WELCOME TO Young Artist Studio!
A ten-month intensive training program providing experienced MENTORSHIP, advanced TRAINING, and growth OPPORTUNITIES for young artists in grades 7-12 who are considering a career in theatre performance or production.
A comPREHENSIVE program for highly motivated students!
The 2024/25 Young Artist Studio will include the following elements:
A personal MENTOR, matched to the student based on interests, who will meet with them three times a year to discuss goals and formulate plans to achieve those goals.
ADVANCED CLASSES on Saturdays, curated to the needs and goals of the students in the Studio.
MASTERCLASSES with industry professionals who can help students better understand theatre, as a profession. The 24/25 Masterclass schedule presented throughout the year will include 3-6 Masterclasses on various topics ranging and presented by professional theatre artists, currently working in the field. Previous Masterclasses included: Acting for the Camera, Professional Dance Call, Vocal Health, Dance and Choreography with the casts of the Broadway Tours of Les Mis, Six and Come from Away.
One FIELD TRIP to Chicago to participate in Masterclasses and a show AND At least one Field Trip to a College/University Theatre Program and/or a Professional Theatre Company.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES include a spring Cabaret, rehearsed and performed on Civic’s Meijer Majestic Stage.
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES for students interested in internships, teaching assistant positions, production positions, and other leadership roles at Civic Theatre.
ADDITIONAL CLASSES in the School of Theatre Arts! Every Studio member is entitled to one free class (or two free dance classes) in the School of Theatre Arts during the Fall and Winter terms.
OTHER PERKS for Studio members include: Studio Nights at GRCT Mainstage shows, Senior Resources, Use of Civic Spaces (at designated times), Professional Headshots, Access to Music and Script Library, Access to Civic professional staff for questions and guidance and Studio Swag.
2024/25 Cohort
AVRIL TABER
MIKKI ROBINSON
LANDRY HAMMOND
KIANA BOOSE
MAKAYLA DEPRIEST
TAYLOR MCGHEE
EMMA BOER
ZOE CUNNINGHAM
HAZEL THOMPSON
LYNDSEY BANDLOW
EVANGELINE OUDING
BROOKLYN FILIUS
2024/25 Young Artist Studio Mentors
Worth Hages
Worth's Bio
Worth is a director, choreographer, and teaching artist. At The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Worth directed and choreographed Elephant and Piggie, We’re in a Play and Dragons Love Tacos and choreographed Frozen Jr., and Hairspray Jr. for the mainstage. Worth has directed and choreographed numerous School of Theatre Art’s Performance Block productions as well. Worth has served as a teaching artist for the past six years at The Civic Theatre and spent the past year working as a mentor and teacher for the inaugural Young Artist Studio. While living in New York City for thirteen years, Worth was a teaching artist with acclaimed educational theatre programs including TADA Youth Theatre, City Lights Youth Theatre, and Wingspan Arts. As a professional actress, Worth originated the role of Amber Von Tussle in the first national tour of Hairspray. Regionally, Worth has performed at The Kennedy Center in D.C., The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, and sung as a soloist with The Boston Pops Orchestra at Symphony Hall. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Boston Conservatory and attended The London Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Josh Keller
Josh's Bio
At Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Josh has been seen on stage, off stage, and in the pit! Josh is proud to have been a part of Ragtime (Keys III), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Annie, and The Little Mermaid (ensemble). His most recent music director works include Beauty and the Beast, Kinky Boots, Mary Poppins, plus Legally Blonde and Jersey Boys at Saugatuck Center for the Arts. When they’re not in the theatre, they love to accompany and coach the MT students at Western Michigan University, teach voice students through his voice studio, Keller Voice Studio, and Josh was also a mentor this year for Civic’s Young Artist Studio.
Amy Wilson
Amy's Bio
Amy Wilson is a Grand Rapids based dance artist, choreographer, dance educator and the Artistic Director of Dance in the Annex (DITA). Amy has served on faculty at Grand Valley State University, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Grand Rapids Community College and Civic Theatre and is a regular guest artist and choreographer at studios, schools and universities around West Michigan. As the Artistic Director of DITA, a contemporary dance collective, Amy choreographs, produces and performs in live and dance-film works that are site-specific with an emphasis on process. Amy is excited for her 2nd year as a Young Artist Studio Mentor and looking forward to choreographing Civic Theatre’s mainstage production of Rocky Horror this upcoming season!
Annelise Dickinson
Annelise's Bio
Annelise is a director, actor, and vocal coach whose career has spanned the Midwest, including teaching at UW-Madison, GVSU, Aquinas College, and Interlochen Arts Camp. She holds a BA in theatre from Purdue and an MFA in Acting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Annelise grew up in Grand Rapids and returned here from Chicago a few years ago to be close to family, and she is enjoying stepping into the local theatre community. Most recently she directed Beautiful: The Carole King Musical here at Civic. Her secret talent is that she can name all of the countries and capitals in the world—just quiz her!
Audrey Aukeman
Audrey's Bio
Audrey is an actress, counselor, and teaching artist from Grand Rapids, MI. She attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where she received a BM in Musical Theatre. Her acting career allowed her the opportunity to perform and teach across the country in regional theatres and on tour. More recently, Audrey graduated from Cornerstone University with an MA in Counseling and currently works as a counselor for a local practice. Since moving back to Grand Rapids, Audrey has continued to be involved with theatre as a teaching artist, music director, and private voice instructor. Audrey especially loves teaching at GRCT because she grew up performing on the Civic stage and taking classes in the School of Theatre Arts. She enjoys seeing a new generation of performers grow up at Civic and is honored to be part of their story!
Allyson Paris
Allyson's Bio
Allyson Paris (she/her) is Theatre Faculty at Muskegon Community College. Before working at MCC, she was staff at GRCT where she directed more than twenty productions at GRCT including: The SpongeBob Musical, Mary Poppins, Once, Matilda, Newsies, The Little Mermaid, My Fair Lady, Akeelah and the Bee, Beauty & the Beast, and Sister Act. Allyson has also worked as a director, music director, and instructor of theatre for The Colorado Springs Conservatory (CO), The Academy of Children’s Theatre (CO), Sacramento Opera (CA), Solano College & Youth Theatre (CA) and Hawaii Opera Theatre (HI). She holds an MFA from the University of Hawaii-Manoa and a BA from Bradley University.
TUITION
Tuition for the 2024/25 program is $4000 for the entire ten month program. Monthly payments of $400 (spread across 10 months) will be accepted. Tuition covers: Mentorship meetings, Saturday classes and Studio time, all Masterclasses, Field Trip transportation and all classes, all production participation, internship/leadership participation, 1-2 additional classes in the Fall & Winter School of Theatre Arts terms and tickets to Touring Broadway shows and any productions on the College/University Field trip. A limited number of need based scholarships are available and applications can be requested upon acceptance into the program. Scholarship Applications are due by Friday, July 26th. There will be a MANDATORY ORIENTATION for parents and students on Tuesday, August 6th from 5-8pm.
Need based scholarship is available by application during the audition/interview process, and will NOT impact your acceptance into the program.
For more information please contact Deb Wright at studio@grct.org