SLT Academy

SLT ACADEMY was created for YOU! 

YOU are the passionate theatre kid, the student who has taken some theatre classes, understands the rehearsal and production process, and has been exposed to the performing arts. You dream about being on Broadway or pursuing a career in theatre but need guidance in your formative years to make your dreams a reality. You wish to receive extensive training in one of our Academy tracks: “Musical Theatre” or “Acting, Technical Theatre & Design”. Perhaps you have watched the movie FAME and thought, “WOW, I wish to go to a school like that!” The Springfield Little Theatre Education Department is proud to host SLT Academy at The Judith Enyeart Reynolds School for the Performing Arts for Springfield Little Theatre.

This program was built with YOU in mind!

SLT Academy is an artistic home within a unique performing arts landscape for middle and high school theatre students (grades 6^th-12^th). SLT Academy is an accelerated program, it is a performing arts school. Students receive their core curriculum through our partnership with Springfield Public Schools’ virtual learning program LAUNCH. Academy students also grow in their theatre training by taking in-person classes during school hours. SLT Academy centers around collaborative theatre-making, granting students the opportunity to discover their unique voices as creative artists who are prepared to succeed in the professional arena.

SLT Academy serves as a pre-professional track, meaning students desire more focused, intense theatre training. These students have been taking classes, participated in Springfield Little Theatre summer camps, and performed in several shows or served on technical crews at Springfield Little Theatre and/or other area theatres prior to joining SLT Academy. These students plan to pursue musical theatre, acting, and/or technical theatre and design professionally, and our training is geared toward helping them achieve this goal.

SLT Academy is recommended to students who have a passion for theatre, desire to work professionally as an artist (many of our students currently work professionally during the school year) and are comfortable pursuing core curriculum through online courses provided by Launch.

SLT Academy Summer Preview Days

Are you considering SLT Academy for the 2026-2027 school year? Join us for our Summer preview days on Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28, 2026, at The Judy!

Step into the spotlight and experience a sneak peek into the vibrant world of SLT Academy at our Preview Days this summer!

Hosted by The Springfield Little Theatre Education Department, this two-day event is the perfect way to experience firsthand what it is like to be an SLT Academy Student at The Judith Enyeart Reynolds School of the Performing Arts. Dive into an Academy student’s “Day in the Life” as you meet our dedicated teachers, participate in trial classes, and discover if this dynamic program is the perfect fit for you.

REGISTER NOW

The Springfield Little Theatre Education Department has partnered with Launch, a virtual academy that offers students quality online learning options.

Designed, developed, and delivered by Missouri educators, Launch offers:

• Freedom to learn at your own pace
• With Launch, students set the pace for their learning.  That means they can work ahead or stick with the scheduled assignment dates, depending on their learning style.
• Flexibility to work when and where you want
• Launch courses can be taken at school, home, or anywhere else students can get online.  They simply log in and are ready to go—anytime, anywhere!

Students wishing to apply for acceptance into SLT Academy are asked to meet and submit the following requirements;

1. An Artistic Recommendation Letter: Perspective students must receive an artistic recommendation letter from one of Springfield Little Theatre Education Department’s full-time instructional staff (Lorianne Dunn, Madelyn Baum, Hayden Gish, Laura Frost, Kaleb Norman) or a theatre industry professional.
2. An Academic Recommendation Letter: Perspective students must also receive an academic recommendation from an educator, someone who can speak to the child’s academic strengths.

*AFPA 5^th Graders wishing to enroll in SLT Academy for 6^th grade:  Students who are enrolled in SPS’ Choice Program, The Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, may receive their academic recommendation from AFPA teachers Matthew James or Jamie Carabello. Their artistic recommendation can come from Kaleb Norman theatre instructor for AFPA students.

3. SLT Academy students are required to audition and be cast in one of our Youth Performance Troupes and must maintain strong academic standing with Launch (no failed Launch classes each semester.)
4. SLT Academy students are required to select a focused track of study: “Musical Theatre” or “Acting, Technical Theatre & Design”. Jessica Bower and Springfield Little Theatre education staff will help guide students and families to an appropriate track that best fits the talents, abilities, and interests of the students.
5. Parents/Guardians and students must meet with Jessica Bower, SLT Academy Program Coordinator, prior to enrollment to ensure artistic and academic goals align with SLT Academy offerings.