2010 Fall Schedule Now Available!

WEST Academy classes empower the imagination and create opportunities to discover and learn. Students explore, reflect, imitate and understand the world around them. We encourage students to grow as artists and as people by fostering the individual creative spirit in a group environment.

Complete Fall Schedule

Classes held at West End Studio Theatre

1. NEW! Ongoing - A Year In The Life Of Charlie Brown
2. Creative Play: Beginning Musical Theatre
3. Triple Threat: Musical Theatre
4. Singing For the Stage: The Beatles
5. PlayLab: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Classes held at The Broadway Playhouse

1. Stories On Stage: Bunnicula - A Rabbit Tale of Mystery
2. Directing For The Stage
3. Teen Acting Class: The Idiot’s Guide To High School
4. NEW! Ongoing - Drawing Class - The Art of Manga
5. NEW! Ongoing - Friday Afternoon Improv Comedy Club

Play Production: Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone

AND

Singing For The Stage

Enroll Now!

“Arts education is essential for building innovative thinkers who will be our nation’s leaders for tomorrow… Learning through the arts reinforces critical academic skills in reading, language arts and math…”
–First Lady Michelle Obama

• Stories On Stage: Bunnicula - A Rabbit Tale of Mystery; Grades K - 4
• Creative Play: Beginning Musical Theatre; Grades K-2
• Triple Threat: Musical Theatre; Grades 3-5
• A Year In The Life Of Charlie Brown; Grades 2-5
• PlayLab: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief; Grades 5-9
• Improvisational Comedy; Grades 2 - 4
• Improvisational Comedy; Grades 5 - 8
• The Idiot’s Guide To High School; Grades 8 - 12
• NEW! Drawing Class - The Art of Manga; Grades 4 - 6 & Grades 7 - 12
• Singing For The Stage - Theme: The Beatles; Grades 5 -12
• Directing For The Stage; Grades: 4-6

View Fall Schedule

Coming Soon….

Advanced Acting Teen Workshop; Devising Theatre with London based Theatre Temoin; Grades 8 - 12

Save up to $200

Sibling Discounts, Multiple Class Discounts
Click here for details

Receive up to $75 class credit

for Fall and Winter classes when you refer a friend to the WEST summer program.
Click here for details

Complete Summer Schedule - Enrolling Now!

In addition to our WEST community, thank you to the Woolpert Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Women In Philanthropy, The Good Tidings Foundation, the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County and the PVUSD Family Literacy Project.

The play was truly awesome…the story, the staging, the sets, and the casting. It was pretty perfect - and quite a message. Thank you for including me.

Elizabeth C.
Amesti Elementary Teacher

Based on the life of Tomás Rivera

Written by José Cruz Gonzáles based on the book by Pat Mora

Directed by Luanne Nunes de Char

• Public Performance: May 16, 2010
• Time: 2pm
• Tickets: $10
• Location: West End Studio Theatre
  • 402 Ingalls Street (entrance on Swift Street)
• Call 831.425.WEST (9378) to reserve tickets or BUY NOW

ONE PUBLIC PERFORMANCE

Our story is based on the inspiring true story of a Texas born migrant boy, Tomás Rivera. Unable to read English, Tomás is terrified of school. Not until his introduction to the library and to the compassionate Library Lady does Tomás find refuge. Thanks to a nurturing family and a librarian who takes time to care, a young migrant boy discovers the joys of books, a new language and writing. Spanish words and songs are sprinkled throughout, and the play can be understood by both English and Spanish speaking theatergoers…

Tomás and the Library Lady is José Cruz Gonzáles’s stage adaptation of Pat Mora’s book, based on the story of Tomás Rivera, son of migrant workers. Pursuing a career in literature and academia, ultimately he was named the youngest chancellor of the University of California-Riverside—and the first Hispanic.

Playwright José Cruz Gonzáles is the son of migrant workers and grew up in Watsonville, California. This graduate of Aptos High is an award-winning playwright, director, professor and activist. His plays are celebrated globally. He is currently a professor teaching playwriting at UCLA.

Photos courtesy of Steve DiBartolomeo

Apoyo, the Spanish word for support, is a powerful concept within Latino communities which may involve emotional, financial and social support.

Help send a student to attend Tomás And The Library Lady.

Tomás And The Library Lady addresses issues around Latino education among migrant workers and is based on the inspiring true story of Tomás Rivera, a Texas born migrant boy. It is adapted by the internationally acclaimed playwright and Watsonville native José Cruz Gonzáles. Migrant workers and their children represent a significant and severely disadvantaged sector of our community.  This play emphasizes the importance of education and the value of public libraries and addressed immigrant issues, two very important current issues.

Your donation of $10 or more will help us meet our goal of $1,500 so that we will be able to offer students a chance to attend a performance of Tomás And The Library Lady.   As of 5/11/10 we have raised a total of $1233 through Chip-In and cash donations! We are almost there - thank you for your support.

Just click the ChipIn! button under Support The Arts on the right side of our website to donate securely.

If you prefer to send a check, Please make payable to WEST & write TOMAS in the memo line. Our mailing address is 402 Ingalls Street, Suite 3 Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Thank you in advance for your support of our programs, and thank you for helping us make a difference in our community.!

Creative Play is an exceptional arts class for budding young artists. Bring classical literature for children to life through experiences in creative dramatics, music, visual art and movement. Class emphasizes building self-confidence and cultivating expression in a creative environment. Creative Play facilitates a love for literature and learning in a gentle and fun environment.

1. Grades: Prek K (4 yrs.) - 2nd (7 yrs.)
2. Time: 9:45am - 11am
3. Class Dates: Thursdays, April 15 - May 13; optional parent sharing on May 13
4. Location: Broadway Playhouse
5. Cost: $75
6. Instructor: Terri Steinmann
7. Enroll Now

The Actor’s Toolbox - Level One

Ready for a challenge? The Actor’s Toolbox is specifically designed for advanced level actors that have studied extensively with WEST Academy. Actors are challenged with exercises taking them to deeper levels of understanding the craft of acting. Text analysis, character, relationship, objective and given circumstance are explored in contemporary works as well as the basic “toolbox” they will need to continue their course of study in the WEST Teen Productions, Conservatory and Young Company programs and beyond. Outside rehearsal required. Please email terri@westperformingarts.com if you would like to discuss if this class is an appropriate choice for you.

1. Grades: 8-12
2. Time: 2-5pm on Sundays; 4-7pm on Thursdays
3. Class Dates: Sundays, May 16 - June 6 AND Thursdays, May 20 - June 10
4. Location: West End Studio Theatre on Thursdays; Broadway Playhouse on Sundays
5. Cost: $395
6. Instructor: Terri Steinmann with additional guest artists
7. Enroll Now

All Spring Break Camps Full!!

Join Stories on Stage: The Play’s The Thing, beginning Monday April 19th.

Or check out the Summer Schedule!!

Themes:

Monday - Toy Story
Tuesday - Alice In Wonderland
Wednesday - Percy Jackson & The Olympians
Thursday - Pirates of The Caribbean - Captain Jack Sparrow: The Sword of Cortez (NEW! book series by Rob Kidd)
Friday - Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

1. Ages: 5 - 12
2. Dates: April 5th - April 9th
3. Time: 9am - 3pm
4. Cost: $60 a day

All Spring Break Camps will be held at West End Studio Theatre at 402 Ingalls Street

Sibling Promo Code: SPR10SIB
Current Student Promo Code: SPR10CUR

Theatre for Smalls & Talls

• Creative Play: Moon Magic, Amazing Animals & Under the Sea
• Stories On Stage: Charlotte’s Web
• Stories On Stage: The Play’s The Thing
• PlayLab: The Arabian Nights
• The Art of Belly Dance
• Singing For the Stage: Broadway Bound
• Original Work: Runway Project: The Farce of Fashion
• Costume Couture
• New! - Harriet The Spy PlayLab & Writing Project
• New! - Actor’s Toolbox: Advanced Study of the Craft for Teens

Theatre for Alls

• Circle Singing

View Full Schedule