Theatre Arts Training’s Institute
This spring marks the first graduating class of Institute.
Theatre Arts Training’s Institute is CTC’s four-year training program preparing young actors for college and professional theatre careers. Students audition for the program as high school freshman, and once accepted, commit the next four years to growing as artists alongside a group of like-minded peers. Almost four years ago, four talented high school students embarked on an exciting theatrical journey at CTC when they became the inaugural cohort of Theatre Arts Training’s Pre-Professional Institute.
The Institute was born from Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius’s desire to offer more vibrant teen experiences. The resulting program offers high-level competitive training that guides students to CTC’s stages and has served 29 students to date. Boasting accomplished teaching artists like CTC Acting Company members Autumn Ness and Reed Sigmund, and local actor H. Adam Harris, the Institute offers students personalized training and attention from the most talented and passionate theatre educators around.
Institute curriculum is comprehensive in its approach and long-term in its impact, and each of the four years has a different theatre focus. Third-year students are currently prepping for college auditions, and are preparing monologues they’ll perform as mock auditions before CTC’s Peter Brosius in the spring. Each spring, Institute students deliver a showcase performance.
In addition to their course work, Institute members will spend 10 hours each year building their resume through job-shadowing and hands-on opportunities in Education, Stage Management, Marketing, Production, and other areas of a professional theatre. Students also attend two plays around the Twin Cities each year, allowing them to explore diverse artistic experiences and the local theatre landscape. “Institute is what I look forward to most during the week, and it’s what I miss most during our breaks,” says Isabella Spiess (class of 2021).
Institute students are already seeing success. Madison Neal (class of 2020) has performed roles on CTC’s stages in such productions as I Come From Arizona, and Cinderella. Symphonie Whitted (class of 2020) has performed in the ensemble in Last Stop on Market Street and Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas!. And audiences will see Isabella Spiess in the upcoming production of Spamtown, USA.
To Ellie McKay, Director of Education, what’s most impressive about this program is the way these determined, hard-working students support each other. By putting together students who love theatre and are willing to invest time and energy in their own growth, CTC is fostering a powerful group of like-minded peers that support one another’s dreams. “Theatre helps us see the world from others’ perspectives by teleporting you into a character’s world. It can teach incredible life lessons,” says Madison Neal. “The value of theatre for me is being able to inspire other people and also receive inspiration,” adds Symphonie Whitted.
We look forward to seeing what the first graduating class of Institute do with their bright future!
Auditions for the class of 2024 will be held in May and September, 2020. Learn more about Theatre Arts Training’s Institute here.
— Article by Melissa Ferlaak
