Applications/audition for Academy 2026-2027 are now closed. Academy acceptances will be sent out by July 10, 2026. 

CharacterWorks Academy is a year-long program, September-June, offering application/audition-only theater arts classes that introduce more focused curriculum and training that builds throughout the year. These classes are designed to offer students additional opportunities with material that CharacterWorks often does not get to produce on the main stage, as well as intense focus on acting techniques and processes. Academy classes are for students ages 11-18 and include a variety of specialties, including, acting, musical theater, and film. Each summer, students have a chance to apply online and gain acceptance before fall class registration begins. 

Enrollment in the 2026-2027 Academy classes will include participation in all three class sessions (fall, winter, spring) and an extended performance at the Academy Festival at the end of the spring session. Payment is due at the beginning of each class 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. 

Academy classes meet once a week during the three sessions but also require a few extra rehearsals in May. Students are expected to commit to all classes, as well as extra time outside of class memorizing material. For 2026, there will be 2-3 required tech week rehearsals May 31-June 3 for each class, and a performance at our Academy Festival, June 4-6, 2027.

Next year, we are excited to be able to continue this year-long training program and even offer new class opportunities. Due to changes with one of our class locations, we have added some new locations, as well as familiar locations on new nights, for our classes. These additions will allow us to continue offering the high-quality theater experiences you know and love, as well as create new opportunities! 

2026-2027 Character Academy Classes:

• Junior Academy: Musical Theater (ages 11-13)
  • Tuesdays at Gayton Baptist Church (4:30-6:15pm) 
  • Instructors: Jacob Filegar & Tracia Austin
• Junior Academy: Acting (ages 11-14)
  • Tuesdays at Gayton Baptist Church (4:30-6:15pm) 
  • Instructor: Ashley Love
• Dance Academy (ages 13-18)
  • Thursdays at the dance studios at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen (7:00-8:45pm) 
  • Instructors: Becky McNamee & Caitlin Glauser
• Film Academy (ages 14-18)
  • Thursdays at the CWorks Warehouse or on location (7:00-8:45pm) 
  • Instructors: Blair Keeley & Benjamin Crain
• Academy: Advanced Acting (ages 14-18)
  • Thursdays at Gayton Baptist Church (5-6:45pm)
  • Instructor: Ashley Love
• Academy: Advanced Musical Theater: Little Women the Musical (ages 15-18)
  • Tuesdays at Gayton Baptist Church (6:45-8:30pm) 
  • Instructors: Becky McNamee & Charlotte Elliott

Audition Requirements:
We know summer can be a difficult time to put together auditions, so we have included the suggested monologue list linked beneath the class descriptions below. Musical theater classes will require both a monologue and 30-60 seconds of a song. Acting classes will require a monologue. Dance academy applicants will need to submit a video of a dance combination that can be found here. Film academy applicants will need to submit a 1-2 minute VIDEO ESSAY showing/explaining why the student would like to be part of film academy and a very brief vision for how they would bring a sci-fi thriller to the big screen. 

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. 

Junior Academy: Musical Theater has performed productions like How to Eat Like A Child, The Wind and the Willows, and Snoopy the Musical in past years.  The instructors will select this year's show from these options and others after the class roster is finalized.

To apply for Junior Academy: Musical Theater, students should fill out an Academy Application, 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 Friday, July 3, 2026 at midnight.

The cost for Academy is $360 per session ($285 covers class tuition, plus an additional $75 fee per session for performance rights, artistic/tech team, performance space).

Instructors: Jacob Filegar & Tracia Austin

Junior Academy: Acting will give actors a yearlong opportunity for focused growth and training in acting. In the fall, students will be challenged to grow in their creativity and acting skills through physical and vocal exercises, improv games, and acting activities. The winter and spring sessions will challenge students to apply what they are learning to rehearsing a play to be performed at the Academy Festival. 

Ashley is considering plays like Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook, Anne of Green Gables, The (Almost) Totally True Story of Hansel & Gretel, The BFG (Big Friendly Giant). The final script decision will be made after the class is selected.

To apply for Junior Academy: Acting students should fill out an Academy Application and submit a video audition of the student performing a 1-minute monologue. Students are encouraged to use one of the monologues provided below. Applications are due Friday, July 3, 2026 at midnight.

The cost for Academy is $360 per session ($285 covers class tuition, plus an additional $75 fee per session for performance rights, artistic/tech team, performance space).

Instructor: Ashley Love

Dance Academy will be an opportunity for students to grow their performance, musicality, flexibility, strength, and dance technique!  Students will learn technique and perform pieces in a variety of styles including jazz, contemporary, and tap.  The class will go through warmups each week to build foundations, and work on at least 2 pieces each session.  The class will perform all they have worked on at the Academy Festival in June.

To apply for Dance Academy, students should fill out an Academy Application, and submit a video audition of a short dance combination. The link to the audition combo can be found here. Applications are due Friday, July 3, 2026 at midnight.

The cost for Academy is $360 per session ($285 covers class tuition, plus an additional $75 fee per session for performance rights, artistic/tech team, performance space).

Instructors: Becky McNamee & Caitlin Glauser

Film Academy will be producing "459 Strafer Street", a sci-fi thriller about six teens surviving in a post-apocalyptic world, written by a CharacterWorks student. Students will learn about and get to experience all aspects of the production and filming process, giving them a wide view of the film production business. Filming equipment is provided, but students will be art directing, scene and set designing, as well as building some fun "creature" make-up designs. Some students will be cast in the film, although that is not a requirement of the class.

Since this class will film on location most nights, classes will not always be held at The CWorks Warehouse. Students and parents will be provided with a schedule before each of the three sessions during the year. 

To apply for Film Academy, students should fill out an Academy Application and submit a 1-2 minute VIDEO ESSAY showing/explaining why the student would like to be part of film academy and a very brief vision for how they would bring a sci-fi thriller to the big screen. Applications are due Friday, July 3 at midnight.

The cost for Academy is $360 per session ($285 covers class tuition, plus an additional $75 fee per session for performance rights, artistic/tech team, performance space).

Instructors: Blair Keeley & Benjamin Crain

Advanced Acting Academy 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 full-length play.  Students will be challenged to apply the acting techniques they are learning in their performance at the Academy Festival. 

Ashley is considering plays like Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Sherlock Holmes, and The Outsiders (the play).  A final script will be chosen after the class is selected.  

To apply for Advanced Acting Academy, students should fill out an Academy Application and submit a video audition of the student performing a 1-minute monologue. Students are encouraged to use one of the monologues provided below. Applications are due Friday, July 3, 2026 at midnight.

The cost for Academy is $360 per session ($285 covers class tuition, plus an additional $75 fee per session for performance rights, artistic/tech team, performance space).

Instructors: Ashley Love

Advanced Musical Theater Academy will focus on acting techniques for acting through song and connecting with a scene partner, as well as vocal technique.  In the fall, students will use material from Little Women to workshop an acting the song process that can be repeated for all future auditions and performances.  Students will then apply these techniques as well as partner work and character development to preparing Little Women.  Little Women will be double cast, and each cast will perform the full production at The Academy Festival in June.  

To apply for Advanced Musical Theater, students should fill out an Academy Application, 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 Friday, July 3 at midnight.

The cost for Academy is $360 per session ($285 covers class tuition, plus an additional $75 fee per session for performance rights, artistic/tech team, performance space).

About Little Women: Produced nationally and internationally, Little Women has been praised by critics for its ambition in adapting such a well-known story for the stage. This timeless, captivating story is brought to life in this glorious musical filled with personal discovery, heartache, hope and everlasting love. The original production starred the unparalleled Sutton Foster, who received Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations for her performance.

Instructors: Becky McNamee & Charlotte Elliott