J-Term

For the first three weeks of January each year, J-Term replaces a student’s regularly scheduled academic and arts classes. Students are immersed in daily rehearsals for an arts performance project. J-Term is considered a “how to rehearse” class, giving all students an opportunity to be in a formal rehearsal process. Rehearsals culminate with one or more workshop-style performances for family and peers. J-Term endeavors to replicate the professional experience, introduce students to professional venues and artists, and engages students in the artistic energy of rehearsals/performances under the direction of SPCPA faculty and/or guest professional artists. J-Term is an important part of our training. J-Term is curricular and required as part of SPCPA’s regular academic year. Students earn a full credit for successful participation; grades are Pass or Fail. Students are required to attend daily rehearsals and performances; participation is not optional. The school’s attendance policies do apply to J-Term, but on a condensed scale: two (2) unexcused absences during J-Term puts a student in jeopardy of not passing J-Term. Parents/Guardians are still responsible for reporting attendance matters (Attendance Hotline: 651-222-3200, press 1 to skip ahead to the beep).

J-TERM EXPERIENCES

Here’s a sampling of some of our J-Term performances. Explore more in the photos section of our Facebook page.

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J-Term Reveal #12: Sam Johnson

We are excited to welcome back former SPCPA Dance Dept. Chair, Sam Johnson, for J-Term 2025 as one of the choreographers! Sam is a performance maker and doer based in Minneapolis, working primarily with the collective SuperGroup. He’s also performed in the dance work of many other independent performance makers. Sam's piece will rehearse all three weeks at St. Paul Ballet. The Dance Concert performs at Park Square Theatre.

#spcpacommunity #spcpajterm
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J-Term Reveal #12: Sam Johnson

We are excited to welcome back former SPCPA Dance Dept. Chair, Sam Johnson, for J-Term 2025 as one of the choreographers!  Sam is a performance maker and doer based in Minneapolis, working primarily with the collective SuperGroup. He’s also performed in the dance work of many other independent performance makers. Sams piece will rehearse all three weeks at St. Paul Ballet. The Dance Concert performs at Park Square Theatre.

#spcpacommunity #spcpajterm

J-Term reveal #11:Genevieve Waterbury

We are delighted to announce that Genevieve Waterbury will choreograph one of the J-Term pieces this year – she is thrilled to bring her short story contemporary ballet, The Tortoise and the Hare, to the students of SPCPA! Genevieve comes to us via Nevada Ballet, NYC's nathantrice/RITUALS, Ballet Co. Lab, and many other companies.

Rehearsals will happen all three weeks at Ballet Co.Laboratory. The Dance Concert performs on the main stage at Park Square Theatre!

#spcpajterm #spcpacommunity
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J-Term reveal #11:Genevieve Waterbury

We are delighted to announce that Genevieve Waterbury will choreograph one of the J-Term pieces this year - she is thrilled to bring her short story contemporary ballet, The Tortoise and the Hare, to the students of SPCPA!  Genevieve comes to us via Nevada Ballet, NYCs nathantrice/RITUALS, Ballet Co. Lab, and many other companies. 

Rehearsals will happen all three weeks at Ballet Co.Laboratory.  The Dance Concert performs on the main stage at Park Square Theatre!

#spcpajterm #spcpacommunity

1 CommentComment on Facebook

This is awesome!! Genevieve is amazing

J-Term Reveal #10: OUR TOWN

The timeless play that reminds us of the fleeting nature of time. Week one rehearses at SPCPA. Weeks 2 and 3 move to the The Jungle Theater. Directed by Brian Goranson.

#spcpajterm #spcpacommunity
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J-Term Reveal #10: OUR TOWN

The timeless play that reminds us of the fleeting nature of time.  Week one rehearses at SPCPA.  Weeks 2 and 3 move to the The Jungle Theater.  Directed by Brian Goranson. 

#spcpajterm #spcpacommunity

J-Term Reveal #9: Comic-Con

SPCPA's Brandon John will spearhead the school's first J-Term Comic-Con! From concept to final illustration – students will turn passion for storytelling and art into a true comic-con experience at Odd Mart in Minneapolis (pictured here)!

#spcpajterm #spcpacommunity #visualart
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J-Term Reveal #9: Comic-Con

SPCPAs Brandon John will spearhead the schools first J-Term Comic-Con! From concept to final illustration - students will turn passion for storytelling and art into a true comic-con experience at Odd Mart in Minneapolis (pictured here)! 

#spcpajterm #spcpacommunity #visualart

J-Term Reveal #8: THE WHO'S TOMMY

"I'm free, I'm free, and freedom tastes of reality!" Serving instrumentalists, vocalists, and musical theatre students, Tommy will rehearse at SPCPA weeks 1 & 2 and move to Park Square Theatre across the street(!) for most of week three, including performances. The Hive Collaborative's (@thehivecollaborativemn) Eric Morris will direct, and founding SPCPA Music and Musical Theatre chair, Raymond Berg returns to Music Direct!

Music and lyrics by Pete Townshend and a book by Townshend and Des McAnuff

#spcpajterm #spcpacommunity #thehivecollaborativemn
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J-Term Reveal #8:  THE WHOS TOMMY

Im free, Im free, and freedom tastes of reality!  Serving  instrumentalists, vocalists, and musical theatre students, Tommy will rehearse at SPCPA weeks 1 & 2 and move to Park Square Theatre across the street(!) for most of week three, including performances. The Hive Collaboratives (@thehivecollaborativemn) Eric Morris will direct, and founding SPCPA Music and Musical Theatre chair, Raymond Berg returns to Music Direct! 

Music and lyrics by Pete Townshend and a book by Townshend and Des McAnuff

#spcpajterm #spcpacommunity #thehivecollaborativemn

J-Term Reveal #9: jess pretty

We are thrilled to announce that jess pretty will be choreographing one of the J-Term dance pieces this year! She is an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and received her MFA in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. More info about jess pretty: www.jesspretty.com/

photo credit Rachel Keane

#spcpajterm #spcpacommunity
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J-Term Reveal #9:  jess pretty

We are thrilled to announce that jess pretty will be choreographing one of the J-Term dance pieces this year!   She is an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and received her MFA in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.  More info about jess pretty:  https://www.jesspretty.com/

photo credit Rachel Keane

#spcpajterm #spcpacommunity
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J-TERM archive

Fugitive Songs – Southern Theatre

Dance Repertory Concert – Anne Simley Theatre

     Joseph James

     Scott Stafford

     Maggie Bergeron & Nick Gaudette

     Desare Cox

     Amanda Sachs

Candela! A Night of Latin Music and Dance – North Garden Theater

She Kills Monsters – Mixed Blood Theatre

Find, Grind & Combine: A Zine Workshop – Subtext Books

The Prom – Anne Simley Theatre

Smartphone Short Film Festival – North Garden Theater

You Can’t Take it With You – Jungle Theater

Hands in Clay – MUDLUK Pottery

Printmaking: Relief, Monotype, Drypoint – Highpoint Center for Printmaking

WRRP: Write, Record, Release, Promote – Terrarium Recording Studio

Ten Thousand Voices: Youth, in collaboration with Ten Thousand Things Theatre Co. – Tour

She Kills Monsters – Mixed Blood Theatre

What was, what will be, and everything in between (studio exhibit) – Public Functionary 

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Mixed Blood Theatre
Dance Repertory Concert – E.M. Pearson Theatre

  • Alex Eady
  • Jinza Thayer
  • Laura Osterhaus
  • Megan Mayer
  • New Black City

Arlecchino in the City of Love – Red Eye Theater
Fire Arts – Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center
Form the Band/Write the Songs/Do the Gig – MetroNome Brewery
Found Fashion – MN Museum of American Art
Girls Like That – Park Square Theatre, Boss Stage
Literary Journal – Open Book Performance Hall
Mirror Lab Gallery Exhibition
Ragtime – Southern Theater
Sophisticated Ladies – E. M. Pearson Theatre
Evening of New Plays – Crane Theater
Shivering of Leaves – Jungle Theater

Urinetown – E.M. Pearson Theater
Once – Crane Theater
Songs for a New World – Illusion Theater
I Come From Arizona – Mixed Blood Theater
Men on Boats – Gremlin Theatre
The Song & The Studio – Sonic Edge Studio
Murder Crime – Open Eye Theatre
The Skin of Our Teeth – Park Square Theater, Boss Stage
Soul with a Capital S – North Garden Theater
Dance Repertory Concert – E.M. Pearson Theatre

  • Gabby Abram
  • Bruce DeMorrow
  • Penelope Freeh
  • Chitra Vairavan
  • Julie Warder

Soul with a Capital S – North Garden Theater
Fire Arts – Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center
Digital Art for Public Spaces
Ancestral Alchemy – Mirror Lab Gallery
Hands in Clay
Smartphone Short Film Festival – Film North & Grandview Movie Theater
The Reading Room – Open Book

Elements of Time – Mirror Lab Gallery
Roy Hargrove Project – Landmark Center Cortile
Dance Repertory Concert – Southern Theater
The K of D – Mixed Blood Theatre
Our Town – Boss Stage at Park Square Theatre
Little Shop of Horrors – E.M. Pearson Theatre, Concordia University
Renascence – Mixed Blood Theatre

Be More Chill – E.M. Pearson Theatre, Concordia University
Blood at the Root – Mixed Blood Theatre
Blue Stockings – Illusion Theater
Brooklyn Bridge – North Garden Theater
Dance Repertory Concert – Anne Simley Theatre, Hamline University
Dear World – Conn Theater
Denim – Crane Theater
Latin Imaginacion – Hook & Ladder Theater
The Madwoman of Chaillot – Gremlin Theatre
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Crane Theater
Mother Courage and Her Children – The LAB Theater
Wonderland Groove – Hook & Ladder Theater
The World Goes ‘Round – Southern Theater

Anon(ymous) – Illusion Theater
Astronomical – Open Eye Figure Theater
Bright Ideas – Crane Theater
A Chorus Line – E.M. Pearson Theatre
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Southern Theater
Floyd Collins – LAB Theater
Forget-Me-Not – Antonello Hall
Improvestra – Jazz Central
Inherit the Wind – Mixed Blood Theatre
The Little Prince – Gremlin Theatre
A New Music Stew – Studio Z
These Shining Lives – Crane Theater
Sophisticated Ladies – Historic Mounds Theatre
Dance Repertory Concert – The O’Shaughnessy

  • Lisa Berman
  • Karen Long Charles
  • Zoé Emilie Henrot
  • Shapiro & Smith
  • Darrius Strong
  • Pramila Vasudevan

A Raisin in the Sun – Illusion Theater
Dance Repertory Concert – The O’Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour – The LAB Theater (Minneapolis)
Girls Like That – Gremlin Theatre
Lake Kelsey – The Capri Theater
Le Rhinoceros – JSB Tek Box, The Cowles Center
Love is Just a Game – North Garden Theater
Myths and Hymns – Studio Z
On the Town – E.M. Pearson Theatre, Concordia University
Promise Land – Red Eye Theater
Romeo and Juliet – Mixed Blood Theatre
The Who’s Tommy – Anne Simley Theater, Hamline University
Vintage – Buetow Music Center Auditorium

Bone Portraits – Phoenix Theater
Breath Boom – Penumbra Theatre
Cabaret – The Capri Theater
Cendrillon – The Minnesota Opera
Dance Repertory Concert – The O’Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University
Everyone-vs-Everyone – Red Eye Theater
Funk 101 – Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University
The Lending Hand – Open Eye Figure Theatre
The Imaginary Invalid – JSB Tek Box, The Cowles Center
Improvestra! – Studio Z
Man of La Mancha– Mixed Blood Theatre
Rock of Ages – Anne Simley Theater, Hamline University
Shipwrecked! – Ritz Theater
The Skriker – Illusion Theater
Snow Angel – New Century Theatre
The Tempest – Intermedia Arts

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Red Eye Theater
Ain’t Misbehavin – Capri Theater
Evening of Dance I – The O’Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University
Evening of Dance II – The O’Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University
Evolution Revolution Reborn – Mixed Blood Theatre
Field Notes on Living – Paikka
Flow – Patrick’s Cabaret
I, Too, Sing America – Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University
Lord of the Flies – Illusion Theater
Murder Crime at Brockingforde Manor – James J. Hill House
New Music Stew – Studio Z
Parade – Anne Simley Theater, Hamline University
Peer Gynt – JSB Tek Box, The Cowles Center
Pippin – E.M. Pearson Theater, Concordia University
The Adding Machine – New Century Theatre
The K of D – Phoenix Theater
The Pirates of Penzance – The O’Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University
Voices of the City: A Vaudeville – Historic Mounds Theater
Welcome to Thebes – The LAB Theater (Minneapolis)

Almost, Maine – Pillsbury House Theater
Anything Goes – E.M. Pearson Theater, Concordia University
Ash Land – Howard Conn Theater
The Crucible – The LAB Theater (Minneapolis)
The Diviners – Red Eye Theater
Evening of Dance I – The O’Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University
Evening of Dance II – The O’Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University
For Colored Girls – Mixed Blood Theater
Fugitive Songs – Nautilis Music Theater
Macbeth – Cargill Stage, Children’s Theater Company
Once on This Island – Anne Simley Theater, Hamline University
Pop Cabaret – Studio Z
Riders to the Sea – Kilburn Arena, Rarig Center, University of Minnesota
Show Choir – Buetow Music Auditorium, Concordia University
Space Girl – Open Eye Figure Theater
Still Life with Iris – Stoll Thrust, Rarig Center, University of Minnesota
These Shining Lives – Ritz Theater
You Can’t Take it With You – Illusion Theater

30 Plays in 60 Minutes – The Lab Theater
Antigone – The LAB Theater (Minneapolis)
The Boys from Syracuse – The Lehr Theater
Dido and Aeneas – Kilburn Arena, Rarig Center, University of Minnesota
Evening of Dance I – The O’Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University
Evening of Dance II – The O’Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University
Fiddler on the Roof – E.M. Pearson Theater, Concordia University
Good ‘N’ Plenty – Illusion Theater
Hairspray – History Theatre
Hot Comb – Pillsbury House Theater
Illyria – Mixed Blood Theatre
Madrigal Dinner – Landmark Center
New Music Stew – Studio Z
The Skin of Our Teeth – Southern Theater
Twelfth Night – Stoll Thrust, Rarig Center, University of Minnesota
Vocal Jazz – Lehr Theatre
The Wretchedly Uncomfortables – Red Eye Theater

Big Small Things – Open Eye Figure Theater
The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin – Illusion Theater
Chicago – Southern Theater
The Devil and Daniel Webster – Minnesota Centennial Showboat
Edwin Drood – Lehr Theater
Evening of Dance I – Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota
Evening of Dance II – Ritz Theater
Innocence Lost – Rarig Center Thrust, University of Minnesota
Intermezzo – Gremlin Theatre
New Play Festival – Penumbra Theater Company
Open the Pod Bay Doors, HAL– Intermedia Arts
Pops! Concert – Anne Simley Theater, Hamline University
Romeo & Juliet – Ritz Theater
Show Choir – Anne Simley Theater, Hamline University
Uses of Enchantment – Mixed Blood Theater

Caroline, or Change – History Theatre
Evening of Dance I – The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts
Evening of Dance II – The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts
Gianni Schicchi – Concordia University
January Jazz – Walker West Music Academy and The Lehr Theater
Manifest Cloaks – Gremlin Theatre
Much Ado About Nothing – Illusion Theater
Night the Improv – Gremlin Theatre
Origin Story – Mixed Blood Theatre
Our Town – Red Eye Theater
Pirates of Penzance – Concordia University
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie – Lehr Theater
So Long, Johnson Pillock – Forage Modern Workshop
Urinetown – The Lab Theater

The Arabian Nights – The Children’s Theatre
As You Like It – History Theatre
Carousel – O’Shaughnessy Auditorium
Carousel Orchestra – O’Shaughnessy Auditorium
Departure Point – Studio Z
Evening of Dance – O’Shaughnessy Auditorium
Into the Woods – Illusion Theater
The Land of Polished Stones – The Lab Theater
Night at the Improv – The Lowry Lab
Sossy Mechanics Moving Theater – The Lab Theatre
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Lehr Theater
Thingamajig– Open Eye Figure Theatre
Vaudeville – MN Centennial Showboat
Vocal Project – Lehr Theater

Sister Kenny’s Children – Produced in association with the History Theatre
Good ‘N Plenty – Mixed Blood Theater
Little Shop of Horrors – Concordia University
Evening of Dance – O’Shaughnessy Auditorium
Night At The Opera – O’Shaughnessy Auditorium
Lovely Bunch of Coconuts – Intermedia Arts
Violet – Illusion Theater
Student Plays – Playwright’s Center
Night at the Improv – Lowry Lab
Original Film – Screened in the Weyerhaeuser Auditorium

All In The Timing – Weyerhaeuser Auditorium
This Is Not A Moustache – Wellstone Theater
Recollect – Wellstone Theater
Footloose – McKnight Theater
Ragtime – O’Shaughnessy Auditorium
You Can’t Take It With You – Illusion Theater
Night of Dance – O’Shaughnessy Auditorium
Chamber Orchestra Performance – McNally Smith Auditorium
Latin Jazz – Wellstone Theater
Student Plays – Pillsbury House Theater
Improv – Red Eye Theater
Piano Recital – Landmark Center 317

Bat Boy – Concordia University
One-Act Play Festival – Harding H.S. & Weyerhaeuser Auditorium
One-Act Play – The Long Christmas Dinner – Weyerhaeuser Auditorium
Chekov Project – Lowry Theater Lab & Bryand Lake Bowl
Penumbra Project – Penumbra Theater
Student Plays – Weyerhaeuser Auditorium
Spoken Word/Storytelling – Lowry Theater Lab
Brave New Improv – Lowry Theater Lab
Comedy Improv – Lowry Theater Lab
Night of Dance – O’Shaugnessy Auditorium
Swing Choir & Band – Fitzgerald Theater
Chamber Orchestra – McNally Smith Auditorium
Jazz Gig – Artist’s Quarter

Urinetown – Concordia University
The Quilting Project – U of M Showboat
One Act Play Festival – Lowry Lab
Actors/Writers Workshop – Frey Theater
Improv Tonight! – Lowry Lab
Recital – McNally Smith Auditorium
Night of Dance – Fitzgerald Theater
Gospel Chorale – Central Presbyterian

Music Review / Tap & Taiko – Ordway Center McKnight Theater
The Choreography Project/MN Dance Repertoire Experience – Wilkins Studios
The Mini Musical – Weyerhaeuser Auditorium
Good ‘n’ Plenty – Weyerhaeuser Auditorium

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