Advanced Improvisation Ages 18+

Ready for the next level? This class is about building ensemble while learning to explore and heighten to glorious absurdity. Students will work towards objectwork begin second nature, fully commiting to distinct characters, and enthusiastically honoring everything your scene partners say like the solid gold it is. In addition to mastering more complex short-form games, you'll also practice long-form structures in our continuing mission to provide fun and laughter for all.

**Must be a veteran Metropolis student or have equivalent experience to enroll.

This course ends with a performance for families and friends!

Beginning Improvisation Ages 18+

Want to laugh your way through an exciting learning experience? Want to gain confidence thinking on your feet? Want to sharpen your teamwork skills? Improv is the place to do it! Beginner students will learn about the fundamentals of improv through exercises, games, and scenes made up on the fly!

This course ends with a performance for families and friends!

Acting for Adults Ages 18+

Whether it's your first time stepping onstage, a way for you to come back to performing, or you are a seasoned professional wanting to keep your momentum going, this course is for you! Through this course, actors will apply acting techniques to monologues, scenework, and auditioning. 

This class ends in an in class performance for family and friends!

Third Act Players 60+

Return to the stage in this exciting opportunity to rehearse and perform scenes and songs from The Wizard of Oz and Wicked with an ensemble of likeminded lifelong learners! Learn the basics and beyond of musical theater dance, vocal technique, and acting through this trip to OZ!

*Full and partial scholarships available. Inquire at 847-577-5982 ext.221 or email [email protected] 

Performance: May 31st

Primetime Players: Spring Cabaret 60+

You've heard of "Acting Through Life", now get to know Primetime Players! With rotating performing arts themes, this class is sure to please! Whether you are returning to the stage or looking to try something new, Primetime Players is the class for you!

This spring, let your love for music bloom through joyful songs and likeminded lifelong learners.

In-Class Performance: May 19th

Acting Ensemble Ages 10-14 *Invitation Only

Acting Ensemble is designed for dedicated theater students ages 10-14 who demonstrate a desire and enthusiasm for refining and developing acting technique. Admission is based on instructor approval to ensure participants have the foundational skills and experiences necessary for advanced work. Through scene study, character development and performance-based exercises, students will deepen their emotional range, stage presence, and collaborative techniques. This class emphasizes individual growth, ensemble work, and preparation.

Acting Encore Ages 10-13

In this class, students develop their acting skills through exercises in storytelling and movement. Students will be encouraged to use their creativity to develop characters in scenes and monologues, culminating in a final in-class performance. This class is designed to be repeated.

Puppetry Arts Ages 9-13

Join Miss Zoe for an exploration of making the inanimate animated! Students will construct their own puppets, learn puppeteering techniques and history, and delve into storytelling through fun, crafty activities! 

This course ends in an in-class puppet show for family and friends!

**Unable to commit to the whole session? Drop-in on a class for only $25 per student!

Acting Explosion B Ages 10-13

Are you trying acting for the first time? In this class, students develop their acting skills through exercises in storytelling and movement. Students will learn the basics and apply them in real time!

This class ends in an in-class showcase for family and friends!

Improv Stars Ages 9-11

Students will learn the fundamentals of improvisation such as developing skills in spontaneity, storytelling, listening, character creation, agreeing with all choices made by fellow players, and building onto new ideas through a variety of different improv games and exercises each week. Our students will be encouraged to “make mistakes” in order to build confidence and other helpful life skills that will transcend the classroom! This class is designed to be repeated.

Improv Encore Ages 15-18

High School improvisers of all experience levels are invited to put their wits to the test, all while honing their skills in comedic form, teamwork, storytelling, and acting. Improv Encore provides a unique environment where students are simultaneously met at their own comfort level, and encouraged to push boundaries. This class is designed to be repeated.

Imagination Exploration - Session A Ages 4-6

Winter is here - whether we like it or not! But with winter comes snowmen, sledding, ice skating, and snow ball fights! By using our imaginations, we can enjoy them all without getting cold! Through creative drama games and harnessing the poer of our bodies, voices, and imaginations, we will transform the classroom into a Winter Wonderland as Ms. Megan shares winter themed stories. It's going to be a (snow)ball!

This course ends with a narrative pantomime performance of a classic winter tale for family and friends!

Wiggle Workshop February Ages 18m-3y

Everything you've loved about Wiggle, Giggle, and Grow - now fun sized! 

In this creative drama class, little ones will learn to express themselves both verbally and physically through the use of action songs, finger plays, and storybooks. They will also work on fine and gross motor skills while engaging with props such as scarves, rhythm instruments, puppets, and bubbles! 

This is a child and guardian class, designed for adult participation. Join your little one for an hour of silliness and fun!

Wiggle Workshop March Ages 18m-3y

Everything you've loved about Wiggle, Giggle, and Grow - now fun sized! 

In this creative drama class, little ones will learn to express themselves both verbally and physically through the use of action songs, finger plays, and storybooks. They will also work on fine and gross motor skills while engaging with props such as scarves, rhythm instruments, puppets, and bubbles! 

This is a child and guardian class, designed for adult participation. Join your little one for an hour of silliness and fun!

Wiggle Workshop May Ages 18m-3y

Everything you've loved about Wiggle, Giggle, and Grow - now fun sized! 

In this creative drama class, little ones will learn to express themselves both verbally and physically through the use of action songs, finger plays, and storybooks. They will also work on fine and gross motor skills while engaging with props such as scarves, rhythm instruments, puppets, and bubbles! 

This is a child and guardian class, designed for adult participation. Join your little one for an hour of silliness and fun!

Nail Your Vocal Audition Ages 9-16

Auditions are an opportunity to shine and share your talents, but can also be quite nerve-wracking. Through this workshop, participants will explore each step invloved in preparing for a vocal audition. From preparing your audition materials to mock auditions, each student will leave this course ready to nail their next audition!

Acting the Song Ages 10-16

This course is designed to help students approach musical theater and pop/rock material from both and acting and vocal perspective. Through a pre-selected repetoire, students will learn the techniques to guide them through selecting their own songs, interpret the work into character choices, and trim the song to create a working audition cut!

Students will leave this course with multiple prepared audition songs and cuts in varying genres!

Costume Crash Course - Session A Grades 6-10

Join professional costume designer, Amanda Vander Byl, for a crash course in costume design! Students will learn the history, create their own designs, and bring costumes to life through their our stock and their own construction!

Suspicious Butler Staged Reading Ages 13+

Get to know our upcoming spring play with this interactive workshop! Students can sign up to participate as a reader, rehearsing on Saturday alongside the director and playwright, Göran Norquist, to explore characterization, or join us on Sunday (no registration necessary) to watch/listen to the reading to familiarize themselves with the story.

Saturday 10am-1pm: MUST register to participate in this portion of the workshop.

Sunday 10am-12pm: NO registration necessary - listen to the story and learn more about auditions and casting

**Participation in the workshop DOES NOT equate casting. Auditions for the production will be held the following weekend.

Curtains Up! Seize the Day: Songs and Scenes from Newsies Ages 9-14

Now is the time to seize your opportunity to learn and perform your favorite Newsies classics like "Santa Fe", "Carrying the Banner", and more! Newsies follows Jack and a community of newsfolk as they fight for fair wages during the Newsboy strike of 1899. This upbeat and energetic musical has become a classic for many since the film release in 1992 and stage revival in 2017.

**This camp ends in a performance on the Metropolis stage at 12:30pm on Friday, March 27th!

Little Lights Up! Springtime on Sesame Street Ages 4 and 5

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street? It's springtime and there is so much for the monsters and friends to do! Featuring classic songs, this camp is sure to feel like a sunny day!

**This camp ends in a performance on the Metropolis stage at 12:30pm on Friday, March 27th!

SOPA Spring Play - The Suspicious Butler Ages 8-15

In a new work written by our very own Mr. Göran, meet Tabitha Mystery - the second cousin of a very famous and successful mystery author. When her publisher calls to say she's fired, Tabitha begs for one more chance to write the greatest murder mystery ever! The only problem? She doesn't have a single original idea. Maybe she can get away with "borrowing" some characters from other successful stories! 

Get ready to test your detective skills as Tabitha frantically tries to include every famous literary and pop culture sleuth she can in the hopes of creating the most thrilling mystery story ever told!

Check out the "Workshops" tab to learn more about our Staged Reading, an opportunity for students to meet Mr. Göran and get to know this never-before-seen debut work!

Auditions: Friday, January 30th from 4-7pm and Saturday, January 31st from 1-4pm

Callbacks: Sunday, February 1st from 1-4pm

Rehearsals: February 9th-March 28th, Mondays 4:30-7:30pm, Fridays 4-7pm, and Saturdays 1-4pm

Tech Rehearsals: March 30th-April 1st from 4-8:30pm

Performances: Thursday, April 2nd at 10am, Friday, April 3rd at 10am and 7pm, and Saturday April 4th at 7pm