Jonathan Kehoe
Founder + Teacher
Jonathan Kehoe grew up chasing truth in the flicker of a movie screen. Before he had a name for acting, he was already reenacting entire films in his living room, memorizing every line, every beat, every breath. A video camera in high school became his entry point into directing — framing shots, building worlds with his friends, discovering the power of story from both sides of the lens.
Over the next twenty-five years, Jonathan became a rare kind of multi-hyphenate: an actor with a writer’s ear, a director with an empath’s heart, and eventually a teacher with an uncanny ability to see what others overlook — the truth an actor is trying to hide, the instinct they’re afraid to follow, the voice buried beneath years of trying to be perfect.
His teaching style is playful and electric, rigorous and human. He treats craft like a sport and a spiritual practice — breath, body, grit, imagination, revelation. He believes vulnerability is strength, that character is an expression of self, and that great acting is not performance but exposure.
After a pandemic and two industry strikes, Jonathan founded ARC Actors Studio, a new training ground built for a changing world. ARC — Awareness, Reaction, Creation — is both a philosophy and a methodology, a way of moving actors from instinct to embodiment with unusual speed. His mission is clear: to help actors grow more in twelve weeks than they have in twelve years, and to create a community where art and humanity evolve together.
In all his work — directing, teaching, writing, fatherhood — Jonathan holds one belief at the center: acting isn’t lying. It’s the pursuit of truth through story. ARC is the place where that truth is practiced, shared, and lived.
Jennifer DeFilippo
Co-Founder
Jennifer DeFilippo is an actor, filmmaker, and co-founder of ARC Actors Studio. With over two decades of experience working in film and television, Jennifer brings a working actor’s perspective to her dream studio—grounded, practical, and rooted in real industry demands.
Her on-camera credits include recurring and guest roles on shows such as Tina Fey's Mr. Mayor, Modern Family, and collaborations with acclaimed directors including Larry Charles. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Loyola Marymount University and trained at The Groundlings, UCB, and Second City.
At ARC Actors Studio, Jennifer is passionate about creating a supportive, rigorous space where actors build craft, confidence, and longevity—without fear, ego, or shortcuts. She is truly honored to help create a safe space for artists to grow and thrive.