Twin cities arts community

An important part of SPCPA’s purpose is to connect the students and the school to the Twin Cities professional arts community in a number of ways.

  1. SPCPA supports students who need to miss school to perform locally with professional and youth arts organizations.
  2. Each artistic discipline offers multiple master classes taught by guest artists. Local professionals are regularly invited to perform for and dialogue with students.
  3. Arts teachers are local professional artists and they connect the students to the organizations they represent.
  4. J-Term projects happen in local professional venues.
  5. SPCPA maintains an Arts Advisory Council composed of arts leaders in the community.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

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Get your tickets now to see SPCPA alum, ESSENCE RENAE (playing Lillie Campbell Jackson) and long-time former SPCPA teacher and J-term director, AIMEE K. BRYANT (playing Alpha Campbell Jackson) in THE NACIREMA SOCIETY at the Guthrie Theater. After graduating from SPCPA, Essence went to Carengie Mellon University where she received her BFA in Acting. Essence recently retuned to the Twin Cities after appearing on shows on HBO Max, Amazon Prime, and Showtime.

Congrats, Essence, and have a great run you two!

More info and tickets: www.guthrietheater.org/shows-and-tickets/2024-2025-season/the-nacirema-society/

(photo by Tom Wallace)
#spcpaalum #spcpacommunity
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Get your tickets now to see SPCPA alum, ESSENCE RENAE (playing Lillie Campbell Jackson) and long-time former SPCPA teacher and J-term director, AIMEE K. BRYANT (playing Alpha Campbell Jackson) in THE NACIREMA SOCIETY at the Guthrie Theater.  After graduating from SPCPA, Essence went to Carengie Mellon University where she received her BFA in Acting.  Essence recently retuned to the Twin Cities after appearing on shows on HBO Max, Amazon Prime, and Showtime. 

Congrats, Essence, and have a great run you two!  

More info and tickets:  https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-and-tickets/2024-2025-season/the-nacirema-society/

(photo by Tom Wallace)
#spcpaalum #spcpacommunity

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

THIS SHOW ROCKS! I attended the dress rehearsal on Friday and it was superb.

Love this!! Go Essence and Aimee!!

Tickets for Finale go on sale today at noon in the Infinite Campus School Store – current students, check your email for more info! Finale is at the Landmark Center, May 29.

#SPCPA #saintpaulconservatory #spcpacommunity
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Tickets for Finale go on sale today at noon in the Infinite Campus School Store - current students, check your email for more info! Finale is at the Landmark Center, May 29.

#spcpa #saintpaulconservatory #spcpacommunityImage attachment

SPCPA Creative Writing students visited the Minneapolis Institute of Art yesterday on a field trip for an ekphrastic writing exercise! An ekphrastic writing exercise is one in which the writer responds creatively to a piece of visual art–like a painting, sculpture, photograph, or even a film still–through writing. The goal is to explore, interpret, or give voice to the image using words. This can take many forms, such as poetry, monologues, stories, letters, dialogues, etc. We hope the visit inspired all of you!

#spcpacommunity #spcpacreativewriting #creativewriting #SPCPA #spcpaarts
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SPCPA Creative Writing students visited the Minneapolis Institute of Art yesterday on a field trip for an ekphrastic writing exercise!  An ekphrastic writing  exercise is one in which the writer responds creatively to a piece of visual art--like a painting, sculpture, photograph, or even a film still--through writing.  The goal is to explore, interpret, or give voice to the image using words.  This can take many forms, such as poetry, monologues, stories, letters, dialogues, etc.  We hope the visit inspired all of you!

#spcpacommunity #spcpacreativewriting #creativewriting #spcpa #spcpaartsImage attachmentImage attachment+6Image attachment

Did you know that local dance company, STRONGmovement, led by SPCPA dance teacher Darrius Strong, offers summer intensives? Each day = 8 hours of intentional training, mentorship, and choreography—culminating in a fully developed 20–25 min work shared with friends & community.

Hosted at the inspiring TU Dance space, this is more than just a summer intensive—it’s a deep dive into artistry, confidence, and performance power. Requirements: At least 2 years of ballet & modern dance training.

More info: www.strong-movement.com/
and registration: www.eventbrite.com/e/strongintensive-2025-tickets-1210218529199?aff=oddtdtcreator

#strongmovement #strong_movement #spcpacommunity
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Did you know that local dance company,  STRONGmovement, led by SPCPA dance teacher Darrius Strong, offers summer intensives?  Each day = 8 hours of intentional training, mentorship, and choreography—culminating in a fully developed 20–25 min work shared with friends & community.

Hosted at the inspiring TU Dance space, this is more than just a summer intensive—it’s a deep dive into artistry, confidence, and performance power. Requirements: At least 2 years of ballet & modern dance training.

More info:  https://www.strong-movement.com/ 
and registration:   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/strongintensive-2025-tickets-1210218529199?aff=oddtdtcreator

#strongmovement #strong_movement #spcpacommunity

Get your tickets now to see Frozen at the Children's Theatre Company – it opens next week and runs through June 15. Frozen features 3 current SPCPA students (Amir Byrd, Jon Schumacher, Mason Yang) and 1 former student (Kyra Richardson). It was choreographed by SPCPA alum, Rush Benson. Denise Prosek, a former J-Term Music Director (for Violet), serves as the Music Director. Have a great run ya'll!

More info and tickets: childrenstheatre.org/shows-and-tickets/

#spcpacommunity #spcpaalum #childrenstheatrecompany
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Get your tickets now to see Frozen at the Childrens Theatre Company - it opens next week and runs through June 15.  Frozen features 3 current SPCPA students (Amir Byrd, Jon Schumacher, Mason Yang) and 1 former student (Kyra Richardson).  It was choreographed by SPCPA alum, Rush Benson. Denise Prosek, a former J-Term Music Director (for Violet), serves as the Music Director.  Have a great run yall!

More info and tickets:  https://childrenstheatre.org/shows-and-tickets/  

#spcpacommunity #spcpaalum #childrenstheatrecompanyImage attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

They’re all amazing!!! 👏🏻👏🏻

Have a great run!

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ARTS ADVISORY

Current and former members:

Diane AldisPerpich Center for the Arts
Sarah BellamyPenumbra Theater
Maggie BergeronUniversity of Minnesota, Dance
Jennifer BlagenFreelance Theatre Artist
Gary BriggleFreelance Theatre Artist
Steve BusaRed Eye Theater
Steve CardimoneUniversity of Minnesota BFA Acting Program
Lisa ChannerUniversity of Minnesota BA Theatre Program
Karen CharlesThreads Dance Project
Jeremy CohenThe Playwrights’ Center
Andrew CookeMusic Director, Chanhassen Dinner Theater
David DamschroderUniversity of Minnesota, Music
Annie EnnekingFreelance Theatre Artist
Bradley GreenwaldFreelance Theatre Artist
Michael GruberFreelance Theatre Artist
Benjamin HannaChildren’s Theatre Company
Mary HardingPerpich Center for the Arts
H. Adam HarrisPenumbra Theater
Michelle Hensley10,000 Things Theater
Richard HitchlerTheatre 55 and Mixed Blood Theatre
Sheena Janson KelleyChildren’s Theatre Company
Nora JennemanUniversity of Minnesota, Dance
Anton JonesPlaywright, Climb Theatre
Michelle KinneyUniversity of MN, Instrumental Music
Heather KlopchinSt. Olaf College, Dance
Wendy KnoxFrank Theatre
Chuck LazarusMinnesota Orchestra
Peter LeggettWalker West Music Academy
Wendy LehrSPCPA Artistic Director Emeritus
Bob NeuSkylark Opera
Ron PelusoHistory Theatre
Tod PetersenFreelance Theatre Artist
Toni Pierce-SandsTU Dance
Solomon PrahamWalker West Music Academy
Faye PricePillsbury House Theatre
Joe PriceUniversity of MN/Guthrie BFA Theatre Program
Doug OrzolekUniversity of St. Thomas, Music
Jack ReulerMixed Blood Theatre
Randy ReyesTheatre MU
Whitney RhodesMixed Blood Theatre
Michael RobinsIllusion Theater
Peter RothsteinTheater Latte Da
Uri SandsTU Dance
Chris SchlichtingFreelance Choreographer
Luverne SeifertUniversity of MN, Theatre
Anat ShinarWalker Arts Center
Audrey StottlerA.S. Voice Studio/Met Opera
Steven StuckiSkylark Opera
Laurie Van WierenFreelance Theatre Artist
David WalshUniveristy of MN, Opera
Dr. Betty WebbEducation Consultant
Dave WilliamsonMinnesota Orchestra
Max WojtanowiczCatalysts Theatre