Auditions for The 2023-2024 Academy season have concluded and are now closed. Auditions for the 2024-2025 Academy season will be in June, 2024. 

Academy is a year-long program, September-May, offering application/audition-only theater arts classes that introduce more focused curriculum and training that builds throughout the year. The classes are designed to offer students additional opportunities with material that we often do not get to do on the main stage, as well as focus on technique and process. Each summer, students have a chance to apply online and gain acceptance before fall class registration begins. 

Students will enroll for the 2023-2024 season for three sessions (fall, winter, spring) that include an extended performance at our Academy Festival at the end of the final session in spring. Payment is due at the beginning of each session, and the student commitment is for all three sessions. Those enrolled in Academy are eligible to audition for one of the main stage productions each session. 

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2023-2024 Academy Info

Academy auditions and applications for the 2023-2024 season are due by July 8, 2023, at midnight. Students will be notified of acceptance via email by July 15, 2023, and will have the chance to accept or decline by July 16, 2023. Please email becky@cworkstheater.org with any questions. 

2023-2024 Academy Calendar (Tues/Thur classes)
Fall Session: Week of August 28, 2023 - Week of October 23, 2023 (No classes Oct 17 & 19)
Winter Session: Week of December 4, 2023 - Week of February 19, 2024 (Winter break Dec. 22-Jan 7)
Spring Session: Week of March 11, 2024 - Week of May 6, 2024 (Spring break March 31-April 7)
Additional Academy Rehearsal: May 16, 2024

The 2023 Academy Festival is scheduled for the weekend of May 31-June 2, 2024, with tech week beginning May 27-30, 2024.

Below are the current Academy classes offered for 2023-2024. CWorks Academy class are at:
Gayton Baptist Church (Tuesdays) 13501 N Gayton Rd. Richmond, VA 23233
Kingsway Community Church (Thursdays) 14111 Sovereign Grace Dr., Midlothian, VA 23114

Junior Academy: Musical Theater returns to give young actors a yearlong opportunity for focused growth and training in musical theater performance. In the first session, students will be introduced to essential acting, vocal, and audition techniques through improv, theater games, vocal exercises, and auditions for a junior musical production or broadway musical revue. Sessions two and three will challenge the students to apply what they are learning in an extended musical showcase at the Academy Festival. 

To apply for Junior Academy: Musical Theater, students should fill out an academy application form, and submit a video audition of the student performing a 1 minute monologue, as well as a video of the student performing 30-60 seconds of a musical theater song of their choice. Students are encouraged to use one of the monologues provided below. Applications are due Saturday, July 8, 2023 at midnight.

The cost for Academy is $295 per session ($245 covers class tuition, plus an additional $50 fee per session for performance rights, artistic/tech team, performance space).

Instructors: Jacob Filegar and Tracia Austin    

Junior Academy: Acting returns to give young actors a yearlong opportunity for focused growth and training in acting and performing. In the first two sessions, students will be introduced to essential acting techniques through improv, theater games and acting exercises while working with a script for a play. Session three will challenge the students to apply what they are learning in an extended showcase of the full production at the Academy Festival. 

To apply for Junior Academy: Acting, students should fill out an academy application form, and submit a video audition of the student performing a 1-2 minute monologue. Students are encouraged to use a monologue from the list provided below. Applications are due Saturday, July 8, 2023 at midnight. 

The cost for Academy is $295 per session ($245 covers class tuition, plus an additional $50 fee per session for performance rights, artistic/tech team, performance space).

Instructor: Alana Smith

Film Academy will be producing, using classic filming techniques, a light thriller "creature feature". The class will be divided into two major sections: The first half of the year will be PRODUCTION (on-location filming), and the second half will be POST-PRODUCTION (editing, digital special effects, scoring). Students will learn about and get to experience all aspects of the production process, giving them a wide view of the film production business. Filming equipment is provided, but it is recommended that students have a laptop (PC or Mac) with Adobe Premiere Pro for the post-production portion of the year. Students will be provided with more information about computers when the class first convenes. 

To apply for Film Academy, students need to submit an Academy application that includes a theater resume, a film resume if available, and essay question answer outlining why the student is interested in the Film Academy. The actors for this film will be chosen from students within the class, so a video monologue audition will be required for any student wishing to act in the film. If a student does not wish to be considered for the cast of the film, a video monologue audition is not required. Applications are due Saturday, July 8, 2023 at midnight.

The cost for Academy is $295 per session ($245 covers class tuition, plus an additional $50 fee per session for extra film gear, artistic/tech team, performance space).

Instructor: Blair Keeley   

Advanced  Acting Academy: Comedy will help students learn the acting process, from how to tackle a role to scene analysis, through acting exercises, theater games and partner work. Students will spend time learning how to apply these techniques while rehearsing a comedic play, full of rich characters and exciting scenes. Session three will challenge the students to apply the acting techniques they are learning in an extended showcase of the full-length play at the Academy Festival. 

To apply for Advanced Acting Academy: Comedy, students should fill out an academy application form, and submit a video audition of the student performing a 1-2 minute monologue. Students are encouraged to use a monologue from the monologues provided below.  Applications are due Saturday, July 8, 2023 at midnight.

*NOTE: If you are selecting Comedy and Musical Theater as your two choices, you only need to use one monologue.  You do not need to submit a separate monologue for each class.

The cost for Academy is $295 per session ($245 class tuition, plus an additional $50 fee per session for performance rights, artistic/tech team, performance space).

Instructor: Ashley Love

Advanced Acting Academy: Musical Theater...In this class students will focus on learning how to build believable characters, listen to their scene partners, and act through song. Students will be challenged with exercises that break their music and lyrics down in new ways.  These exercises will help students learn how to create a character, understand the lyrics they are singing, bring truthfulness to their performance, listen and respond on stage, and pursue an objective. The class will apply these techniques to character development and script work as they work toward a full musical production.

*NOTE: This class hopes to perform Little Women the Musical.  However, the rights are restricted, and our rights application is in process.  We are hopeful to be granted the rights, however if we are not then we will perform Into the Woods.  We will have a final decision on our Little Women rights before class starts, but may not know before applications are due.

To apply for Advanced Acting Academy, students should fill out an academy application form, submit a video of one of the provided Little Women monologues, and submit a video of them performing 30-60 seconds of a musical theater song. Applications are due by Saturday, July 8, 2023 at midnight. 

*NOTE: If you are selecting Comedy and Musical Theater as your two choices, you only need to use one monologue.  You do not need to submit a separate monologue for each class.

The cost for Academy is $295 per session ($245 class tuition, plus an additional $50 production fee per session or performance rights, artistic/tech team, performance space).

Instructors: Becky McNamee and Silvia Ledon

 

• Introduce yourself at the beginning of your video. Say hi, tell us your name, and tell us what song you are singing. This is called your "slate" and is a way for the audition panel to see who you really are and what your personality is like. Say "Thank you!" at the end of your audition.
• Make sure you have good lighting. Don't perform in front of a bright exterior window. Lighting should highlight you and your face.
• Line the lens of your camera up to be level with your eyes. Don't film from above or below.
• Dress up for your audition and present your best self.
• Stand up for your audition, if possible. Don't perform seated or laying down. Standing helps energize your performance.
• Remember to perform as if you are in front of hundreds of people. When filming video auditions it is easy to make your performance smaller and more intimate, but perform like you've got a giant audience.
• Make sure the music isn't so loud that it overpowers your voice. On the video, your voice should be what comes through the loudest.
• Don't forget to act! A singing audition video serves to show both your vocal and acting abilities. Become the character you are performing as.
• Not a strong singer? Sell your talent to us through your acting!
• Is your video not perfect? That's fine - no one's is! We know recording a video audition is tough. The main thing we're looking for is to see you, your personality, and your talent.