GCPA offers two special courses available ONLY in the summer: Choreography Styles and Acting Styles. These popular variations classes are some of our most anticipated every year. Study a new style with special guest industry artists every week.
Acting Styles: Wednesdays, 7pm-8pm | Drop Ins: $25
Choreography Styles: Wednesdays, 8pm-9:30pm | Drop Ins: $30
Check out the full lineup of teachers below and keep scrolling + hover for all the details on their credentials and classes this summer!
CHOREOGRAPHY STYLES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4TH
Lilly Hetz is a St. Louis based aerialist, dancer, and stilt walker. Lilly graduated from Missouri Baptist University, summa cum laude, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Marketing, minoring in both Business Administration and Dance. Sharing her passions through performance and teaching is what fills Lilly’s heart. Lilly is an instructor of aerial arts, acrobatics, and dance at various dance and performing arts studios across the St. Louis area. Watching her students improve and grow both as artists and as individuals is truly her greatest joy. Lilly teaches her students to approach their training with a growth mindset -- setting goals, identifying incremental accomplishments, and taking ownership of their own progress and growth. Using the stage name Lil-E-Lectric, Lilly performs aerial arts, dance, and stilt walking at both corporate and public events in the St. Louis area as well as cities throughout the Midwest and beyond. Her favorite aspect of performing is interacting with her audience to create magical and truly unique experiences. Lilly is always expanding her knowledge and skill set, seeking new challenges, and finding joy through creativity. She has a passion for motivating and connecting with others through movement. Lilly is very grateful to have the opportunity to do and share what she loves everyday.
When hearing the word clown, many immediately think of painted faces, big red noses, and oversized shoes. But the art of clowning goes much deeper, enabling actors to find freedom of expression and imagination, while developing physical and mental stamina, strength and versatility. Clowning skills can be used in comedies on stage, on TV, and in movies. Come explore the roots of clowning and how to apply it to characters and text with GCPA’s co-founder and Executive Director, Paul Pagano!
Paul Pagano (Director), a native of St. Louis, received his BA in Drama from Washington University and Masters in Theatre Education from Fontbonne University. As a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 2001, Paul has had the opportunity to work with the Guthrie Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Children’s Theatre Company, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Hey City Theatre, the MUNY, STAGES St. Louis, HotCity Theatre, and many others. As a director and fight choreographer, in addition to 19 productions (and counting) at GCPA, credits include the MUNY, Washington University, Fontbonne University, Missouri All-State Theatre, and Kirkwood Theatre Guild. As an instructor, Paul has taught at GCPA, COCA, St. Louis University High School, and STAGES Performing Arts Academy. Love to wife, Lori, and kids, Xavier and Kalia!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11TH
Spencer Milford: UPCOMING: Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen (The Muny). WORLD TOUR/US PREMIERE: The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale. BROADWAY: The Winslow Boy. 1st NATIONAL TOURS: Billy Elliot, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. WORLD PREMIERES: Buzz - directed by Emmy-winner Carrie Preston (Alabama Shakespeare Festival); Con College (River Rat Productions); Nibbler (Rattlestick Playwrights) CHICAGO: Billy Elliot (Paramount Theatre); Hello, Dolly (Marriott Theatre); A Taste of Soul (Black Ensemble Theater); Guys and Dolls (Drury Lane Theatre) REGIONAL:
Cabaret (NJT), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Fulton Theatre); She Loves Me (The Link Theatre); Peter and the Starcatcher (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); Newsies, 42nd Street, Camelot, Beautiful (The Muny). FILM: Soul on Fire (Oct. 10th release) starring William H. Macy. MA in Acting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Stephanie Fox: Originally from Oklahoma, Stephanie graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Music: Music Theatre and continued her studies independently in New York. As a proud member of Actors’ Equity (Stephanie Long) she has performed regionally, on National tour and in New York. In St. Louis, Stephanie has taught at COCA, STAGES, and choreographed for 8 years at Chaminade College Prep along with numerous professional choreography credits. Stephanie now lives in Michigan with her two pups and husband but is grateful to continue her work with GCPA both remotely and in person.