Classes / Workshops

SSPA Education Programs

Classes for All Ages

Sierra School of Performing Arts offers classes in acting, voice and dance for children and adults. For the latest updates, click here to subscribe to our newsletter, or click here to join us on Facebook. Click here to see answers to frequently asked questions about our classes. Financial assistance is available for all classes. Click here to download the application form.

Fall 2020 Class Schedule

Acting Classes

Our classes are not only fun, but they develop skills you will need as a human. Take a theater class and you can:
-Become a better listener
-Conquer fear
-Spark creativity
-Meet new people
-Become a better problem solver
-Gain confidence
-Say yes more in life
-Learn to think fast
- Become a better public speaker
-Get out of your comfort zone in a safe environment
-Learn to work as a team
-Get out of the house, get off the screens, and have fun!

Virtual Classes

Curtain Up! Acting and Telling Stories
Be transported to a world of fun and fantasy while learning to work together through play. Students looking for basic acting, presentation, and storytelling skills will find it in this beginning level acting class. We’ll use theater games and acting exercises as we delve into fairy tales (old and new!) and learn how to tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Build confidence and spark your creativity in this fun, virtual 8-week class. The class will culminate in a live zoom performance!
Ages 9-13
Tuesdays 4:00-4:45pm starting September 8
$125 for 8 classes
Click here to register.

Acting Fundamentals: Acting for Teens For students looking to take their acting skills to the next level, this intermediate acting class is for you! We will start by using improvisation and games to learn how to create a scene out of thin air.
-Establishing Who, Where, and What are you doing?
-Always staying positive with the Yes!...AND technique.
We will also learn the techniques of script analysis and point of view acting to ultimately perform ten-minute scenes. Yes we can do scenes virtually!
Ages 13-17
Thursdays 3:00-3:45pm starting September 10
$125 for 8 classes
Click here to register.

In Person Classes
(Please see our Covid statement for how we are making these safe to attend)

Acting Up: Improvisation!
This fun class offers students of all experience levels a chance to have fun while expanding their abilities as a character improviser and all around actor. Nothing to memorize, this class is all about on-the-spot creativity and fun as we delve into theater games and improvisation. You will learn the basics and see why improv is not just about comedy and performing, but a way to act with more freedom, confidence and positivity. This 8-week class will culminate in a physically distanced Improv show that we will film so students can show their family and friends.
Age 13-17
Tuesdays 7:00-8:00pm starting September 8
$145 for 8 classes
Click here to register.

Little Sprouts! Adventures in Creative Drama
Does your child love to act and pretend? Harnessing that wonderful world of imagination can be a powerful tool for building skills in many essential developmental areas. In this fun class, your child will practice social skills, concentration, and problem solving while diving into games designed to encourage exploration and imagination. Children will express themselves through performance, music, movement, and acting out stories, familiar and new. The kiddos will have the opportunity to perform for parents on the last day of class.
Age 5-8
Saturdays, 10:00-10:45am starting September 12
$125 for 8 weeks | Drop-ins $20 per class - first week only
Parents must be on premises during first week of class or by request.
Click here to register.

New! Stage Makeup
This new 4-week class will introduce students to the basics of makeup for the stage and for character. We will cover the tools and techniques of light and shadow, how to “age” a face and how to turn into an animal! Students need to bring their own makeup tools and supplies. You must bring a face towel, facial cleanser, and a basic theatrical makeup kit. You can order a Ben Nye theatrical makeup starter kit (about $25) online.
Ages 12 and up (adults are welcome!)
Saturdays 11 – 12:15pm starting September 12
$75 for 4 classes
Click here to register

Musical Theater and More

Broadway Triple Threat - Part 1: Voice and Performance
(In person class)
Our Broadway Triple Threat workshop series is designed for musical theater performers who want to improve on their dancing, acting, and singing. Each part of this series will prepare students to ace their auditions and be more comfortable performing in musical theater productions. The voice component will focus on the fundamentals of vocal technique, ear training, and stage presence - plus everything it takes to perform a song in character on stage. Students will work on either solo or group numbers, from pop/musical to standard Broadway style. We highly encourage taking this class to prepare for auditions for musicals. (Part 2 will focus on dance). We will video performances to give students a chance to present their work to friends and family.
Age 10 and up - Adults encouraged to join us
Tuesdays 6:00 -6:55pm October 13 – November 3
$75 for 4 weeks

Click here to register.

Triple Threat Weekend Intensive Series
Voice, Dance and Acting for Musical Theater
Our Triple Threat Intensive is designed for musical theater performers who want to improve their dancing and singing to prepare for musical theater auditions. On three consecutive Saturdays we will cover the basics: you will work on choreography, singing and performing a musical theater song, and finally, acting and performing a monologue in character. With individual feedback you will learn your strengths and weaknesses so you can improve and be more competitive. We highly encourage taking this series to prepare for auditions for our summer musicals.
Age 12, Grade 5 and up (or by consent of instructor) | Adults encouraged to join us
This workshop will be back by popular demand in the spring!

Performance Opportunities

Summer Musical
Annie, August 2021. Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater.
Annie has been cast and postponed until August 2021. Click here for details.

Youth Musical, The Big One-Oh! online edition
Audition for our next show: The Big One-Oh! Pre-recorded auditions due by August 31. Details on the auditions page.

Financial assistance is available. Click here to download the application form.

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Have fun while you learn!

Covid statement:
We take every precaution when holding our classes in-person. Parents will sign in outside, and students must wear face masks to and during class. At certain times, they may be allowed to remove their mask, but only when proper distance can be achieved. Our instructors will wear a mask and keep students physically distant. All surfaces will be sanitized periodically, and touching or sharing surfaces will be minimal or discouraged at all times.If by the time classes are underway and our community is experiencing an outbreak, we will postpone classes or go online if appropriate. If you have specific questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Let us know:
-If you’d like more online classes
-What classes you’d like to take
-If you’d like to do a virtual play

The benefits of training in the arts go far beyond developing theater skills. Research demonstrates that the arts are vital to a well-rounded education. They promote critical thinking, enhance spatial and temporal perception, foster positive social skills, and provide powerful motivation for students to excel in school. Such education calls for students to process information verbally, aurally, and kinesthetically—so that every child can succeed in the classroom and in life. Theater especially captures all of the above skills and learning styles in one art form! And it’s fun! We encourage you to consider giving your child the golden opportunity to develop confidence and social skills by signing them up for one of our classes or encouraging them to participate in a camp or one of our plays!

If you have questions, send an email to: info (at) sierraschoolofperformingarts.org, or call Sierra School of Performing Arts, 775-852-7740.