School Year Theater Academy

First Stage Theater Academy is the nation’s largest high impact theater training program for young people. We offer Fall, Winter, School Year Intensive, and Performance classes focusing on Acting, Musical Theater, Improvisation, and much more for students in grades K3 - 12, with classes held at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center and the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield.

Professional theater artists from Milwaukee’s thriving theater scene sharing their expertise, skills, and passion for their art. With programming that includes classes in musical theater, scene study and improvisation, students develop their stage skills while simultaneously building life skills, such as confidence, focus, and teamwork. 

Session Dates | School Year Intensives | Performances Classes | School Year Academy Highlights | Cost | Registration Tips

SESSION DATES

Fall Academy:
Wednesdays, October 3 - November 20, 2019
Saturdays, October 5 - November 23, 2019

Winter Academy:
Wednesdays, January 15 - March 4, 2020
Saturdays, January 11 - March 7, 2020

View our Schedule at a Glance

AUDITION-BASED CLASSES

School Year Intensives

Advanced Acting, Advanced Musical Theater, and Organized Chaos will hold auditions on August 5-6 and September 11 from 4:30-6:30pm. Young Company auditions are August 26-28. Contact academy@firststage.org to learn more and sign up for auditions using the links below.

Saturdays, October 5, 2019 - May 9, 2020

• Advanced Acting (grades 5-8) Sign up for your Advanced Acting audition!
• Advanced Musical Theater (grades 5-12) Sign up for your Advanced Musical Theater audition!
• Organized Chaos (grades 7-12) Sign up for your Organized Chaos audition!
• Playwrights Ensemble (grades 6-12) This class requires a written submission for admission - contact academy@firststage.org for details.
• Young Company (grades 9-12) Sign up for your Young Company audition!

Spring Performances Classes - NEW!
Be part of a production with First Stage Theater Academy. Auditions for Spring Performance Classes are held August 7 and September 17. Contact academy@firststage.org to learn more and sign up for an audition time using the links below.

• DISNEY'S JUNGLE BOOK KIDS (grades 3-5) - February 24 - March 11, 2020; performances March 12 & 13. Sign up for your JUNGLE BOOK KIDS audition!

• DISNEY'S FROZEN, JR. (grades 6-8) - February 24 - March 18, 2020; performances March 19 & 20. Sign up for your FROZEN, JR. audition!

Highlights from School Year Theater Academy in 2019/20 include:

• Playmakers, grades 1-2: Fall: Underwater Worlds; Winter: Arctic Adventures
• Acting Foundations, grades 3-4: Fall: Time Warp Trip; Winter: The Epic Adventures of Rock, Paper, Scissors
• Musical Theater, grades 5-6: Fall: Elf - The Musical; Winter: Disney on Broadway
• Improvisation, grades 7-8: Fall: Advanced Comedy Improv; Winter: Introduction to Long-Form Improv

COST

• Sessions start at $160. Tuition includes all class materials and one Academy t-shirt per students.  Explore our course catalog for specific classes and prices.
• Financial assistance is available to any student; awards are need-based. Learn more about our financial assistance program and how to apply.

REGISTRATION TIPS

• Register online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You may also register by mail using this form.
• Please have your schedule, child’s emergency contact information, and any pertinent medical information available.
• Please note: our website is best compatible with the Google Chrome browser, with a ten-minute limit on our website’s shopping cart.

Questions? Contact the Academy Office at (414) 267-2970 or email academy@firststage.org.