Meet the Teacher: Chaz Hodges
- The Forge
- Jan 15
- 4 min read
Join us as we sit down with the star of the Forge's Mondays, Actress, Creative Siren, & Teaching Artist, Chaz Hodges!
Chaz's immense talent extends to both stage and screen, with recent roles including Sage in P-VALLEY on STARZ, and Talisha King in a brand new screenplay reading of CATERPILLAR BUTTERFLY at SAG-AFTRA Chicago. The Forge is thrilled to host Chaz teaching Acting for Camera on Monday nights at studio before she heads off to Minnesota to play Marie in the musical “Marie and Rosetta” by George Brandt.
Let's get into it! ☕️
Tell us a bit about your background. How does your training and expertise serve students at The Forge?
I come to The Forge as both a working actor and a lifelong student of the craft. My foundation is in Theater Arts and Communication from California Lutheran University, and I earned my MFA in Acting from UC San Diego. I was trained rigorously in voice, movement, classical text, and contemporary performance — but equally in curiosity, truth, and the psychology of human behavior. What I bring to my students is that combination: technique and humanity. I’m not here to make “performers.” I’m here to help artists excavate their impulses, refine their choices, and honor the story they’re telling. I know what it means to audition, to get the job, to stand under the lights, and to build a career with intention — and I teach from that lived experience. At The Forge, my goal is to ignite the actor’s instrument from the inside out: voice rooted in breath, choices rooted in truth, and technique rooted in the body. I train artists to be bold, precise, and deeply connected to who they are, because when you know yourself, you can deeply display others.
What is a recent project you are proud of?
A recent project I’m incredibly proud of is my role on Starz’s P-Valley, set to air in 2026. I play SAGE, and I absolutely loved stepping into her world. She’s fun, bold, and wildly different from who I am in real life. What made the experience even more special was being directed by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Katori Hall. Working under her vision was a masterclass in storytelling. She pushes actors to live truthfully inside the chaos, the comedy, and the quiet moments. I walked away sharper, freer, and more attuned to the layers beneath a character’s choices.
What is a piece of insight you wish you knew starting out as an actor?
One piece of insight I wish I knew when I started is this: there is no rush. This is truly my life’s work. There’s no clock running out, no finish line I’m racing toward. I only grow richer as a storyteller with more life lived, more heartbreak, more curiosity, more joy. Every role I’ve ever booked came exactly in the moment I needed it. Not a second earlier. Not a second later. That taught me that acting is not a career you “age out of” — it’s a career you grow into, and ultimately, a career you die out of. We get better with time, depth, and experience. So there’s no need to rush the magnificence of the unfolding.
What makes you excited to teach at The Forge?
What excites me most about teaching at The Forge is the community that Sarah Cayce has built. She’s cultivated such a vibrant, intentional space where artists feel both challenged and genuinely supported. I adore the people here — they’re curious, bold, and hungry to tell the truth through their work. On top of that, the studio itself is state-of-the-art. It’s a space that honors the seriousness of the craft while still feeling alive and welcoming. Being able to pour into actors in a place that’s this well-designed, with a community this one-of-a-kind, feels like the perfect home for the work I love to do.
What are you watching lately? Favorite TV Show, podcast, music?
Ooo! All Her Fault, Reasonable Doubt, and Abbott Elementary for tv. Podcast — Emma Grede, and Michelle Obama’s podcasts. Music — Jessie Reyes, Renee Rap, Sondheim, and Cardi B.
What's your go-to thing you always have on-set?
My absolute go-to on set is a fuzzy blanket. ALWAYS. No matter the weather, no matter the project — I need a cozy blanket with me. It keeps me warm, grounded, and calm between takes. It’s my little piece of comfort in the chaos.
How would your friends describe you?
My friends would describe me as community-driven and a little Type A Virgo in the best possible way. Organized, intentional, and deeply spiritual. They see me as a leader who loves people. Someone who’s both passionate and compassionate, who thinks deeply, works with purpose, and stays grounded and down-to-earth through it all.
Recent Acting Work You'd like to highlight?
I’m currently in reading at SAG-AFTRA Chicago as ‘Talisha King’ in a beautiful screenplay entitled, “Caterpillar Butterfly” by Eliyannah Yisrael. This project has been incredible. The script won the Chicago International Film Lab, had a staged reading at Steppenwolf, and was a second-round Sundance contender. Playing Talisha has been such a rewarding experience; she’s complex, vivid, and layered, and bringing her to life has reminded me why I’m deeply in love with my Chicago heritage.
Any work you'd like to highlight?
I’m excited to highlight that I will be playing Marie in the musical “Marie and Rosetta” by George Brandt. Performances will run in March 2026 at Yellow Tree Theater in Minnesota.
Anything else you want the community to know!
Fun fact is I LOVE cheeseee and my favorite color is glitter!
Chaz is an absolutely amazing teacher. Her class encompasses so many different facets of the craft of acting, and she walks you through the learning so thoroughly and authentically that it is not only enjoyable but also incredibly educational. As an actor herself, the perspective she brings to teaching is refreshing. She speaks the shared language of an actor, and the way she explains and teaches stems naturally from the actor's mindset.
Chaz fills her class with wisdom, joy, and humor. She is generous with her time and thoughtful with her feedback. She understands actors on both deep and nuanced levels, and to have that in a teacher is invaluable. Actors looking to hone their craft could benefit greatly from…
Chaz is such an incredible artist and teacher. She truly sees you and understands what you need and helps you dig deeper into your decisions.
Her class feels so fun and light and throughout the whole thing Chaz will drop pieces of wisdom as if it’s as easy as breathing.
Taking Chaz’s class made me feel like I was finally going in the right direction and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
I had the opportunity to attend Chaz's classes and they truly made a difference. My auditions look more professional and authentic after learning all these techniques, and I've been booking important projects.
I used to feel insecure about my accent, but she helped me to see how special it is, and all the unique things I bring to the table because of it. She showed me that what makes me different is actually my strength. My confidence has grown so much!
Furthermore, her coaching is incredible; she always tries to bring out the best in you. I'm so grateful for what a talented, professional, and wonderful person she is!
Working with Chaz has been a turning point for me as an actor. She has an incredible ability to see YOU clearly and identify exactly where your work can deepen without asking you to perform harder. She helped me refine my on-camera presence, trust my instincts, and find more ease in my choices. Her adjustments are specific, practical, and always in service of truth.
What I appreciate most is how she bridges craft and industry. Chaz challenged me to think strategically about positioning, momentum, and relationship building while still protecting the integrity of the work. I left her class more grounded, more confident, and more precise in how I approach self tapes and auditions.
She creates a space that is…
Chaz is absolutely an amazing teacher. She pushed me to think outside of the box when it comes to self-tape technique. I honestly appreciate all her wisdom and coaching when I have auditions and still use her advice till this day!