The Appalachian Center for the Arts

Education

Beginning in 2019, The App’s Education Program now serves close to 6,000 children, teens, and adults annually throughout the Tri-State area. From pre-K to adult learners, our programs aim to educate, enlighten, and spark creativity in our community as audience or actor, on or off the stage. The App is a part of your community! We work with schools, eldercare centers, and more through after-school classes, career days, in-school residencies, summer theater intensives, student matinees, Broadway Masterclasses, and more. We also offer sensory-friendly performances in our mission to be a safe, fun space for all in our community.

Upcoming Summer Camps

The Appalachian Center for the Arts is committed to serving the artistic educational needs of our community. No child will ever be turned away due to financial hardship. If you require assistance please email us at education@theapparts.org.

THERE ARE NO CURRENT CAMPS AT THE MOMENT.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE!

REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

Adult Acting Summer Camp: Almost, Maine

July 27th – August 6th | $150
Weekdays from 6:00PM – 9:30PM
Performance: August 7th, 2026 at 7:30PM and August 8th, 2026 at 3:00PM & 7:30PM

Have you always wanted to be on stage or are you ready to jump back in and hone your skills? Join us for two weeks of fun in our Adult Summer Camp! Meeting on week nights from 6:00–9:30 pm, we’ll create fully staged production of the play Almost, Maine by John Cariani.

This camp is designed for all experience levels, whether you’re a seasoned actor or stepping on stage for the very first time. You’ll work collaboratively, build confidence, and have a lot of fun bringing this heartfelt and whimsical show to life.

To make participation accessible for families, we’re excited to offer free childcare during camp rehearsals to those who need it in our upstairs sensory-inclusive space so parents can focus on creating without worry.


Note: campers must be present for every day of camp and all performances on August 7th and 8th.

Scene Study Techniques

February 16th – March 27th, 2026
Meets: Mondays / Fridays | 5:15 – 6:45pm
Performance: March 27th, 2026
Instructor: Audrey Kuykendall

This class will emphasize immediate connection to material and scene partners using cold reads from published works, Sanford Meisner’s Repetition Exercise, and Uta Hagen’s “Respect for Acting.” With engaging exercises, any student can improve their listening, observation, empathy, and deductive reasoning skills. A scene will be performed in an evening of sharing open to the community March 27th, 2026.

If This Were My Story (ages 18+)

January 18th-February 8th | $100 for semester
Meets Saturdays, 12:00-4:00 pm
Performance: February 13th, 2025
Taught by Mark Hatfield

You have a story to tell! Learn the creative processes involved in devised theatre where the actors become playwrights and tell the stories most relevant to them. Collaborate with other theatre artists as you learn embodied poetics inspired by the pedagogy of the French theatre director Jacques Lecoq. Participants will use movement, music, materials, masks, and improvisation to develop a show based on the topic of their choosing.Mark Hatfield is an Eastern Kentucky native who trained at the London International School of Performing Arts and School of Embodied Poetics, and has completed an MFA in Actor Created Physical Theatre at Naropa University. He’s also completed graduate degrees in musical composition, counseling, and a clinical training program with the Jung Institute of Chicago.Mark Hatfield has been a member of Artists Collaborative Theatre since 2021 and has played roles in The Little Miss Firecracker Contest, Puffs, Bright Star, The Thin Place, Misery, 9 to 5, Southern Fried Funeral, Bloodsong, Inherit the Wind, Mamma Mia, Southern Fried Nuptials, Wait Until Dark, and A Bluegrass Christmas Carol.As part of the Octopus League theatre company in Boulder, CO, Mark has devised, co-directed, and performed in musicals, plays, story adaptations, and clown shows. He’s also performed as a company member in Square Product Theatre productions of Boulder and as a community player with UPike’s theatre troupe.Mark lives in Pikeville, KY, works as a mental health counselor in private practice, is a doctoral student in clinical psychology, and is a drama therapist in training. He has basically never stopped going to school and perhaps never will.

Upcoming Classes

The Appalachian Center for the Arts is committed to serving the artistic educational needs of our community. No child will ever be turned away due to financial hardship. If you require assistance please email us at education@theapparts.org.

THERE ARE NO CURRENT CLASSES AT THE MOMENT.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE!

REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

Dancing with Mickey!

September 24th
October 22nd
November 19th (at Bob Amos Park Community Center)
December No class
January 21st
February 12th Valentine’s Day Dance

Instructor: Mickey McGuire
Class Size: 25 Students

Dance classes are for everyone. Come alone or bring a partner. Classes are beginner level to start and will move up each month.

The dances planned for this section are Bachata and Swing. Bachata is a simple latin dance with a 4 count rhythm. It is easy to learn and a lot of fun. The first month will only be Bachata. The second month will be a review of Bachata and add American Swing Dance. It goes well with 60’s bop music. It is a little faster but easy to learn. After the second month we will be reviewing each month and adding new movements.

At the end we hope to have a Valentine’s Dance to show off your new moves.

Your instructor is Mickey McGuire. Mickey has been involved in dance competitions for 30 years. He has won at National Championships and one World Championship. Mickey has competed in many major cities and twice in Europe. He is extremely excited to share his love of dance with you.

It is suggested that you wear comfortable clothing and dance attire. It is helpful to have dance shoes or shoes that slide on the floor easily. Dancing in socks is also acceptable.

Doors open at 6:30 PM
Warmup till 7
Lesson begins at 7
Lesson until 7:45
Dance from 7:45 till 9 PM

Registration: $10 with a 2.50 processing fee

Vocal Workshop (Ages 13-18)

September 26-October 17, 2026, from 12PM – 1:15PM
Instructor: Zack Wilde
Class Size: 20 Students

This two-class workshop will cover music theory and harmonies inspired by the music of Hadestown. We will focus on vocalization, part placement, and learning to listen & sing as a group. On the final week of the Musical Theatre Intensive courses, we will share the piece we’ve been working on with our families & friends!

Ages 13-18: September 26th & October 3rd 12pm-1:15pm

Class/Workshop sharing is on October 17th. Call time 9am for all groups with our sharing beginning at 10am.

Everyone enrolled must be present for all classes to benefit fully. One class builds from the last. Please check the class schedule before registering to make sure you can attend all classes.

No one is turned away due to financial hardship. Please email shannon@theapparts.org for information about scholarships.

Registration: $40 with a 2.50 processing fee

Rocky Horror-Inspired Lips Brooch/Pin Workshop

october 15, 2026, 6:00 PM
Class Size: 25 Students

Do you want some extra bling to wear to The Rocky Horror Picture Show on October 17th? The APP has you covered!

Join us on Thursday, October 15th at 6:00pm for a special evening filled with paint, resin, and rhinestones for creating your very own Rocky Horror-inspired lips brooch/pin to wear to the main event! These luscious lips are 3″ across, guaranteed to make you stand out amongst your fellow Transylvanians. Don’t get hot and flustered, just sign up and make Frank proud!


Registration:
$20 with 2.50 processing fee

Musical Theatre Intensive (Ages 5-8)

August 29-october 17, 2026, from 9AM – 10:15AM
Instructor: Zack Wilde
CHOREOGRAPHER: Tiffany Owen
Class Size: 20 Students

Join us for an Encanto-inspired class highlighting movement, music, and themes from the movie! Students will let out their energy each week for eight weeks as we dive into the roles of family/community, musical expression, and using movement to tell a story. The final week will be a sharing of what we’ve been working on, guaranteed to leave you talking about Bruno!

Classes run every Saturday from August 29th-October 17th.

Ages 5-8: Saturday mornings 9am-10:15am

Class/Workshop sharing is on October 17th. Call time is 9am for all groups with our sharing beginning at 10am.

Everyone enrolled must be present for all classes to benefit fully. One class builds from the last. Please check the class schedule before registering to make sure you can attend all classes.

No one is turned away due to financial hardship. Please email shannon@theapparts.org for information about scholarships.

Registration:
$150 with 2.50 processing fee

Musical Theatre Intensive (Ages 9-12)

August 29-October 17, 2026, from 10:30AM – 11:45AM
Instructor: Zack Wilde
CHOREOGRAPHER: Tiffany Owen
Class Size: 20 Students

Where are we going? Into the woods! Students will have the opportunity to dive into the classic storybook characters inspired by Into the Woods Jr, making each character their own over eight weeks! We will focus on characterization, acting choices, timing, and storytelling through song & dance. Don’t tell Cinderella’s Stepmother but there will be a sharing of what we’ve been working on in the final week!

Classes run every Saturday from August 29th-October 17th.

Ages 9-12: Saturday mornings 10:30-11:45am

Class/Workshop sharing is on October 17th. Call time is 9am for all groups with our sharing beginning at 10am.

Everyone enrolled must be present for all classes to benefit fully. One class builds from the last. Please check the class schedule before registering to make sure you can attend all classes.

No one is turned away due to financial hardship. Please email shannon@theapparts.org for information about scholarships.

Registration:
$150 with 2.50 processing fee

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Spooky Halloween Tablescape Workshop

October 20, 2026, 6:00 PM
Class Size: 25 Students

If you’ve been looking to stretch your creative wings and want to dive into the world of tabletop scenery, this is the workshop for you! Using foam construction techniques and painting, we will create a Halloween tablescape perfect for the season. Our scene will feature a 7″ spooky house, a cauldron, moss, “trees”, a fence, and lots of detailing across a 14″x17″ platform. These skills are also incredibly helpful if you are interested in the world of miniatures, villages, dioramas, or building tabletop game play scenes. Note: This workshop will take a 3-4 hours, requires using a hot glue gun, and has a sign-up cutoff date so we can order the specific number of pieces required.

Date: Tuesday, October 20th
Sign-Up Cutoff Date: Thursday, October 15th

Registration: $60 with 2.50 processing fee

No classes are scheduled at this time

Please check back soon!

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