ActUp Theater’s Arts Academy (ATAA) is an intensive skill development and learning experience intended to champion creativity and growth. ATAA is designed to help youth and teens build techniques, expand their artistic repertoire, participate in an immersive, transformative experience, all while having a great time! We accomplish this with our Summer Academy.
The Summer Academy is a 4-week, full-day intensive summer program in July. Summer Academy culminates in a Showcase and a trip the see a Broadway show!
ActUp Theater Arts Academy Celebrates
The King of Pop This Summer!
MJ The Musical
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MJ The Musical 〰️
For four unforgettable weeks this summer
(July 6th – July 30th), we’re turning up the heat and helping youth and teens sharpen their skills, build confidence, and explore their artistic voice.
This year, participants will have the opportunity to:
Join an immersive learning experience filled with joy, creativity, and growth
Develop their talent with master teaching artists and truly thrive
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New York City to see MJ the Musical on Broadway (ages 8+ only)
Now Open To AGES:
5–7 year olds (will not attend Broadway trip)
8–10 year olds
11–13 year olds
14–19 year olds (Paid Leadership Fellows Program – interview required)
Cost: $600. *Scholarships will be available soon.
Program Days: Monday–Thursday | 8:45 AM – 3:30 PM
Included: T-shirt, Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks provided
Location: GHAA - 15 Vernon Street, Hartford, CT. 06106
ATAA signups close May 29th.
PAID Teen Program W/ INTERVIEW — 14-19 YEARS OLD
The ActUp Fellows Program is back for Year 3! Fellows will Teens develop critical job skills, practice leadership, build professional portfolios, and write résumés. They also receive high-quality performance and arts training that prepares them for future educational and career pathways. This program provides our teens with real income, real experience, and real opportunities to grow, lead, and thrive
We’re looking for creative, detail-oriented artists with a deep love for theater. If that’s you, let’s make magic happen.
SUMMER 2025
ATAA teamed UP with HAMILTON!
This summer, students explored powerful weekly themes like identity, self-expression, and creativity, learning to trust their voices and challenge expectations. Through social-emotional learning, leadership development, and creative risk-taking, students uncovered more than just stage presence, they uncovered purpose.They also received career-boosting tools like headshots, bios, and resume building workshops, equipping them for success far beyond the theater. These young performers are stepping into their futures with confidence, clarity, and a sense of agency. And, it all came together on stage.
Summer 2024
In 2024 our Summer Academy took a trip to New York to see Aladdin on Broadway. The students got to take in the music, the costumes, and the energy of the show while experiencing the magic of live theater together. It was a day full of excitement and inspiration that captured what ATAA is all about: creating memories and opening doors through the arts.
Summer 2023
Summer Academy 2023 gave our students an unforgettable taste of Broadway with a trip to see Wicked in New York City. From the powerful voices to the incredible staging, the show captured their imaginations and left them buzzing with inspiration. It wasn’t just about watching a performance, it was about showing our young artists what’s possible when creativity and storytelling come alive on stage. That experience carried back into the Academy, fueling their passion for acting, dancing, and singing all summer long.
Summer 2022
Summer Academy 2022 was packed with energy, creativity, and growth. For four weeks, students trained in acting, dancing, and singing with our team of teaching artists, building skills and confidence every step of the way. They worked hard, encouraged each other, and discovered new ways to express their voices through the arts. The summer wrapped up with a trip to New York City where they got to experience Broadway in person, a chance to see the kind of professional theater they had been working toward all month.
Summer Academy 2021 laid the foundation for what ATAA has become today. Students spent the summer learning the fundamentals of theater through acting, dancing, and singing workshops led by our teaching artists. It was a season of building confidence, forming friendships, and discovering the joy of performance. Even without the Broadway trip that later became a tradition, the Academy gave students an unforgettable space to grow their creativity and find their voice on stage.