On Monday, the Academy kicks off its fifth year, and Creative Director Janie Sharon is excited to share this spring’s line-up, which includes some new classes and returning favorites at the Fredonia Technology Incubator, 214 Central Ave. in Dunkirk. “On Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are doing part one of our Broadway In a Day for 2020,” Sharon told the OBSERVER. “This is usually held in May, but I’ve decided to run it earlier to help parents during those occasional days off in the school year.”

Monday’s Broadway in a Day runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and includes a full day of activities. “We’ll do acting classes, stage combat classes, dancing and singing,” said Sharon. The day camp is open to children ages eight to 14, who are welcome to bring a lunch.

Also on Monday, weekly evening academy classes begin. Sharon said, “This year, we have our really successful Movie Makers class, which has turned out to be this hidden gem for the academy.” Movie Makers, which runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday nights, allows students in grades four through eight to create their own original stories on camera by writing the screenplay, acting, shooting and editing scenes.

On Fridays, the Academy hosts the Improv Games class for students in grades four through eight from 5 to 6:30 p.m. “In this class, students learn all different skills, like communicating with their peers and creativity, but it also helps with any kind of social anxiety,” said Sharon. “This class totally breaks down their walls. In fact, the best compliment I ever got from parents is that their child, as a little girl, was so shy. By the time the class was over, she was so outgoing and had made all these new friends. Honestly, that’s the best compliment I can get.”

Submitted Photo On Monday, students are invited to take part in dancing, singing, acting classes and more during Broadway In a Day at the Playground Academy, located inside the Fredonia Technology Incubator.

Sharon is trying something new this semester: Saturday afternoon classes. These classes include Shining Stars for students in grades one through four, Stage Combat for students in grades seven through 12 and Broadway Voice for students in grades nine through 12.

“Stage Combat is a really exciting class taught by two college students, a junior and senior at SUNY Fredonia, who are both certified with the National Stage Fighting Association,” said Sharon.

Classes must reach a minimum enrollment number in order to be held, so those who are interested should register soon at playgroundacademy.org. Sharon offers a 15% discount to those who enroll multiple children or register for more than one class. “We’re offering a discount for anyone who registered from reading this article,” said Sharon. “Use code OBSERVER for a 15% discount on all classes and $20 off the Broadway in a Day registration, which is normally $125.”

All of the teachers, including Sharon, are professionals who have worked in the theater industry. Sharon holds a BFA in acting from SUNY Fredonia, a MS in Education from Saint John’s University, and has directed and choreographed for The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, the Hillman Opera, Fredonia’s Department of Theater and Dance and the Rockefeller Arts Center.

Together, Sharon and her husband, Ted, head of Performance at SUNY Fredonia’s Department of Theatre and Dance, founded non-profit Play On Arts, whose mission is to celebrate and promote theater arts through such projects as Shakespeare on the Lake and the Playground Academy. In 2018, the Sharons purchased the former Card Seed Company building at 50 W. Main St. in Fredonia and received grant funding to develop the space into Main Street Studios. Sharon told the OBSERVER that renovation work began earlier this week to transform the facility into a first-floor performance venue, with second floor classroom space and more. “We’re going to be moving to the new building in Fredonia probably by fall,” said Sharon.

To learn more about Playground Academy and register for classes, visit playgroundacademy.org. Follow The Playground Academy on Facebook for the full class schedule, discount codes, photos and videos of past classes. Sharon encourages anyone who has questions or would like more information to contact her directly at 724-372-5937 or theplaygroundacademy@gmail.com.