Future Leaders

For nearly three decades, First Stage’s Theater Academy has been nurturing our community’s future leaders. Through a challenging theater curriculum taught by professional teaching artists, the Academy teaches life skills through stage skills by providing students with a foundation in theater as well as a deep understanding of human nature and how to relate to each other in a positive and supportive manner. Nearly 2,000 students participate in the Academy during a usual season.

 

Our thirtieth anniversary year of the Theater Academy kicks off on June 13, 2022 with the first day of Summer Theater Academy. As we look forward to this milestone, First Stage took a moment to talk with some of our future leaders about their time at First Stage.

Addy started taking Theater Academy classes at First Stage when she was in kindergarten. Since that time, she has continued taking classes and joined Young Company—having just performed the role of Banquo in their production of MACBETH. She shared, “Being a part of First Stage has helped me grow as a person. Even if I don’t go into professional theater someday, the skills that I’ve gathered here—like learning to listen, learning to be vulnerable and collaborate with other people in a way that is giving and meaningful, and to surrender yourself to a fully creative mindset—is something I will always value and carry with me through life. I will always cherish my time at First Stage.” 

Looking forward to graduating this spring, Ailie reminisces about how she got involved in First Stage four years ago. In that time, she has taken Theater Academy classes as well as been onstage as a young performer. She shared, “When I was younger I would come see First Stage shows with my school and I thought it was so cool that there were kids my age acting on stage. I knew that one day I wanted to be on that stage and then I was. After being in THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, I was cast in the regional premiere of GRETEL. It was a cool, new experience because the creators of the show actually came down to Milwaukee and worked with us on the show. First Stage has helped me to become a more well-rounded, considerate and professional actor and person. As I head off to college, I know that I want to continue in the arts in some way—whether it’s on stage or behind a camera. I know that First Stage has prepared me for the next steps in my life.”

Leo has been involved with First Stage for ten years—participating in the Theater Academy and performing in Theater Productions. He recalls, “the very first day I got in the car with my mom to go home from the Academy, I said this is where I’m meant to be. And, now here I am ten years later, and I’ve gotten to be a part of productions and I’ve joined the Young Company. Being accepted just as I am is such a wonderful thing for a young person. It’s so comforting to know that First Stage is there—that I have a place where I can go to just be me—to train, work, and learn from people who do what I do. I don’t know if I’ll go into theater as a profession someday, but the skills I’ve learned at First Stage—like speaking my voice, sharing my story, telling others what I think is right, standing up for my values—will help me use my voice for good, no matter what I do. Thank you, First Stage.”

For the past nine years, Morgan has called First Stage home—participating in Theater Academy Classes, including Young Company, and being cast in First Stage Theater Productions. She shared, “One of my favorite shows that I did was AS YOU LIKE IT with Young Company. It was my first experience with Shakespeare so I was very nervous. It seemed very intellectual and kind of difficult, but I realized the characters were so fun and goofy. It was such an enjoyable experience and really sold me on the whole Shakespeare thing.”

 

She continued, “My time at First Stage has taught me so much about active listening and being open to feedback. It also taught me that acting or the arts could be a real career. But, I think that one of the most important things that First Stage taught me was leadership and how leadership is about knowing your own worth, recognizing the worth in other people, and being able to bring that out in others.”

 

Morgan is currently a film student at Columbia College Chicago. “My goal is to direct film and theater, and one of the most important things I want to do as a director is to recreate the positive environment that I experienced at First Stage. First Stage cultivated an environment in which you felt safe to take risks—even if that meant failure at times. Growing up in that environment pushed me to create and see what more was there, both within myself as well as the project at hand.”

Quinn was inspired to take First Stage Theater Academy classes because his brother was taking them. Quinn quickly found a niche in doing improv. He shared, “Improv has really helped me be more willing to take risks and push myself to do better and better. Overall, First Stage has really helped me to become more confident in making bolder choices in my work.”

 

Now as a Young Company member, Quinn feels that he has grown so much. “The confidence I feel onstage has definitely transferred into my life outside of First Stage. I feel much more confident in myself while interacting with other people. The skills I’ve learned at First Stage—thinking on my feet, feeling more confident, taking risks, and communicating clearly—are really going to help me pursue any career. I will always think back to this time at First Stage as one of the best periods of my life. Thank you.”

 

Your generous contributions are helping create extraordinary leaders for our future. Thank you!

 

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.