Welcome to Theatre School
Quality theatre school programming for all ages.
StoryBook is a leader in programming for the whole family and offers a wide variety of theatre school classes for all ages all year round. Whether just starting out or an accomplished performer, we believe in providing classes that nurture the creativityin everyone, at every level.
CLASSES • CAMPS • PD DAYS
WORKSHOPS • MASTERCLASSES
PROFESSIONAL ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
EDUCATOR PROGRAMS & MORE!
SBT OFFERS A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, INCLUSIVE & FUN ENVIRONMENT
FOR EVERYONE.
Learn more about our safety planning & protocols here.
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Theatre classes are often envisioned as the perfect extra-curricular activity for the imaginative, dramatic, spotlight-loving child - and they are! Along with performance skills though, classes offer a wealth of other benefits for all kinds of children, including the development of transferable skills that can set youth up for success in many other areas of life. As students explore new territory in a safe space, they develop a deeper understanding of the world around them, and demonstrate greater self-confidence in new situations.
StoryBook's Theatre School classes teach transferable, real world skills that will help set students up for success no matter what they do after classes are finished!
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Theatre Education:
More than just performance.
Programs for Kids, Young People & Teens
StoryBook is the leading theatre arts program for youth in our city. Whether you're looking for a fun PD Camp, multi-week classes, or theatre-intensive spotlight programs - we are proud to offer year-round opportunities for youth of all ages! Keep students engaged and supported as they explore performing arts in a supportive and safe environment!
SPOTLIGHT Programs
for ages 9-12 & 13-17
FALL & WINTER SPOTLIGHT PROGRAMS are held Saturdays or Sundays over 13 weeks. In this musical preparation course, students explore the process of putting on a musical. From auditions, rehearsals to an invited onstage performance for family and friends – experience what it’s like to be a part of a real musical theatre production!
SUMMER SPOTLIGHT CAMPS take place Monday to Friday over 3 weeks. From auditions and rehearsals to live-performance, participants will experience what it is like to be part of real musical production! The end of the program culminates the presentation of the students’ work, where parents and friends are invited to join us in the audience of the theatre.
ADULT Programs
Looking for specialized skill training? Explore your creativity by learning something new, honing a craft, and working with multiple art forms. From learning and performing choreography and vocal music, to the basics of acting in a fun and supportive environment, SBT Adult Classes offer something for everyone! As a bonus, students will learn skills that build confidence and coordination that can be transferred to everyday life!
PROFESSIONAL ARTIST DEVELOPMENT Programs
As part of our ongoing dedication to the community of artists who make StoryBook their home, we have programmed workshops designed to support and elevate these artists and continue to push them to their growing edge. These workshops will provide artists of varying levels of skill sets a chance to hone in on their craft and really work at their artform.
One of the most talked about differences between Calgary and other urban theatre centres is "opportunity". Unlike cities like Vancouver and Toronto, Calgary has a smaller amount of opportunities for artists to audition repeatedly and get better at doing it. In fact, most artists in Calgary find themselves auditioned once or twice a year compared to their contemporaries in the larger urban centres who are doing it weekly.
The PAD Workshops give Calgary artists a chance to work on their skillsets between opportunities and allow them to work safely without the pressure of trying to get THE job.
EDUCATOR Programs
Join us to learn new skills to bring back to your students! Our Educator-focused programs are designed to be condensed, practical workshops where teachers can connect with a Professional Learning Community and learn new and innovative skills.
Whether you’re a teacher who is suddenly putting on your school play and you need help figuring out where to start, or you’re a seasoned educator looking to spice up your lesson plans, we’re here to support you!
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FAMILY PROGRAMMING FOR ALL
Our Commitment to Accessibility
StoryBook is the leading theatre arts programming for youth in our city. Our "NEVER SAY NO TO A CHILD" mantra allows everyone, regardless of socieo-conomic status to take part in our programming.
In a typical year, StoryBook offers nearly $100,000 in free or subsidized programming to families and children who may not otherwise be able to afford it. If you or someone you know would benefit from our programming and may require financial support, please complete our online form and we will be certain to make some theatre magic.
Theatre Education: More than just performance
By: Cristina Lanz - Theatre School Program Coordinator at StoryBook Theatre
Drama education teachs various real-world skills
Theatre classes are often envisioned as the perfect extra-curricular activity for the imaginative, dramatic, spotlight loving child - and they are! Along with performance skills though, theatre arts education poses a wealth of other benefits for all kinds of children including the development of
transferable skills that can set youth up for success in many other areas of life. Every year we see all sorts of children participate in the theatre arts programming that we offer ranging from students who are shy and quiet to students who are outgoing and live for the spotlight.
It is always wonderful to see their growth in their skills in acting, singing, and dance, but the individual growth that students experience as they build friendships, gain confidence, and come out of their shells is just as noticeable and important.On an individual level, students experience the benefits of theatre arts education through increased levels of confidence, the exploration of self-expression, improved kinesthetic awareness and speech skills, and a more nuanced understanding of the world around them. In a theatre class environment, students are encouraged to make mistakes and explore imaginary circumstances without judgment.
As students explore new territory in this safe space, they develop a deeper understanding of the world around them and demonstrate greater self-confidence in new situations. Additionally, students develop the skills necessary for creative problem solving where students feel confident exploring creative solutions to real world problems without fear of a trial and error process. Throughout this exploration, drama education utilizes a variety of forms of communication including speech, movement, writing, and music.
This variety allows students to explore different modes of self-expression and is often beneficial for students who may struggle to express themselves in conventional ways. As an added benefit, students develop increased body awareness and skills in public speaking - a vital skill in many industries. Children and youth also experience the benefits of drama education socially through an increased sense of belonging, a greater sense of empathy, and the development of improved
social skills.
Many of the activities done in a theatre education setting involve team building and teamwork which facilitates relationship building among the students and gives students an increased sense of self-worth as each and every student plays an integral role in the final product. The team work done in theatre education programs often results in an increased sense of belonging, particularly for students who may struggle to find their place of belonging elsewhere.
Additionally, through the exploration of the world through imagination and play, students can explore what it feels like to walk in another person’s shoes in a safe and supported environment. This allows youth to imagine other human experiences, developing a sense of empathy for how other people may experience the world around them. In turn, this creates greater social awareness in children and can promote a greater sense of inclusion within their communities. Theatre arts education is a wonderful opportunity to learn the acting, singing, and/or dancing skills needed to be a wonderful performer. However, as one can see from student growth in many other areas, theatre education stands to teach a variety of transferable, real world skills that will help set students up for success no matter what they do after classes are finished.
Originally published in Calgary's Child Magazine, Spring 2023
meet our
Theatre School Program Coordinator
CRISTINA LANZ joins the StoryBook team as our new Theatre School Program Coordinator.
Cristina has nearly a decade of teaching experience in music and drama, and she has taught students ages 3 to adult in private voice and piano lessons, theatre camps, and drama classes with companies in Calgary and Okotoks, and with Little Opera in San Francisco.
Cristina is also a performer herself! As a performer, she has performed roles across a wide range of genres and musical styles including theatre, opera, operetta, and musical theatre. Some of her favourite roles include Baker's Wife (Into the Woods), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Mrs. Gibbs (Our Town), and Dorabella (Così fan tutte).
She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto and a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory in addition to a Diploma in Theatre Performance from Mount Royal University.
