Laguna Playhouse's Youth Conservatory (ages 8-19) is unique among youth theater programs in the area. In addition to participating in Conservatory classes which build a strong foundation, students are also invited to audition for Youth Productions on the Laguna Playhouse stage and may participate in additional workshops at no additional cost.
For younger students, the Junior Conservatory (ages 5-8) is the perfect introduction to acting.
The year-long conservatory consists of 3 sessions (Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025) with classes for different age groups running Mondays through Thursdays. Each session culminates in a final on-stage presentation for friends and family. Pro-rated tuition is available for students beginning their enrollment in the winter or spring session.
Every class is structured as an Acting Class where students learn the fundamentals of auditioning, studying, and performing. Guest Artists also come in to teach more specific subject matter such as audition techniques, movement, and stage combat. Students in the conservatory are invited to audition for the fall and spring Youth Productions. Additional workshops are added throughout the year and conservatory students are invited to attend at no additional costs.
Philosophy of the Conservatory The Conservatory at Laguna Playhouse Education nurtures students in learning the professional skills and techniques that will guide them to success in theatre and life. This is achieved through two primary modes:
1) Classes where we learn acting techniques/methods 2) Performance/production work to get hands-on experience of theatre
This is a program for students who have a desire to learn professional skills, have fun, explore theatre with other students who are passionate and committed in participation, and explore their creative voice in the performing arts.
Classes meet once a week and include work to be completed out of class.
Schedule
Fall Session: September 9 - November 4, 2024 (Demo Day: November 11)
Winter Session: January 6 - March 3, 2025 (Demo Day: March 11)
Spring Session: March 17 - May 12, 2025 (Demo Day: week of May 19, date TBD)
LEVEL ONE Tuesdays, 4-6 p.m. For serious and committed acting students ages 8-10, enrollment in this class is by audition only. Additional rehearsal time may be required. This is a yearlong commitment. Teacher: Keya Vance.
REGISTER FOR LEVEL 1
LEVEL TWO Thursdays, 4-6 p.m.For serious and committed acting students ages 9-11, enrollment in this class is by audition only. Additional rehearsal time may be required. This is a yearlong commitment. Teacher: Anthony Kairouz.
REGISTER FOR LEVEL 2
LEVEL THREE Mondays, 4-6 p.m. For serious and committed acting students ages 11-13, enrollment in this class is by audition only. Additional rehearsal time may be required. This is a yearlong commitment. Teacher: Jack Clark
REGISTER FOR LEVEL 3
LEVEL FOUR Wednesdays, 6:15-8:15 p.m.For serious and committed acting students ages 12-14, enrollment in this class is by audition only. Additional rehearsal time may be required. This is a yearlong commitment. Teacher: Mary Sherg Kaye
REGISTER FOR LEVEL 4
LEVEL FIVE Tuesdays, 6:15-8:15 p.m. For serious and committed acting students ages 14-16, enrollment in this class is by audition only. Additional rehearsal time may be required. This is a yearlong commitment. Teacher: Sabrina Harper
REGISTER FOR LEVEL 5
LEVEL SIX Mondays, 6:15-8:15 p.m.For serious and committed acting students ages 16-19, enrollment in this class is by audition only. Additional rehearsal time may be required. This is a yearlong commitment. Teacher: Toni Redman.
REGISTER FOR LEVEL 6
Yearly Tuition: $1500 Year-Long Conservatory Registration Multi-Sibling Discount of $100.
Scholarships available. Click the button at the bottom of the page to apply.
Conservatory Auditions for new students are August 29 (6p-8p) and August 31 (10a-12p). Auditions consist of either: one 2-minute monologue + 16 bars of a song or two 2-minute monologues. To sign up for a time slot, please email Joe Alanes at JAlanes@lagunaplayhouse.com.
This acting & theatre class for young students, ages 5-8, will have a focus on creativity, collaboration, and confidence. It will be tied to a fun central theme. The students will learn and grow together for 8 weeks and then there will be a short demonstration for family and friends, to show what they have learned, at the end of the 8-week session.
Classes will be held on Saturday mornings from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, with the final presentations to follow (see dates below.)
Teacher: Jack Clark
Fall session: September 28 - November 9, 2024 (Demo Day: November 11)
Winter session: January 25 - March 8, 2025 (Demo Day: March 11)
Spring session: April 5 - May 17, 2025 (Demo Day: Week of May 19, day TBD)
Tuition: $1200 for the full year
REGISTER HERE
Being able to apply skills in action and learn about all aspects of theatre creation is a vital part of the Conservatory training program. As such, all students will audition and participate in each of our Youth Theatre Productions throughout the year.
They may select to participate as an actor, running crew, or production personnel as fits their schedule and supports their growth.
We highly encourage and welcome our conservatory students to audition for our Youth Theatre Productions.
The Youth Theatre productions focus on giving opportunity for students to practice their technique in action through a professional rehearsals and performances. This may mean that young people portray adult characters. The goal is to provide many opportunities for students to stretch their acting range and apply skills they are learning and developing in class in a real life environment.
2024-2025 Youth Conservatory Season
Fall: This Murder Was StagedNovember 22-23, 2024
Auditions/Callbacks (by invitation): September 2024 - appointments open soon
Spring: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeApril 4-6, 2025
Auditions/Callbacks (by invitation): January 2025
Jacques “Jack” Clark is a Huntington Beach native and fourth generation Californian. He has over 20 years teaching and coaching experience and considers theater one of the best investments you can make for a child’s lifelong education. Goldenwest College, Chapman University, Camino Real Playhouse, Costa Mesa Playhouse and Sierra Classic Theater in Mammoth Lakes are some of the places he has performed. He has also been a member of ImprovCity in Tustin for 12 years and uses that stage to perform and teach as well. He has traveled through over 40 countries and never tires in sharing those stories.
Sabrina Harper Laguna Beach native, Sabrina, is a Broadway actress, SAG/AFTRA and AEA member, a state-certified classical balletdancer from the State of Baden Wurttemberg (Germany), a choreographer, director, a certified BASI Pilates instructor, and a teaching artist at numerous schools and conservatories in Orange and LA County. Starting her career as a child in Print, TV, and national commercials, she has also performed on numerous stages around the world including the Vienna Volksoper and on Broadway and National touring productions (et.al.) of Pippin, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chicago, A Chorus Line, The Producers, 42nd Street, and The Phantom of the Opera. Her choreography credits include (among others): Beauty and The Beast, School of Rock, The Addams Family, Cry Baby, Into the Woods, SpongeBob the Musical, LAGUNATICS XXX, Alice By Heart, Dogfight, Legally Blonde, and Footloose (OC Theatre Guild 2023 nominee for Best Choreography). Her directorial credits include the musicals Pippin, Mamma Mia, Cabaret, Songs for A New World, and Chicago.
Anthony Kairouz is a Theater Arts BFA graduate from Molloy University’s CAP21 Conservatory. He has been performing in musicals and plays for 15 years and has performed both all over the States and internationally. Some notable theater credits of his include - Phantom of the Opera TIE Turkey Tour (Phantom, Cloud Theater), Island of the Blue Dolphins (Actor 1, Laguna Beach Playhouse), Andrea Bocelli in Concert (Choir, Hollywood Bowl), Into the Woods (Jack), Big Fish (Edward Bloom), Pippin (Charlemagne), and much more! Kairouz is currently applying for his Masters Degree in Acting and teaches Theater Arts at the Laguna Beach Playhouse and MC Studios OC. He is also a private vocal and acting coach who has taught over 100 students.
Toni Redman currently teaches at Laguna Playhouse and Sam Christensen Studios Hollywood. She coaches, casts, directs, and produces plays and films in the U.S. and abroad for the US Embassy. She was the instructor of Drama and Speech for the American International School, Riyadh. Toni has been a New York City casting director for Mason Street Warehouse for over twenty years. A model with Ford Modeling Agency and as an ICM Agency SAG & AEA union actor, Toni is honored to have worked at every level of professional entertainment. She lives for the moments her actors find their spark, and their characters come to life.
Mary Sherg Kaye, Educator, Director, Stage Manager, and Actor - Kaye has had the great fortune of sharing her love of the arts her entire career. Starting off as a Stage Manager (IATSE Union) through Fullerton and Riverside Community College, featuring theaters all over Los Angeles/Orange County theaters, Kaye is especially grateful for her work with Disney’s California Adventure, Huston School of Music, Performance Riverside, Laguna Beach High School, and many other performing spaces. Kaye has over one hundred shows on her resume, and is proud of the theatrical roles throughout her career both onstage and off. With the support of the staff and her fellow teachers, Kaye has found a home in teaching the youth of Laguna Beach and worlds towards the ultimate goal of having her own theater department to run. Her greatest loves include her loving husband and actor Michael and their overly-dramatic pug, Roscoe. Kaye currently lives in San Clemente, CA and is a proud supporter of arts advocacy and literacy towards every student actor.
Keya Vance, a native of San Bernardino, California, is a multi-hyphenate artist and educator in the areas of theater and film. As a child she felt extremely shy, but this all changed in high school when she wrote and directed a play, Black to the Future, performed by students and faculty. She has been in love with theater ever since. She focuses theater workshops on self-discovery and connectedness. Much of her approach to teaching exists at the intersection or art and humanity which has been shaped by her time at Cal State University, Fullerton where she studied in theater and Ethnic Studies. Her awards include Individual Artist Fellowship Grant by California Arts Council, Torch Literary Arts Creative Writing Fellowship, Women of Color Filmmakers Pitch Finalist, and Disney Celebrates Gospel Scholarship. She holds an MFA in Screenwriting from Loyola Marymount University. When she’s not teaching acting workshops, she’s cooking, writing short plays and screenplays, or teaching Black Creative Expression at Cal State, Fullerton.
The Laguna Playhouse Conservatory is for students of all backgrounds and experience levels who want to explore the craft of acting and theatre. Acceptance into the program and level placement is by audition.
Laguna Playhouse Junior Conservatory (no audition needed ) is for ages 5-8. Register online here
Laguna Playhouse Youth Conservatory (levels 1-6) is for ages 8-19. Auditioning students need to be age 8 by November.
Conservatory auditions for new students are December 14th from 10 AM to 12 PM. Auditions consist of either: one 2-minute monologue + 16 bars of a song or two 2-minute monologues. To sign up for a time slot, please email education@lagunaplayhouse.com
Class sizes are limited and fill quickly, so early enrollment is encouraged.
Scholarships are available for students who could not otherwise participate. To apply, email Joe Alanes at jalanes@lagunaplayhouse.com
Refund Policy: Cancellations are accepted up to seven days prior to the first class. 75% of class fee will be refunded upon cancellation (25% administrative fee will not be refunded.) No refunds after the seven day deadline.
For more information about the Laguna Playhouse Education and Community Engagement programs, please contact Joe Alanes // jalanes@lagunaplayhouse.com for details.
