Academy gives hopefuls a second chance

Tom Titus

If you missed out on auditions for the Academy of the Performing Arts

a while back, you’ve got another chance.

The tryouts, held annually to fill the ranks of prospective

actors, singers, dancers and musicians, drew 150 students at the

first round of auditions in February, according to Diane Makas-Weber,

artistic director of the Huntington Beach High School program and

recipient of the Allied Board’s Distinguished Arts Administrator of

the Year award.

For those who missed them, or would like another crack at fame,

the last set of auditions will be held May 8 in the high school

auditorium. But interested students must have their applications in

by April 8 -- that’s a week from today.

The academy enrolls students in grades nine through 12 from Orange

and Los Angeles counties through competitive admission. Applicants

are evaluated on their academic record, auditions, interviews and

recommendations.

“The academy provides our students with personalized classes and

remarkable performance opportunities in classic and contemporary art

forms, allowing the students to achieve their fullest potential and

share their passion with their peers,” Makas-Weber said.

Students may audition for up to two of the following disciplines:

dance, commercial recording arts, music, musical theater, theater and

technical theater.

“We auditioned nearly 150 students in February and we are excited

to offer other determined students the opportunity to be a part of

our program,” Makas-Weber said.

Those who make the cut may someday become a part of a terrific

show like the recent “Damn Yankees,” which involved actors, singers

and musicians, not to mention a huge contribution from the techies,

who made Mr. Applegate’s devilish magic happen via technical effects.

Academy classes are held at the Huntington Beach High School

campus in the afternoon, but students may attend any school in the

Huntington Beach Union High School District for morning academic

classes. These high schools include Huntington Beach, Edison,

Fountain Valley, Marina, Ocean View and Westminster.

This is the 11th season for the academy, which provides

pre-professional arts education in a scholarly atmosphere for young

performers, writers, composers and technicians. The program features

a specialized curriculum with master classes, small class sizes,

strong interaction with guest artists and performing arts-related

field trips.

Once inside, however, the competition starts all over for the

plays and musicals. Current academy enrollment is more than 400

students.

The academy is currently in rehearsal for the play “The Miracle

Worker,” which will be presented April 29 through May 2 at the high

school. Other spring shows on the calendar are “Baby With the

Bathwater,” the Creative Forces Dance Concert and the Classical

Spring Music Concert.

Interested students may call the academy at (714) 536-2514, ext.

4025 (administration) or ext. 602 (recorded information). Or visit

the website at https://www.hbapa.org. There is, after all, no business

like show business.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.