STEVE HYDEEN

Jun 4

Since middle school, I’ve been immersed in the world of acting—performing in speech competitions, plays, musicals, and improv shows. That early passion led me to earn a B.A. in Theatre from Northwestern College and eventually co-found 88improv, an Omaha-based improv theatre company focused on smart, story-driven performance and education. For 15 years, we performed nationwide and led workshops for schools, communities, and fellow performers.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked closely with Nebraska and Iowa high school theatre programs, developed the “Improv Intensive” curriculum and served as a judge, instructor, and keynote speaker for organizations like Nebraska Thespians and the Iowa High School Speech Association.

In 2021, I launched the 402 Acting Academy as part of the 402 Arts Collective to make actor training accessible to all ages. The academy offers performance-based acting classes, personalized private coaching for actors, and workplace communication coaching—helping leaders, managers, and teams grow in Communication, Confidence, Connection, Creativity, and Collaboration.

With over 20 years of experience, I’m passionate about helping people use the tools of acting to discover their passion and purpose, build stronger relationships, become better communicators, and lead with greater authenticity—on stage, in the workplace, and in everyday life.

If you're looking to grow as an actor or as a person, I'd love to help!