About the Studio
A Safe Space, Supportive Community, and a Nourishing Environment
We are a community of artists dedicated to the craft of acting for the camera where actors come together to learn, grow, and pursue their dreams. At Dortch Acting Studio, we teach the craft of acting for film and television using practical exercises that are useful as an artist pursues their career. Our teachers use their experience as working actors to help our students navigate the business of acting while developing their craft.
We are proud of the community of artists that we have nourished at Dortch Acting Studio, providing a safe supportive atmosphere where artists can take risks, learn, grow and push their boundaries outside their comfort zones.
Every actor needs a safe environment where they can make bold choices and risk failing in order to reach their true potential. Dortch Acting Studio provides just that.
Meet Pat
Pat Dortch is an award winning working actor, writer and director living in Charlotte, NC. He has had the good fortune to work on hit television shows including Stranger Things, Atlanta, Will Trent, The Underground Railroad, MacGyver, House of Cards and more. He has worked with Academy Award winning directors Francis Ford Coppola and Barry Jenkins. He can also be seen on Pain Hustlers, directed by David Yates and starring Chris Evans and Emily Blunt as well as Sam and Kate starring Dustin Hoffman, Sissy Spacek, Jake Hoffman and Schuyler Fisk and directed by Darren LeGallo. He has been teaching acting in the Charlotte area since 2014. You can learn more about Pat by visiting IMDB.
Meet Kyle
Kyle Riggs is one of the Southeast's premier young actors, working alongside Jessica Chastain, Ethan Hawke, Dermot Mulroney, and Outer Banks star Drew Starkey. Kyle has several awards for his outstanding efforts including a Best Actor nod in the most recent Made In Carolinas Film Festival and a Special Jury Recognition for Outstanding Performance at SXSW, one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. In addition, he has written and produced his own films that are making festival runs and have won local and international awards.
Meet Kathy
A Chicago native who grew up in Denver, Colorado, Kathy McGraw has been creating memorable characters on stage and screen for over two decades. Kathy has appeared on such venerable and beloved shows as Gilmore Girls, Desperate Housewives, and ER. She also worked opposite Chris Pine in the wine lovers' favorite, Bottle Shock. Kathy next appears in HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones in 2023. Kathy is a member of Dortch Studio’s master class. Known for her sense of humor and kind approach with actors, Kathy is thrilled to share her passion for acting and the business side of acting with Charlotte area actors.
Meet Woody
Norwood "Woody" Ezzell is a native North Carolinian and has been with the Dortch Acting Studio (Previously the Actors Lab) since 2015. He is a writer and an actor best known for his work on the feature film Fall Nights in China Grove and The Morty series, both available on Amazon Prime. His commercial and industrial appearances include work for Jiffy Lube and Home Depot, and Small Town Travel & Tourism. His recent bookings include the JC feature film Break the Cycle. Woody has written, directed and starred in his own pilot entitled Dill With It, which was filmed in Charlotte.
About the space
Dortch Acting Studio is available to rent as an audition, performance, meeting, or filming/photography space. Please contact us to learn more about using the studio.
