Daily Youth Theatre’s Stage Academy is set to perform its winter productions this Thursday & Friday, December 8 & 9.

George Daily Auditorium

Oskaloosa, Iowa – For its winter 2011 session, 19 elementary students & 19 middle school students have come from Oskaloosa, Eddyville and New Sharon to put together their shows over the last six weeks. The elementary session will be performing The Jungle Book on Thursday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. and the middle school students will perform their show, Aladdin, on Friday, December 9, also at 7:00 p.m. Both performances are held at the George Daily Auditorium and admission is free.

Stage Academy is an after-school program which teaches students about teamwork and acting, while helping to build self-confidence and creativity. Time spent at Stage Academy is made up of fun improvisation activities, acting exercises, technical stage education, entertaining games and play rehearsals.

Stage Academy is unique from other youth theatre programs because it is open enrollment – no audition is required to participate. During the first week of the session, directors get to know the students and then write a play specifically for them, tailored to fit their unique personalities and abilities. Stage Academy has consistently played to crowds of 300 people, to rave reviews from families and community members.

Since June of 2010, Daily Youth Theatre has had a total enrollment of over 600 students and has put on 26 productions. Children from New Sharon, Pella, Eddyville and Ottumwa, as well as the Daily’s local Oskaloosa, have participated.

Stage Academy will be taking a short break over the holiday season, but will start up again shortly after Missoula Children’s Theatre comes to the Daily in January. For more details about the program, contact Youth Theatre Director Katy Ottosson Nye at (641) 672-0799.