News + Info
Part of a series in which we interview our teachers and staff to learn more about them and get their insights into the world of performance. This week’s interview is with Kalond Irlanda, PAA’s producer. Kalond also teaches acting classes and directed “101 Dalmatians” this past summer. How long have you been working with PAA?…
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Part of a series in which we interview our teachers and staff to learn more about them and get their insights into the world of performance. This week’s interview is with Kate Vallee, who has worked as a choreographer and teacher for PAA, choreographing “Peter Pan” this summer and currently working on “The Little Mermaid…
Read MorePart of a new series in which we interview our teachers and staff to learn more about them and get their insights into the world of performance. This week’s interview is with Melanie Kirkpatrick, who has worked as a director and teacher for PAA, most recently directing “Annie KIDS” and “Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before…
Read MoreHello, I’m D.S. I am a 10th grader this year. I have been participating in the Performing Arts Academy for 4 years. I have had so much fun during these last 4 years. I am a tech student at the Performing Arts Academy. This means that I build sets, construct soundscapes and landscapes, and learn…
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My name is R.F. This year, I am going to be a senior in high school and I’m so glad I’ve gotten to do Peter Pan through the Performing Arts Academy over the last two weeks. The role that I was graciously chosen for was the one and only James Hook, captain of the Jolly…
Read MoreA post by Caitlin Bauer, PAA Marketing Intern In the summer of 2006, I was 14 years old and had just finished 8th grade. That was also the first summer that Performing Arts Academy existed, and I was one of about 20 students to participate in that first program. Nine years later, I’ve been spending…
Read MoreIn just under 4 weeks, roughly 250 students ranging from 3 years old through high school seniors have been learning, performing and growing. Building both their character and confidence – and having a lot of fun in the process. From Annie Kids to High School Musical Jr., 101 Dalmatians Kids to Summer Camp. Add to…
Read MoreA post by Dr. James Ramsey, PAA Executive Director. As I mentioned in my previous post, Creativity part I – Where’s it going?, the most valuable aspect of creativity for a student’s development is threatened simply because it is immeasurable. In a standardized testing world, immeasurability is an excuse to cut or devalue programs in our community and…
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A post by Dr. James Ramsey, PAA Executive Director. From the 1980’s to present, American education has seen a continuing decline in funding support for music and arts in the classroom. In spite of all the written evidence of surveys, reports, and studies, creative outlets for the student are simply eroding to basic levels or disappearing because of…
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A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director. Has this ever happened to you? You are in an audition that is going great and then the director asks you to take some pages from the script and read for a character. You have no idea who this character is and the director wants to “see…
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A post by Dr. James Ramsey, PAA Executive Director. Someone once posed this question to me and my immediate response was, “never, as long as you’re committed and patient.” One of our PAA supporters recently decided to start flute lessons and asked me for some advice as to what to do. She had never played…
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A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director. At PAA learning about theatre and performance starts at age 3. Preschoolers are open to new ideas and ready for imaginative play, making acting, dance and music the perfect playground. We use games to start talking about Theatre principles such as parts of a story and parts…
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