Children’s Theatre Company Announces 48 Virtual Academy Classes for Winter
Classes range for ages 4-18 AND a new adult class!
Minneapolis, Minn.— Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is proud to announce that Virtual Academy classes for the winter season are now on sale. Classes are either nine weeks or four weeks long, running January 26 through March 27, 2021. Classes will include a mix of theatre, music, dance, film, and technical theatre for ages 4 through 18, beginner through pre-professional. This winter also includes a new offering designed for parents providing fun ways to bring imagination and creativity into the home paired with weekday daytime classes to give students an artistic break in their virtual school day. Also included are classes specifically designed for young people with sensory sensitivities including those with ASD, Sensory Processing Disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and other disabilities and mental illnesses for ages 4 through 12. Full class list is below.
Audiences can also watch two free streamed performances of student-devised works including PRIDE (reflections about Stonewall through a variety of artistic mediums) and COVIDtown the Musical. Both performances are located at https://childrenstheatre.org/studentvoices.
CTC saw great success with the launch of Virtual Academy this summer, serving over 700 students from 30 different states and three countries through 50 classes and six master classes featuring Broadway stars and internationally acclaimed designers. Virtual Academy was expanded twice to include additional class offerings, and most classes were sold out.
“I am so grateful to all the work families and teachers are doing for the young people in our community in the face of so much uncertainty,” stated Ellie McKay, CTC’s Director of Education. “With all that’s unknown, we are making changes in our winter plans to offer more options in our schedule and content to support the evolving needs of our families. We are thrilled to continue to be a reliable, weekly opportunity for young people and families to connect with others, express themselves creatively, and have fun.
Registration is now available at childrenstheatre.org/virtual-academy. Scholarships are available through the ACT Pass program.
Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is the nation’s largest and most acclaimed theatre for young people and serves a multigenerational audience. It creates theatre experiences that educate, challenge, and inspire for more than 250,000 people annually. CTC is the only theatre focused on young audiences to win the coveted Tony Award® for regional theatre and is the only theatre in Minnesota to receive three Tony® nominations (for its production of A Year with Frog and Toad). CTC is committed to creating world-class productions at the highest level and to developing new works, more than 200 to date, dramatically changing the canon of work for young audiences.
CTC’s engagement and learning programs annually serve more than 93,000 young people and their communities through Theatre Arts Training, student matinees, Neighborhood Bridges, and early childhood arts education programs. ACT One is CTC’s comprehensive platform for access, diversity, and inclusion in our audiences, programs, staff, and board that strives to ensure the theatre is a home for all people, all families, reflective of our community. childrenstheatre.org
Winter Class Offerings
Ages 4-5
Virtual Academy classes for Ages 4-5 are designed for students to participate alongside a favorite adult in their home. Class will include warmups, large group games, multi-generational exercises to support family play, and activity ideas for between class sessions.
Winter Explorers (Ages 4-5)
Explore the wonder of winter combining story-telling and imaginative play with numbers, letters, and feelings. An adult companion is required to attend class and encouraged to play along.
Supplies Note: A list of supplies for craft activities will be sent out in advance of each class.
Class Days and Times: Tuesdays, 11-11:45am (CT)
Dates: February 2-23, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 201W
Tuition: $75
Class Days and Times: Saturdays, 11:15am-12pm (CT)
Dates: February 6-27, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 601W
Tuition: $75
Happy Feet, Happy Heart (Ages 4-5)
Moving makes us happy! Building spatial awareness and physical control through movement-based story telling with a focus on joy and calm. An adult companion is required to attend class and encouraged to dance along.
Class Days and Times: Tuesdays, 11-11:45am (CT)
Dates: March 2-23, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 202W
Tuition: $75
Class Days and Times: Saturdays, 11:15am-12pm (CT)
Dates: March 6-27, 2021
Class ID: 602W
Tuition: $75
Lunchtime Play Along (Ages 5-7)
Grab your lunch, your favorite adult, and your imagination for a creative break in your school day! Each class will begin with a story while you eat followed by active games and guided imaginative play designed to give kids and adults a mid-day burst of energy and fun.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 301W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 11:30am-12:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 501W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 302W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 11:30am-12:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 502W
Tuition: $85
Grades K-1
Virtual Academy classes for Grades K-1 are designed for students to participate alongside a favorite adult in their home. Class will include warm-ups, large group activities, opportunities for independent creativity, and multi-generational exercises to support family play.
Lunchtime Play Along (Ages 5-7)
Grab your lunch, your favorite adult, and your imagination for a creative break in your school day! Each class will begin with a story while you eat followed by active games and guided imaginative play designed to give kids and adults a mid-day burst of energy and fun.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 301W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 11:30am-12:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 501W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 302W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 11:30am-12:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 502W
Tuition: $85
Telling Tales: Friendship and Feelings (Grades K-1)
Turn your home into a stage! Use the items in your home to become props, costumes, puppets, and sets while learning story construction, character development, and performance skills to tell a familiar story or one from your imagination. This winter we will focus on stories exploring specific emotions and building positive social skills. Family members welcome to play along.
Class Days and Times: Thursdays, 4-5pm (CT)
Dates: February 4-25, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 411W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Saturdays, 10-11am (CT)
Dates: February 6-27, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 611W
Tuition: $85
Dance Disney: Almost There
Get up on move while learning the fundamentals of theatre dance with Disney songs that encourage resilience, perseverance, and positive thinking. Dance along to feel-good tunes like Almost There with Tiana or find out how far you’ll go with Moana to strengthen posture and alignment while developing confidence, coordination, and creative physical expression.
Class Days and Times: Tuesdays, 4-5pm (CT)
Dates: January 26 – March 23, 2021 (9-weeks)
Class ID: 211W
Tuition: $150
Class Days and Times: Thursdays, 4-5pm (CT)
Dates: March 4-25, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 412W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Saturdays, 10-11am (CT)
Dates: March 6-27, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 612W
Tuition: $150
Art Break (Grades K-2)
Take a break in the day to fuel your body and brain with a burst of creativity. Each class will focus on a different way to use the arts to get active and recharge to face the rest of your day with greater focus and inspiration.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 312W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 511W
Tuition: $85
Science Laboratory: Magic School Bus (Grades K-2)
Take the advice from Ms Frizzle to “take chances, make mistakes, get messy” as you explore scientific principles to create a digital theatre piece in the style of Magic School Bus.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 311W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 512W
Tuition: $85
Adventures in Sensory Drama (Grades 7-12)
Replaces standard bolded language on the performance listing page: While all students are welcome to participate in any of CTC’s classes, this program is designed specifically for young people with sensory sensitivities including those with ASD, Sensory Processing Disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and other disabilities and mental illnesses. Because we recognize that each individual’s support needs are unique, we empower families to decide for themselves whether their student will participate independently or with the support of another person.
Use stories from books and your imagination to practice communication, collaboration, and other acting skills to engage in sensory experiences, exercise gross and fine motor skills, and practice mindfulness. To honor and celebrate the diversity of ways individuals of the disability and neurodiverse communities can process and enjoy sensory stimuli, activities are structured to be modified to each person’s sensitivities and interests.
Class Days and Times: Saturdays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: January 30 – March 27, 2021 (9-weeks)
Class ID: 622W
Tuition: $150
Grades 2-3
Virtual Academy classes for Grades 2-3 are designed for students to participate alongside or near a favorite adult in their home. Class will include warm-ups, large group activities, and opportunities for independent creation. Depending on the specific class, students may be asked to record their work to share with their teacher, classmates, and/or family.
Art Break (Grades K-2)
Take a break in your day to fuel your body and brain with a burst of creativity. Each class will focus on a different way to use the arts to get active and recharge to face the rest of your day with greater focus and inspiration.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 312W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 511W
Tuition: $85
Science Laboratory: Magic School Bus (Grades K-2)
Take the advice from Ms Frizzle to “take chances, make mistakes, get messy” as you explore scientific principles to create a digital theatre piece in the style of Magic School Bus.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 311W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 512W
Tuition: $85
Art Break (Grades 3-5)
Take a break from the day and fuel your body and brain with a burst of creativity. Each class will focus on a different way to use the arts to get active and recharge to face the rest of your day with greater focus and inspiration.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 332W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 1:30-2:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 531W
Tuition: $85
Science Laboratory: Bill Nye and Friends (Grades 3-5)
Put on your lab coat to create an original script or class video acting out experiments and teaching your audience scientific principles.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 1:30pm-2:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 331W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 1:30pm-2:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 532W
Tuition: $85
Fundamentals of Acting
Harness the acting tools you already possess to express ideas, transform into characters, and tell moving stories. Gain skills in creative thinking and public speaking while building confidence in yourself and your craft.
Class Days and Times: Tuesdays, 4-5pm (CT)
Dates: January 26 – March 23, 2021 (9-weeks)
Class ID: 221W
Tuition: $150
Class Days and Times: Saturdays, 10-11am (CT)
Dates: January 30 – March 27, 2021
Class ID: 621W
Tuition: $150
Broadway Kids: All in this Together
Turn your home into a dance studio! Learn foundational musical theatre dance skills and terminology through songs that inspire connection, teamwork, and positivity. Work with songs from beloved musicals to develop coordination and confidence with the right blend of jazz, ballet, and modern dance.
Class Days and Times: Thursdays, 6-7pm (CT)
Dates: February 4 – 25, 2021
Class ID: 422W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Saturdays, 12:15-1:15pm (CT)
Dates: March 6-27, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 624W
Tuition: $85
Upcycled Stories
Use the items in your house to become the characters, sets, and props in an original story all your own! Crawl under the table to enter a cave or add streamers to an umbrella to make a jellyfish. Practice acting, storytelling, and design as you craft stories from your imagination and maybe your recycling bin.
Class Days and Times: Saturdays, 12:15-1:15pm (CT)
Dates: February 6-27, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 623W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Thursdays, 6-7pm (CT)
Dates: March 6-27, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 423W
Tuition: $85
World Premiere: Legendary Creatures
Create a world premiere play! Use acting games, group brainstorm, and improvisation to create an original short script to be acted out with your ensemble and recorded to share with your family. This winter will focus on Legendary Creatures – stories of our favorite or completely new imaginary animals.
Class Days and Times: Thursdays, 4-5:30pm (CT)
Dates: January 28-March 25, 2021 (9-weeks)
Class ID: 421W
Tuition: $150
Adventures in Sensory Drama (Ages 7-12)
Replaces standard bolded language on the performance listing page: While all students are welcome to participate in any of CTC’s classes, this program is designed specifically for young people with sensory sensitivities including those with ASD, Sensory Processing Disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and other disabilities and mental illnesses. Because we recognize that each individual’s support needs are unique, we empower families to decide for themselves whether their student will participate independently or with the support of another person.
Use stories from books and your imagination to practice communication, collaboration, and other acting skills to engage in sensory experiences, exercise gross and fine motor skills, and practice mindfulness. To honor and celebrate the diversity of ways individuals of the disability and neurodiverse communities can process and enjoy sensory stimuli, activities are structured to be modified to each person’s sensitivities and interests.
Class Days and Times: Saturdays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: January 30 – March 27, 2021 (9-weeks)
Class ID: 622W
Tuition: $150
Homeschool Ensemble: The Power of Us (Ages 8-12)
What do you want to see change about the world in 2021? Collaborate with young artists across our community to share your vision and uplift the dreams of others. Actors will be empowered to think critically about the world, ask questions, consider multiple points of view, and express these findings through different art forms. Blend solo performance, ensemble generated pieces, and spoken word with visuals to communicate the Power of Us into an edited digital performance.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays and Fridays, 1-3pm (CT)
Dates: January 27 – March 26, 2021 (9-weeks)
Class ID: 341W
Tuition: $445
Grades 4-6
Virtual Academy classes for Grades 4-6 are designed for students to participate independently or near an adult in their home. Class will include warm-ups, large group activities, small group work, and opportunities for independent creation. Some classes feature individualized coaching or opportunities to record work to share with their teacher, classmates, and/or family.
Adventures in Sensory Drama (Ages 7-12)
Replaces standard bolded language on the performance listing page: While all students are welcome to participate in any of CTC’s classes, this program is designed specifically for young people with sensory sensitivities including those with ASD, Sensory Processing Disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and other disabilities and mental illnesses. Because we recognize that each individual’s support needs are unique, we empower families to decide for themselves whether their student will participate independently or with the support of another person.
Use stories from books and your imagination to practice communication, collaboration, and other acting skills to engage in sensory experiences, exercise gross and fine motor skills, and practice mindfulness. To honor and celebrate the diversity of ways individuals of the disability and neurodiverse communities can process and enjoy sensory stimuli, activities are structured to be modified to each person’s sensitivities and interests.
Class Days and Times: Saturdays, 12:30-1:30pm (CT)
Dates: January 30 – March 27, 2021 (9-weeks)
Class ID: 622W
Tuition: $150
Art Break (Grades 3-5)
Take a break from the day and fuel your body and brain with a burst of creativity. Each class will focus on a different way to use the arts to get active and recharge to face the rest of your day with greater focus and inspiration.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 332W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 1:30-2:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 531W
Tuition: $85
Science Laboratory: Bill Nye and Friends (Grades 3-5)
Take inspiration for your favorite science shows! Put on your lab coat to create an original script or class video acting out experiments and teaching your audience scientific principles.
Class Days and Times: Wednesdays, 1:30pm-2:30pm (CT)
Dates: February 3-24, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 331W
Tuition: $85
Class Days and Times: Fridays, 1:30pm-2:30pm (CT)
Dates: March 5-26, 2021 (4-weeks)
Class ID: 532W
Tuition: $85
Homeschool Ensemble: The Power of Us (Ages 8-12)
What do you want to see change about the world in 2021? Collaborate with young artists across our community to share your vision and uplift the dreams of others. Actors will be empowered to think critically about the world, ask questions, consider multiple points of view, and express these findings through different art forms. Blend solo performance, ensemble generated pieces, and spoken word with visuals to communicate the Power of Us into an edited digital performance.
Registration is now available at childrenstheatre.org/virtual-academy. Scholarships are available through the ACT Pass program.
