DST ACADEMY

CENTER STAGE:  SNOWMEN “MELTDOWN”

Center Stage Snowmen “Meltdown” celebrates winter and famous Snowmen from favorites like: Frozen, Frosty the Snowman and Abominable. We will be singing and dancing as well as making winter themed crafts to take home!

Instructor: KARA ARMSTRONG

Kara has been involved with DST since 2016 as an actor, counselor, and volunteer. She has helped with multiple Center Stage sessions, and she cannot wait to share her passion for theatre with the incoming generation.

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed.
SIGN UP: Center Stage Snowmen "Meltdown"

DANCE TRAINING FOR MUSICAL THEATRE

Ages 13+

Sadie teaches the technique behind all styles of dancing while learning new and challenging combos! Maybe you didn’t understand a dance term used in your last audition or you fell out of turn. From JAZZ to TAP to even some CONTEMPORARY, Sadie will help sharpen those dance skills and even teach you better technique! Improve your movement quality and stage presence. NAIL your next dance audition!

Instructor: SADIE KROTONSKY

Sadie has been involved with DST for the past 7 years. She has been an actor, camp counselor, dance captain, and a choreographer. Sadie has also been dancing for the past 13 years. She trains at Dancers Domain in all styles including tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, ballroom, and improv. Sadie has also been an assistant for the past two years assisting beginning to advanced level classes as well as enrolled in “choreo lab” for the past 4 years, where she learns about choreography and how to choreograph. She is very excited to use that knowledge to teach her class!

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed. 

 
SIGN UP: Dance Training Musical Theatre

COLLEGE AUDITION PREP

The college audition process can seem hectic, complex, and daunting. That’s why this class is here; Sophia’s gone through the process and made it out the other side, and now she’s here to share everything she knows! This class is designed to help you ace your college audition as well as answer any questions you have about the process.
  • What are the “Unifieds?”
  • How do I know which schools are right for me?
  • What kind of audition material does each school require?
  • What should I wear to my audition?
In this class, we’ll answer any and all questions you have as well as workshop your monologues, songs, and other audition materials to help you feel as confident and prepared as possible. You’ll ace your college audition!
 
Instructor: SOPHIA DRAPEAU

Born and raised here in Phoenix, Sophia Drapeau is now a current Senior at New York University, where she studies Drama at the Tisch School of the Arts. She has spent the past three years at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting studying extensively in modern realism, Shakespeare, voice and speech, movement, character, and Adler technique. She is currently spending her last semester at the Stonestreet Studio for film and television acting. Aside from acting, she enjoys creative writing, playing ukulele and guitar, singing, and spending time with her family and friends. She has appeared in more than 40 youth theater and professional shows across the Valley, and recently appeared in the Scottsdale Community Players alumni productions of The TomKat Project and The Wolves. Having gone through the college audition process herself, she could not be more thrilled to teach this class and share what she’s learned with other young actors!

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed.

SIGN UP: College Audition Prep

SKILLS, STRENGTHS & STYLE

Do you want to figure out how to apply your Skills, Strengths & Styles to further your passion and career in the entertainment industry? Do you even know what your Skills, Strengths and Style are? Mark 4man helps amplify your Skills, Strengths, and Styles to transform you into the “triple threat” you were born to be!
 

Instructor: MARK 4MAN

Mark began studying classical music at the age of 4 under the Suzuki Method, self-taught pop/rock/jazz in elementary school, and jazz in college under the brilliant and inspiring Dave Schmidt. Soon after, Mark earned The Outstanding Musicianship Award at the Reno Jazz Festival and his first, of many, ariZoni Awards of Excellence for Music Direction for the AZ Premiere of The Who’s TOMMY at Nearly Naked Theatre in AZ. He is a very seasoned and professional Session and Studio Musician (available for hire!) Performing in tribute bands and conducting musicals for nearly a decade, Mark has travelled the county with many different artists, and he even entertained 7,000+ in Dana Point, CA, with keytar in hand. Regional music director credits include: Unwrapped, Mamma Mia, Altar Boyz, Hands on a Hardbody, Rock of Ages, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Les Miserables, Buddy’s Back (World Premiere at Arizona Broadway Theatre), Spring Awakening, (Phoenix Theatre ariZoni nomination). Follow Mark on Social Media @M4brockstar iTunes/Spotify: Mark 4man, Simply Draven Mark also makes performance and rehearsal tracks for any and all types of shows, performers, and bands.

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed.

 
SIGN UP: Skills, Strengths & Style

FIT FOR BROADWAY

Come get fit with Allie! This exercise and dance class is the perfect way to continue your triple-threat training! Allie, a certified personal trainer, leads this class focusing on building strength, flexibility and stamina necessary for every great musical theatre performer. Learn tips and tricks to pick up choreography in a snap so you can head into your next audition with confidence! New music, new dances and new combos from your favorite TV shows and musicals make getting FIT FOR BROADWAY fun!

 

Instructor: ALLIE ROSE
Allie Rose has been involved at DST as an actor, choreographer, camp counselor, and dance captain for the past 9 years.  She is certified as a personal trainer and group fitness trainer, and she is currently earning her certification for spin instruction and youth sports. Allie was featured in a production of NEWSIES, the first full-length virtual musical, with Actors Technique New York.

Next to living and breathing musical theatre, Allie loves nothing more than to be working out at the gym, so she is thrilled to continue bringing the two things she loves most together in her DST Academy classes!

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed. 

 
SIGN UP: Fit for Broadway

CENTER STAGE “VALENTINE FRIENDSHIPS”

This Center Stage session will feature songs from Aladdin, The Descendants, and The Little Mermaid! We’ll make Valentine’s Day crafts, friendship bracelets, and more! Please “Be Our Guest” as we meet “Friends Like Me” on Wednesday afternoons for Center Stage. At the end of this 4 week session, we will have a recital-style performance for family and friends. Who knows? You may even discover “She’s in Love” with theatre!

Instructor: KARA ARMSTRONG
Kara has been involved with DST since 2016 as an actor, counselor, and volunteer. She has helped with multiple Center Stage sessions, and she cannot wait to share her passion for theatre with the incoming generation.

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed.

SIGN UP: Valentine Friendships

THE ARTS AS ACTIVISM: LGBTQ+ HUMAN RIGHTS
THROUGH MUSICAL THEATRE

The performing arts have been an integral part of social activism for centuries. During this engaging, interactive, student-led series of master classes, the students will explore both historical and recent events in local, national, and global culture as regards to Social Injustice and Human Rights for LGBTQ+ populations. In the process, they will create an original song, poetry, monologues and other spoken word pieces to help them give voice to the deeper thoughts and feelings of their hearts in a hopeful, compassionate, inclusive, and empathetic way. All in a safe space where sharing is welcome, and judging is not.

Instructor: DAVID SIMMONS
David Simmons serves as founder and creative director of The UBU Project , an education outreach company specializing in Social/Emotional Arts Integration Residencies. The mission of UBU is: to end youth suicide, addiction and bullying through arts integration. A graduate of the University of Montana School of Music, David’s diverse career as an educator, performer, producer, recording artist, worship leader and mental health advocate has taken him to all 50 states, 14 countries and 3 continents. He has served as education director and teaching artist for Arizona Broadway Theatre, Desert Foothills Theatre, and Fort Peck Fine Arts Council, and as a teaching artist for Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center, Childsplay Theatre, Wyoming Council on the Arts, the Montana Arts Council, and the Missoula Children’s Theatre (multiple international residencies). Additional teaching experience includes residencies with the Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools, the University of Montana, Casper College, and Estrella Mountain Community College.

David has performed live with Alice Cooper, The Solid Rock House Band and members of REO Speedwagon, A-ha, Tower of Power, Sly and the Family Stone, The Phoenix Symphony, and The Schubert Kirche Orchester (Vienna) and has served as music director, bassist and featured soloist on tour with Motown recording artists TheDrifters.

Whether in a classroom, coffee shop, rock club, worship space or classical concert hall, David brings a wealth of experience, energy, and encouragement to every stage, school, or project he encounters.

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed.

 
SIGN UP: The Arts as Activism

SHAKING UP SHAKESPEARE!

A class designed to introduce children ages 10 and up to the themes and language of Shakespeare in a fun and engaging way! Encourages both reading comprehension and creativity through use of modern translations side by side with the original text. Students will learn the plots of Shakespeare’s plays, study several soliloquies, and act out brief scenes of their choice. The class will give overviews of the Bard’s most famous works and fun facts about their place in modern culture, focusing particularly on comedic moments and characters’ moral dilemmas to spark both discussion and laughter.

Instructor: BETTE VAJDA

Bette Vajda is a sophomore at Oberlin College majoring in English and Theater has written two Shakespeare adaptations that have been performed in the US and overseas. Born in Washington DC, she has also lived in Albania, Myanmar, and India.
 

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed.

SIGN UP: Shaking Up Shakespeare!

DST INCUBATOR

Inspired by Freestyle Love Supreme:
“It’s finding the joy in the things we know how to do and turning them into a show.” A gathering place on Friday nights. Older teens and 20-somethings only. YOU will be your own teaching artists. DST supplies the stage, a keyboard, bottled water, lights, sound… You bring the talent and the creative energy. Put it all together into a COVID-safe show that you will perform for family and friends at 7:30pm on Friday, March 5.

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed.

SIGN UP: DST Incubator

DANCE TRAINING FOR MUSICAL THEATRE

Ages 8-12

Sadie teaches the technique behind all styles of dancing while learning new and challenging combos! Maybe you didn’t understand a dance term used in your last audition or you fell out of turn. From JAZZ to TAP to even some CONTEMPORARY, Sadie will help sharpen those dance skills and even teach you better technique! Improve your movement quality and stage presence. NAIL your next dance audition!

Instructor: SADIE KROTONSKY
Sadie has been involved with DST for the past 7 years. She has been an actor, camp counselor, dance captain, and a choreographer. Sadie has also been dancing for the past 13 years. She trains at Dancers Domain in all styles including tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, ballroom, and improv. Sadie has also been an assistant for the past two years assisting beginning to advanced level classes as well as enrolled in “choreo lab” for the past 4 years, where she learns about choreography and how to choreograph. She is very excited to use that knowledge to teach her class!

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed.

SIGN UP: Dance Training Musical Theatre

IT’S ALL FUN AND THEATRE GAMES

Ask any theatre kid and they will tell you the first 10 minutes of rehearsal is the most fun! This class is jam-packed with all those interactive and energizing theatre games! Games are often used by directors as a great ice-breaking activity or tool to warm up cast members for rehearsal. This class expands on the belief that theatre games are an important part of any drama curriculum, because they teach valuable theatre skills while allowing students to achieve focus, build confidence, stretch their imagination, and grow as an actor. Games will focus on physical acting, creativity, projection, and character development. This class is designed to teach essential acting and improv skills, yet disguised as pure fun for theatre kids of all experience levels.
Instructor: SANDI CARLL
Sandi Carll has been a youth theatre director in the valley for the last several years. As Director of Education at Valley Youth Theatre, she managed youth camps, classes and community outreach programs. Her VYT director credits include Alice in Wonderland and The Hobbit. In 2018, Sandi directed Robin Hood at TheaterWorks which received two ariZoni wins and six additional ariZoni nominations, including best production and best director. She was also an integral part of the YouthWorks program, Kids Alive and other shows including, A Christmas Carol, Frog & Toad and Twilight’s Quest. Last season, Sandi directed Annie at Starlight Community Theater where she was a long-standing board member, show producer, and stage manager.

NOTES: For the safety of everyone, temperatures will be taken upon arrival, masks will be mandatory for all in attendance, and social-distancing guidelines will be observed.

SIGN UP: It's All Fun and Theatre Games