This past July, young performers from across our community stepped into the spotlight for IMPACT: Musical Theater, a five-day intensive that brought together talent, passion, and a whole lot of Broadway energy! From mastering a dance routine to nailing a song in front of a panel, these students got a real taste of what it takes to make it in musical theatre—and had an unforgettable time doing it.
Led by some of the best in the business, this program offered more than just training. It offered insight, confidence, and real advice on one of the most challenging parts of performing: the audition. Whether students dream of a Broadway debut or just want to grow as artists, they left the week with new skills, great memories, and a stronger sense of where their unique talents can take them.
Here’s a quick recap of what each exciting day looked like:
Day 1: Dance with Sarah Meahl 🩰
The week started off with an exciting dance session led by choreographer and dancer, Sarah Meahl! Students jumped right into learning a real audition-style combo, gaining firsthand experience of what it’s like in a professional setting. Sarah and our very own, Chadaé, shared tips on how to stand out in auditions—even if dance isn’t your strongest skill—and emphasized the importance of storytelling through movement.
Day 2: Voice with Samantha Pauly🎤
Students worked with renowned Broadway performer Samantha Pauly to strengthen their vocal technique. Each student focused on their own audition cut, learning how to connect with the material and perform it with emotion and confidence. Samantha also shared strategies for preparing for vocal auditions and managing nerves in high-pressure situations.
Day 3: Headshots & Field Trip 📸
Students had a professional headshot session to capture their best audition-ready look—perfect for future Playbills! In the afternoon, they took a special field trip to Chicago theaters, where they saw a live performance of The Color Purple or Beauty and the Beast, gaining inspiration from the pros in action.
Day 4: Acting with Kara Lindsay 🎭
Students spent the day focusing on character work with star Kara Lindsay through dynamic scene work. They worked on scenes from a variety of shows, developing strong character choices and connecting with their scene partners. The day also included practicing audition sides, helping students build confidence and express emotion authentically on stage.
Day 5: Auditions & Industry with Brittainy Barattia 💼
Students sat in on a panel with Brittainy Barattia from Grey Talent Group and other casting professionals to get an insider’s look at what happens inside the audition room. They practiced mock auditions and received live feedback to sharpen their skills. The day wrapped up with discussions about next steps in their careers, including finding agents, navigating callbacks, and continuing to grow as performers.
Thank you to our students, families, and guest professionals for making this program such a success! Want to be part of the next one? Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about Winter 2025 IMPACT!
Steel Beam Youth Theater in St. Charles has a new Janis in Mean Girls; Maddie Martin, one of IMPACT’s recent students, is tackling the role with a mix of humor, courage, and vulnerability that makes her unforgettable on stage.
For Maddie, the decision to audition for Janis began lightheartedly. “My best friend wanted to be Damien, so I thought it would be really funny if we were the iconic duo,”. But as she explored the role, she realized Janis was far more than comic relief and tended to be misunderstood. A lot of people think she’s the villain in the story, but in reality, she was in a bad mental health state. Maddie “wanted to show the audience that in the end it isn’t just Janis being a bad person.”
That determination to give Janis depth paid off on opening night. The audience was buzzing with energy. “It was so good. They were such a lively and interactive audience. When we would break the fourth wall, they were right there with us, always laughing, always reacting. It was so fun.”
The role has also stretched Maddie in new directions as a performer. She’s no stranger to playing sassy characters, but Janis demanded something rawer – anger, especially within Act Two. Maddie shared that it took her a while to bring out the intense level of anger needed to play Janis accurately.
One of Maddie’s highlights in the show is her powerhouse solo, I’d Rather Be Me. “It’s so fun to do. I get a lot of freedom with it, and the audience eats it up too.”
But bringing Janis to life hasn’t been all spotlight and applause; it’s been a summer of serious hustle. During the week of IMPACT, Maddie would work a full day before heading straight to rehearsals that stretched into the night. “It was exhausting,” she admitted, “but I wanted to make sure I was there for those last rehearsals before tech. It was important to me to give it everything I’ve got.”
That dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. Maddie has poured herself into every rehearsal, every note, and every scene; living out the very words she chose to describe Janis: “Determined, resilient, and strong.”
Those qualities define both the character and the performer. With her talent, drive, and fearless approach to the stage, Maddie is showing audiences that Janis isn’t just unforgettable; she’s unstoppable!
Behind every thriving nonprofit is a circle of believers. At ICA, one of our first and most faithful was the Alesia Alpert Foundation, led by philanthropist and arts advocate Eden Alpert, daughter of legendary musician Herb Alpert.
Since 2021, the Foundation has provided annual support to ICA—helping us offer scholarships, expand programming, and reach more young artists across Chicagoland. Eden’s commitment to youth empowerment and the transformative power of the arts is deeply personal, and her support has made a profound difference.
“The arts shape our courage, our confidence, our voice,” Eden said in an interview with Voyage LA. “They help us become more of who we are.”
Eden’s leadership extends beyond ICA. Through the Eden Alpert Therapeutic Music Program and other projects, she has helped bring music and healing to children around the world.
We are proud to honor Eden Alpert and the Alesia Alpert Foundation as true champions of ICA’s mission—and invite others to follow in their footsteps.
ICA’s Spotlight Forward campaign is raising $50,000 by June 30 to provide scholarships, fund summer programs like IMPACT, and help us launch the new school year with strength. A gift of any size helps fuel the kind of transformative training that changed Emmy Chan’s life—and so many others.
On February 22, 2025, more than 250 supporters gathered at The Matrix Club in Naperville for A Night of Broadway—a sold-out celebration of artistry, access, and the power of community.
The evening featured showstopping performances by Broadway stars including Samantha Pauly (SIX, The Great Gatsby) and Aisha Jackson (The Notebook, Frozen), a 20-piece live orchestra, and a moving short film spotlighting ICA students and alumni.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, A Night of Broadway 2025 raised over $65,000—funds that have already supported scholarships, artist residencies, and expanded training opportunities through ICA’s flagship programs like IMPACT: Musical Theater and IMPACT: Dance.
“I was moved to tears hearing the students speak. What you are doing at ICA is truly life-changing.” – Gala guest and first-time donor
Save the Date: A Night of Broadway 2026
The magic continues next year! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 21, 2026, as A Night of Broadway returns to The Matrix Club. We’re already dreaming up another unforgettable evening—and we’d love for you to be part of it.
At the Illinois Conservatory for the Arts (ICA), we believe that every young person deserves access to high-quality arts education—regardless of income, background, or zip code. Yet too many students in our region still face barriers that prevent them from exploring their creative potential.
This past winter, thanks to the generous support of the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, we were able to break down some of those barriers in a powerful way.
Through MolinaCares’ investment, 14 students received full-tuition scholarships to attend our IMPACT: Musical Theatre program—a five-day, pre-professional training experience featuring Broadway-level instruction in acting, singing, and dance. These scholarships made it possible for students from across the Western Suburbs, Chicago, and Northwest Indiana to train alongside their peers, many for the first time in a setting built to support their growth.
Originally intended to support five students, the scholarship fund allowed us to serve nearly three times as many young artists—ensuring that half of our participants attended the program at no cost.
Student Voices
The impact was immediate, personal, and lasting.
“Being at IMPACT changed my perspective on what I can achieve. Coming from a community with limited arts resources, I never imagined I’d have the chance to work with Broadway professionals.” — Leon, Scholarship Recipient
“This program gave me confidence in my abilities and showed me that my dreams are possible. It felt incredible to be part of something so inspiring.” — Ava, Scholarship Recipient
Why Access Matters
Their stories reflect what decades of research continues to show: that arts education builds confidence, resilience, academic engagement, and a lifelong love of learning.
A study by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research found that participation in the arts supports growth in self-management, emotional regulation, and identity development—critical foundations for student success.
National research from the Brookings Institution links consistent arts involvement to better school attendance, improved grades, and higher aspirations for postsecondary education.
Yet despite these proven benefits, arts education remains out of reach for many. Nearly 30% of Illinois school districts report offering no after-school arts programs at all, and participation in high school arts courses is below 25% statewide. The need is clear—and urgent.
The Role of MolinaCares
Thanks to MolinaCares, 14 young artists received more than just instruction—they were welcomed into a community that believes in their creativity, their potential, and their right to pursue excellence.
They worked with top industry professionals, participated in mock auditions, attended a professional production in downtown Chicago, and performed in a culminating showcase for friends, family, and arts professionals.
These experiences do more than teach performance—they help shape futures.
The Illinois Conservatory for the Arts is proud to partner with the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation in the shared belief that access to the arts is not a privilege—it’s a right. Together, we are opening doors for the next generation of artists, thinkers, and leaders.
We thank MolinaCares for helping make that possible.
Ahead of an anticipated fall 2025 launch, Naperville’s Illinois Conservatory for the Arts has offered a glimpse into what its programming and amenities could entail in a year’s time.
Last week, the private performing and visual arts school previewed its vision for community members, potential students and possible donors at an intimate — and interactive — open house event.
An evening of singing, dancing and live performances, the open house served as an introduction to the long-anticipated school, which has been in the works for more than three years but is inching closer to becoming a reality, conservatory officials say.
“It’s about bringing people into our dream space,” Dylan Ladd, co-founder and executive director of Illinois Conservatory for the Arts, said at the event. “(We’re) showcasing what we really hope to build out when we … open the school.”
First broached in 2021, the conservatory was born out of a desire to make it more accessible for young artists to pursue an advanced arts education in Illinois outside of Chicago, according to Ladd. When complete, the idea is that it will offer both high-level arts training and a rigorous academic program to students all in one place.
Over the past few years, those behind the venture — a team of more than a dozen artists and educators — have been in the throes of planning and fundraising to bring the idea to fruition.
Singers show off their vocal chops during a karaoke session held as part of an open house for Naperville’s Illinois Conservatory for the Arts on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Tess Kenny/Naperville Sun)
To date, the school’s still a work in progress. It needs to secure more funding before it can set an official opening date. But while it figures out financing, the founders have their sights set on what exactly they want it to look like and where they want to operate once fully fledged.
The reception took place where the conservatory tentatively intends to open: a 20,000-square-foot facility just off Route 59 at 1323 Bond St. Though not officially leased, the Bond Street location is ICA’s hopeful home should the organization accrue adequate funds to make it happen, Ladd says.
“Where we are as an organization is that if we can raise enough money so it makes sense to move forward with a lease, this is where we want to be,” he said. “This is where we want to call home. I think we’re past the shopping phase now.”
To that end, attendees were brought into a blueprint version of the school.
Throughout the building, which used to house a call center, an outline of where various classrooms and amenities would go was laid out on the ground in blue painter’s tape. Renderings of the school were also scattered around the space, including designs for a dance studio, music rooms, a media lab and a black box theater.
To really drum up imagination, ICA’s open house supplied attendees the opportunity to try their hand at what students would be doing when doors open. There were three “classrooms” — essentially interactive stations — where open house goers could try painting a canvas, displaying their vocal chops in karaoke or learning a line dance.
In making the night interactive, they wanted to “really bring people down to the roots of being an artist” and reconnect them with “the joy of just singing (and dancing) and not caring what’s happening around you,” Ladd said.
Even before they passed through classrooms, attendees Joshua Sanchez and his mom Christina were all smiles as they took in the space.
From the Naperville area, the Sanchezes have been aware of — and involved in — ICA since its inception, they said. They are one of many families who have taken part in alternative community programming the school started offering a few years ago as it waited to find a permanent home for its operations. Supplemental programming has ranged from week-long intensive camps to after-school classes using rented space around Naperville.
Joshua Sanchez, 15, took his first intensive program three years ago. It was a “life-changing moment,” he said. Aspiring to be an actor when he’s older, Joshua reveled in the opportunity and has returned to subsequent programs.
He and his mom attended last week’s open house to show their backing and gratitude for ICA’s mission, they said.
“We’re here to support everyone because they’ve done so much for us,” Christina Sanchez said. “This is where (Joshua’s) heart is at … and I pray and hope this goes well and the school gets finished and filled.”
Other young artists were also in attendance last week. As an added peek into its work, organizers arranged for several students from its after-school and intensive programs to give a handful of live performances. The students sang snippets from musicals, performed monologues and even played improv acting games with attendees.
People take part in a dance class at an open house for Naperville’s Illinois Conservatory for the Arts on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Tess Kenny/Naperville Sun)
They were glad to help with the event, they said, knowing it was one step closer to seeing school aspirations come to life.
“We’ve all just thought of it as a dream, right? But now seeing the space and everyone come together, it really shows that they’ve done it,” performer Addie Troupis said.
Troupis, 12, has attended two intensive camps. Her forte is acting and singing, she said. Though she describes herself as relatively new to ICA, she’s excited to keep doing more, she said, especially since she and other conservatory students have started to build a rapport after seeing each other time and time again.
“We’re built a family here, and it’s really cool to be able to go somewhere and be with that family again,” 15-year-old Alexandria Danley said.
Conservatory founders are aiming to decide by next February or March whether the Bond Street facility “really is home,” Ladd said. That decision will come down to fundraising.
“Fingers crossed that between now and February, we can raise some good money and make it happen,” he said.
Should plans go through, ICA would be positioned to open with an inaugural class of students next fall.
Students from our third Impact Musical Theater Camp tell us what they enjoyed most about their experience learning from Broadway stars.
Cory McGowan, 15.
“I enjoyed the seminars, especially the masterclass with Rob McClure. I was inspired by his speech about the methods he uses. It was very cool to learn about the little details.”
Emmy Chan, 7.
“I really liked working with everybody here. I learned that teamwork is one of the most important things because when everyone works together it helps your performance.”
Kade Cook, 12.
“I most enjoyed going to The Lion King because we could ask the cast questions afterwards. We heard how they were able to do all their quick changes.”
Tyler Yesetis, 15.
“I enjoyed Rob McClure because I liked him in Beetlejuice. He gave good feedback and cracked everyone up. He 100 percent inspired me. My monologue was from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and he told me to give it like a TED talk. It gave me confidence to deliver it.”
Tessa O’Keefe, 15.
“Impact made me meet a lot of people and I made a lot of friendships I hope to continue. I learned a lot about auditioning and that will make me a lot more prepared.”
Rogan Jackson, 12.
“I learned to go with the flow and not be nervous about moving up in dancing. I’m stronger in singing and acting.”
Alex Danley, 13.
“I learned for comedy to count your acting is important because it makes it more funny, it makes it real. I haven’t done a lot of that but it makes me feel my work has paid off.”
Sarah Basic, 12.
“My favorite was Rob McClure. I would definitely want to come back. It was super fun and fits everyone’s energy. Even if something is serious, you can still make it fun.”
Janila Garrett, 14.
“I learned you can create an acting partner by just imagining it. I enjoyed all the people and the feedback from the professional agent. I hope to be a professional singer and dancer.”
Students from the Academy of the Arts were grateful it didn’t snow on their parade when they participated in a unique performance this Thanksgiving.
Festive floats, live music, waving crowds; what could be better than a holiday parade? Each year Naperville’s Holiday Parade of Lights draws thousands of visitors to the heart of town as they prepare to welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Naperville, this year’s event is expected to raise almost $75,000 for local charities.
Traditionally the parade has always featured children from performing arts schools and this year organizers were especially delighted to welcome newcomers from the Academy of the Arts.
“The Academy of the Arts float really brightened up our Rotary Holiday Parade as a new entry this year,” said event co-chair Donna Malone. “Honestly, they may have even given Santa and Mrs. Claus a run for their money as the crowd favorite. The kids were dressed up perfectly and their talent was undeniable as they passed the thousands of bright-eyed children watching from the sidelines and singing along with them – in awe that these famous princesses and even Olaf was right in front of them in their hometown of Naperville.”
The parade provided just as much fun to those participating as watching.
Fifteen-year-old Amira Woods said: “It was an incredible experience for me because I love performing and playing a character. I was Princess Tiana who has been my favorite Disney Princess since I was a little girl, so it was a dream come true! It was an amazing event!”
For Alexandria Danley, 13, the parade was a chance to see what life might be like if one of her dreams comes true.
“I’ve always wanted to work at Disney as a character in this gave me a little glimpse of what it would be like,” she said. “I really enjoyed being able to be Elsa for little kids and just making them smile.”
What could be better than a run along the banks of the DuPage River on a warm fall day? When those enjoying the activity are using it to raise money for the Academy of the Arts.
Last week we partnered with Naperville fitness company Shred415 to launch our first 5k run. It attracted runners of all levels but the one thing they had in common was that they’re already looking forward to doing it again next year.
“The 5K was such a fun event for us to bring our community together on a beautiful day in support of the arts,” said AOTA co-founder and executive director Dylan Ladd. “Our partners at Shred415 made the experience seamless. We can’t wait to plan our next one!
“It was really special to see so many people embody our organizational mission of creating a home for everyone to feel safe. We had career runners, first time runners, first time walkers, and everyone in between. It was a supportive experience for everyone to get out and just have fun.”
For studio manager Ashlee Wozniak, the run was just another example of something they do regularly.
“We are ALWAYS catering to all levels,” she said. “We even have a Sunday run club (@runwithvim) that meets each Sunday morning at 7:30AM for a 30 minute out and back on the DuPage River Trail. Some of us walk it, some of us jog, some run…it all depends on how we’re feeling that day. And this is what we would say to anyone wanting to participate in a 5K.”
Ashlee says Shred415 is always happy to partner with anyone in the community.
“Dylan came to us with the idea and he is so personable and passionate about his work that we wouldn’t have a reason to not do it,” she said.
If you’re new to running, the gym can offer classes to help. Ashlee says their format is the same for everyone: four, 15-minute intervals alternating between treadmill drill and strength/HIIT interval training.
“If you’re a runner, you enjoy the drills and the feel/comfort of the Woodway treadmills. If you’re not a runner, this is a way to make you feel comfortable running at the level you choose. We cater to everyone and really strive for this in all our classes,” she said.
With Halloween only a week away, many of the runners showed up in costume. Not surprisingly first back were seasoned Shred415 members, followed by some of our loyal students, their parents and board members looking for a fun way to support our mission. Thanks to everyone who helped raise $1,500.
