News + Info

June at PAA has been busy and bustling!

By PAA Webmaster | June 24, 2015

In 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…

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Creativity part II – Why do we need it?

By PAA Webmaster | May 27, 2015

A 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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Creativity part I – Where’s it going?

By PAA Webmaster | May 20, 2015

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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Practice: Audition Cold Reading

By PAA Webmaster | April 15, 2015

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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How old is too old to start playing an instrument?

By PAA Webmaster | April 8, 2015

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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Summer Camp Fun

By PAA Webmaster | March 25, 2015

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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Scenic Design

By PAA Webmaster | March 19, 2015

A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director. Have you ever been to a show and been drawn into the world of the play right away? You walk in, sit down and feel as if you have arrived at a different time or place? A great scenic design can help the audience suspend their disbelief…

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Are you dancing with two left feet?

By PAA Webmaster | March 6, 2015

A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director. Did you know that scientists have discovered that the dancers among us have a different genetic make up and their genetic difference is what makes them great dancers?  It adds to the notion that we were all born to be someone and make a mark in this…

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Stage Fright?

By PAA Webmaster | February 25, 2015

 A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director. It is true that a lot of people in this world suffer from such a thing as stage fright. Stage fright can have a lot of different symptoms including sweaty palms and a racing heart to trouble breathing, thinking and walking. It can be very serious and…

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An Intensive: 70 hours of learning

By PAA Webmaster | February 11, 2015

A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director. You may be wondering why we call our summer programs intensives. The name comes from the intense effort and learning that takes place in 10 short days. Our curriculum driven class time builds fundamental skills needed for all performers and technical workers and drives self confidence through…

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Why Technical Theatre?

By PAA Webmaster | February 4, 2015

A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director. Why Technical Theatre? All of our tech students would say things like, “because it is cool” and “it is fun” or “I don’t like being on stage but I like being a part of it”. I have also heard “this way I don’t have to memorize”. Whatever their…

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Value of Confidence and Community

By PAA Webmaster | January 28, 2015

A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director. There are so many theatre arts programs out there right now.  The market is flooded with new opportunities.  With all the choices out there it can be hard to know what to choose.  Which program will be the best option for my kid and family? At PAA…

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