At Parkway Playhouse, we believe building a well-rounded foundation in theatre arts is crucial to creating successful productions and, more importantly, setting our students up for lifelong success!

Conservatory classes run September-April and culminate with the inspiring Parkway Junior Showcase, a recital-style event that allows each student to share the knowledge and skills they’ve gained throughout the year. Classes are taught by teachers who have college degrees in their designated field, experience in the arts, and a passion to share it with our students!

Students enrolled in a Parkway Junior Conservatory class can opt to audition for Fall and Spring Junior productions. There is no cost to participate in Junior productions however, they are audition-only and limited to a select number of students showing dedication and growth in their conservatory classes.

NOTE:  Conservatory Classes are held at the Mountain Heritage Center in Burnsville at 113 Green Mountain Drive across from Parkway Playhouse or at the Arts Resource Center in Spruce Pine at 269 Oak Avenue, above the TRAC gallery. Be sure to read all the policies and procedures before registering and remember to fill out the health form completely and bring it with you on the first day of class.

PLAYMAKERS
(grades 3rd – 6th)

Burnsville: Monday 4:00-5:00pm
Instructor: Erika Tyner

Building on the foundation of voice, movement, character development, and storytelling, students will begin learning specific styles in acting. They will prepare and perform comedic and dramatic scenes, developing character monologues, and scoring scripts. (Maximum class size: 20)

STAGEMASTERS
(grades 7th – 12th)

Burnsville: Wednesday 4:00-5:00pm
Instructor: Jenny Martin

This advanced theatre class will explore methods and styles of acting, allowing students to hone their craft. Method acting vs. Meisner will be a piece of cake for students after taking this course. Students will engage in both contemporary and classical texts through prepping and performing scenes and monologues. Preparing audition pieces for college auditions or Mainstage productions will be a focus in this class as well. (Maximum class size: 20)

IMPROV FOR TEENS
(grades 8th – 12th)

Burnsville: Tuesday 4:00-5:00pm
Instructor: Kristen Livengood

The perfect opportunity to take improvisational theatre ALL YEAR LONG! This course will train students to be “in the moment” and spontaneous in the responses as it relates to improvisation. A key to good acting is really listening and reacting truthfully. There’s no better place to hone that skill than our weekly improv classes. This course is a prerequisite to be selected for Parkway’s invitation only improv troupe, “Get the Hook.” (Maximum class size: 15)

BROADWAY BOUND
(grades 3rd – 6th | grades 7th – 12th)

Burnsville: Wednesday 5:00-6:00pm (older class)
Spruce Pine: Wednesday, 3:30 pm- 4:30pm (younger class)
Instructors: Hunter Taylor & Collin Eten

For all the Broadway hopefuls, this class focuses solely on the art of musical theatre. Classes alternate each week between learning music and vocal coaching to learning dance basics and choreography. Students will be doing jazz squares in their sleep with this valuable and engaging course. (Maximum class size: 20)

STARS OF STAGECRAFT
(grades 8th-12th)

Burnsville: Thursday 4-5pm
Instructors: Abby Auman, Samantha Lebrocq and Devyn Villarreal

In this hands-on class, students will fully produce the Fall and Spring Junior productions.  Students will learn the skills needed to construct sets, build props, hang and focus lighting instruments, costume actors, and a variety of other techniques.  These students will also serve as run crew and the light board and sound board operators for the Junior productions. (Maximum class size: 20)

Directed by Kristen Livengood
Choreography by Collin Eten
Music Direction by Roberta Whiteside

Auditions: Sunday January 27th 2:30-4:30pm
Rehearsals Begin: January 28th

Rehearsal Times: Sundays 2:30-4:30pm, Mondays & Thursdays 5:00-6:30pm

Join Junie B. on her first day of first grade, where many changes are in store: Junie’s best friend Lucille has found new best friends – and Junie B. makes friends with Herb, the new kid at school. While in Mr. Scary’s class Junie has trouble reading the blackboard – and she may need glasses. Add in a friendly cafeteria lady, an intense kickball tournament and a “Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal,” and first grade has never been more exciting.

Directed by Kristen Livengood
Choreography by TBD
Music Direction by TBD

December 6 & 7 at 6:30pm and December 8 at 3pm

Auditions: Sunday September 8 2:30-4:30pm
Rehearsals Begin: September 9th

Rehearsal Times: Sundays 2:30-4:30pm, Mondays & Thursdays 5:00-6:30pm

Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list and that his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

POLICIES:

Parkway Playhouse Junior Conservatory want to make certain everyone knows how they are structured. Please go to policies and procedures to read complete guidelines.

TUITION AND DISCOUNTS:

1 hour/week: $40/month
2 hours/week: $65/month
3 hours/week: $85/month
Unlimited Classes: $100/month

Pay for tuition online here!

NOTE: Sibling discounts of 25% off each additional student. Apprentices receive a 50% discount.