Conservatories & Ensembles

Conservatories/performing ensembles are a full year commitment. See registration policies for second semester registration and billing information.

Conservatory and Ensemble students of Imagination Stage learn:
• Advanced technical skills in their area of specialty
• Performance skills
• Collaboration & Ensemble skills
• A global perspective of theatre and society
• Critical thinking & problem solving

As students mature and gain a greater facility in the craft of theatre, music theatre, dance or filmmaking, Imagination Stage takes them from technique to production. Conservatories and ensembles are by-audition programs, requiring a one or two year commitment for intensive, pre-professional training. Conservatories and ensembles are designed for students who have demonstrated a commitment to their craft as performers, who have shown potential in their talent and positive attitude in their work. Students work with professional actors, directors, designers and academics in the Washington, DC area. Programs culminate in a fully realized production (with the exception of Dance Conservatory which presents in a recital format) in their final semester.

UPCOMING AUDITIONS:

Acting Conservatory

GRADES 6-9
Now in its seventh year, the Acting Conservatory is designed as a two-year intensive training opportunity for students entering grades 6-9. Preliminary work includes the fundamentals of acting, voice and movement, and classical and contemporary monologue and scene work. Each semester concludes with an informal Open Classroom where conservatory members present works-in-progress. The fourth and final semester is dedicated to rehearsing a fully produced play presented in the Reeve Studio Theatre. Acceptance to the program is by audition and interview.

The next Acting Conservatory class will begin in January 2010. Students are strongly encouraged to take Acting Conservatory Prep which will take place in the Fall semester of 2009. Students must audition for this course in July and August, 2009.

Video Clips:

Dust, Imagination Stage's Acting Conservatory, 2007

Musical Theatre Conservatory

GRADES 7-10

Musical Theatre Conservatory is designed as a two-year intensive training opportunity. For three semesters, students work with two musical theatre artists and are immersed in acting, movement, and vocal technique classes alongside lessons in musical theatre history and music theory. Preliminary work includes fundamentals of acting, interpretation of lyrics and music, vocal production and movement. Students also participate in "character driven" dance technique. Each semester concludes with an informal Open Classroom where conservatory members present works-in-progress (i.e. scenes or monologues into songs or rehearsing a scene as an ensemble). The fourth and final semester is dedicated to rehearsing a fully produced musical presented in the Reeve Studio Theatre. Acceptance to the program is by audition and interview.

The next Musical Theatre Conservatory class will begin in January 2010. Students are strongly encouraged to take Musical Theatre Conservatory Prep which will take place in the Fall semester of 2009.

Video Clips:

Quilters: scenes and highlights, Imagination Stage Musical Theatre Conservatory

Dance Conservatory

GRADES 6-8

Now in its fourth year, the Dance Conservatory is an intensive two-year, dance training program. Focusing on the essential dance styles of ballet, jazz, tap and modern, the goal of the program is to give students the tools to develop well-rounded dance performance skills. A graduation performance at the end of the second year includes group pieces to display technical ability and solo pieces revealing each student's individual style and expression. Acceptance to the program is by audition and interview.

All dance conservatory students must also register for Rep Class.

Auditions for new students will be held in Summer 2009, dates and times to be announced. Students who are interested in auditioning are encouraged to take the Dance Conservatory Audition Prep class offered each spring. For more information about the dance program, please contact Veronika Farkas, Director of Dance Education This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Filmmaking Conservatory (2 semester program)

In this senior level course, dedicated film students study advanced techniques in lighting, sound, camera movement, blocking, scheduling, and directing. Using specifically designed exercises and projects, students learn the craft of the director, with an emphasis on working with actors in rehearsal and during production. Some time outside of class is required. This class is designed as a stepping-stone to those students with an interest in moving on to the Independent Study Program and/or college. Permission of instructor required.

New student interviews will be held Summer 2009, dates and times to be announced. For more information about the filmmaking program, please contact David Stern, Director of Digital Media This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Video Clips:

Filmmaking Classes at Imagination Stage

Imagination Stage Dance Ensemble (ISDE)

GRADES 9-12

In its sixth year, this intensive training ensemble is recommended for experienced students in Grades 9-12 with a strong foundation in dance. The ensemble incorporates advanced technique work including tap, jazz, ballet and modern. A variety of guest artists lead specialty workshops. The spring semester culminates in an original work choreographed in part by the students themselves, and performed at Imagination Stage and a regional festival performance. NOTE: this class meets twice per week. Acceptance is by audition and interview.

All Dance Ensemble students must enroll in the Rep Class as well.

Auditions for new students will be held in Summer 2009, dates and times to be announced. Students who are interested in auditioning are encouraged to take the Dance Ensemble Prep class offered each spring. For more information about the dance program, please contact Veronika Farkas, Director of Dance Education This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Speak-Out on Stage Ensemble

GRADES 4-12

These innovative and exciting programs are now in their fifth year! Designed as two semester programs, Speak-Out on Stage gives young artists a voice and a forum for issues that are important to them. Young artists who are risk-takers with a passion to share their experiences and their ideas to create a dramatic and insightful new works will love this program! This is your chance to Speak-Out about what's important to you!

- Speak-Out on Stage Junior Ensemble

Grades 4-6

The Junior company works together to create an original musical. During their first semester, the ensemble works side-by-side with a director, playwright and composer to build their acting and musical theatre performance skills while collaborating on ideas for a script. When they return from winter break, they begin rehearsing their completed original work!

Speak-Out on Stage Junior requires a one year commitment from September 2009 to May 2010. Auditions for Speak-Out on Stage will be held Wednesday-Thursday, September 2-3, 2009.

Video Clips:

Below the Horizon, Imagination Stage Speak-Out on Stage, Junior, 2008
Overnight, Imagination Stage Speak-Out On Stage, Junior, 2007

- Speak-Out on Stage Senior Ensemble

Grades 7-11

The Senior company also works to create an original play, but without the service of a playwright. Students work with two teaching artists using devising techniques of improvisation, brainstorming, and creative writing to build an innovative play, calling on many different styles of theater ranging from short scenes in realism, comic absurdism, abstract movement pieces and creative movement/text pieces.

Speak-Out on Stage Senior requires a six month commitment from September 2009 to March 2010. Auditions for Speak-Out on Stage will be held Wednesday-Thursday, September 2-3, 2009.

Video Clips:

This is Home, Imagination Stage's Speak-Out on Stage, Senior, 2008
The Grid, Imagination Stage's Speak-Out on Stage, Senior, 2007

Pegasus Company

AGES 13-18

The Pegasus Company is the teenage acting troupe of the Arts Access program at Imagination Stage; a six month program designed to give students with disabilities the opportunity to further develop their theatre arts technique and life skills while working together as an ensemble on a theatrical production.

Student interested in joining the Pegasus Company must attend auditions in September (dates and times to be announced). For more information about the Pegasus program, please contact Diane Nutting, Director of Arts Access This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Go to Access Programs for more information