Theatre: Intro to Acting

Prepare to be amazed as you watch your differently-wired kiddo make real friends, explore this unique content, grow under the guidance of this expert mentor, and be seen in all their glory!

Ages: 9-12 & 13-16

Class size: Maximum - 8 Students

Level: All Levels

Price Per Session: $44

Why Take This Course?

🎭 As they say, the show is goes on! Here, your child and their new friends are the star!

In this interactive, inclusive course, students will learn the basics of creating a character, audition, be cast, and perform on our Virtual Stage under the gentle direction of an engaging mentor!

All the fun! None of the anxiety!

There are a few basic lessons that every new actor must learn before they are ready to audition for a play and receive a script (and I've directed this show on stage a few times).

This class will cover those basic lessons but then it will go on to give students a chance to demonstrate those lessons. Students received some of the best parts of being in a live show from taking Ms. Jackson's Virtual Stage class:

1. The excitement of auditioning

2. The creativity of creating a Character

3. The satisfaction of knowing a script

4. The fun of being part of a cast.

Please see “complete course description below” for more information!

  • 🎭 As they say, the show is goes on! Here, your child and their new friends are the star!

    In this interactive, inclusive course, students will learn the basics of creating a character, audition, be cast, and perform on our Virtual Stage under the gentle direction of an engaging mentor!

    All the fun! None of the anxiety!

    There are a few basic lessons that every new actor must learn before they are ready to audition for a play and receive a script (and I've directed this show on stage a few times).

    This class will cover those basic lessons but then it will go on to give students a chance to demonstrate those lessons.

    Students received some of the best parts of being in a live show from taking Ms. Jackson's Virtual Stage class:

    1. The excitement of auditioning

    2. The creativity of creating a Character

    3. The satisfaction of knowing a script

    4. The fun of being part of a cast.

    In this amazing course we will:

    ✅ Create Characters

    In this class students will learn the basics of creating a character for stage. They will experiment with finding character voices, body movements and consider stories and emotions behind character motivations. It is a first step to performing on a stage. This class is all about using the voice to find a character.All exercises are with teacher modeling so students will feel comfortable (basically, I'm so silly that no one worries about looking silly themselves!). Next learners will learn how to use one's body to convey a character. How does this person walk? What do they do with their hands? How would they stand/sit/move, etc? I also will talk some about body consciousness on stage and basic stage manners like cheating out, not upstaging and how to always be seen. Finally, we'll talk about how we FEEL when we're a particular character and we will add a story to explain who the character is. (Homework will be to watch the movie and read the script)

    ✅ Audition for a part

    They will choose their top three favorite characters, develop character voices and movements for each, prepare a few lines and perform for Ms. Jackson and the class. Depending on how many students are enrolled in class, there will be some double casting.

    ✅ Rehearse

    Although we do not have a stage, we will do our best to learn as many parts as we can for stage performance. If students have space, they may move around as the characters. Students are NOT expected to memorize their lines; they will have the script with them throughout the class. If they would like to put together costumes and collect props for their parts, they may.

    ✅ Perform

    We perform!

    * Please note: Ms. Jackson uses scripts she's heavily edited specifically for teaching children in 2023. In this version of the script Tiger Lily is simply a friend of Peter's who the villain--Captain Hook--is using to try to capture his Peter Pan. This script does not portray Native Americans the way the 1953 Disney film did. My goal is to keep the fun parts of old scripts like these without the sexist/racist undertones from the time frame in which they were first written.

  • Enroll your child in this course to see your young actor find their voice, build confidence, make friends with similar interests, and put on an incredible show!

  • Internet connection and being ready to put on a show!

How To Enroll

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What Our Parents Say…

Meet Your Mentor

Ms. Jackson

I've been teaching theatre for 26 years and I was also a children's performer for ten of those years. I own a theatre program and I put on a show after every 20 hours of instruction (almost 60 shows in six years!).  

I believe EVERYONE needs and wants to be creative and expressive. Sydney Clemens says "Art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else" and my goal is to allow students a safe place to explore and shine and comfortably be themselves.

Explore Other Courses Offered by Young Scholars Academy

Our Promise To You

Satisfaction Guarantee:

If you’re not 100% IN LOVE with this course within the first 24 hours, you can either transfer to another course, get a 100% refund credit toward a future class or get a 75% money-back.

That’s it! No hassle!

In 3 years and over 500 families served, only 2 families have ever used this.

*more info in FAQs below

Questions Asked By Fellow Parents

  • 4 KEY things:

    1- A focus on the positive! We don’t focus on what students aren’t doing, we support what they are and we know the rest will come. We develop strengths, interests, and relationships. We build students up so they can build a better world! And do it with the new friends they make in our program!

    2- Like-minded neurodivergent peers. Our asynchronous students need one another and YSA is a safe haven for these kiddos to connect around their asynchronies, quirks, and interests. We’re a place where they can be their authentic selves and make friends while doing so!

    3- Passionate, masterful neurodivergent mentors who have walked the walk and can authentically validate and support your child with personal experience and care AND expertise as we all have advanced masters + degrees

    4-Content your students care about taught in a way they love! We offer the courses they need to be taking, not the ones they’re required to take.

    Come by and see for yourself!

  • Please don’t confuse reactive “distance learning” and virtual enrichment programming. After all, a student who is completely fried from a boring zoom class is often quick to pick up a tablet or phone, right?

    Our courses are not at all the same animal =)

  • We offer a satisfaction guarantee!

    If you’re not 100% IN LOVE with your course, you can:

    1- Transfer to another equal value class at no charge (space permitting)

    2- Get a 100% refund to a YSA credit

    3- Get a 25% money-back to your credit card

    Refund requests must be received up to 24 hours after the first day of camp. After 24 hours after the first class begins there will be no refund of tuition.

    The non-refundable 25% deposit is critical as it allows us to determine which courses we can run.

    Note- this is a satisfaction guarantee, therefore your child must attend class to qualify.

    *Note- Yearly courses like AP require a 30-day notice

  • We do! We have 3 kinds:

    1- Word of mouth: 25% off- we know that the best way to reach new families is word of mouth. When you help another family enroll in a YSA class and they name you at checkout, you will get 25% off the cost of the course you’re currently enrolled in once they stay past the refund period. Note— this applies to all regular courses, BUT only applies to the first month of membership courses.

    2- Multi-sibling: 10% off- We believe in supporting whole families and we are willing to put our money where our mouth is! When you sign-up 2 or more kiddos you will receive 10% off. Note— this does not apply to our membership courses.

    3-Multi-course: 10% off- To fully serve your family, we hope to provide your child with all the courses they dream of taking! To make this more affordable, when you enroll in 3 or more classes, you will receive 10% off. Note— this does not apply to our membership courses.

  • Of course!

    As we like to say, if you’re on our site, you’re in the right place.

    Our programming is for students who are not being supported or challenged enough in school.

    If you have an asynchronous kiddo who you know has strengths and struggles, our courses are for your child.

  • 2e students experience such asynchronous development that it proves difficult to have hard age limits.

    We often evaluate students on a case by case basis =)

    Please email us and we’ll discuss: sam@youngscholarsacademy.org

  • All of our programs are 100% virtual. This allows us to bring together the twice-exceptional/neurodivergent students of the world, connect them, and nurture them!

    Your child may very well enter a 6-person class with 5 other students from 5 different states/countries!

    Cool, right?