The nation's largest high-impact theater training program for young people
First Stage Theater Academy is in it's 31st year as the nation’s largest high-impact theater training program for young people. We offer classes emphasizing the process of becoming strong performers, creative thinkers, and confident young people, for students as young as age 4, up through high-school seniors. Professional theater artists share their expertise with students, fostering life skills through stage skills.
School Year Academy | Summer Academy | Next Steps | Young Company | Financial Assistance | Student Advisory Board
Watch us on Milwaukee PBS "The Arts Page"
School Year Academy
Throughout the school year, we offer classes in Fall, Winter, and Spring Sessions for grades K4-12. All experience levels are welcome! Performance fundamentals, storytelling, advanced classes, and specific techniques are offered.
Classes are taught by professional theater performers and artists, based on First Stage's highly developed curriculum.
Summer Academy
Full-day and half-day sessions held throughout the summer for students entering grades K4-12 in the fall. All experience levels are welcome! Classes range from basic storytelling and dramatic play for the youngest students, to introductory show clinics and audition-based Company Classes for high school students.
Next Steps Theater Academy
Summer and School Year Theater Academy classes designed for both verbal and non-verbal students, students with classic autism, PDD-NOS, other sensory processing disorders, and Asperger's. With small class sizes, our curriculum explores acting, singing, dancing and improvisation, through which students improve social understanding, fine and gross motor skills, empathy, conversation skills, public speaking and confidence.
Young Company
First Stage Young Company, the Theater Academy’s award-winning training program for advanced high school actors is open to students who want to take their work to the next level. Accepted students will complete college and graduate-level training in Acting, Voice, Movement, and Shakespeare as well as electives ranging from Auditioning to Stage Combat to Dialects.
Financial Assistance
We are thankful to many generous sponsors that allow us to offer financial assistance to any family that applies; awards are need-based. Flexible payment-plans are also available. Contact the Academy at academy@firststage.org to learn more.
Student Advisory Board
Do you want to be a student leader at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center? These positions are great for students looking to boost their extracurricular activities, make a difference in their community, and create a welcoming (and fun!) atmosphere for all students that walk through our doors. Students of all backgrounds, talents, and abilities (Grades 5-12) are encouraged to apply.