Instructors

Deke Anderson has been a working actor for nearly 30 years and has Directed and Assistant Directed both Theatrically and Commercially. Just a few of his many TV credits include series regular on Days of Our Lives, a recent Friday Night Lights performance quoted in Sports Illustrated, and guest star and recurring performances on Cheers, Webster, Brisco County, The Show, 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.

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 nearly twenty years of teaching actors, he has coached hundreds of actors, including Bruce Campbell, Masi Oka, Shannon Elizabeth, Christopher Judge, Sarah Foret, and Amber Stevens.

Deke has also had the privilege of acting with Kevin Costner, Lance Henricksen, Dee Wallace Stone, Dick Van Dyke, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Franz, Seann William Scott, BeBe Newerth, 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, James Burrows, Simon West, Dick Wolf, Larry Shaw, Joe Napalitano, Chris Nyby, Peter Hunt, Seith Mann and many more.

Deke Anderson

Shelley Calene-Black has been a working actress for the past 15+ years with substantial credits in theatre, film, commercial and voice-over work. 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. 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.

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 recently 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.

Shelley has taught acting for Actors Theatre of Houston, as well as privately coaching a number of young actors and fellow colleagues. Most recently, she was hired as an on-set acting coach for an upcoming children's television series pilot, "The Boo-Boo Bandits" featuring Peabo Bryson. Currently, Shelley continues her own on-camera studies with Deke Anderson of Next Level Acting.

Our children’s acting teacher in The Woodlands, Elsa Ward, honed her craft in Hollywood. While pursuing her acting career there, she recurred on Days of Our Lives, appeared at HBO’s Workspace in Carsey Werner’s presentation of the stage production D.B.’s Here, was a member of Hollywood’s noted Hudson Theatre Guild, and appeared in several plays, short films and industrials. Elsa formerly trained with Emmy-nominated actor/SAG President Alan Rosenberg, well known character actor Walter Olkewicz and, of course, Next Level’s own Deke Anderson. She fine tuned her improvisation skills at the renowned improv haven, Improv Olympics. She also studied on-camera commercial technique at Weist-Barron-Hill and trained with multiple soap opera casting directors at TVI Studios. Elsa completed her B.A. cum laude with a minor in secondary education. She also used her drama training in her “other” career as a sixteen year litigator in California, Texas, and Louisiana courts. She is now thrilled to combine her love of children, acting and teaching at Next Level Acting Studios.

Shelley Calene-Black

Elsa Ward