Community Theater Academy

Performance-based programs from preschool to high school

The Community Theater Academy develops confident, innovative, and expressive performers in an environment that is fun, creative, and energized! With proven techniques and programs for young artists from preschool through high school, every class is designed to be a successful experience for students regardless of age or ability. Class sizes are kept small so that every young performer receives individual attention and is placed in a role that shows off their unique talents. Musical theater and adventure theater performers showcase their work on stage twice a year in dynamic performances, with full theatrical sound, lighting, and effects that are designed to celebrate each child.

Upcoming Spring Productions

Important information about Spring 2023 Programming:

Registration opens November 15
Live performance casting begins January 4
Live performance enrollment closes January 24

Programs

Preschool Theater (Ages 3–5)

Preschool Theater helps ease our youngest performers into the idea of telling stories through performance. Students learn to transition from play-time to creating a play. As they proceed through the year, they begin to start making scenes from stories, accompanied by music. Each scene, song and dance builds confidence and teaches dexterity. Posts of their work are downloadable so their progress can be shared with family and friends!

Theater Kids (K–Grade 1)

Theater Kids move up from the scenes, songs and dances of Preschool Theater to full short stories. Every other month the performers post a short performance complete with lines, songs and at least one dance. They learn theatrical terms like downstage and upstage, which will help their transition into Musical Theater and Adventure Theater. We start to train their voices for the spoken word and singing. Students also begin to understand how their bodies help create characters. You may very well start to see your performer making up their own stories at home!

Adventure Theater (Grades 5–9)

Featuring two live stage performances, Adventure Theater instills confidence and creativity. Productions are dramatic and comedic works that can as easily be films as stage productions. Performers who lean toward dialogue-driven shows and away from song and dance thrive here, especially as scripts are crafted to ensure as equal parts for cast members as the story will allow. Numerous methodologies from classical theater to present-day realism are taught by experienced directors. Actors learn how to make an audience root for, laugh at or despise characters. All involved are challenged to take roles they have not experienced before, stretching their abilities and keeping them from being pigeon-holed by future directors.

"I can't thank you enough for continuing to work with [my fourth grader] and making him feel important, special and confident. He was very proud of The Tempest and really loves working with you so much. You are an awesome teacher and bring the stories alive! Thank you for all your hard work." — Beth R.

"Thank you for creating a safe space for these kids to explore different roles and learn challenging material. You provided some much needed consistency and levity during these mercurial times. My [sixth grader] loves acting and we are grateful for your excellence in teaching. Your class has been her joie de vivre!" — Rebecca C.

Musical Theater (Grades 2–12)

Live onstage, Musical Theater brings Broadway titles to life with pomp and pageantry. Rehearsal casts are capped so that each performer receives equal attention during rehearsals, irregardless of their character in the show. There is no waiting around for long stretches at our rehearsals. Even during performances: if we find any reason to get your performer onstage, we seize it. Only through constant work and development will all performers advance. Some of our instructor's past students, who started off shy, quiet or unsure, are now confidently studying at premiere art schools. They learned technique in voice, dance and acting. What's more, they learned to enhance their own performances with creative thinking and character studies. Classes are infused with improvisation to help with spontaneous problem solving. If something unexpected happens during a performance, our performers rely on one another to mask it from the audience. That's why the confidence and know-how sets a foundation for future B.F.A. programs and professional auditions, and also aids performers who seek out careers in medicine, law, public relations, education and what have you. That is why, by giving their all, students get it all.

MUSICAL THEATER: GRADES 2–3

MUSICAL THEATER: GRADES 3–5

MUSICAL THEATER: GRADES 5–7

MUSICAL THEATER: GRADES 7–9

MUSICAL THEATER: GRADES 9–12

Improv (Grades 6–10)

Nothing builds self-trust and confidence better than improvisation. Improv acts as a connector between the spontaneous comedian and the scripted stage performer. Working as a team, the troupe learns to love the unknown, to seek the unexpected and to develop a unique perspective. Every unexpected turn is an offer to create something wonderful. An improv troupe is where talented performers who don't have the patience for scripted scenes can shine. It is where scripted performers learn, though anything can happen on stage, nothing will worry them.

Acting in Film (Grades 2–8)

Moving through the decades, Acting in Film students explore everything from melodrama to realism. With one's face filling a tv or cinema screen, actors learn to convey incredible emotion with incredible nuance; the twitch of a smile, the concern in one's eyes; the camera captures it all. Through performances for close-ups, mid-shots and long-shots, actors learn film's vocabulary as well as how movies are made.

ACTING IN FILM: GRADES K–1

ACTING IN FILM: GRADES 2–3

ACTING IN FILM: GRADES 4–6

ACTING IN FILM: GRADES 7–12

"[Acting in Film] was so fun! [My fifth grader] had a great time taking the class and can’t wait to start again in the Fall. Thanks!" — Sabreena K.

Broadway Dance (Grades 7–12)

A dash of ballet, a touch of modern and all... that... jazz. There's nothing quite like Broadway Dance, where the dancer is very aware of the audience and seeks to pull them into the fun of a show. Since every dance is inspired by characters, every element of the body is used to bring a performance to life. The more fun, unique and unexpected a section of choreography, the more loved by an audience. Costumes, props and set pieces all get infused into the presentation. Students learn all the elements that will help them be a true triple threat on the Broadway stage.

Note: A student must be enrolled in Musical Theater or the Community Dance Academy to participate in Broadway Dance.

BROADWAY DANCE: GRADES 7–12

BROADWAY DANCE: GRADES 9–12

Triple Threat Training (Grades 3–5)

This class is exclusive to performers in upper elementary. Performers build their skills in the triple threat of theater: acting, music, and dance. The strong instincts developed in this program increase opportunities for performers as they enter Middle School Theater programs. In voice and dance, it provides each individual the skills they need to rise to their next level and makes theatrical techniques second nature. In acting, performers explore numerous character types so they can prove to directors that they are capable of anything.

Discounts*

10% sibling discount across Academy programming
10% off registration if a customer recommends Community Academy to another family, and that family registers for a CA class
Spring '23 Offers:
- 50% off Triple Threat Training, Exclusive for 3rd–5th graders registered for Musical Theater
- 50% off Preschool class if a sibling is enrolled in a Community Academy production

*Discounts cannot be combined
*Sibling discount taken from monthly installments unless paying total in advance

Perks

Free sample classes
Free monthly movie nights
Free Academy Instructor-led workshops
Free Academy performance tickets for parent volunteers
Discounted tickets to age-appropriate Walnut Hill performances
Discounted registrations for siblings
Time slot preference for private lessons
Organized group bookings to area shows
Video postings of in-class progress
Live performances use Walnut Hill's state-of-the-art facilities
Assistant Director's Club for 5th grade and up

community THEATER academy director

Todd Morse

12 Highland St.
Natick, MA 01760

508.318.8189

tmorse@walnuthillarts.org

Meet the Faculty

Todd Morse

Community Theater Academy Director

Amber Crossman

David Raposo

Community Theater Academy Instructor

what are people saying about cta?

"We are so glad we found this magical place. It was clear from the beginning [our third grader] loved her Musical Theater class and teacher, Ms. Alex . . . At home, her script for the fall show was always by her side and both of her sisters had no choice but to learn the songs from the script because [she] was always singing them. The production was such a blast. As [she] moved into Mr. Todd's class for spring, the magic continued. The Moana script continued to be a permanent fixture at the dinner table and around the house. In fact, [she] struggled a bit with reading in school at the beginning of the year and generally wasn't very interested in reading on her own but once she started theater, we noticed she would sit there for good chunks of time just reading the script on her own. Her reading ability took a huge leap forward and her endless energy of rolling around the house at times got redirected into this newfound love for reading her scripts. The Moana performance was spectacular. The kids radiated the care and love they clearly receive through this program. Thank you for creating this amazing place and having an incredible staff that brings out the best in these kids!" — Natasha S.

"I cannot thank you enough for everything this spring. [My eighth grader] has loved every minute of it. I was blown away by the show and the entire cast. Well done!!!" — Danielle M.

"CTA has been a wonderful part of [my seventh grader's] year! The warmth, inclusiveness, and technical direction have been equally impressive. As a slightly younger member of her group, she has felt included. She appreciates the way the teachers mentor all of the students in terms of being a cohesive, supportive cast for each other. And I cannot believe how much all of the students have grown in their theatrical skills! From [LINX] until now, I see a major transformation! We all really appreciated the mics, lights, and set as well. They showcased the performers without overshadowing them. Theater played a big part in building [her] social confidence, giving her an activity to feel proud of through hard work, and providing a whole extra social circle for friendships. KUDOS to you and the entire CTA team." — Elizabeth W.

"Thank you so much for all of your encouragement, guidance, teaching and mentorship over this past year. My [third grader] has gained so much confidence and we could not imagine a better year of theater class. Thank you again for everything." — Nicole S.

CTA News

News from the Community Theater Academy: November 5, 2022

Nov 5 2022