross, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, to name a few. Deke has been directed by Spider-Man’s Sam Raimi, Casino Royale’s and Green Lantern’s Martin Campbell, James Burrows, Michael Grossman, Simon West, Dick Wolf, Larry Shaw, Joe Napolitano, Chris Nyby, Peter Hunt, Seith Mann, “Jeremy Podeswa” (Series Director “Game of Thrones / Mission Control) and many more.
Teri Galvan
Executive Coordinator, Senior Youth/Teen Instructor, and Substitute Adult Instructor
Teri’s extensive experience in the entertainment industry serves our studio team beautifully. As Executive Coordinator for the Owners, she keeps things running smoothly for our entire team. Teri Galvan has been a performer for over 15 years. She spent the majority of her youth engaged in stage production and her most recent years, on camera. She has appeared in a variety of commercials, corporate videos, short films, an independent feature, print ads, and as a host. Teri enjoys running outdoors, teaching dance cardio, swimming, and traveling. She’s visited over 60 countries!
Experience
As an on camera actress, Teri has performed in various commercials, including, Realtor.com, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Star Furniture, and Fiesta. She has worked as the principal talent in corporate videos for companies such as, Schlumberger, Sysco Foods, Chevron, Shell, Hewlett-Packard, and Cisco and has also completed 10+ short films and two independent features. In addition to on camera, Teri has recorded various voice over television and radio commercials, most notably for Space Center Houston.
Stage
She first took to the stage through dance, but quickly found she also had a love for acting. Her theatrical credits include, Pippen, Into The Woods, The Cat’s Meow, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, An Imaginary Invalid, Grease, Fools, Quilters, and Little Me.
Training
Teri began studying with Deke Anderson in July 2009 and currently continues her on camera training. She’s attended a multitude of workshops, where she has worked with Casting Directors from Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, New York, and Los Angeles.
Additional Education
Teri holds a B.B.A and M.S. in Accounting from Texas A&M University. She has worked as an Auditor, as well as in Financial Reporting, Budget and Forecast, Corporate Accounting, Marketing Accounting, and Revenue Accounting.
Lance Kramer
Adult Instructor
Lance Kramer is a classically trained actor, acting coach, and filmmaker with a BFA in Acting from the North Carolina School of the Arts. He has lived and worked in New York City, Los Angeles, and now Texas, bringing industry experience and grounded, practical training into every session.
Credits
His credits include Taylor Sheridan’s 1923, The Senior, multiple national commercials, and the upcoming Mattress Mack movie, which he produced and appears in.
Acting Coach
As a coach, Lance helps actors stop “acting” and start “doing.” His work focuses on action, truth, clarity, presence, and confidence on camera. He works with actors at every level, from less experienced performers preparing self-tapes to working actors sharpening auditions.
Shelley Calene-Black
Senior Instructor
Shelley Calene-Black has been a working actress for the past 20+ years with substantial credits in theatre, film, commercial and voice-over work, including a supporting role in “Taken 3” (with Forest Whitaker), a recurring guest star role on USA’s “The Purge,” a guest star role on Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva” and a co-starring appearance on TNT’s “Memphis Beat.” Shelley’s film credits also include supporting roles in “Thunder Road” and “The Iron Orchard.” She began her training at the University of Houston School of Theatre, studying most notably under Jose Quintero, and the School for Film and Television, NYC, as well as with numerous recognized film and commercial coaches.
Stage Credits & Awards
As a stage actress, Shelley has performed in dozens of theatrical productions for some of the most nationally recognized theatres in Houston, including the Tony Award winning Alley Theatre, Stages Repertory Theatre, and Infernal Bridegroom Productions (of which she was a founding company member in addition to serving on the Artistic Staff). For her stage work, Shelley has been noted as “one of the best actresses in Houston” by the Houston Chronicle, and by the Houston Press Awards in the Best Actresses category.
Commercial & Anime
In addition to her theatrical work, Shelley has appeared in numerous commercials, industrial films, and voice-overs for television and radio. Her voice-over work includes approximately 100+ titles for Japanese anime features and series. She has been highlighted in Anime Insider Magazine and IGN.com as one of the “Babes of Anime” featuring “America’s Hottest Voice Actresses.” As one of the “Babes”, Shelley hosted the first American Anime Awards in New York City which aired nationally on Anime Network. Some of her series have been seen on Cartoon Network, and many of them are currently airing on Anime Network.
Acting Coach
Shelley has taught acting for Actors Theatre of Houston, as well as privately coached a number of young actors and fellow colleagues. Currently, Shelley continues her own on-camera studies with Deke Anderson of Next Level Acting.
Lizzie Camp
Youth/Teen Instructor
With a prior background in education & being the daughter of 2 former educators, Lizzie brings her experiences as both a teacher & film professional to Next Level Acting! She has worked in the Texas film industry for the last 6 years as an actor, co-producer, 1st/2nd AD and SFX makeup artist. Lizzie partners regularly with Blain Film Co. in Houston & 10 Pillar Productions, LLC in Austin primarily as a co-producer, 1st AD & actor. She is also a competitive athlete in compound target archery, and recently wrapped her first time on set as a stunt coordinator for an archery scene!
Highlights/Awards
Some of her most memorable career highlights so far include working alongside the legendary Butch Patrick & Marcus Luttrell, playing the lead female in the upcoming feature-length Parallel the Triad, & 1st AD-ing/casting the feature-length drama Bailey’s Voice, an official selection & Best Human Interest winner for the 2023 World Premiere Film Awards.
Experience
Lizzie has appeared in multiple commercials & brand spots – most notably for Shopify, Bingo Tour, & Solitaire Clash. She has additionally appeared as the principal talent in brand spots for home inspections, automotive shops & catering companies. She has also been the voiceover talent for North Carolina Furniture Direct. Lizzie has appeared in 5+ feature-length films & is set for an upcoming feature-length mythological drama, scheduled for principal photography in October 2024. She has also worked on multiple short films.
Education/Training
Lizzie also holds a B.A. in Film with a minor in Theatre. She trains with the incredible Deke Anderson weekly at Next Level & attends Zoom workshops monthly with casting directors from around the country.
Stage
In addition to her film career, Lizzie also has a prior background in stage acting/classical voice. Some favorite stage credits include the lead female roles in The Taming of the Shrew, Steel Magnolias, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Thoroughly Modern Millie & Little Women.
Ben Kolbuck
Adult Class Production Assistant and Youth/Teen Substitute Instructor
Background
Ben has worked on dozens of plays throughout his life, including stage plays, musicals, variety shows, improv and others. He has written and directed several one act plays. He received a UIL award for his performance as Pasquale Firenze in Lend Me a Soprano. He has also received recognition for his work as assistant director at Lone Star College- Tomball.
Training
Ben studied extensively in the Next Level Acting Youth and Teen classes before attending college. While Ben’s theater background is substantial, film/TV was his first acting love, and he is excited to now dive back into Film and TV study both as an instructor and an adult student with Deke.
Education
Ben graduated from Lone Star College – Tomball with an Associates degree in Drama. While there, he worked in nearly a dozen shows both onstage and behind the curtain. Ben qualified to be a member of LSCT’s chapter of Delta Psi Omega, a theatre honor society, where he served as the Vice President.
Brooke Harrison
Youth/Teen Substitute Instructor
Brooke graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Media Production with a focus on Digital Cinematography and served as Executive Producer at UH’s media and television station (CoogTV), where she led student crews and produced a range of content under tight deadlines.
Brooke’s background in studio training through Next Level Acting not only helped her build confidence and communication skills, but also led to her signing with Pastorini Bosby Talent Agency and booking various commercial roles. Through her experience both in front of and behind the camera, Brooke developed a strong eye for detail and a deep understanding of production workflows.
She also worked as a sound operator on the short film Sweetbriar, which went on to win the Audience Award at SXSW.
Rick Olvera
Adult and Youth/Teen Substitute Instructor
Rick Olvera is thrilled to be returning to Next Level as an instructor. He previously taught Youth and Teen classes before moving to Los Angeles, where he studied improv with the renowned Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB).
On Camera
Rick booked a co-star role on NBC’s “Chase”, as well as numerous commercials for Academy, Fiesta and Houston’s Voice. His LA credits include Investigation Discovery’s “Diabolical”, TLC’s “Outrageous 911”, and music videos for Lizzie Sider and Tim Hicks.
Stage and Education
Rick has a BFA in Theatre from Sam Houston State University. His stage work includes two seasons with the Houston Shakespeare Festival, youth productions with the Alley and Main Street Theatre, Texas Repertory Theatre and Island ETC.