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Youth Classes invite artists of all levels to elevate, explore and brush their skills. These courses are offered in eight or 10 week courses as one-time sessions. American Stage Education fosters an accessible environment that encourages a sense of belonging, curiosity, and collaboration. Our teaching artist staff consists of working theatre professionals who are culturally competent, have a passion for teaching, and are trained in key methodologies.
Adult Classes invite artists of all levels to elevate, explore and brush their skills. These courses are offered in eight or 10 week courses as one-time sessions. American Stage Education fosters an accessible environment that encourages a sense of belonging, curiosity, and collaboration. Our teaching artist staff consists of working theatre professionals who are culturally competent, have a passion for teaching, and are trained in key methodologies.
Be curious. Be creative. Be YOU! At American Stage, we provide a quality performing arts education in a positive and empowering environment giving young people the tools to be fearless, focused, and flexible on stage and in life. Studying theatre does not only help students become accomplished and confident performers and communicators, it also strengthens creative, intellectual, and emotional growth.
All experience levels are welcome! We believe in fostering an accessible environment that encourages a sense of belonging, curiosity, and collaboration. Our teaching artist staff consists of working theatre professionals who have a passion for teaching, and are trained in key methodologies, cultural competency, and inclusion.
CALLING ALL IMPROVISERS! Combining comedy and physical theater, this session invites students to create their own comedy scenes and sketches while on teams! Students will also explore a variety of comedy formats, all to strengthen their skills in this friendly-competition inspired session!
This session is perfect for artists who enjoy coloring outside the lines. In this session, students will craft characters that boldly go where no child has gone before! Wizards, Sorcerers, and Magic, OH MY!
Creepy? Kooky? Haunted? Spooky? We think you’re going to love it here. Join us for this ‘Wednesday’-inspired session where we devise our own mysteries and create our own characters within the world of Nevermore Academy.
"The mind of a child is a beginner's mind and, for them, every idea is fresh, stimulating and leads somewhere special and surprising." - Kermit the Frog. In this session, students will learn fundamental puppetry construction, and use their bodies, voices, and imagination to bring their unique character to life!
Students will unleash their creativity, and physical performance styles as they learn the fundamentals to puppetry construction, various crafting, and performance.
A mystery is afoot! Will the mystery be solved in time? Will we be able to crack the case? Elementary, my dear! In this week-long session, students will discover their inner super-sleuth and work together to craft an original, mystery story!
Unleash your inner detective and dive into a week-long mystery-solving session. This session will put curious future sleuths to the test! Young actors will explore suspenseful scene-work, and learn the elements and secrets of the mystery-theater genre.
Discover the rich cultural contributions of songwriter and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda Students will not only perform some of their favorite show stopping numbers from Vivo, Encanto and more, but explore the cultures that his work highlights, and gain a greater appreciation for new people, places and things.
Calling all junior Guardians of the Galaxy & Mandalorians-in-training! In this session, students will learn how to work as a team to create an imaginative & unique story of Galactic Heroes!
Get up and make it happen in this musical course! Join us as this session will explore music and performance fundamentals through favorites of ‘Vivo’, ‘Encanto’ AND MORE!
KA-POW! Have you ever wondered how some of your favorite fight scenes and stage combat moments come together? In this movement based session, students will learn the fundamentals of stage combat in a safe, imaginative environment. They will also create their own unique heroic characters with moves that everyone can marvel at.
Fantastic beasts? We got ‘em! Where to find them? Right here in this camp session! In this magic-filled adventure, students will use their imaginations, bodies, and voices to create unique creatures and characters to tell their own story with!
Space, Sea, and Time have known no bounds. In this section, students will learn how to collaborate to create an imaginative & unique story of Epic Proportions. We endeavor to guide students through the creation of unique and transformative characters.
Bailamos! Balliamo! Lass uns tanzen! This week-long dance party is GLOBAL! In this session, students will learn about a variety of musical and dance stylings from various cultures around the world.
We’re Zany to the Max! Discover your comedic voice in this week-long series filled with hilarious hijinks, fun games, and bold characters.
Learn through laughter! Students will explore genres of comedy like satire, word play, character-based, and physical comedy. Guaranteed to be hilarious, boost confidence, and fun for all levels of experience.
In this session inspired by the House of Mouse, we will explore the stories, themes, and music of a variety of Disney classics. Whether their story begins with “Once Upon a Time” or “To Infinity and Beyond!” we’re sure everyone will find something they enjoy!
More than jokes and witty banter, some of Disney’s most memorable tales live on in our hearts! In this week-long intensive, students will explore the entire Disney universe, as well as the structure of both the heroes AND villains journeys.
The workshop will explore the best practices for musical theater performance. Students will discuss theory and concepts to enhance their “Actor’s Toolbox”, giving young artists the opportunity to learn and grow by bringing musical stories to life. This 3-week session will culminate in putting up a full, one-act production of a musical.
Storytelling not only unites communities, it transcends time… “Classics are always in style.” In this 3 week intensive, students will explore the language of William Shakespeare through the exploration of rhyme with a contemporary flair by putting up a full, one-act production of a classic Shakespeare piece.
Adult Classes invite artists of all levels to elevate, explore and brush their skills. These courses are offered in eight or 10 week courses as one-time sessions. American Stage Education fosters an accessible environment that encourages a sense of belonging, curiosity, and collaboration. Our teaching artist staff consists of working theatre professionals who are culturally competent, have a passion for teaching, and are trained in key methodologies.
American Stage Education provides a variety of experiences for schools, educators and students to journey beyond the classroom. From touring productions, to field trips to the theatre, to residencies in your school, students explore the power of the performing arts, and teachers expand on their learning goals in a supportive and active environment. Our programs for schools and students ignite a thirst for learning about new people, places, and ideas. Choose your adventure below!
For generations, young people have experienced theatre for the first time in their lives with the American Stage School Tour. Each school year, a team of professional theatre artists travels to your school with staged adaptation of classic children’s literature.
What will happen to Cinderella at the ball … game? That's the surprising climactic question in this contemporary Latin-American Cinderella musical, which delightfully turns the classic fairy tale on its head, telling the story from both Cinderella and the "stepsister's" perspective. Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale crosses language and gender barriers, weaving a subtle lesson on empathy, sportsmanship and respect.
Directed by | José Avilés
Bring a performance to your school!
$475 for up to 200 students
(25% off for a 2nd same-day performance)
Includes:
An interactive study guide connected to Florida State Standards
Post-show chatback with the cast!
To schedule a performance, contact us at education@americanstage.org or 727.823.1600 ext 212
Experience American Stage’s popular School Tour on our MainStage!
Includes:
A relaxed performance environment
Sensory friendly accommodations, such as a pre-show “touch tour”
Saturday, December 3 at 11am
Sunday, December 4 at 1pm
See study guide above for more details
FL State Standards for grades K-12
LAFS.K12.W.3.9; LAFS.K12.R.2.6; LAFS.K12.SL.2.4; LAFS.K12.R.3.9; LAFS.K12.W.1.3; LAFS.K12.R.2.5
WL.K12.IM.8.3; WL.K12.IH.8.1; WL.K12.IM.8.1; WL.K12.NH.3.6; WL.K12.NM.8.1; WL.K12.NH.9.1; WL.K12.NM.4.5;
SS.2.G.1.4; SS.3.G.2.1; SS.5.G.4.2
TH.K.F.3.1; TH.1.S.1.2; TH.2.S.1.2; TH.3.S.2.1; TH.4.H.3.1; TH.5.O.1.2; LAFS.K12.W.3.9; LAFS.K12.L.3.6; LAFS.K12.L.3.6
Download the full Benchmark Results from Cpalms.org here
FL Early Learning and Development Standards
III. Social and Emotional Development
IV. Language and Literacy
VII. Social Studies
VIII. Creative Expression Through the Arts
Write-ON! is an outreach residency in several Pinellas County School classrooms. American Stage Teaching Artists instruct students in the art of playwriting at both the middle and high school levels. This initiative is a grant-funded, subsidized program that the schools do not have to pay for, and is a way we can really give back to the community. Each residency ultimately ends with a reading of the student-written works by a group of professional actors. In addition to having a group of professional actors come in and read the work of the students, a select number of student-written plays are chosen to be showcased at the Lift Every Voice: New Play Festival.
Si Se Puede!, is a Spanish-language component to our playwriting curriculum that works within ESOL classrooms in the Pinellas County School District.
John is an actor, singer, and teaching artist. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the University of West Florida, and is an alumnus of the American Stage Apprenticeship Program. Currently, John serves as the Education and Outreach Associate, working alongside public county schools and other community members to bring theatre education to as many students as possible.
John’s mission as a theatre professional is to fight to make theatre accessible to BIPOC and other marginalized groups. He is a firm believer that Education is one of the most impactful ways to do so.
Don’t stop. Stay Loud. “¡No pare, sigue, sigue!”
Nicholas was most recently seen in American Stage’s Digital School Tour production, FAIRYTALES REIMAGINED credits include STUPID F**KING BIRD, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, THE ICEMAN COMETH (Tampa Repertory Theatre) The FANTASTIKS (freefall theatre) A FEW GOOD MED (Stageworks Theatre) SILENCE: THE MUSICAL, TWELFTH NIGHT(Jobsite Theater) POPCORN FALLS (Walnut Street Theatre) COLOMBINUS (Innovocative Theatre) amongst others. Education: Point Park University and University of South Florida. He’s happy to be returning to American Stage again to create this unique theatrical experience for children and families.
William is an award winning actor, director, music director, dancer, and singer. He began music directing at age 15 and attended Berklee College of Music. While working with a big band orchestra, William fell in love with ballroom dancing and traveled the world for years as a professional dancer. He has worked in every aspect of theatre for over 40 years. His most rewarding projects include developing a wheelchair ballroom dance program and performing for area elderly memory care homes.
Alexa holds a B.A. in Performing Arts from the University of Tampa where she performed in many shows, including Moon Over Buffalo, Temptation, and Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. After this, she spent a few years in Chicago where she continued to learn and perform theatrically and on screen in television shows such as Empire and The Exorcist. She has been working with a number of theaters in the Tampa Bay Area since moving back to Florida, including American Stage. You may have seen her in the recent virtual school tour Fairytales Reimagined: Stories for a New World or in the virtual reading of The Polar Bear Society. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to pass on everything she has learned and contribute to her community through the arts.
Ryan is a singer, songwriter, actor and music director. She is a Berklee College of Music alum where she studied Contemporary Writing/Production and Vocal Performance. During her time at Berklee she discovered a love for composing, arranging, and music directing. She was heavily involved in the growing Musical Theater Performance and Writing Initiative. After college, Ryan spent time performing in various cities in Ohio before moving to Chicago where she attended classes at The Second City and began teaching private voice and piano. Since moving to St. Petersburg she has music directed theater camps for American Stage and South Tampa Center for the Arts.
Ivy has recently been seen as Jenny Rappaport in the featured film “I Need I Want” . Additionally as Mom in the comedy film “What Tha Hell”, “The Decision” as Belinda, and Shaun in the comedy series “Nothing Else Matters”. However, Ms. Sunflower’s first love is the stage. Cassandra in Big Girls Need Love Too (Inkwell Centre), A Conversation With Myself as April (Outcast Theatre Collective), and behind the scenes as the Assistant Director of Dionysus On The Down Low (Outcast Theatre Collective) have been a few. Ivy also teaches improv virtually for beginner performers. She’s working to open up a black box theatre for the community. She received her degree from Broward College and has trained with Robert Nation, A TALE OF TWO CITIES and Daniel Torres, EVITA. Ivy wants to thank her partner Cash, her family and friends for their support in making this dream happen.
Davina Reid is an actor and member of SAG-AFTRA. She was raised in the entertainment world by her father, an actor, and mother, a school teacher. After traveling the country, married to the military, Davina returned to her entertainment roots by training in acting and improv. She was part of the first graduating class, and first house team (As Per Usual) from the previous American Stage Improv program. Some of her film and TV credits include Cha Cha Real Smooth on Apple TV and American Rust (S1E10) on Showtime. Her theatre credits include: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at American Stage, and Rory Lawrence’s I Think She’s the One at The Straz Center Ferguson Hall. Davina is excited to be a part of the teaching artist team with American Stage and to help bring the fun of improv to the St. Petersburg community.
Cranstan, born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL, is an award-winning film and stage actor, director, writer, producer, and United States Talent Olympic Medalist. He loves honey nut cheerios with 2% milk and is a huge fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No judgment). Cranstan has a long history with American Stage since 2010. He’s held roles in Dominique Morriseau's stage play Pipeline as Dun with other American Stage credits including; A Raisin in the Sun as Bobo, Two Trains Running as Wolf, and RENT as Benny. Cranstan's not only been heavily involved on the performance end for American stage, but he also has been involved on the teaching end and has worked in many of our high school, middle school, and summer camp programs. Cranstan is truly grateful to have the opportunity to share his gifts in the arts within his community with the theater company he's always admired.
Juan Rodriguez is an energetic, motivational musical director, pianist, singer, and educator. He recently composed music for the play The Moors for Eckerd College. Over 30 years of regional Music Directing credits inclde: Stageworks: Evil Dead STRAZ: Shout! , Nunsense A-Men, Eight O Clock Theater: Sweet Charity, Eckerd College: Spelling Bee, New Bedford Festival Theater: Mamma Mia!- co-dir. Jennifer Swiderski (Broadway Cast) Betsy Padamonsky (Donna Nat. Tour) Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Oliver!, Cats, 42nd Street, Gypsy, The Producers, A Chorus Line, Singin in the Rain, Sound of Music, Grease Moss Hart Memorial Award productions of Les Miserables and Hairspray. Other Dir. credits inclue: Forum, Once on This Island, Into the Woods, The Secret Garden, Bat Boy, Titanic, Smokey Joe’s Café, Once Upon a Mattress, Man of La Mancha. Next to Normal (Wilbury Theater) Evita (Studio Theater). Music Supervisor- Norwegian Cruise Line. Successful vocal and piano coach.
José Avilés hails from Philadelphia and is so excited to be joining the American Stage team in beautiful St Pete, Florida! He has been an actor, director, producer, arts administrator and theatre arts educator for over 30 years. Most recently he directed the Philadelphia Premier of Elliot a Soldier’s Fugue by Philadelphia’s own Quiara Alegria Hudes for the Walnut Street Theatre Independence Studio and a professional public reading of the same play at the Arden Theatre Co., as well as a TYA workshop production of The Real Life Adventures of Jimmy de las Rosas by Ricardo Gamboa at Passage Theatre. José is the co-founder/Artistic Producing Director of Teatro del Sol where he directed and produced the world premiere of Good Cuban Girls by Iraisa Ann Reilly and Philadelphia premiere of La Gringa by Carmen Rivera. José is the former Director of Education Outreach for the Arden Theatre Company, Taller Puertorriqueño and former Education Associate at The Walnut Street Theatre respectively. He’s also the current Director of Education at American Stage.
Every Sponsor A Student application requires support materials be uploaded or mailed. Applications cannot be processed until we receive both support materials. Required support materials are:
1. Select One of Following Options:
Statement of Interest: A brief (1/2 – 1 page) letter OR video (30-60 seconds) from your student answering the following questions:
– Why do you want to attend the program?
– What do you hope to gain or learn through our programs?
– What do you think you can bring or give to this program?
2. Select one of the following to prove your annual income (Please blur or black out your social security number before including):
– Your most recent household tax returns (2020 or 2021)
-4 Pay Stubs
-Letter from your employer
-Disability Insurance
-Unemployment Documentation
Experiencing and creating live theatre ignites curiosity, fosters belonging, and heightens creativity; inspiring growth for artists, audiences, and communities on stage, and in life.American Stage Education provides opportunities for intellectual, social, and emotional growth through inclusive and accessible programs. Discover our classes for youth and adults, summer camps, productions for young audiences, and enriching collaborations with schools and community groups.