The Performers School Celebrated Five Year Anniversary

Celebrating five years of bringing professional children's theater to Chicagoland, The Performers School (TPS) reflects on their mission to become the North Shore's premier performance studio for young people.

Focusing on cultivating kids from age 9-18, TPS specializes in improving self-confidence, self-awareness, skills and creativity, as they embark on their theatrical performing journey. TPS offers their students the most professional experience through its award-winning teachers, directors and choreographers who are all in the business of film, television or musical theater.

"As actors, we know that students learn best from professional mentors who have achieved great things in the industry," say TPS co-founders, Stacey Flaster and Elizabeth Fauntleroy. "Our students look up to our impressive TPS professional staff that inspire them to be their best!"

Flaster and Fauntleroy reflect on their past five years in business and taking steps towards their mission accomplished. Below are some of the accolades they are proud of:

• Students: No matter what age, TPS students learn to carry themselves professionally at auditions and wherever their theatre careers may take them. TPS is proud of the recognition their young performers are receiving.

• Carly Meyer, age 15 of Northbrook, was the winner of the 2017 Illinois high school musical theater award as Best Actress for her portrayal of Hodel in "Fiddler On The Roof."

• Will Anderson, age 16 of Libertyville, actor in countless plays and national commercials such as Trix Yogurt and Belk Department Stores

• Cam Ezell, age 16 of Buffalo Grove, lead in Marriot Theatre's "Elf The Musical," as well as Drury Lane's "Bye-Bye Birdie."

• Students boast representation at Shirley Hamilton, Stewart Talent, Big Mouth Talent, Gray Talent Group and Paonessa Talent.

• Venues: Bringing the best in children's performance theater to the North Shore, TPS is proud to be chosen to perform at some of Chicagoland and the North Shore's top venues including Ravinia Festival and Lit Fest. Our students have performed at such venues as Marriott Theater, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Paramount Theatre, Lyric Opera, Writer's Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare, among others.

• TPS has been chosen by Ravinia Festival President and CEO, Welz Kauffman, as the only performance theater company to perform at Ravinia Festival's Bennett Gordon Hall for three years in a row, with the upcoming Sept. 15 and 16 performance of "Annie Jr."

"This September we are honored to welcome The Performer's School back to Bennett Gordon Hall for their production of 'Annie Jr.' The expertise of this young theater company is what Ravinia Festival appreciates in young artists and welcomes their professionalism as the only theater performance at Ravinia Festival…."

• Classes and Staff: Since 2013, TPS has offered a variety of classes ranging in different levels for ages 4-18 years old, including Workshops, Performance Groups, Mentoring and Stage Crew opportunities. TPS classes are facilitated by experienced professionals so that students can learn the skills necessary to excel in the theater world. Staff ranges from dance instructors to award winning choreographers, Broadway performers, producers, actors, concert artists, musicians and more.

Classes include Workshops, Performance Groups, Mentoring and Stage Crew opportunities.

"Liz and Stacey are gifted musical theatre teachers as well as kind and nurturing people who expertly guide children to become stronger singers, actors and dancers while building their confidence and self-esteem," says Rick Boynton, creative producer at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.

Dawn Gray of Grey Talent Group, Inc. explains, "We think acting teachers and coaches who are also working casting agents and/or directors- like Stacey- can be the most effective because they really understand the business."

For information on the Performer's School, check out the website www.theperformersschool.com or email info@theperformersschool.com.

ABOUT THE FOUNDERS:

The Performer's School's Co-founders Stacey Flaster and Elizabeth Fauntleroy are both are well-respected performers and teachers in the community. Flaster most recently directed Hair and Ragtime for Big Noise Theatre, winning Broadway World Awards for Best Director and Best Musical. She has also directed and choreographed countless other shows including Porchlight Theatre's Jeff Award winning production of A Class Act. Fauntleroy has been teaching voice for over 15 years and her career boasts 30 operas with The Lyric Opera of Chicago and others including Mame, Evita, Pirates of Penzance, Beauty and the Beast, and more. She has also worked extensively at both Marriot Theatre and Drury Lane Theatre.