Per pub 17 -- Standard mileage rate. Generally, if you claim a business deduction for work-related education and you drive your car to and from school, the amount you can deduct for miles driven from January 1, 2011, through June 30, 2011, is 51 cents per mile. The amount you can deduct for miles driven from July 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011, is 55 ½ cents per mile. This is up from 50 cents per mile in 2010. For more information, see Transportation Expenses under What Expenses Can Be Deducted. -- www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch27.html#en_US_2011_publink1000174023
so yes you can

The cost of commuting is never deductible. The cost of acting classes would be a deduction.

Oddly enough, yes you can, however, if you get the gig and drive back and forth daily that mileage becomes commuting and is no longer deductible. If you stay at the location overnight then you do.