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The Theatre Arts program at Interlochen Arts Academy is designed for young actors who are serious about their craft. Through challenging coursework and guidance from a faculty of actor-educators, students develop their skills in all aspects of acting and theatre. Each year, the program presents five full productions, giving students a chance to explore a wide variety of repertoire and roles.
The Performance training is Stanislavsky-based and incorporates techniques designed to help the students discover the full potential of their own unique resources. When students leave Interlochen, they have a broad range of experiences and are prepared for success in university, conservatory or professional theatre.
Read an interview with Director of Theatre Arts David Montee on ActorsLife.com about what it's like to audition for and study theatre at Interlochen.
Courses
Classes offer an exposure to various performance techniques in theory and practice.
Facilities
The Harvey Theatre Complex houses the Academy theatre program. It is a modern theatre facility that contains classrooms and space for rehearsals and movement classes. Many student productions are staged in the 175-seat black box Harvey Theatre.
Corson Auditorium is used for a small number of larger theatre productions. The 1,000-seat auditorium accommodates more elaborate sets and large audiences.
The Mallory Costume Shop supports student productions with a 15,000 piece collection.
Guest Artists
Classes are enhanced by visits from guest artists. Students interact with leading performers who share their insights about acting, performance and planning a career. In the past two years, numerous artists have visited campus including:
- Victoria Clark - Tony Award-Winner for The Light in the Piazza (Interlochen Arts Camp alumna)
- Alan Menken - composer of Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Enchanted
- Stephen McKinley Henderson - actor in film and on Broadway
- Neil LaBute - playwright and director
- Kelly McEvenue - movement coach for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada, and author of The Actor and the Alexander Technique
- Lance Horne - Vocal arranger for Broadway's Little Women (Interlochen Arts Academy alumnus)
Representatives of Disney and Nickelodeon Casting have also visited.
Performance Opportunities
Performances give students a chance to apply techniques learned in the classroom. The theatre program presents a wide range of repertoire in five full productions each year.
2009-10
- Antigone - by Sophocles
- A Christmas Carol: The Musical - story by Charles Dickens, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
- Hotel Paradiso - by Georges Feydeau and Maurice Desavallieres, translated by Peter Glenville
- Love's Labours Lost - by William Shakespeare
2008-09
- Arabian Nights - adapted by Mary Zimmerman
- Little Women - music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein
- Once in a Lifetime - by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
- Seussical - music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
2007-08
- The Illusion - Pierre Corneille and adapted by Tony Kushner
- Tonight at 8:30 - Noel Coward
- Measure for Measure - William Shakespeare
- Thoroughly Modern Millie - Jeanine Tesori, Dick Scanlon and Richard Morris
Awards and Honors
In 2009, three theatre students were named as finalists in the Presidential Scholar program. Theatre major Steven Johnson was named the Academy's 40th Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
After Graduation
Experience in the Arts Academy theatre program prepares students for successful auditions at leading theatre programs at the college or conservatory level. Recent graduates are now at the following schools:
- The Juilliard School of Drama
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
- University of Minnesota Guthrie Theatre program
- NYU Tisch School of the Arts
- Fordham University
- Pace University
- California Institute of the Arts
- University of Southern California
Recent Alumni
The Academy theatre program doesn't just prepare students for higher education in acting. Students leave the program prepared to be acting professionals on stage and screen. Many students find professional success and leading roles shortly after leaving Interlochen. Some examples include:
- Jackson Rathbone - (Class of 2003) featured in the film Twilight and in the television series Beautiful People (ABC Family)
- Alexandra Silber (Class of 2001) - London's West End productions of The Woman in White, Fiddler on the Roof and Carousel
- Michael Arden (Class of 2001) - Broadway productions of Big River and The Times They Are a'Changin'
- Ben Walker (Class of 2000) - featured in Broadway's Inherit the Wind, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and films including Flags of our Fathers and Kinsey
- Logan Lipton (Class of 1999) - Wicked on Broadway
- James Ginty (Class of 1999) - stars in the film The Surrogates and appeared in K-19:The Widowmaker
- Antoinette Trucks (1999) stars in Barbershop (Showtime)
- Michael McMillian (Class of 1998) - What I Like About You (WB), Saved (TNT), and True Blood (HBO)
Other High Performing Alumni
- Felicity Huffman - Academy Award nominee for Transamerica and star of Desperate Housewives (ABC)
- Tom Hulce - Academy Award nominee for Amadeus and producer of Broadway's Spring Awakening
- Linda Hunt - Academy Award winner for Year of Living Dangerously
- Jennifer Ehle - Tony Award winner for The Real Thing and star of television's Pride and Prejudice
- Bruno Campos - star of the Disney film, Princess and the Frog, Nip/Tuck (F/X) and Jesse (NBC)
