Theater at Aspen Academy: Where Performance Meets Power

Most schools treat drama as a hobby. At Aspen Academy, we treat it as a laboratory for the human spirit. We aren't just teaching kiddos to memorize lines; we’re teaching them to own a room, command an audience, and find the courage to be seen. In a world of screens, the ability to stand on a stage and speak with conviction is the ultimate competitive advantage.

A National Model for Leadership and Expression

The Aspen Advantage: Our theater program is a national model that uses performance to teach the things that actually matter: discipline, mental strength, and the guts to lead. From Pre-K through 8th grade, theater is a core part of our "Essentials" block. This isn't about fame; it’s about building the executive functioning and teamwork required to lead in the real world.

Lower School: Finding the Voice (Pre-K to 4th Grade)

Answer-First Summary: Before they can lead a company, they must lead themselves. In Lower School, theater focuses on conquering stage fright and discovering personal expression. By age 4, kiddos are already on stage, building the foundational confidence that carries them into our leadership and entrepreneurship programs.

  • Courage in the "Yellow Zone": Every student participates in AMP’d (Aspen Morning Program) performances, pushing them into their "yellow zone" of growth and comfort.
  • Brain-Based Learning: Our arts curriculum is built on how children naturally process and retain information, ensuring creative expression is backed by science.
Theater, Musical Theater, Aspen Academy, Drama

Middle School: Mastery and Ownership (5th to 8th Grade)

Answer-First Summary: Middle schoolers transition from participants to creators. Students don't just act; they write, direct, and manage technical production. This authentic ownership builds project management and storytelling skills that are years ahead of their peers at other schools.

  • Student-Led Productions: In our theater classes, students have written, directed, and performed full plays, gaining complete ownership of the production process.
  • The Technical Edge: Classes like StageCraft introduce students to the "laundry" of theater—lighting, sound, costumes, and makeup—turning them into multi-disciplinary problem solvers.
  • Performance Electives: Offerings include Broadway & Musical Theatre, Improv Basics, and "From Page to Stage," where students adapt scripts to perform for younger grade levels.

World-Class Instruction: Meet LeeAnn Scherlong

We don't hire "generalists." Every Essentials class is taught by an expert educator who is also a professional in their field.

LeeAnn Scherlong, M.A., D.A. (In Coursework) Lead Theater Faculty & Student Leadership Coach

Ms. Scherlong is a powerhouse in the performing arts with over 25 years of experience cultivating world-class talent. Holding a Master’s in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from CSU and currently completing her Doctorate of Arts at UNC, she brings a level of technical mastery rarely seen in K-8 education.

Before joining Aspen, she was the Founding Artistic Education Director at Parker Performing Arts School and has led major productions at the Town Hall Arts Center. At Aspen, she doesn't just "put on a play"—she coaches our humans to find their greatness, ensuring they grow into leaders who are as comfortable in their own skin as they are in a boardroom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every student at Aspen Academy take theater? Yes. Theater and performance are core components of our Essentials Program. For example, in Kindergarten, kiddos participate in 40-minute blocks of theater and movement twice per year as part of a rotation that includes music and Spanish. This ensures every kiddo develops the ability to speak and present with confidence early on.

How does theater support social-emotional learning? We use the stage to build character. By stepping into different roles, students develop empathy and emotional intelligence. They learn to handle the pressure of live performance, which builds the "grit" and composure needed for life’s high-stakes moments.

What makes Aspen’s arts program different from other Denver schools? While many schools treat arts as secondary or "cuttable," we invest in world-class faculty and 80 minutes of daily Essentials. Our theater program is integrated with our Leadership and Entrepreneurial curriculum, teaching students that storytelling is the heart of influence.

What Our Families Say

"The growth we've seen in our son's confidence is immeasurable. He went from being a shy kid to someone who can stand on the AMP'd stage and lead a presentation with total poise. Aspen doesn't just teach theater; they build leaders." — Aspen Academy Parent

Ready to see our humans in action?

A 30-minute 1:1 conversation with our Admissions team can answer your questions about arts education at every level. Come see an AMP'd performance. Meet our artist-teachers. Watch creativity come alive.

The world your child will inherit is being shaped by artificial intelligence.

But it will be made meaningful by human beings who know how to create, express, imagine, and share.

Give your child the foundation to be one of those humans.