By Shelley Widhalm
The surveyor
Professional actress Stephanie St. James wants to teach the children and youth of Berthoud basic acting skills without having to travel to Longmont or Loveland.
St. James, a drama teacher for 24 years, already teaches private online classes, but after moving to Berthoud three years ago, she realized there was a need for local, in-person classes.
“Berthoud is starting to grow, and more and more families want to provide performing arts opportunities for their children,” St. James said. “I do this because I want children to be exposed to the arts.”
St. James is offering two group classes in the fall, as well as Zoom and in-person private training through the Berthoud School of Acting. Private training is more intensive and covers the techniques of theater and acting and is 60 minutes long, while group classes are 90 minutes long and are divided by age — children ages 6 to 11 and teens ages 12 to 17.
“I believe that every child and teenager has a special talent or ability within them that deserves to be brought to light,” St. James said. “We are here to help them grow and develop to the best of their ability.”
Creative Kids–Foundations, which begins September 13, and Teens–Foundations and the Business, which begins September 9, offer similar opportunities to prepare students for local or regional theater or professional acting. Classes meet weekly for seven weeks and are limited to 15 students. Each class offers one full scholarship and four partial scholarships for students in need (the scholarship deadline has been extended to August 15).
“We want every child who truly wants to learn to have that opportunity,” St. James said. “We won’t let financial reasons get in the way of that.”
Classes for children and teens begin with an introduction to acting, cover basic acting skills for the stage and musical theater, and conclude with a simulated audition and performance for those students entering the spring season. Classes cover topics such as improvisation, character development, stage presence, scene study, acting techniques, voice training, and audition skills.
“I really focus on building a community for the students, giving them a space to learn, build their confidence and work on their craft,” St. James said. “It’s really based on … ideally giving students confidence and building their self-esteem.”
St. James plans to expand her school as interest grows and demand increases. Starting in the spring, she is considering adding a musical theater course and a TV, film and advertising course for children and teens, as well as a theater camp during the summer months. She also hopes to bring professional actors to her school to offer workshops, weekend events and master classes.
“There are many plans for the future, but we are still at the very beginning of our opening phase,” said St. James.
St. James differentiates her school from other schools in the area by offering instruction in the entertainment and acting business, including working with agents, auditions, and performing.
“They will learn the business side of acting as well as the fundamental skills of acting,” St. James said. “I teach them how to pursue careers in theater, film, television and advertising.”
Classes are currently taking place at the Wildfire Community Arts Center, 425 Massachusetts Ave., until St. James can find a permanent space.
“We’re looking every day, but there aren’t many opportunities,” St. James said. “It’s going to depend on whether space becomes available or whether there’s a philanthropist in the area who owns a space and believes in the theater arts.”
St. James wants to keep the school in Berthoud because “the whole point is for the people of Berthoud to be able to attend classes here,” she said.
St. James, a SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association performer and trainer, has been a professional actress for 44 years, appearing in Broadway musical tours as well as in films and on several television networks, including NBC, CW, PBS and IFC. She holds a BFA from The New School University in New York City and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy’s Integrated Program for Musical Theater.
“I bring all my experience and share it with my students,” St. James said. “They learn not only techniques, but what it’s like to be in the acting business and how to be successful in it, and the strategy and skills they need to do it.”