Founded
2018
Mission
Stage Company was founded recently but is modelled on a former Theatre Arts school (Spotlight Stage Company in North Wales) that closed. Miss Katie and Miss Stacy worked there together for five years. Miss Katie decided she missed the model, teaching and sharing the love of Theatre Arts too much, so she decided to launch Stage Company.
In many cases, students take three separate lessons (dancing, acting, singing) to learn the disciplines. What’s unique about Stage Company is that students receive instruction in each discipline and also learn how disciplines are intertwined into a production. The students work very hard to put a production together in one week!
What They Do
- Spring Programs
- Summer Programs
- Fall Technique Programs
- Free Performances
How To Find Them
P.O. Box 106
Abington, PA 19001
Classes are held at:
Our Lady Help of Christians/ Regina Coeli Academy
1525 Marian Road
Abington, PA 19001
Learning lines, dance numbers, and stage directions for a musical performance in one week maybe be overwhelming and nearly impossible. But not for kids at Stage Company Theatre Arts!
Led by Director Katie Keefe, Stage Company Theatre Arts work tirelessly to put on fantastic performances, all while teaching kids valuable life lessons.
Keefe is no stranger to the arts. Dancing since the age of three, Keefe danced with the Philadelphia Children’s Ballet Company and the Penn State Dance Company. Keefe previously taught dance for six years at Stagecoach, in North Wales, PA, an international kids theater arts school teaching singing, dancing, and acting.
“It was unlike anything I had never seen before. It was three different lessons for the price of one!” she said.
Unfortunately, StageCoach closed. Keefe was determined to continue teaching the arts. Two years later, she started Stage Company in Abington PA. Now only a few months old, Stage Company is bringing the arts into children’s lives in Montgomery County.
”I see these kids come in so shy and not wanting to talk to anybody” Keefe said “They transform and really gain confidence through acting, singing, and dancing. It brings them out of their shell.”
Stage Company is a unique children’s theatre program, teaching kids ages 5-14 acting, dancing, and singing, all interwoven into a performance at the conclusion of each program. There are summer, spring, and after school programs that are designed around performing various shows. The fall program is designed to be a technique term.
Annie was the latest program performed by Stage Company.This upcoming spring session will feature Crowned: The Fairy Tale Continues, telling the continued stories of characters such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Goldilocks. The two summer sessions include shows such as Cinderella and Frozen. Shows are picked with the kids in mind, selecting familiar musicals building excitement for the next session.
While Keefe and her team want the kids to perform the show to the best of their ability, the main focus of Stage Company is building confidence and self-esteem in the kids. The teachers create a positive atmosphere and encourage the kids to do their best.
”The arts can be very tough on kids, but it’s a very positive and encouraging atmosphere here,” Keefe said. “The kids even compliment each other during class.”
Stage Company is located in Abington. Practices take place at Regina Coeli Academy and the Church Hall (Our Lady Help of Christians). Students perform at nearby schools, likd Jenkintown High School and Abington Jr. High, so they get the full effect of performing with lights, microphones, and a full stage. Each performance is free to the public and show off all that the kids learned throughout the program. Stage Company recently added a new program, Stage Crew, for kids interested in theater but may not want to be on stage. This program teaches kids the process of putting on a show behind the scenes.
“The parents are shocked that the kids only have one week to learn a whole show,” Keefe said. “They were so excited that their kid, whether outgoing or timid, is up there singing and performing.”
Although Stage Company is just beginning their journey, Keefe and her team are changing lives of kids in Montgomery County.
”We tell the kids, ‘every part in the show is significant and each one of you is important in our cast.’”
Stage Company spring sessions begin February 23rd. To register your child for their programs, check out their website.
