Junior Academy for The Performing Arts
Curtains up! Discover the magic of theater this season with JAPA
Since 2016, The Junior Academy of the Performing Arts (JAPA) has provided semi-professional level performing arts experiences for youth and teens in Prince George’s County and the Greater Washington, DC area. JAPA introduces theater to students who have a talent and curiosity for the performing arts and strengthens the knowledge and skill level of students already interested in performance. Students discover the magic of theater through the process of auditioning, rehearsing, and performing a Broadway-style musical theater production presented on the stages at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland.
JAPA presents a fall and spring musical production and offers summer camps for ages 8 to 12. The program rehearses at the Prince George’s County Suite at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
Junior Academy of Performing Arts
The Junior Academy of Performing Arts has exciting performance and training opportunities occurring year-round. We run 12-week sessions in the fall and spring and run 2 week day camp session in the summer season. In the fall class is held on Sunday’s 10am-3pm and in the spring class are held on Saturday’s 10am-3pm. All sessions will be held at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center within the PG Suite classroom and dance studio. Check out the photos from our past shows below! In the past year we have produced a diverse range of musicals: Cinderella, 101 Dalmatians, Madagascar, High School Musical 1 & 2, Frozen, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, and Annie! Stay tuned for more information about the next JAPA production, activity codes for our next sessions are listed below:
Fall Sessions & Activity Codes:
JAPA Musical Production – 23643-502A
Sundays, September 14 – December 14, 10am-3pm (No class on November 30th)
Join us for our Junior Academy of Performing Arts fall production of the Broadway musical, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast!
Classes will be held on Sunday mornings (10am – 3pm), including instruction in dance, music/singing, and drama/acting. No class will be held on November 30th due to holiday break. Show date is scheduled for December 14, 2025!
JAPA Dance Intensive – 23643-502B
Thursdays, October 16 – November 20, 6:30-8pm
Join us for our newest class series of the Junior Academy of the Performing Arts program!
This 6-week intensive class is focused solely on building and developing skills while fine-tuning talent within the musical theatre realm of dance. Dance instruction will involve genres ranging from ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, African, and musical theatre to introduce a diverse set of dance training. Open to beginners who have a deep interest in the arts as well as pre-professional youth. Please note that this class will not have a musical production to conclude the session
JAPA Drama & Acting Intensive – 23643-502C
Tuesdays, October 14 – November 18, 6:30-8pm
Join us for our newest class series of the Junior Academy of the Performing Arts program!
This 6-week intensive class is focused solely on building and developing skills while fine-tuning talent within the musical theatre realm of drama and acting. Instruction will revolve around improvisation, script studying skills, stage presence, and character development. Open to beginners who have a deep interest in the arts as well as pre-professional youth. Please note that this class will not have a musical production to conclude the session.
JAPA Vocal Music Intensive – 23643-502D
Mondays, October 13 – November 17, 6:30-8pm
Join us for our newest class series of the Junior Academy of the Performing Arts program!
This 6-week intensive class is focused solely on building and developing skills while fine-tuning talent within the musical theatre realm of singing, music, and choral arts. Open to beginners who have a deep interest in the arts as well as pre-professional youth. Please note that this class will not have a musical production to conclude the session.
Additional Information
For additional details and questions, please email Shaiday Dancy at shaiday.dancy@pgparks.com
