News + Info
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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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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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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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…
Read MoreA 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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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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A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director. Memorization is the grunt work of the performing arts. Whether a jam poet or a Shakespearian actor, we all must memorize on a regular basis. So, how do you make it easier and faster? The first step is actually understanding your own learning style. Using the tips…
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A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director. In the arts we meet and work with lots of different people. Some of these people are very much like us and making friends is fast and easy. Some are very different from us and it can be hard to understand where they are coming from. It…
Read MoreA post by Dr. James Ramsey, PAA Executive Director. Its no secret that we think singing can be fun. However, research suggests that singing in a choir might be also good for our psychologicalwell-being. A study presented by a masters student, Nick Stewart, from Oxford Brookes in London last month was quite enlightening and affirms…
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Music is wonderful. It stimulates our creativity, stirs emotions and brings color to our lives. For kids, it is also a wonderful educational platform. Music is mathematical. Learning to count, read beats and notes all supports and grows a child’s math skills. It is also great for fine motor development. Learning to place fingers on…
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It may seem strange that we hold curriculum as a core value at PAA. Curriculum is defined as “the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college”. Keeping curriculum at the center of our focus helps all of us at PAA work toward the common goal of educating our students. This education…
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This business of show we all work at is an incredibly competitive business. At any given audition you may be sitting with 10 or more people who look very much like you and all of them likely can sing, dance and act about as well as you. So how do you set yourself apart? Hard work!…
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