Studio Classes

Journey Studio is a program designed for students, ages 13 – 18 (you must turn 13 by December 15th in order to be eligible), who want more rigorous training in the theater arts. If you are considering pursuing theater as a career, or just want to push yourself to really grow in your skills and become a more well-rounded performer, then this program is for you.

The Acting Studio is an intensive course focused on the foundational craft of acting. This class will take the student beyond the surface challenges of memorizing lines and blocking, drilling down to the heart of the character.  This class will feature physical work to create a character’s voice and movement, theory work in several different common acting approaches, and practical work with scenes and monologues—both contemporary and classic. Watch your acting skills take off under the direction of a master-teacher.  If you participated in the Acting Studio program in a previous season, you are still eligible to audition!   Returning students will receive new and more challenging material in order to continue your growth as a performer.

The Journey Studio Acting class instructor is Melissa Bareford.

The Musical Theater Studio  class is designed to challenge you in all areas of musical theater: singing, dancing, and acting. In this class, you will get more personalized instruction and material to help you develop into a triple-threat performer and prepare you for that musical theater grind.  If you participated in the Musical Theater Studio program in a previous season, you are still eligible to audition!  Returning students will receive new and more challenging material in order to continue your growth as a performer.

The Journey Studio Musical Theater class instructor is Chelsea Pitel.

The Improv Studio is a space for those who love the craft of improvisational theatre. In this course we will work towards a deep understanding of CROW (Character, Relationship, Objective, and Where), not only analyzing how it affects improv, but also how it interacts with theater and our lives at large. We will apply this knowledge to the process of developing and telling stories all on the spot.  To keep it interesting, we will be filtering these stories through a wide variety of games. These will come from a slew of categories- hoop, verbal restriction, guessing, storytelling, musical, and more. You will quickly learn how to differentiate these categories, along with the games that fit within them.

This course will bolster your skills as an actor, teach you an abundance about the art of storytelling, and boost the confidence you bring to all areas of life- big promises, but we can assure you, they are true!

The Improv Studio class instructors are Cole and Maggie Peterson.

Studio Auditions (watch this page for info. for the 2024 – 2025 season)

Students who wish to be considered for Acting Studio should come prepared with a 30-60 second monologue.  Monologues can be from a play/musical, a stand-alone monologue, or from this collection: 15-Monologues-from-Contemporary-Monologues-for-Young-Actors.pdf.

Please bring your theater resume (list any theater training and/or experience) and headshot as well.

Students who wish to be considered for Musical Theater Studio should also prepare a monologue, in addition to a 16-bar cut of a song of your choosing. You will need an accompaniment track (instrumental only) for your song. The track needs to either be on a CD, or a downloaded MP3 (no streaming). There will also be a dance audition at the end of the evening.

Improv Studio Auditions .

Please bring your theater resume (list any theater training and/or experience) and headshot.

Students auditioning for STUDIO should sign up for a second-choice class in our regular registration system in order to guarantee a spot in a class in the event they are not selected for STUDIO.  Once selections are made, registration fees for regular classes will be applied to the Studio payment structure and adjustments will be communicated to the families directly.  Early registration deadline for regular session classes is TBA.

Costs:

• $175 per month for 9 months (September through May)
• Monthly subscription payment will be due on the 15th of each month (Auto-pay)
• $50 materials fee due by August 30th (includes a Journey Studio shirt)
• $50 drop fee
• There will be no penalty or prorate for any missed classes.
• Subscription cancellations after the 15th of the month will be billed through the end of the following month.

Class dates:

MUSICAL THEATER

• Mondays, 6:00-9:00pm at Crosspointe Baptist Church in Vancouver
• Starting September 11, 2023
• Remaining dates:  September 18 & 25, October 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, November 13, 19 (Sunday to see a show) & 27, December 11 and Showcase on December 19.  2024: January 8, 15, 22, 29, February 5, 12, 26, March 11, 18, 25, April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, June 3 and 10.

IMPROV

• Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00pm at First Presbyterian Church in Vancouver
• Starting September 12, 2023
• Remaining dates: 2023:  September 19 & 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31, November 14, 19 (Sunday to see a show) & 28, December 12 and Showcase on December 19.  2024: January 9, 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13, 27, March 12, 19, 26, April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, June 4 and 11.        Bold dates, class will be held at US Digital.

Showcase:

There will be a year-end performance festival to showcase what students have been working on.  Tentative dates: May 10 and 11.

Musical Theater Studio Instructor:

Chelsea Nicole Lapp is an award-winning choreographer from San Diego who recently relocated to Vancouver. Having grown up in the theatre world since age 4, Chelsea has performed in over 80 shows and tour groups, and at the age of 14 began choreographing and teaching dance classes for a national children’s theatre company. Since 2007, Chelsea has choreographed both professional and non-professional shows all over the United States, as well as Uganda. Her training includes places like Broadway Dance Center in NYC and Academy of Performing Arts in San Diego, she is also an alumnus of the Pulse Teacher Workshop and the Stage Door Connections Workshop with Andy Blankenbuehler. Chelsea is a recipient of the Portland Area Musical Theatre Award, Inland Theatre League, National Youth Arts, and Director’s Choice Award.

Musical Theater Studio Instructor:

Claire Barton is so excited to be back at Journey. Claire started performing musicals in her teens at Journey, so she is excited to now use those skills to teach more Journey students. She received her bachelor’s degree in theater from Grand Canyon University and went on to perform professionally in Tigard, Phoenix, and in a national tour of Cat in the Hat. Recently she has been teaching dance and acting for Dance Fusion NW and choreographing the musicals for Ridgefield High School. Let’s learn what unique talents God has given to us and shine his light!

Musical Theater Studio Instructor:

Melissa Bareford has worked for Journey as a teacher, coordinator, director, and set designer.  She also works locally at The Love Street Playhouse as a director and designer.  Melissa moved to Washington from Chicago in 2012 where she was the Managing Director of the award-winning Lifeline Theater. She holds a B.A., M.A and Ph. D in Theater. Fun Fact:  Melissa was the stunt double for Marisa Tomei in the 1993 movie, The Untamed Heart.

Improv Studio Instructor:

Cole is a recent Whitworth graduate with degrees in Theatre, Education, and History. He is passionate about allowing space for collaborative theatre making with his casts loves approaching rehearsals with an open mind. Cole is also a Journey Theater alum, and performed in shows and improv teams from the ages of 11 to 18. He loves Journey Theater for how it provides students of varying ages opportunities for artistic expression and does so in a safe and respectful community setting.