​Scene Study focused acting technique based in a fun, supportive and creative atmosphere. Each year students concentrate on scenes and monologues from plays to learn basics or improve upon acting fundamentals: the who, where, why, how, objectives and tactics. Students will then apply these concepts to how they attack a character or work with scene partners or in a group. Students can and should take this as many times as they want each year as a new play and new important skills will be learned.

Students will cover the basics of Set design, Scene painting, Costume design, lighting design, props design, sound design, and stage management. Students will learn and create a prop, costume plot, basic tool safety skills, color spectrum for lights, create a sound effect, to take blocking notes, and much more. This is an entry level class to start in the MPA tech certificate program.

Students will expand on the fundamentals of Broadway dance by focusing on styles of dance and choreography. From the golden age to modern shows, students will learn dances to their favorite broadway songs throughout the year. Classes will push students to build up their audition skills and will continue to add dance verbiage and styles to their skill set as performers.

This fast-paced and fun performance class is both a class and rehearsal all in one! Beginning actors can experience the ins and outs of acting, rehearsing for and performing a fully staged play or musical. Time is spent each week exploring acting techniques as well as rehearsing.

Through in class exercises, games, practice, and instructor feedback, students will explore Short-form and Long-form improvisation. Focus will be working on physical, verbal, and short form game improv. Goals of the class are improving speed, listening skills, story, and teamwork. Students will be challenged to think quickly and create a scene with partners or in a large group. Class will also consist of warm-up exercises to help with nervousness, self-confidence and imagination and specific physical and verbal games to help timing and creativity. There is no prerequisite for this class. This class can be retaken as many times as you want!

This fun class will introduce students to a variety of musical skills. These fundamentals include elements like rhythm, melody, harmony, dynamics, and form, which work together to create a cohesive musical piece. To help students understand these concepts, class will consist of games, playing instruments like bells and boom sticks, and learning group exercises that are essential for both listening to and creating music.

This new program is for our 11 to 14 year olds interested in performing. A full show, twice a year written by our own Will Johnson. This performance class is three hours long and is an advanced version of the Broadway Jr. program. Actors will experience how a production runs with Costumes, Lights, Sound, Props and more. We recommend that students who have not been in shows take this performance class before joining Mainstage. Students may also find this class as a great way to gain experience.

Get your body performance-ready in a class focusing on strength and stamina. Through a combination of stretching, cardio, and various strength training, you will be ready to be the best you can be!

In this class students will delve into the world of play writing. Students will learn basic skills in developing their own texts (scripts) with each other. They will have the opportunity to be the playwrights, the directors, and the actors. By working together as an ensemble, students will have the chance to tell their own stories! It's a fantastic creative outlet for those wanting to see their imaginations come to life on stage. At the end of term we will showcase the works of the students in a staged reading for parents and guardians.

If you have had Stage Combat 1 or want to take both classes concurrently to develop additional weapons skills, this class is for you. Dive into Rapier and Rapier Dagger fighting while learning footwork, parry, thrust and much more. Work in teams to create and perfect your sword fighting skills. Classes will consist of training with weapons, working on technique, and selling the fight on stage.

An intermediate tap class designed to develop rhythm, style, and sound. Exercises focus on building flexibility of the knee and ankles, coordination, and speed of movement. The class emphasis is on developing proper tap techniques and producing clear tap sounds. Students will be able to take this class several times and will move up levels based on the teacher’s recommendation.

A Technical Theater training program. Students signed up for this class will have taken basic technical theater classes first. Students will meet twice a month with the Education Director to chat about their focus, what they have learned and for guidance in their field of interest. Students will then pick a focus for the next show that they can work on and they will shadow the professional designer for that show. Each student should have one credit (shows worked) in each technical theater focus, plus additional credits of their choosing in Sound, Lights, Set/Scenic/Projections, Costumes, Stage Management, and Props. After completing a design shadow in a specific field, the student can then apply to design their own Broadway Jr. or Off Broadway showcase. After their 6 credits are completed (they could earn up to 5 credits a year if they want) they can then choose to specialize in a particular area. The program is completed when a student has graduated high school and they will be acknowledged and given a certificate with their credits and specialization. This program looks great on a resume.

For our more experienced adventurers that have had at minimum a full year of the first class and have approval by the teacher to advance to the next level. In this class you will take your characters to a more in depth level of role play. Improvisation and characters will be taken on a serious journey to explore 3 dimensional lives and how the characters interact with each other and the world that surrounds them. This class is PG rated and will be an amazing adventure for any serious actor or role player.

This class lets you bring out your inner trapeze artist. You will learn aerial silks, tight rope walking, tumbling, and more. Come soar through the theater and learn a new and fun skill set! This class culminates in a showcase during the final class for your family. Take this as many times as you like to continue to build your skills.

This fast-paced and fun performance class is both a class and rehearsal all in one! Beginning actors can experience the ins and outs of acting, rehearsing for and performing a fully staged play or musical. Time is spent each week exploring acting techniques as well as rehearsing.

Develop a character from the ground up through roleplaying. This class aims to explore the emotional development of a character, improvisation, voice acting, problem-solving, and unsurprisingly roleplaying! Stimulate the imagination and level up your acting. Learn to create a character and make improvisational choices using that character's backstory and traits. This class is geared towards our new or newer role players. To level up into the advanced class you must have teacher approval. This class is rated PG.

Our mainstage productions are for students that are 13 -18 years old and have had experience on stage. They should feel like they are ready for a full Broadway level show. This includes focus and fortitude. These productions have rehearsals on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. During tech week students will be in rehearsal every evening through opening night.

For students interested in advancing their musical skills. This class will help students learn to read music, understand their voice, and sing harmonies. This is perfect for growing your musical skills or for students that want an introduction to music theory that have aged out of Music Fundamentals.

Get your body performance-ready in a class focusing on strength and stamina. Through a combination of stretching, cardio, and various strength training, you will be ready to be the best you can be!

The Rock Band Class consists of a weekly group rehearsal where students learn by playing iconic rock songs with a band composed of their peers. Students are assigned songs and parts suited to them based on skill level. The goal of the class will be to prepare kids and teens for live music performance and to put on a performance of their songs that family and friends are invited to come see. Students will be performing songs from bands such as “Green Day”, “The Beatles”, “Led Zeppelin”, and “AC/DC”. Students are expected to practice at least an hour a week outside of class times. Students will need a folder, water bottle, two pencils, their instrument, and any handouts for each class. Ear plugs are required, MPA will have cheap reusable ear plugs if you can not provide your own or you forget yours.

​Stage Combat class is back in full swing (pun intended)! Learn to punch, kick, fall and fight with partners. Learn basic skills with broadswords and quarterstaffs. Learn to trust your scene partner and yourself. Even if you have taken a stage combat class before, this course will brush up your skills, teach new weapons, and have you pratfalling like a pro. Learning these skills can add to your resume, make you more hirable, and keep you safe when acting in a variety of roles. This term you will be learning or reviewing some of the following: Punches, Kicks, Slaps, Knaps, Falls, Blocks, Chokes, Evasions, Hair Pulls, Elbow Strikes, Pushes, in addition to broadsword attacks/defense moves and quarterstaff attack/defense moves. Students will work on choreographed fights with partners and develop the skills needed to really sell a fight on stage.

A beginning tap class designed to develop rhythm, style, and sound. Exercises focus on building flexibility of the knee and ankles, coordination, and speed of movement. The class emphasis is on developing proper tap techniques and producing clear tap sounds. Students will be able to take this class several times and will move up levels based on the teacher’s recommendation.

An advanced tap class designed to develop rhythm, style, and sound. Exercises focus on building flexibility of the knee and ankles, coordination, and speed of movement. The class emphasis is on developing proper tap techniques and producing clear tap sounds. This class can be retaken as often as students like.