The STAGES Performing Arts Academy supports the organization’s mission by teaching students the skills of theatre while connecting them directly to professional productions, community programs, and arts education opportunities across the St. Louis region.
For Andrew Kuhlman, executive producer of STAGES St. Louis, the academy plays a central role in the organization’s broader goal of creating “theatre that brings us closer.”
The Quick Answer
The STAGES Performing Arts Academy supports the organization’s mission by training young performers, connecting them with professional theatre experiences, and expanding access to arts education across the St. Louis community.
- The academy helps students develop acting, performance, and creative skills through professional arts education.
- Students gain real-world theatre experience, including opportunities to perform alongside professional actors.
- Outreach programs expand access to theatre education throughout the St. Louis region.
- Arts education helps build confidence, creativity, and community connections for students.
Connecting students to professional theatre
One of the most exciting ways the academy connects students to STAGES’ mission is through opportunities to participate directly in productions.
During the 2026 season, which marks STAGES St. Louis’ 40th anniversary, four academy students will perform as members of the full ensemble in the production Come From Away. “They’re not coming on stage for a moment and then leaving,” Kuhlman says. “They’re going to be members of the full ensemble.”
Students go through the same preparation process as professional performers, including auditions, meeting the artistic team, and preparing performance materials. “That’s what I love most about the academy,” Kuhlman says. “We’re showing students what it means to be a professional working actor—and showing them that it’s possible.”
Expanding access to arts education
Beyond its classes and camps at the Kent Center for Theater Arts in Chesterfield, the academy also supports STAGES’ mission through outreach programs across the region. Through Emerson Access the Arts, STAGES partners with schools and community organizations to bring theatre education to students who may not otherwise have access to performing arts programs.
In 2025 alone, the academy worked with more than 25 outreach partners, offering programs at low or no cost for participating schools and community centers. These programs allow more young people to experience the creativity, collaboration, and confidence that theatre can foster.
Investing in the next generation of artists
For Kuhlman, arts education can have a lasting impact far beyond the classroom. He still remembers his first experience performing in a school production—playing Santa Claus in a kindergarten Christmas pageant. “That was one of the best nights of my life,” he recalls.
Such moments are often what inspire students to continue exploring the arts. “I kept investing in theatre, and theatre kept investing in me,” Kuhlman says.
That same philosophy guides the STAGES Performing Arts Academy today. “It’s up to us to say yes to students,” he adds. “To say yes to opportunities for them and continue offering more ways for them to grow.”
By investing in young performers and expanding access to arts education, the academy helps ensure that theatre continues to bring people together across the St. Louis community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kuhlman answers common queries about the STAGES Performing Arts Academy and arts education:
What is the STAGES Performing Arts Academy? An arts education program offering classes, camps, and training opportunities for students interested in theatre and performance.
What kinds of programs does the academy offer? Acting classes, musical theatre training, performance camps, and outreach programs that introduce students to theatre arts.
How does arts education benefit students?: It helps students develop creativity, communication skills, confidence, and collaboration while building a deeper appreciation for the performing arts.
Read more in this series:
- In what ways does theatre bring people together?
- In what ways does the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center create a more intimate setting?
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of STAGES St. Louis. For more information about the season and to purchase tickets, visit stagesstlouis.org.
