The Academy for the Performing Arts
Mission
To provide talented high school juniors and seniors with a joyful, challenging and inspiring training experience in the theatre; an educational and performance-based experience that builds confidence, courage and mastery in creative self expression preparing students for high-level college and professional opportunities.
Academy Goals
To provide a comprehensive, pre-professional course of study in all aspects theatre, from literature, theatre technique and history to design and technical theatre, to acting and actual performance.
To create challenging performance and technical theatre opportunities for students to demonstrate acquired skills in the new Performing Arts Center and drama wing. The Academy mounts 7-8 full length plays each year including plays from many styles of the world theatre - including classical, restoration, modern European theatre, American theatre and musical theatre.
To provide professional, visionary leadership by prominent performing arts educators and professional with strong ties to the regional theatre, university system and other professional performing arts venues.
Employ professional artists / teachers and outstanding, highly credentialed faculty.
Prepare students for post secondary education in the performing arts and related subjects; assisting with audition, contact, interview support and professional guidance in selecting educational and career opportunities.
Day to Day
The Academy has two sessions each day: Morning and Afternoon. Juniors are automatically scheduled for the morning and seniors for the afternoon:
7:30 - 9:45 am - Junior Academy
12:45 - 2:20 pm - Senior Academy
3:30-7:30 pm - Weekday production rehearsals (subject to change) + some weekend afternoon rehearsals
Productions
The Academy produces 7-8 productions each year. Most of our productions are rehearsed outside of school hours. Generally, we rehearse weekdays from 3:30-7:30 and one weekend afternoon. This schedule is subject to change based on director and student schedule restraints.
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College Preparation
The Academy for the Performing Arts is a college preparatory program. About 65% of our students go on to study theatre in its various forms, both onstage and offstage, while most other students go on to college to study other disciplines. The training the Academy students receives in their two years here sharpens their competitive edge and as such they are far more prepared than many of their peers as they seek college enrollment.
Our students have proven this repeatedly by earning large scholarships - largely based on their academic merit and/or talent. For the past 6 years, Academy students have averaged a little bit more than $3,000,000.00 in scholarship offers annually. The senior class represents between 35 and 40 students. The 2015-16 graduating class received more than $5,200,000.00 in scholarship offers.
