Summer and Saturdays

Summer and Saturdays

Yom Kippur

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Yom Kippur

Wednesday, October 12, 2016
12:00 AM 11:00 PM 00:00 23:00

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Earlier Event: October 6

Theatre Department Fall Show - Noises Off!

Later Event: October 14

End of Quarter 1

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The Chicago Academy for the Arts, 1010 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60642312.421.0202

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ICYMI: Miguel Lucero's (Media Arts '21) "Battle of the Seasons" from the 2018 Winter Juried Festival! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts #animation

The Academy Jazz Quartet from this May's jazz concert at Jazz Showcase! This is a clip from "Witch Hunt", featuring Declan Beyer, Adam Chlebek, Micah Collier, and Ilana Weisbach. #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts #jazz @jazz_showcase

Part 2!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts
#summer

Part 2! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts #summer

The 2018 Academy Summer Program is a wrap! It was a joy to have these kids as part of the Academy community last week. They worked extremely hard throughout the six-day intensive, and their dedication and passion were evident in the inspiring sketching, painting, dancing, singing, filming, writing, and acting we saw on Saturday. Our faculty is so happy to have had the distinct pleasure of working with these students. We hope they feel proud of what they accomplished working with their peers within the Academy curriculum. We hope to see you again soon!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts
#summer

The 2018 Academy Summer Program is a wrap! It was a joy to have these kids as part of the Academy community last week. They worked extremely hard throughout the six-day intensive, and their dedication and passion were evident in the inspiring sketching, painting, dancing, singing, filming, writing, and acting we saw on Saturday. Our faculty is so happy to have had the distinct pleasure of working with these students. We hope they feel proud of what they accomplished working with their peers within the Academy curriculum. We hope to see you again soon! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts #summer

A few photos of Ben Dicke (Theatre Department Chair) and Andy Robinson (Musical Department Chair) in "My Fair Lady" at @wagonwheelcenterforthearts ! Photos by Scott Michaels.

#CAArts

A few photos of Ben Dicke (Theatre Department Chair) and Andy Robinson (Musical Department Chair) in "My Fair Lady" at @wagonwheelcenterforthearts ! Photos by Scott Michaels. #CAArts

"We all create: whether it be art, a business, a family or any other form of creation. And that’s enough to lessen the gap between what we perceive as “us” and “them”. We’ll never all agree on everything, but we all certainly have the capacity to understand one another." Isle Marquez from the @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

"We all create: whether it be art, a business, a family or any other form of creation. And that’s enough to lessen the gap between what we perceive as “us” and “them”. We’ll never all agree on everything, but we all certainly have the capacity to understand one another." Isle Marquez from the @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts

"The truths art explores might not allow us to completely forget our predispositions and beliefs, but they do allow us to see things from a fresh perspective. The more art we observe and make, the more insight on different perspectives we gain. And the deeper we understand others’ perspectives, the more we may come to empathize with them." Leo Ritterhoff from the @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

"The truths art explores might not allow us to completely forget our predispositions and beliefs, but they do allow us to see things from a fresh perspective. The more art we observe and make, the more insight on different perspectives we gain. And the deeper we understand others’ perspectives, the more we may come to empathize with them." Leo Ritterhoff from the @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts

"The world needs such acts of community that are intrinsic to theatre and art. The listening, focus, and respect generated by such circles and communities are invaluable to how we treat others and make the world spin." Molly Bremer from April's @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

"The world needs such acts of community that are intrinsic to theatre and art. The listening, focus, and respect generated by such circles and communities are invaluable to how we treat others and make the world spin." Molly Bremer from April's @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts

"The artist’s ability to say the most difficult things in ways that can only be interpreted through our innermost selves, brings about an overpowering sense of empathy. And it is this empathy that allows artist and audience to overcome our private languages and speak truly to one another. That is, to speak together as one, and engage in a public language that recognizes the hardest truth to see in the simplest of way: we are all human beings." Gianna Rotkvich at this year's @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts
Photo by @thomasmohrphotography

"The artist’s ability to say the most difficult things in ways that can only be interpreted through our innermost selves, brings about an overpowering sense of empathy. And it is this empathy that allows artist and audience to overcome our private languages and speak truly to one another. That is, to speak together as one, and engage in a public language that recognizes the hardest truth to see in the simplest of way: we are all human beings." Gianna Rotkvich at this year's @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts Photo by @thomasmohrphotography

"Art is powerful. In any form, art can bring people together and, even for a little bit, help people see eye to eye." Grania McKirdie from the @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

"Art is powerful. In any form, art can bring people together and, even for a little bit, help people see eye to eye." Grania McKirdie from the @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts

"Artists are passionate, sensitive, empathetic individuals. We harness raw passion and cultivate it, mindful of bestowing upon our creation its own distinct perspective. We experiment with different angles, striving to develop it into something extraordinary. We shape it, color it, and give it tone. We assess risks and sacrifice vulnerability. We can conform to direction, using our own instincts to try a different way." Veronica Bedrio from this April's @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

"Artists are passionate, sensitive, empathetic individuals. We harness raw passion and cultivate it, mindful of bestowing upon our creation its own distinct perspective. We experiment with different angles, striving to develop it into something extraordinary. We shape it, color it, and give it tone. We assess risks and sacrifice vulnerability. We can conform to direction, using our own instincts to try a different way." Veronica Bedrio from this April's @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts

In case you missed it at this February's All-School Showcase, check out the Visual Arts Department Showcase Presentations! More to come. #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts #visualart

Dear Friends,

At graduation, we were honored to welcome guest speaker Gerald Griffin, a critically acclaimed and award-winning painter, sculptor, poet, and gallery owner who has been described as the “artist of African American consciousness.” In Mr. Griffin’s moving speech, he described his belief that “artists help to shape the consciousness of society and, therefore, can have the greatest impact on whether we evolve — or devolve.” His words were an inspirational send-off to the Class of 2018, and a fitting close to a school year that featured brilliant and socially relevant student work all year long. The work of our students not only captivated some of our largest audiences in our history, but caught the attention of the media as well. With The Academy and its students featured on WGN radio, on the front page of the Tribune, on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, on FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS, and in dozens of papers across the country, we are proud to share our story with the world.

That story continues with our announcement today that the 39 seniors in the Class of 2018 have earned nearly $10 million in scholarships to the best colleges, universities, and conservatories in the country. This year’s graduates will attend schools like Juilliard, Princeton, and Stanford, well prepared for a breathtaking variety of paths both in the arts and beyond.

I have often remarked that the arts catalyze the most important things in life: imagination, community, and joy. The arts inspire, unify, broaden perspective, heal, give voice, and mobilize, and I am so, so proud to share this building with so many young people so deeply committed to their work. I thank them — and I thank you — for being a part of this place.

Happy Summer!

Jason Patera
Head of School

Full newsletter on our website!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

Dear Friends, At graduation, we were honored to welcome guest speaker Gerald Griffin, a critically acclaimed and award-winning painter, sculptor, poet, and gallery owner who has been described as the “artist of African American consciousness.” In Mr. Griffin’s moving speech, he described his belief that “artists help to shape the consciousness of society and, therefore, can have the greatest impact on whether we evolve — or devolve.” His words were an inspirational send-off to the Class of 2018, and a fitting close to a school year that featured brilliant and socially relevant student work all year long. The work of our students not only captivated some of our largest audiences in our history, but caught the attention of the media as well. With The Academy and its students featured on WGN radio, on the front page of the Tribune, on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, on FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS, and in dozens of papers across the country, we are proud to share our story with the world. That story continues with our announcement today that the 39 seniors in the Class of 2018 have earned nearly $10 million in scholarships to the best colleges, universities, and conservatories in the country. This year’s graduates will attend schools like Juilliard, Princeton, and Stanford, well prepared for a breathtaking variety of paths both in the arts and beyond. I have often remarked that the arts catalyze the most important things in life: imagination, community, and joy. The arts inspire, unify, broaden perspective, heal, give voice, and mobilize, and I am so, so proud to share this building with so many young people so deeply committed to their work. I thank them — and I thank you — for being a part of this place. Happy Summer! Jason Patera Head of School Full newsletter on our website! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts

Check out a clip from this year's Spring Dance Concert! This is part of "All Things Break", choreographed by Nick Pupillo of Visceral Dance Chicago. There are still a few spots in the Dance Summer Program starting in two weeks! #dance #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts

Last chance to register for the Academy Summer Program! The intensives begin in less than 2 weeks!

Unfortunately, the Theatre & Musical Theatre Program is at capacity, but there are still a few spots left in the Dance, Media Arts, Music, and Visual Arts concentrations. Visit our website to register.

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#summer
#CAArts

Last chance to register for the Academy Summer Program! The intensives begin in less than 2 weeks! Unfortunately, the Theatre & Musical Theatre Program is at capacity, but there are still a few spots left in the Dance, Media Arts, Music, and Visual Arts concentrations. Visit our website to register. #SmartArtistsSmartArt #summer #CAArts

“I loved playing “Poppy” in "Noises Off!" It was the midpoint of my career at The Academy, and it was just such a fun role to play. The show is slapstick comedy — and we’ve done a lot of comedy, but we hadn’t done something so orchestrated. It was fun to watch everyone else. The ensemble had to really be together in that show. And besides "She Kills Monsters", it was my most physically active show. It seemed like every night was such a good night.” Congratulations to Ali Kane who is headed to Bard next year to study history and theatre! “I’m excited to learn with a new theatre ensemble. Bard focuses more on contemporary and experimental work, maybe a little more than we do at The Academy, but we still study the classics. The ensemble there is small like here — which is awesome. It’s not a huge program.” Ali’s mother Emily is appreciative of the academic education she received that put her on the path towards Bard, and credits her theatre training for giving her a leg up. “Ali has really enjoyed the challenges associated with all aspects of theatre. Watching her tackle Shakespeare, Ionesco, and all manner of writers and roles and develop a level of confidence and maturity is incredible. Her academic growth has been equally impressive and we believe her theatre experiences have absolutely underpinned her intellectual and academic development.” Good luck next year, Ali! Both Ali and Emily will miss the unique Academy community and education. “I often tell prospective parents how incredibly unique this school is. I tell them how engaged and connected these students are and I point to the number of hours our daughter has spent in rehearsal and prep on nights and weekends rarely if ever complaining about the workload. Ali has never had to be reminded to do homework or learn her lines.” “Sitting in the costume shop with my friends doing homework and preparing for a show. I will miss that. I will miss the atmosphere. It’s why I came here. It didn’t feel like a high school -- like any other high school.” #SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

“I loved playing “Poppy” in "Noises Off!" It was the midpoint of my career at The Academy, and it was just such a fun role to play. The show is slapstick comedy — and we’ve done a lot of comedy, but we hadn’t done something so orchestrated. It was fun to watch everyone else. The ensemble had to really be together in that show. And besides "She Kills Monsters", it was my most physically active show. It seemed like every night was such a good night.” Congratulations to Ali Kane who is headed to Bard next year to study history and theatre! “I’m excited to learn with a new theatre ensemble. Bard focuses more on contemporary and experimental work, maybe a little more than we do at The Academy, but we still study the classics. The ensemble there is small like here — which is awesome. It’s not a huge program.” Ali’s mother Emily is appreciative of the academic education she received that put her on the path towards Bard, and credits her theatre training for giving her a leg up. “Ali has really enjoyed the challenges associated with all aspects of theatre. Watching her tackle Shakespeare, Ionesco, and all manner of writers and roles and develop a level of confidence and maturity is incredible. Her academic growth has been equally impressive and we believe her theatre experiences have absolutely underpinned her intellectual and academic development.” Good luck next year, Ali! Both Ali and Emily will miss the unique Academy community and education. “I often tell prospective parents how incredibly unique this school is. I tell them how engaged and connected these students are and I point to the number of hours our daughter has spent in rehearsal and prep on nights and weekends rarely if ever complaining about the workload. Ali has never had to be reminded to do homework or learn her lines.” “Sitting in the costume shop with my friends doing homework and preparing for a show. I will miss that. I will miss the atmosphere. It’s why I came here. It didn’t feel like a high school -- like any other high school.” #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts

“I love the city of Baltimore and MICA has an amazing painting program. I’m so excited to live more independently and be able to travel around the East Coast.” Congratulations to Olivia Mulholland will be attending Maryland Institute College of Art this fall!

Olivia’s favorite exhibition at The Academy was her Senior Show in March, where she debuted 16 new paintings that she started and finished just this year. “I was so happy to show everything I had been working towards for the year and to have a defined artistic statement. My favorite piece is called “Mamah” which is a portrait of my younger brother’s birth mother. For the work, I took the only existing photo of her and placed my brother at his current age alongside her. The piece had a large personal and emotional meaning. It was really a humbling experience to paint.” We’ll miss Olivia in the Visual Arts Department and around the school. She’ll look back fondly on the Department’s first show of the year, the Figure Drawing Exhibition. “My favorite memory of my time at The Academy is my first week of figure drawing class as a freshman. At first I was terrified, but I fell in love with the practice within the first five minutes. At the end of the week, I was exhausted, but really proud of the work I had created, and the larger show that my department had put up. Overall, I will miss The Academy greatly and always cherish the memories and opportunities it has given me.” #SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

“I love the city of Baltimore and MICA has an amazing painting program. I’m so excited to live more independently and be able to travel around the East Coast.” Congratulations to Olivia Mulholland will be attending Maryland Institute College of Art this fall! Olivia’s favorite exhibition at The Academy was her Senior Show in March, where she debuted 16 new paintings that she started and finished just this year. “I was so happy to show everything I had been working towards for the year and to have a defined artistic statement. My favorite piece is called “Mamah” which is a portrait of my younger brother’s birth mother. For the work, I took the only existing photo of her and placed my brother at his current age alongside her. The piece had a large personal and emotional meaning. It was really a humbling experience to paint.” We’ll miss Olivia in the Visual Arts Department and around the school. She’ll look back fondly on the Department’s first show of the year, the Figure Drawing Exhibition. “My favorite memory of my time at The Academy is my first week of figure drawing class as a freshman. At first I was terrified, but I fell in love with the practice within the first five minutes. At the end of the week, I was exhausted, but really proud of the work I had created, and the larger show that my department had put up. Overall, I will miss The Academy greatly and always cherish the memories and opportunities it has given me.” #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts

Elana Lee will attend Hofstra University in New York in the fall! She has been admitted into the music program and received academic and music scholarships. Elana and her family moved to Chicago from New York hoping to transfer to a school with smaller class sizes where she could build on her strength — her love of music. For three years Elana has loved the opportunity to play her flute in many different venues and with different styles of music, as well as the opportunity to make great friends. Elana’s mother Mindy has loved being part of the Academy community as a parent liaison to the Music Department and member of Gala committees. “I will miss being involved with this very special place. I met some fabulous people and some very talented, awesome kids. I truly enjoyed working with everyone. The staff is dedicated and talented. Jason and Judith took the time to get to know me, and I loved working with them on fundraising projects. I loved walking in the building and being able to say “hello” to Mr. Jackson, Ms. Caraway, Kyna, Rose Colella, and many more. In a way, The Academy provided a home for me as well. When we moved here, I didn’t know anybody. I loved meeting all the amazing parents — some of whom have become friends.” But mostly, Mindy has appreciated the art she has witnessed and Elana has created during their tenure at The Academy. “I loved pulling up to the building and hearing all forms of music and art streaming through the windows. And I will never forget watching Elana improve as an artist. She had her Senior Recital in early April, and my family flew in from the east coast to see her. When she played her classical pieces I felt like she was going to fly away with her notes. It was amazing and beautiful to watch her work hard and set her mind to achieving a goal.” We’re so happy to have Elana, Mindy, and their family as part of The Academy. Elana hopes to become a music therapist after college. Good luck back home in New York, Elana!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

Elana Lee will attend Hofstra University in New York in the fall! She has been admitted into the music program and received academic and music scholarships. Elana and her family moved to Chicago from New York hoping to transfer to a school with smaller class sizes where she could build on her strength — her love of music. For three years Elana has loved the opportunity to play her flute in many different venues and with different styles of music, as well as the opportunity to make great friends. Elana’s mother Mindy has loved being part of the Academy community as a parent liaison to the Music Department and member of Gala committees. “I will miss being involved with this very special place. I met some fabulous people and some very talented, awesome kids. I truly enjoyed working with everyone. The staff is dedicated and talented. Jason and Judith took the time to get to know me, and I loved working with them on fundraising projects. I loved walking in the building and being able to say “hello” to Mr. Jackson, Ms. Caraway, Kyna, Rose Colella, and many more. In a way, The Academy provided a home for me as well. When we moved here, I didn’t know anybody. I loved meeting all the amazing parents — some of whom have become friends.” But mostly, Mindy has appreciated the art she has witnessed and Elana has created during their tenure at The Academy. “I loved pulling up to the building and hearing all forms of music and art streaming through the windows. And I will never forget watching Elana improve as an artist. She had her Senior Recital in early April, and my family flew in from the east coast to see her. When she played her classical pieces I felt like she was going to fly away with her notes. It was amazing and beautiful to watch her work hard and set her mind to achieving a goal.” We’re so happy to have Elana, Mindy, and their family as part of The Academy. Elana hopes to become a music therapist after college. Good luck back home in New York, Elana! #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts

“I will never forget the moment when I first discovered my love for Shakespeare. We were reading Macbeth in my freshman acting class and my teacher Ashlee said, ‘This language is so beautiful, and we do not get to use it everyday, so enjoy it.’ That changed my world. From that point on, I read as much Shakespeare as possible, saw as much Shakespeare as I could, and even found a Shakespeare-related internship. I will miss moments like that in class because they happen everyday in both academics and arts.” Congratulations to Theatre Department senior Caitlin Morley! “Having the opportunity to play challenging roles outside my comfort zone and 'type' has been the most rewarding part of my arts education at The Academy. Struggling to play a role like “Caliban” in "The Tempest", and the feeling after every show knowing I successfully performed such a difficult role is very rewarding. Having intellectual discussions with teachers has been the most rewarding part of my academic education. The teachers at The Academy really want to listen to you and help you improve.” Caitlin urged incoming students to not resist growing and changing throughout their time at The Academy, and to fully immerse themselves within the arts community. “As an incoming freshmen, I wish I knew that it was okay if my interests changed. I went into my freshmen year thinking I wanted to be a contemporary actor, but over these past four years I have developed a passion for directing and Shakespeare. Also, I would urge other students to see as many shows as you can. Everyone here is so incredibly talented. It is an honor to be an audience member to their work.” She’ll never forget Theatre Department rehearsals, especially from her first play as a member of The Academy ensemble. "I’ll always remember rehearsing for my freshman year Spring Play "Learned Ladies". The play featured a huge runway for a stage, and each cast member had to pick a song to walk down the runway to. The first rehearsal, our director told us she was gonna play all the songs we chose and everybody had to dance like no one was watching. It was the most fun I have ever had in a rehearsal. It was ridiculous!"

“I will never forget the moment when I first discovered my love for Shakespeare. We were reading Macbeth in my freshman acting class and my teacher Ashlee said, ‘This language is so beautiful, and we do not get to use it everyday, so enjoy it.’ That changed my world. From that point on, I read as much Shakespeare as possible, saw as much Shakespeare as I could, and even found a Shakespeare-related internship. I will miss moments like that in class because they happen everyday in both academics and arts.” Congratulations to Theatre Department senior Caitlin Morley! “Having the opportunity to play challenging roles outside my comfort zone and 'type' has been the most rewarding part of my arts education at The Academy. Struggling to play a role like “Caliban” in "The Tempest", and the feeling after every show knowing I successfully performed such a difficult role is very rewarding. Having intellectual discussions with teachers has been the most rewarding part of my academic education. The teachers at The Academy really want to listen to you and help you improve.” Caitlin urged incoming students to not resist growing and changing throughout their time at The Academy, and to fully immerse themselves within the arts community. “As an incoming freshmen, I wish I knew that it was okay if my interests changed. I went into my freshmen year thinking I wanted to be a contemporary actor, but over these past four years I have developed a passion for directing and Shakespeare. Also, I would urge other students to see as many shows as you can. Everyone here is so incredibly talented. It is an honor to be an audience member to their work.” She’ll never forget Theatre Department rehearsals, especially from her first play as a member of The Academy ensemble. "I’ll always remember rehearsing for my freshman year Spring Play "Learned Ladies". The play featured a huge runway for a stage, and each cast member had to pick a song to walk down the runway to. The first rehearsal, our director told us she was gonna play all the songs we chose and everybody had to dance like no one was watching. It was the most fun I have ever had in a rehearsal. It was ridiculous!"

“If your child is passionate about the arts and wants both a strong college-preparatory academic education and an excellent arts education, you should definitely consider The Academy.” Johnny Rabe transferred to The Academy before his sophomore year looking for a school where students were as passionate about Musical Theatre as he is. Three years later, Johnny will be attending Stanford University to double major in Theatre and International Relations and minor in Music! Johnny’s mother Lilah reflected about their family’s time at The Academy. “At the school that Johnny attended as a freshman, he found it difficult to find a social group because all of the groups were formed around extracurricular sports activities. There was no social group for a boy whose passion was Musical Theatre. At The Academy, Johnny immediately felt at home. He’s loved being in a community where he can be himself. He doesn't have to pretend to be someone that he isn’t. He doesn’t have to act when he is not on stage. He has also greatly appreciated his teachers all of his teachers and the care each of them has shown to him as an individual.

Lilah’s favorite Academy experience was watching Johnny in the lead role “Charley Kringas” alongside the rest of the Academy Musical Theatre Department in last fall’s production of "Merrily We Roll Along" (for which Johnny was just nominated for "Best Actor" by the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards!). But what she really appreciated was the unique co-curricular focus of the school. “One of the unique aspects of The Academy was the ability for Johnny to take a full load of college-preparatory academic classes and to also pursue all of his artistic interests (acting, voice, dance, and piano) with professional teachers, all in one place. In addition, he was able to integrate his academic and artistic interests — reading Shakespeare’s works in English class and performing them in his Theatre class.” We’re going to miss Johnny and his family! We can’t wait to see what he accomplishes at Stanford.

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts
@ihsmta
@stanford

“If your child is passionate about the arts and wants both a strong college-preparatory academic education and an excellent arts education, you should definitely consider The Academy.” Johnny Rabe transferred to The Academy before his sophomore year looking for a school where students were as passionate about Musical Theatre as he is. Three years later, Johnny will be attending Stanford University to double major in Theatre and International Relations and minor in Music! Johnny’s mother Lilah reflected about their family’s time at The Academy. “At the school that Johnny attended as a freshman, he found it difficult to find a social group because all of the groups were formed around extracurricular sports activities. There was no social group for a boy whose passion was Musical Theatre. At The Academy, Johnny immediately felt at home. He’s loved being in a community where he can be himself. He doesn't have to pretend to be someone that he isn’t. He doesn’t have to act when he is not on stage. He has also greatly appreciated his teachers all of his teachers and the care each of them has shown to him as an individual. Lilah’s favorite Academy experience was watching Johnny in the lead role “Charley Kringas” alongside the rest of the Academy Musical Theatre Department in last fall’s production of "Merrily We Roll Along" (for which Johnny was just nominated for "Best Actor" by the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards!). But what she really appreciated was the unique co-curricular focus of the school. “One of the unique aspects of The Academy was the ability for Johnny to take a full load of college-preparatory academic classes and to also pursue all of his artistic interests (acting, voice, dance, and piano) with professional teachers, all in one place. In addition, he was able to integrate his academic and artistic interests — reading Shakespeare’s works in English class and performing them in his Theatre class.” We’re going to miss Johnny and his family! We can’t wait to see what he accomplishes at Stanford. #SmartArtistsSmartArt #CAArts @ihsmta @stanford

ICYMI: Miguel Lucero's (Media Arts '21) "Battle of the Seasons" from the 2018 Winter Juried Festival!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts
#animation

The Academy Jazz Quartet from this May's jazz concert at Jazz Showcase! This is a clip from "Witch Hunt", featuring Declan Beyer, Adam Chlebek, Micah Collier, and Ilana Weisbach.

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts
#jazz
@jazz_showcase

Part 2!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts
#summer

The 2018 Academy Summer Program is a wrap! It was a joy to have these kids as part of the Academy community last week. They worked extremely hard throughout the six-day intensive, and their dedication and passion were evident in the inspiring sketching, painting, dancing, singing, filming, writing, and acting we saw on Saturday. Our faculty is so happy to have had the distinct pleasure of working with these students. We hope they feel proud of what they accomplished working with their peers within the Academy curriculum. We hope to see you again soon!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts
#summer

A few photos of Ben Dicke (Theatre Department Chair) and Andy Robinson (Musical Department Chair) in "My Fair Lady" at @wagonwheelcenterforthearts ! Photos by Scott Michaels.

#CAArts

"We all create: whether it be art, a business, a family or any other form of creation. And that’s enough to lessen the gap between what we perceive as “us” and “them”. We’ll never all agree on everything, but we all certainly have the capacity to understand one another." Isle Marquez from the @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

"The truths art explores might not allow us to completely forget our predispositions and beliefs, but they do allow us to see things from a fresh perspective. The more art we observe and make, the more insight on different perspectives we gain. And the deeper we understand others’ perspectives, the more we may come to empathize with them." Leo Ritterhoff from the @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

"The world needs such acts of community that are intrinsic to theatre and art. The listening, focus, and respect generated by such circles and communities are invaluable to how we treat others and make the world spin." Molly Bremer from April's @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

#SmartArtistsSmartArt
#CAArts

"The artist’s ability to say the most difficult things in ways that can only be interpreted through our innermost selves, brings about an overpowering sense of empathy. And it is this empathy that allows artist and audience to overcome our private languages and speak truly to one another. That is, to speak together as one, and engage in a public language that recognizes the hardest truth to see in the simplest of way: we are all human beings." Gianna Rotkvich at this year's @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

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Photo by @thomasmohrphotography

"Art is powerful. In any form, art can bring people together and, even for a little bit, help people see eye to eye." Grania McKirdie from the @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

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"Artists are passionate, sensitive, empathetic individuals. We harness raw passion and cultivate it, mindful of bestowing upon our creation its own distinct perspective. We experiment with different angles, striving to develop it into something extraordinary. We shape it, color it, and give it tone. We assess risks and sacrifice vulnerability. We can conform to direction, using our own instincts to try a different way." Veronica Bedrio from this April's @luminartsculturalfoundation Speech Contest!

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In case you missed it at this February's All-School Showcase, check out the Visual Arts Department Showcase Presentations! More to come.

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Dear Friends,

At graduation, we were honored to welcome guest speaker Gerald Griffin, a critically acclaimed and award-winning painter, sculptor, poet, and gallery owner who has been described as the “artist of African American consciousness.” In Mr. Griffin’s moving speech, he described his belief that “artists help to shape the consciousness of society and, therefore, can have the greatest impact on whether we evolve — or devolve.” His words were an inspirational send-off to the Class of 2018, and a fitting close to a school year that featured brilliant and socially relevant student work all year long. The work of our students not only captivated some of our largest audiences in our history, but caught the attention of the media as well. With The Academy and its students featured on WGN radio, on the front page of the Tribune, on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, on FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS, and in dozens of papers across the country, we are proud to share our story with the world.

That story continues with our announcement today that the 39 seniors in the Class of 2018 have earned nearly $10 million in scholarships to the best colleges, universities, and conservatories in the country. This year’s graduates will attend schools like Juilliard, Princeton, and Stanford, well prepared for a breathtaking variety of paths both in the arts and beyond.

I have often remarked that the arts catalyze the most important things in life: imagination, community, and joy. The arts inspire, unify, broaden perspective, heal, give voice, and mobilize, and I am so, so proud to share this building with so many young people so deeply committed to their work. I thank them — and I thank you — for being a part of this place.

Happy Summer!

Jason Patera
Head of School

Full newsletter on our website!

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Check out a clip from this year's Spring Dance Concert! This is part of "All Things Break", choreographed by Nick Pupillo of Visceral Dance Chicago.

There are still a few spots in the Dance Summer Program starting in two weeks!

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Last chance to register for the Academy Summer Program! The intensives begin in less than 2 weeks!

Unfortunately, the Theatre & Musical Theatre Program is at capacity, but there are still a few spots left in the Dance, Media Arts, Music, and Visual Arts concentrations. Visit our website to register.

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“I loved playing “Poppy” in "Noises Off!" It was the midpoint of my career at The Academy, and it was just such a fun role to play. The show is slapstick comedy — and we’ve done a lot of comedy, but we hadn’t done something so orchestrated. It was fun to watch everyone else. The ensemble had to really be together in that show. And besides "She Kills Monsters", it was my most physically active show. It seemed like every night was such a good night.” Congratulations to Ali Kane who is headed to Bard next year to study history and theatre! “I’m excited to learn with a new theatre ensemble. Bard focuses more on contemporary and experimental work, maybe a little more than we do at The Academy, but we still study the classics. The ensemble there is small like here — which is awesome. It’s not a huge program.” Ali’s mother Emily is appreciative of the academic education she received that put her on the path towards Bard, and credits her theatre training for giving her a leg up. “Ali has really enjoyed the challenges associated with all aspects of theatre. Watching her tackle Shakespeare, Ionesco, and all manner of writers and roles and develop a level of confidence and maturity is incredible. Her academic growth has been equally impressive and we believe her theatre experiences have absolutely underpinned her intellectual and academic development.” Good luck next year, Ali! Both Ali and Emily will miss the unique Academy community and education. “I often tell prospective parents how incredibly unique this school is. I tell them how engaged and connected these students are and I point to the number of hours our daughter has spent in rehearsal and prep on nights and weekends rarely if ever complaining about the workload. Ali has never had to be reminded to do homework or learn her lines.” “Sitting in the costume shop with my friends doing homework and preparing for a show. I will miss that. I will miss the atmosphere. It’s why I came here. It didn’t feel like a high school -- like any other high school.” #SmartArtistsSmartArt
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“I love the city of Baltimore and MICA has an amazing painting program. I’m so excited to live more independently and be able to travel around the East Coast.” Congratulations to Olivia Mulholland will be attending Maryland Institute College of Art this fall!

Olivia’s favorite exhibition at The Academy was her Senior Show in March, where she debuted 16 new paintings that she started and finished just this year. “I was so happy to show everything I had been working towards for the year and to have a defined artistic statement. My favorite piece is called “Mamah” which is a portrait of my younger brother’s birth mother. For the work, I took the only existing photo of her and placed my brother at his current age alongside her. The piece had a large personal and emotional meaning. It was really a humbling experience to paint.” We’ll miss Olivia in the Visual Arts Department and around the school. She’ll look back fondly on the Department’s first show of the year, the Figure Drawing Exhibition. “My favorite memory of my time at The Academy is my first week of figure drawing class as a freshman. At first I was terrified, but I fell in love with the practice within the first five minutes. At the end of the week, I was exhausted, but really proud of the work I had created, and the larger show that my department had put up. Overall, I will miss The Academy greatly and always cherish the memories and opportunities it has given me.” #SmartArtistsSmartArt
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Elana Lee will attend Hofstra University in New York in the fall! She has been admitted into the music program and received academic and music scholarships. Elana and her family moved to Chicago from New York hoping to transfer to a school with smaller class sizes where she could build on her strength — her love of music. For three years Elana has loved the opportunity to play her flute in many different venues and with different styles of music, as well as the opportunity to make great friends. Elana’s mother Mindy has loved being part of the Academy community as a parent liaison to the Music Department and member of Gala committees. “I will miss being involved with this very special place. I met some fabulous people and some very talented, awesome kids. I truly enjoyed working with everyone. The staff is dedicated and talented. Jason and Judith took the time to get to know me, and I loved working with them on fundraising projects. I loved walking in the building and being able to say “hello” to Mr. Jackson, Ms. Caraway, Kyna, Rose Colella, and many more. In a way, The Academy provided a home for me as well. When we moved here, I didn’t know anybody. I loved meeting all the amazing parents — some of whom have become friends.” But mostly, Mindy has appreciated the art she has witnessed and Elana has created during their tenure at The Academy. “I loved pulling up to the building and hearing all forms of music and art streaming through the windows. And I will never forget watching Elana improve as an artist. She had her Senior Recital in early April, and my family flew in from the east coast to see her. When she played her classical pieces I felt like she was going to fly away with her notes. It was amazing and beautiful to watch her work hard and set her mind to achieving a goal.” We’re so happy to have Elana, Mindy, and their family as part of The Academy. Elana hopes to become a music therapist after college. Good luck back home in New York, Elana!

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“I will never forget the moment when I first discovered my love for Shakespeare. We were reading Macbeth in my freshman acting class and my teacher Ashlee said, ‘This language is so beautiful, and we do not get to use it everyday, so enjoy it.’ That changed my world. From that point on, I read as much Shakespeare as possible, saw as much Shakespeare as I could, and even found a Shakespeare-related internship. I will miss moments like that in class because they happen everyday in both academics and arts.” Congratulations to Theatre Department senior Caitlin Morley! “Having the opportunity to play challenging roles outside my comfort zone and 'type' has been the most rewarding part of my arts education at The Academy. Struggling to play a role like “Caliban” in "The Tempest", and the feeling after every show knowing I successfully performed such a difficult role is very rewarding. Having intellectual discussions with teachers has been the most rewarding part of my academic education. The teachers at The Academy really want to listen to you and help you improve.” Caitlin urged incoming students to not resist growing and changing throughout their time at The Academy, and to fully immerse themselves within the arts community. “As an incoming freshmen, I wish I knew that it was okay if my interests changed. I went into my freshmen year thinking I wanted to be a contemporary actor, but over these past four years I have developed a passion for directing and Shakespeare. Also, I would urge other students to see as many shows as you can. Everyone here is so incredibly talented. It is an honor to be an audience member to their work.” She’ll never forget Theatre Department rehearsals, especially from her first play as a member of The Academy ensemble. "I’ll always remember rehearsing for my freshman year Spring Play "Learned Ladies". The play featured a huge runway for a stage, and each cast member had to pick a song to walk down the runway to. The first rehearsal, our director told us she was gonna play all the songs we chose and everybody had to dance like no one was watching. It was the most fun I have ever had in a rehearsal. It was ridiculous!"

“If your child is passionate about the arts and wants both a strong college-preparatory academic education and an excellent arts education, you should definitely consider The Academy.” Johnny Rabe transferred to The Academy before his sophomore year looking for a school where students were as passionate about Musical Theatre as he is. Three years later, Johnny will be attending Stanford University to double major in Theatre and International Relations and minor in Music! Johnny’s mother Lilah reflected about their family’s time at The Academy. “At the school that Johnny attended as a freshman, he found it difficult to find a social group because all of the groups were formed around extracurricular sports activities. There was no social group for a boy whose passion was Musical Theatre. At The Academy, Johnny immediately felt at home. He’s loved being in a community where he can be himself. He doesn't have to pretend to be someone that he isn’t. He doesn’t have to act when he is not on stage. He has also greatly appreciated his teachers all of his teachers and the care each of them has shown to him as an individual.

Lilah’s favorite Academy experience was watching Johnny in the lead role “Charley Kringas” alongside the rest of the Academy Musical Theatre Department in last fall’s production of "Merrily We Roll Along" (for which Johnny was just nominated for "Best Actor" by the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards!). But what she really appreciated was the unique co-curricular focus of the school. “One of the unique aspects of The Academy was the ability for Johnny to take a full load of college-preparatory academic classes and to also pursue all of his artistic interests (acting, voice, dance, and piano) with professional teachers, all in one place. In addition, he was able to integrate his academic and artistic interests — reading Shakespeare’s works in English class and performing them in his Theatre class.” We’re going to miss Johnny and his family! We can’t wait to see what he accomplishes at Stanford.

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