Academy Classes

Academy Audition and Application Information

Academy auditions for 2018-2019 are closed. Academy auditions for the 2019-2020 year will open in June, 2019. 

Academy classes are year-long, application/audition-only classes that offer more focused curriculum and training. Each June, students have a chance to apply online and gain acceptance before our July 1st fall registration deadline. Students will enroll for the 2018-2019 season (3 sessions) and perform a 10-15 minute showcase each session, with an extended full performance at our Academy Festival the weekend of May 31-June 1(tech rehearsals on May 28, 29, 30 in the evenings). Those enrolled in Academy are eligible to audition for the main stage productions. 

The Academy Festival is a weekend of Academy class performances in the Lynn Theater at John Tyler Community College Campus. Each class will have at least one performance during the festival. Students, parents and friends can choose to attend all of the Academy class performances if they would like, or just one or two. The Festival will take place the evening of Friday, May 31st and all day and evening Saturday, June 1st. 

Academy applications and auditions for 2018-2019 are due by midnight on June 22, 2018. See class descriptions below for audition requirements and for the Academy Application link. Once the rosters are chosen, the teachers will send email letters of acceptance on June 27th before fall class registration opens. If any students do not get placed in Academy this time, they will receive a feedback email as well. The students will have 24 hours to accept the offer, register and pay for the fall session to secure their spot in Academy. 

Students must be minimum age of the Academy by end of October, 2018 (end of fall session).

Academy Festival Schedule, 2019
John Tyler Community College
Lynn Theater
 
Friday, May 31, 2019
6:00pm Tap and Jazz Academy
8:00pm Advanced Acting through Song Academy presents “Little Women”
 
Saturday, June 1, 2019
1:00pm Junior Academy
3:00pm Advanced Acting Academy One Acts
6:00pm Film Academy Premiere
8:00pm Advanced Acting through Song Academy presents “Little Women”
 

Junior Academy (Ages 10-12) Tuesdays, 4:30-6:30 Gayton Baptist Church, Instructor: Jacob Filegar

Junior Academy returns to give up and coming young actors a year long opportunity for focused growth and training in Musical Theater Performance. In the first session, students will be introduced to essential acting technique through improv, games and exercises while working on scenes and songs from musicals. Session two and three will continue skills development, as well as challenge the students to apply what they are learning by putting together a new One Act Musical to be performed at the Academy Festival, May 31-June 1, 2019. The class will welcome both new and returning students.

Students who would like to audition for Junior Academy should submit a resume and short essay about why they are interested in this class through our Academy Application. Students also need to submit a video of the student singing 16-32 bars of a song with an introduction. We have provided a list of suggested songs, but you may use other material if you are more comfortable with something else. Applications are due by midnight on June 22, 2018. 

The cost for Junior Academy is $275 per session ($225 class tuition, plus an additional $50 fee per session for performance rights, sets, props, artistic/tech team, performance space).
 
Audition Song Resources

Tap and Jazz Academy (Ages 12-19) Tuesdays, 4:30-6:30pm Gayton Baptist, Instructor: Becky McNamee

Dance is an essential component of musical theater, and students in the tap and jazz academy will have the opportunity to grow in two styles commonly used in musicals.  This class will spend each week working on tap and jazz dance.  Students will grow in technique, rhythm, strength and flexibility through warm ups and combinations.  The skills learned in this class will help prepare students not only to dance in shows, but also increase their overall strength and body control which is important in all aspects of performance. The class will present 8-12 tap and jazz routines at our Academy Festival in the spring.

Students interested in this academy class should submit a theater/dance resume as well as a short essay about why he/she wants to participate in our dance academy class through the Academy Application. Applications are due by midnight on June 22, 2018. 

The cost for Tap and Jazz Academy is $250 per session ($225 tuition per session plus an additional $25 production fee per session for tap floor, costume pieces, tech team and performance space). Students will also need to purchase tap shoes. 
 
Male and Female Audition Monologue Options

Advanced Acting: Acting Through Song “Little Women the Broadway Musical” (15-19), Tuesdays, 6:45-8:45pm, Gayton Baptist, Instructor: Becky McNamee

This year's advanced acting academy class will focus on acting through song. Students will learn how to work for an objective, use different tactics, 'fill the air', and use the music itself to make acting choices.  During our fall session students will explore the similarities and differences in acting a song and acting a monologue.  Each student will perform an 'audition package' of a short song and monologue at fall showcase.  The second two sessions will focus on putting together the musical Little Women.  This show has a cast of 10 and is full of solos, duets, and 'small ensemble' songs.  Every character in Little Women has at least one duet and multiple scenes, which will allow the opportunity for each student to apply principals of acting taught throughout the class.  The class will perform the full musical at our Academy Festival in the spring.

Students who would like to audition for Advanced Acting: Acting through Song should submit a resume and short essay about why they are interested in this class through our Academy Application. Students also need to submit a video of the student singing 16-32 bars of a song and performing a monologue (1 minute or less). We have provided a list of suggested songs (on our Audition page) and monologues (below), but you may use other material if you are more comfortable with something else. Applications are due by midnight on June 22nd. 

The cost for Advanced Acting Academy: Acting thru Song is $275 per session ($225 class tuition, plus an additional $50 production fee per session or performance rights, sets, props and artistic/tech team, performance space).
Male and Female Audition Monologue Options

Film Academy (Ages 14-19) Tuesday, 6:45pm-8:45pm, Gayton Baptist, Instructors: Sam Van Fossen and Anderson Pusey

Film Academy trains students in the art of filmmaking & acting throughout the year. Academy students will have hands-on experience in film acting, scriptwriting, directing, video editing, audio, and gaffing. This class will begin the year learning the technical aspect of film, moving into the art of film acting using new techniques, and finally bring the entire class together to write, storyboard and shoot an original short film to premiere at the Academy Festival. Film Academy will welcome both new and returning students. 

Students who would like to audition for the Film Academy need to submit a theater/film resume and short essay about why would want to take the class through our Academy Application, as well as a video of one of the audition pieces provided. Applications are due by midnight on June 22, 2018.  

The cost for Film Academy is $300 per session ($225 class tuition, plus an additional $75 production fee per session to cover film equipment, special teaching guests, tech team and festival space).
Audition Monologue for Film Academy

Advanced Acting Academy (12-15) Thursday, 4:30-6:30pm, Kingsway, Instructor: Alana Smith

New for 2018-2019, the Academy class for ages 12-15 is rotating the options to offer advanced acting training to this age group. Students will spend first part of the year learning and exploring acting technique and truth onstage through scene work, improv and monologues, and then apply their training to the production of an entire One Act Play to be performed at the Academy Festival, May 31-Jun1, 2019. 

Students who would like to audition for Advanced Acting should submit a resume and short essay about why they are interested in this class through our Academy Application. Students also need to submit a video of the student performing a monologue (1 minute or less). We have provided a list of suggested monologues, but you may use other material if you are more comfortable with something else. Applications are due by midnight on June 22nd. 

The cost for Advanced Acting Academy is $275 per session ($225 tuition per session plus an additional $50 production fee per session for script rights, artistic team and performance space). 
Adv. Acting Audition Monologue Options