Two Academy of the Arts students were not only chosen to take part in the recent Broadway in Chicago performance of Children of Eden, but they also got to meet its creator, the legendary Stephen Schwartz.
As the Director of Arts DuPage, Debbie Venezia is a champion for the arts, dedicated to sharing the county’s vibrant cultural environment with residents and visitors alike. She believes art plays an important role in academic studies but is saddened that it is the first area to get cut in tough economic times.
A performing arts education may build a good foundation for a career in the limelight, but the act of learning never stops. From singing in
As if Halloween weren’t scary enough, Academy of the Arts students found themselves in the middle of a unique situation when they were asked to perform just inches away from an ever-changing audience. Naper Settlement’s All Hallows Eve turned out to be the perfect place to blend their acting and improv skills as they brought to life Hansel and Gretel: A Twisted Fairytale.
Immersive art may sound like something new, but it’s been around in different forms for years. From Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George to a new children’s exhibit at the DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville, it’s a great way to strengthen our connection to all kinds of artists.
A 5K run is a great way for new and experienced runners to get some exercise. Naperville gym Shred415 partnered with the Academy of the Arts on the last day of great fall weather to bring people together while raising funds for our mission. While costumed runners made us think about Halloween, the trick was that the run turned out to be a treat for participants of all ages.
Chaz Wolcott is an actor, director and choreographer based in New York City, and is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association. He earned his BFA in Dance from Oklahoma City University.
As a performer, Chaz has been seen as Buttons on the First National Tour of Disney’s Newsies. You can also catch Chaz’s performance in Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical, available for digital download on iTunes and Amazon. Chaz also starred in the 30th Anniversary Tour of Cats as the Magical Mr. Mistoffelees. Chaz was featured on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance. Favorite regional credits include: 42nd Street (Andy Lee), Mary Poppins, Gypsy, Legally Blonde and productions at Music Theatre of Wichita, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, The Gateway, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Fulton Theatre, The Fireside, Casa Mañana, Westchester Broadway Theatre, Gretna Theatre and more.
Emily Kristen Morris is an NYC-based actor, singer, dancer, certified vocal instructor, and popular online content creator (1.7 Million followers on TikTok). Emily has performed across the nation and internationally, and was most recently the Elphaba standby on the Broadway national tour of WICKED. Currently, Emily is starring as Elsa in Paramount Theatre’s production of Frozen. Her past theatre credits include: Bea in the national tour of Something Rotten, White Plains Performing Arts Center (Daisy in Side Show), The Rev (Sophie in Mamma Mia), Cape Playhouse, the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra (Nellie in South Pacific in concert), Gateway Playhouse, Weston Playhouse, and New York Musical Theatre Festival. Emily has also performed as a solo vocalist with symphony orchestras, including the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in China, and the Norwalk Symphony. Her voice is also featured on Joey Contreras’ new album “In Pieces.” On social media Emily is popular for her voice-teaching videos, her singing covers, and her vocal-coach-reacts videos. When she’s not performing, Emily runs her highly sought-after voice studio, EKM Vocal Studio, where she teaches lessons, masterclasses and workshops to passionate singers both virtually and in-person in NYC. Emily is certified through the Institute For Vocal Advancement (IVA), and received her BFA in musical theatre from the University of Cincinnati; College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).
SALISHA Thomas is a Broadway performer, author, former Miss California, a commercial and voiceover artist, a producer and director, vlogger, blogger, and media personality. She performed in the 1st National Touring and Broadway companies of Beautiful the Carole King Musical, and the Britney Spears Musical: Once Upon a One More Time. She’s the host of Black Hair in the Big Leagues and The Salisha Show podcasts and the red carpet correspondent for The Broadway Podcast Network. @theSalishashow www.thesalishashow.com
Born and raised in California, Patrick started as a performer but quickly fell in love with casting. As a Pisces with a Taurus moon, he aims to bring joy and light to the table while cultivating an inclusive and equitable space. Some of his favorite casting credits include Chicago, A Wonderful World, Peter Pan (National Tour), Gatsby, Life of Pi, Destiny of Desire, and Come Fall in Love!
