Story Drama
Grades K4 - 1
Through creative drama, young actors will bring their favourite stories to life through the exploration of setting, plot, and character choices to develop beginning acting skills.
First Stage Theater Academy is the nation’s largest high impact theatre training program for young people. A wide variety of classes for students in grades K4-12 are offered in Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions throughout the school year. Led by professional theatre teaching artists, students will learn new acting skills including Musical Theater, Acting, and Improvisation, developing stage skills while simultaneously building life skills, such as confidence, focus, and teamwork.
Click here to view our 2024-2025 School Year Academy Brochure!
Academy Production Lab The Neverending Story
We are thrilled to introduce the Academy Production Lab, a one-of-a-kind program designed for students in grades 5 through 9 to immerse themselves in both performance and production. This exciting new initiative allows students to gain hands-on experience as actors, designers, assistant directors, or stage managers, working together to bring a show to life!
The Story
Our first adventure will be The Neverending Story (Atreyu and the Great Quest) by David S. Craig, based on the beloved novel by Michael Ende. The story follows Bastian, a lonely boy, who discovers a mysterious book that draws him into the magical land of Fantastica. With its rich characters, high stakes, and themes of courage and imagination, this timeless tale offers an unforgettable journey for both performers and audiences.
Auditions
- Dates: Tuesday, February 4, Tuesday, February 11, and Tuesday, February 18
- Times: 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM (10-minute slots)
- Actors: Prepare a monologue and be ready to read a scene; interviews will also be conducted to discuss your artistic goals.
- Designers/Crew: Will take part of an interview to discuss your goals and area(s) of interest (costume, scenic, props, sound, or lighting design).
Rehearsals and Performances
- Rehearsals start April 8, 2025, and run Tuesday–Friday, 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM at tge Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
- Performances: May 16 – June 8, 2025, with multiple shows over three weekends.
- 7:00 PM on May 16, 30, & June 7
- 1:00 PM & 3:30 PM on May 17, 18, 31, June 1, 8, & 9
- $850 per student (includes four complimentary tickets). Financial assistance is available through the Access for All Passport Program.
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ACCESS FOR ALL
Through the generous support of individuals, foundations, and corporations, First Stage Theater Academy continues to make programming more accessible to our community. Starting in the 2024-2025 Season, qualifying families and individuals can enjoy up to 85% scholarships for our Theater Academy. We aim to ensure financial constraints don't prevent anyone from experiencing the lasting impact of theater training.
SPRING BREAK ACADEMY IS BACK!
March 24 – 28, 2025
9AM – 3PM
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
ONE-WEEK ROTATION (GRADES 3-4)
Students will learn life skills through stage skills rotating through Acting, Improvisation, and Musical Theater classes, all in one week!
PAGE TO STAGE (GRADES 5-12)
Students will work with professional theater artists to craft a unique theatrical production in only one week!
Spring Academy 2024/2025 Dates:
Four convenient locations!
- Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, Tuesdays or Saturdays, April 1 - May 10, 2025
- Sharon Lynne Wilson Center, Saturdays, March 15, March 29, April 5, April 12, 2025
- Oak Creek Performing Arts & Education Center, Saturdays, April 5 – May 10, 2025
- Concordia University Wisconsin, Saturdays, April 5 – May 10, 2025
Story Drama
Playmakers
Grades 1-2
Young actors will go on a new adventure each week as they utilize improvisation techniques to create their own characters and stories, and further develop their beginning acting skills.
Acting Fundamentals
Grades 3-12
Students will work with theater professionals to establish performance skills, deepen their knowledge of theatre, and become confident in themselves as actors - and as people. Lessons are inspired by specific scenes or songs from popular shows and musicals.
Musical Theater Fundamentals
Grades 3-12
Musical theatre is the art of telling a story through words, music, and movement. Every session will offer new vocal and dance techniques to work on utilizing age-appropriate songs from popular musicals.
Electives
Grades 5-12
Electives allow students to focus on a specific area of their craft, including Stage Combat, Design, and others.
School Year Intensives
For Grades 5-12
Some of our most concentrated and focused classes, dive into the disciplines of Acting, Musical Theater, Improvisation, and Design.
Next Steps
For Students on the Autism Spectrum
Next Steps classes are highly specialized and designed for students on the autism spectrum—including autistic students who speak few or no words—and for students with other developmental disabilities. With small class sizes, Next Steps curriculum explores acting, singing, dancing, and improvisation.