Education

YAA Principles // Conduct Policy


Upcoming Programs

2026 Summer Musical

Our 2026 YAA Summer Musical, A Year With Frog and Toad, had a successful Broadway run and was nominated for three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, after originating locally at the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis.

See the Show: August 13-23

More than 100 young actors are bringing this wonderful show to life in two different casts, with a total of 14 performances beginning August 13 and ending August 23.

Visit our Summer Musical page to learn more, or get your tickets now before they’re gone!


Fall 2026 YAA Classes

Registrations are now open for our 2026 fall semester of Young Actors Academy theater classes!

NEW THIS SEASON: starting this fall, we’re offering expanded options for our popular Musical Theater Skills class, instructed once again by Faith Winship-Smith, in addition to a brand new Intro to Dance for Musical Theater class, instructed by veteran YAA educator, Jillian Ehlke.

And, of course, our longstanding Acting Fundamentals classes will also be returning this season. Download our Fall 2026 Information packet to learn more, and then use the links below to register!

Registrations: Fall 2026

Synopsis of YAA

Open Window Theatre’s Young Actors Academy (YAA) offers top-quality theater education and performance opportunities for youth ages 8-18. All skill levels are welcome! YAA students will gain confidence and develop creative talents as they participate in skills-based acting games & activities. Additionally, we offer students an opportunity to put what they’ve learned into practice through full-length play productions and musicals.

Our support of the Christian and homeschool communities, driven by our uniquely redemptive mission in the arts, is what makes our youth programming unique. Founders Jeremy and Sarah Stanbary are trained theater professionals with over 20-years experience producing redemptive theater inspired by their rich Catholic cultural heritage. All of our YAA instructors and directors are professionally trained and working theater artists, ensuring a high level of competency and education.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

  1. We believe creativity is a gift from the Divine Artist to be used in service of the common good.
  2. We believe creative training is a highly valuable tool for the mental, emotional, and spiritual growth of young people.
  3. We believe that artists, as ambassadors of empathy, should treat others as they themselves wish to be treated, with love and mutual respect.

Questions?

youth(at)openwindowtheatre(dot)org
612-615-1515

Personal Conduct Policy

All staff and contract workers at OWT are required to sign off on our Personal Conduct Policy. Download and review that policy by clicking below:

Download Conduct Policy

About

Participants gain confidence, develop creativity, and learn theater fundamentals as they participate in skills-based acting games & activities during biweekly classes culminating in an end-of-semester showcase performance.

Guiding Principles

  1. We believe creativity is a gift from the Divine Artist to be used in service of the common good.
  2. We believe creative training is a highly valuable tool for the mental, emotional, and spiritual growth of young people.
  3. We believe that artists, as ambassadors of empathy, should treat others as they themselves wish to be treated, with love and mutual respect.