Live Art 2024 – 2025

Live Art is a multi-disciplinary arts program for neurodiverse youth and youth with and without disabilities between the ages of 10 and 18.

Live Art classes are taught by our team of highly skilled teaching artists and special educators. These teams collaborate to design accessible, artistically rigorous lessons and build, week over week, toward a final performance of an original work at the end of the year. 

All young people involved in Live Art go through a brief interview with programmatic staff. Click here to complete the interview registration form. We will contact those who complete the form to schedule a brief, informal interview.

Once in class, youth and teaching artists will choose the performing arts disciplines they would like to learn and explore, including songwriting, music, storytelling, acting, improv, and dance. By expanding the artistic possibilities available to each group, youth will foster creative innovation and develop increased confidence in artistic and creative expression. 

At the end of the year, each class will contribute to a final presentation that will be shared with friends, family, and members of the public to listen, learn, and enjoy. 

Location: In person at SPARC 

Class Meeting Dates/Times; Choose One:

• Thursdays from 5:45PM to 6:45PM OR
• Saturdays from 11:00AM to 12:00PM

Year Overview:

• First week of classes: September 16      
• Last week of classes before winter break: December 9      
• Classes resume: Week of February 17      
• Tech rehearsals: May 15 and 16      
• Final show: May 17!

Payment plans and scholarships are available to support financial access to Live Art. Click here to learn more.

Dates/Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, Sep. 18 to Apr. 9, from 4:30PM to 6:00PM, with a winter break. Please see detailed schedule below.

Location: In person at SPARC

Grades: 4th to 8th

This intermediate-level is the next stage of learning for students who have completed at least one year of SPARC programming.

Teachers: Breezy and Josh

Showstoppers is the ideal choice for young people who are ready to commit to a more rigorous musical theatre-based rehearsal and performance process. Students in this class will meet for an hour-and-a-half twice a week from September to April (not including a winter break). During that time, the cast of Showstoppers will learn skills like audition preparation, rehearsal etiquette, behind-the-scenes artistry, and – of course – they’ll learn their show! In doing so, elements of performance like acting, scene work, memorization, choral singing, solo/small group singing, and dance will be heavily emphasized. Students will understand and practice singing in parts (harmony and melody). Youth will identify the roles of a director, music director, and choreographer as part of a rehearsal and performance practice. The curriculum of this class also includes developing communication and collaboration skills for the theatre like dependability, cooperation, and teamwork. 

Showstoppers will present this year’s title, Dreamworks' Shrek the Musical Jr., in the spring for an audience of family and friends. Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek. One day, Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits who have been cast off by Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror with big ambitions. When Shrek sets off with a wisecracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he's handed a task — if he rescues feisty princess Fiona, his swamp will be righted. Shrek tries to win Fiona’s love and vanquish Lord Farquaad, but a fairytale wouldn't be complete without a few twists and turns along the way.

Class Meeting Dates: 9/16, 9/18, 9/23, 9/25, 10/2, 10/7, 10/9, 10/14, 10/16, 10/21, 10/23, 10/28, 10/30, (no class 11/4), 11/6, 11/11, 11/13, 11/18, 11/20, 11/25, (no class 11/27), 12/2, 12/4, 12/9, 12/11, (winter break), 1/22, 1/27, 1/29, 2/3, 2/5, 2/10, 2/12, 2/17, 2/19, 2/24, 2/26, 3/3, 3/5, 3/10, 3/12, 3/17, 3/19, 3/24, 3/26, (no class 3/31 and 4/2), 4/7, 4/9

• Tech Rehearsals: Monday 4/14, Tuesday 4/15, Wednesday 4/16 4:30PM to 6:30PM each day
• Performances: Thursday 4/17 (7:00PM curtain), Friday 4/18 (7:00PM curtain), and Saturday, 4/19 (2:00PM curtain) at SPARC’s theater 

Interested in scholarships? Read this page first.

*Teaching artists subject to change.

Dates/Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sep. 17 to Mar. 27, from 4:00PM to 5:30PM, with a winter break. Please see detailed schedule below.

Location: In person at SPARC

Grades: 4th to 8th

This intermediate-level is the next stage of learning for students who have completed at least one year of SPARC programming.

Teachers: Chewie and Josh

Showstoppers is the ideal choice for young people who are ready to commit to a more rigorous musical theatre-based rehearsal and performance process. Students in this class will meet for an hour-and-a-half twice a week from September to April (not including a winter break). During that time, the cast of Showstoppers will learn skills like audition preparation, rehearsal etiquette, behind-the-scenes artistry, and – of course – they’ll learn their show! In doing so, elements of performance like acting, scene work, memorization, choral singing, solo/small group singing, and dance will be heavily emphasized. Students will understand and practice singing in parts (harmony and melody). Youth will identify the roles of a director, music director, and choreographer as part of a rehearsal and performance practice. The curriculum of this class also includes developing communication and collaboration skills for the theatre like dependability, cooperation, and teamwork. 

Showstoppers will present this year’s title, Dreamworks' Shrek the Musical Jr., in the spring for an audience of family and friends. Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek. One day, Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits who have been cast off by Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror with big ambitions. When Shrek sets off with a wisecracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he's handed a task — if he rescues feisty princess Fiona, his swamp will be righted. Shrek tries to win Fiona’s love and vanquish Lord Farquaad, but a fairytale wouldn't be complete without a few twists and turns along the way.

Class Meeting Dates: 9/17, 9/19, 9/24, 9/26, 10/1, (no class10/3), 10/8, 10/10, 10/15, 10/17, 10/22, 10/24, 10/29, 10/31, (no class 11/5) 11/7, 11/12, 11/14, 11/19, 11/21, 11/26, (no class 11/28), 12/3, 12/5, 12/10, 12/12, (winter break), 1/14, 1/16, 1/21, 1/23, 1/28, 1/30, 2/4, 2/6, 2/11, 2/13, 2/18, 2/20, 2/25, 2/27, 3/4, 3/6, 3/11, 3/13, 3/18, 3/20, 3/25, 3/27, (no class 4/1 and 4/3)

• Tech Rehearsals: Monday  4/8, Tuesday 4/9, Wednesday 4/10 4:30PM to 6:30PM each day
• Performances: Thursday 4/11 (7:00 pm curtain), Friday 4/12 (7:00 pm curtain), and Saturday, 4/13 (2:00PM curtain) at SPARC’s theater

Interested in scholarships? Read this page first.

*Teaching artists subject to change.

Dates/Time: Wednesdays from 6:00PM to 8:00PM

• FALL: Sep. 18 to Dec. 12 (no class Nov. 27)
• SPRING: Jan 29 to Apr 23 (no class Apr. 2)
• Additional commitments listed below

Location: In person at SPARC

Grades: 6th to 12th

StageCraft is a community for students interested in all aspects of technical theatre, especially backstage work. As members of StageCraft, students meet once a week to learn from professional designers and technicians and get hands-on experience working on elements of SPARC productions. Practical skills include shop safety, set construction, lighting design and hanging, sound design, stage management, and much more! StageCraft members will also participate in weekly production meetings for Mainstage productions.

Throughout their time in the program, StageCraft members will put their learning into action as production crew for SPARC mainstage and classroom performances. Roles will be assigned based on an application process that considers interest, skill set, and experience. Along with the weekly meetings listed above we ask that families tentatively put the following SPARC performances in their calendars. Crew positions will be assigned throughout the year; not every member of StageCraft will work on every show. In addition to the programs listed below, other events that have crew opportunities may pop up throughout the school year.

• Hadestown: Teen Edition (Fall Musical): Tech Rehearsals Nov. 10 to 14; Performances Nov 15-17
• Spectrum: Tech Rehearsals Feb. 17 to 20; Performances Feb. 21 to 23
• She Kills Monsters (Spring Play): Tech Rehearsals Mar. 16-20, Performances Mar. 21-23
• Shrek Jr. (Showstoppers): Tech Rehearsals Apr. 14 to 17; Performances Apr. 17 to 19

Participants will be asked to sign a safety waiver and agree to follow all guidelines set in place by the instructors.

Interested in scholarships? Read this page first. 

*Teachers subject to change.

Photo Credit: Amy Almond