Acting Conservatory

We offer a young actor training program for ages 7 - 17 during the school year from October to April. The Conservatory program is designed as a building block curriculum were students, at any point in their training, are being introduced to fundamental performance skills that will be explored more in-depth as they advance through the program.

Questions about our Conservatory Program?

Please contact Conservatory Director Jeannine Coulombe by calling (952) 979-1106 or via email

Want to register for Conservatory Classes?

Please contact the Box Office at (952) 979-1111 (Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.) Register online for Center Stage and Junior Conservatory.

Center Stage (ages 7 - 8)

Our Center Stage class is all about building self-confidence and exploring "creative play" while teaching the fundamentals of performance. Using age-appropriate acting games, we teach students how to use their body, voice and imagination in order to create characters and scenes. We also spend a small portion of our class exploring elements of Musical Theatre (singing and dancing). Students must be age seven by the first day of class. Students can register for any session at any time (you do not have to take the previous sessions as a prerequisite).

Sessions - All Center Stage classes meet 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Classes meet one day per week (either Wednesday or Thursday). No classes week of Jan. 16, 2012.  No classes week of Apr. 2, 2012.

Cost

$100 per session or $20 off session III if registering for all three sessions. There is a $5 handling fee per student. Discount CANNOT be applied when registering online. Please call the Box Office at (952) 979-1111, Tuesday - Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.

Location

Register for Center Stage

Junior Conservatory (ages 9 - 11)

Junior Conservatory is designed to teach fundamentals of performance (using the body, voice and imagination) while also providing students with the opportunity to create original work and finding exercises that allow students to express their individuality. We also spend a small portion of our class on Musical Theatre (singing and dancing) and on preparing and building confiedence for auditions. Students must be age nine by the first day of class. Students can register for any session at any time (you do not have to take the previous sessions as a prerequisite).

Sessions - All Junior Conservatory classes meet 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Classes meet one day per week (either Wednesday or Thursday. No classes week of Jan. 16, 2012.  No classes week of Apr. 2, 2012)

Cost

$100 per session or $20 off session III if registering for all three sessions. There is a $5 handling fee per student.  Discount CANNOT be applied when registering online. Please call the Box Office at (952) 979-1111, Tuesday - Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.

Location

Register for Junior Conservatory 

Acting Conservatory (ages 12 - 17)

We work closely with Stages Theatre Company's artistic staff and experienced teaching artists to determine what will help our students to be successful at auditions, rehearsals, on the stage and in creating original work. We commit to creating a safe and open environment, where students explore and express their individuality, build self-confidence, and gain knowledge of performance techniques.

Auditions and Track Placement

All students, new and current, must audition each year. New students are placed into the an acting track after their first audition. Each track focuses on a set of skills that are fundamental to theatre performance and that will prepare them for their next track.

Students audition with a short (one minute) monologue or story and must sign up for a 10-minute audition slot.

AUDITIONS DATES FOR 2011-12 SCHOOL YEAR ARE:

Monday, Aug. 22 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (FULL)

Thursday, Sept. 1 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Email Conservatory Director Jeannine Coulombe to sign up for a 10-minute audition slot.

Schedule

We run a 18-week program (two days a week within three, six-week sessions) that starts in October and ends in April. Students must attend all three sessions. (Sept. 19 - April 21).

Session I: Sept. 19 - Oct. 29, 2011

Session II: Jan. 9 - Feb. 25, 2012 (no classes week of Jan. 16)

Session III: Mar. 5 - Apr. 21, 2012 (no classes week of Apr. 2)

Track I (A & B) and Track III meet on Mondays (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Stages Theatre Company)

Track II (A & B) and Track IV meet on Tuesdays (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Stages Theatre Company)

All tracks meet on Saturdays (9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at FAIR School Crystal)

Track Descriptions

Track I: An Actor Prepares--explores the foundations of theatre performance: preparing the body, mind and voice for performance; improvisation; how to approach the script; and how to develop a character. (There are two classes of Track I. Track I (A) is for the youngest of our students who may or may not have had prior theatre training and Track I (B) is for our slightly older students who also may or may not have had prior training).

Track II: An Actor Plays--provides unique opportunities for students to practice their skills in a variety of performance styles: physical theatre, contemporary scripts and Shakespeare, musical theatre and creating original work. (There are two classes of Track II.  Track II (A) is for the youngest of our students who have advanced from Track IA.  Track II (B) is for our slightly older students who have advanced from Track IB.)

Track III: An Actor Rehearses--focuses on script analysis for Modern and Classical works and teaches students how to prepare and participate in a rehearsal process with challenging text.

Track IV: An Actor Creates--focuses on creative collaborations by exploring different techniques used in devising original work. Track IV students apply these skills while creating and rehearsing an original production that is fully produced by STC the following summer.

Cost

The course is $485 for the year. There is a$5 handling fee per student. Through the Open Door Program, need-based tuition assistance and payment plans are available for qualifying families.  

Publications

Spring 2010 Conservatory Newsletter

Fall 2008 Conservatory Newsletter