Jeff Thomakos

Lecturer, Acting
[email protected]

Jeff Thomakos (AEA) is a teacher, director, actor and producer. He is a certified Master Teacher of the Michael Chekhov Technique through The National Michael Chekhov Association and The Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium. He also holds a Certificate of Completion from MICHA, The International Michael Chekhov Association. This makes him the only tri-certified teacher of this technique in the world. 

Some of Thomakos’ favorite roles include Matt Friedman in “Tally’s Folly” (The Inspired Acting Company), Bernard in “Boeing Boeing” (The Purple Rose Theater Company), Macbeth in “Macbeth” (Shakespeare Royal Oak), Howie in “Rabbit Hole” (Tipping Point Theater), Lennie in “Of Mice and Men” (Meadow Brook Theater), and Tony Lumpkin in “She Stoops to Conquer” (City Lit Theater Chicago). The latter production would go on to be recommended for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Ensemble and was featured by many sources as one of the best shows of that season. 

Thomakos took a six-and-a-half-year break from Michigan as Director of Theater for The Louisiana School of Math, Science, and the Arts, a top-tier boarding school for the gifted, before family brought him back to Michigan. Prior to that, he served four years as Artistic Director of Royal Oak Shakespeare (formerly Water Works Theatre). 

Thomakos is also a master improviser having studied for many years at Second City Chicago, Improv Olympic Chicago and Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis. His Improv Teams included SuperDreamers and Two Year College where he performed with teammate Jordan Peale. He was also head-writer for his sketch group Aftertaste, which was asked to audition for HBO within it’s first year of existence. 

Currently, Thomakos is the Producing Artistic Director of The Inspired Acting Company in Walled Lake. It’s mission is to tell relevant, timely and inclusive stories through productions of world-class plays both new and classical featuring top-tier Michigan Actors, Directors, Stage Managers, Technicians and Designers. Check it out at www.inspiredacting.org. 

He holds an MFA in Acting from Wayne State University’s Hilberry Theater Program and a BFA in Acting & Directing from Kent State University. For more information about Thomakos go to www.jeffthomakos.com.