Impact Masterclasses return for winter break; need-based scholarships available

Academy of the Arts in Naperville is offering a winter break session of its Impact musical theater program on Monday to Friday, Jan. 2-6. The classes, led by Broadway artists, will be held at Stonebridge Country Club in Aurora.

Students, ages 10-18, will be led by an all-new cast of established Broadway performers including Chicago native Abby Mueller who performed in "SIX" and "Beautiful," Tony Award nominee Rob McClure from "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Little Shop of Horrors," Alvin Ailey alum Fana Tesfagiorgis who performed in "My Fair Lady," and Stewart Talent's Sam Samuelson.

In addition to six masterclasses in dance, acting and voice, and mock audition sessions with a Samuelson, the immersive weeklong program includes a field trip to see Disney's "The Lion King" now playing at the Cadillac Palace Theater as part of the Broadway in Chicago series.

"Impact is designed to provide students with high-intensity experiences aimed at connecting them with the professional arts world," said Academy co-founder and executive director Dylan Ladd. "Students in Impact have been invited to audition, and cast in, professional theater productions."

The upcoming Impact session launches Academy of the Arts second year of programming. It held its first program, a dance intensive, in December last year and demand for the program, along with its Studio Program of 10-week evening and weekend class sessions, continues to grow.

"Ultimately our goal is to build a grade K-12 academic and arts academy in the western suburbs, providing rigorous academics - all core courses required by the state - in an arts-focused environment," Ladd said. "As we continue to work toward that goal, the demand for classes and Impact programming shows students longing for this level of instruction."

Registration and scholarship applications are available at illinoisartsacademy.org/impact/.