Access Programs:
Access Programs are being formed throughout the year. Please contact your mentor for more information or requests for courses.

Access at Imagination Stage encourages children of all abilities to discover and develop their full creative potential through the performing arts.  We work with students and their caregivers to identify and provide the most successful scenario for each student—whether in a peer group class or in a general classroom setting with reasonable and appropriate inclusion supports. All classroom experiences provide children a safe and welcoming environment to develop and enhance language, gross motor, developmental, cognitive, social, and life-learning skills.

Arts Access classes provide focused instruction in a smaller class setting with higher student / teacher ratios.  Emphasis is always on enhancing and developing self confidence, while strengthening communication and socialization skills through the performing arts.  Our early childhood classes encourage a multi-disciplinary learning experience through dramatic play.  As students become older, they have the option to use drama, dance, and music to further explore themes and ideas as they begin to develop as an artist.  Teen student classes and performance ensembles encourage further advancement of technique while working in a group setting that fosters communication, collaboration, and respect.

Deaf Access provides theatre arts experiences are designed specifically for the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students.  Deaf Access early childhood classes are theme-based and designed to encourage creative expression, active listening, gross motor coordination, interpersonal skills, and self-esteem.  As students become older, they continue to use these skills as they participate in classes which aid young actors in developing techniques for creating sustainable characters while using basic text work and improvisation. Teen student classes and ensembles are open to deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students who work together to develop skills in communication, collaboration, and problem-solving while creating work that crosses cultural boundaries and communicates information, relationships, and emotions in a way that is accessible to all.

Ages 3 – Grade 5

Just Imagine: Drama & Movement for Children with Special Needs
This class is designed for children with minimal to moderate language and/or physical delays.  The class engages caregiver and child in a multi-sensory exploration of music, movement, and dramatic play.  Children are encouraged to use the arts for exploration and to further develop self-confidence, communication, focus, and imagination.

Deaf Access: Creative Drama: Teddy Bear Tales (8 wks)
Students use their bodies, minds, communication tools and imaginations to explore favorite teddy bear stories such as "Corduroy" and "Going on a Bear Hunt." This creative drama class incorporates storytelling, movement, and art projects to help students expand their social skills and self esteem as well as foster their creativity.
This class is designed for deaf and KODA students only and is taught in sign language and voice.

Access: Creative Drama
Students use their bodies, voices, minds, and imaginations to explore favorite characters and stories from children’s literature.  The class incorporates music, movement, drama and art projects to help students with a variety of learning styles expand social skills and self-esteem while fostering creativity.

Access: Dance
Students explore creative movement to develop coordination, physical and spatial awareness, rhythm skills and flexibility.  This class encourages students to use their bodies and imaginations while moving to a variety of music styles.

Teens

Access: Voice
Students in this class work with a musical theatre professional and accompanist to explore correct breathing, diction, articulation and phrasing as they develop proper vocal technique.  Students also work together in groups to strengthen listening skills and create a blended sound.

Access: Reality Theatre
Using dramatic activities, role-playing, short scenes, and improvisation, students have the opportunity to practice social and interpersonal skills while further developing their self-esteem and self-awareness in a safe, fun, and creative environment. 

Deaf Access: Visual Theatre
This class is taught by deaf and hearing professional teaching artists and focuses on the genre of visual theatre.  Students learn how to communicate information, emotions, and relationships through a variety of elements including movement, image work, traditional mime, gesture, sign language and masks.  This class and the work produced in it is totally accessible to both hearing and deaf students.

Access: FUNdamentals of Acting
This class is designed to help young actors further develop their technique for creating sustainable and believable characters for the stage using both scripted and non-scripted text work.  The class focuses on the development of acting, movement, and voice technique as students work together to build ensemble, self awareness, creativity, and self-esteem.

Deaf Access: FUNdamentals of Acting
This fun skill-based class is designed to introduce young actors who are deaf or KODA’s to a technique for creating sustainable and believable characters for the stage through both improvisation and basic text work.  This class focuses on building ensemble, actor awareness, creativity, and self-esteem and is taught in American Sign Language by a Deaf teaching artist.  Monday  6:30-8:00 $295 Gr.6-8 5822

Arts Access: Pegasus Company
See Conservatories & Ensembles

online registration begins June 15

Questions?
Contact your mentor:

Arts Access
Pamela Saxon
301.280.1631
psaxon@imaginationstage.org

Deaf Access
Lisa Agogliati
301.280.1630
lagogliati@imaginationstage.org

Imagination Stage
Access Students
learn:

Early Childhood:
Social Skills, Loco-motor Skills,
Creative Expression, Clarity of Communication

Grades K–5:
Communication Skills, Social
skills, Active Listening,
Rhythm, Melody, Character
and Relationships, Narrative
Structure, Teamwork and
Cooperation.

Teens:
Acting Technique, Rehearsal
and Performance Skills,
Visual Communication,
Concentration, Self-
Reliance, Self-Confidence, an
Awareness of Cultural Diversity

More Information about Deaf Access:

2007-2008 Deaf Access Company & Student Production

Language for the Eye

Dreams to Sign

The Garden Wall

Past productions

Our staff

Resources