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A place for all ages to express themselves
Under the direction of Julie Parrish, Director of Performing Arts at the John Carroll School, the Musical Theatre Academy continues to meet the need in our community for year-round instruction in theatre arts.
Curriculum and courses
We're proud to offer two semester-long sessions of Musical Theatre classes! Classes are available to students in grades 2-8. See class details below.
Payment plans
Tuition noted is for the entire year. Please contact Program Director, Julie Parrish for payment plan requests.
Session 1
The John Carroll Musical Theatre Academy’s Musical Theatre classes are production/performance-based classes with a focus on putting together a show from beginning to end. Students in grades 2-8 will learn the fundamentals of musical theatre performance while also building friendships, confidence, creativity and, most of all – having fun! On our final class date, students will perform "Frozen KIDS" for an invited audience.
Performance: November 23, 1:00 p.m.
Tech Rehearsals: November 18-20 and 22, 5:00–7:00 p.m.; November 23 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Do you want to build a snowman? "Frozen KIDS" is an adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical, which was based on the 2013 Walt Disney Animation Studios film, written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. The production features all of the songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by the creators of the film score, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and EGOT-winner Robert Lopez.
You’ll love this fanciful and heartwarming stage adaptation of the celebrated animated film. Join Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and all of your favorite characters as they embark on an epic, ice-filled journey of self-discovery, camaraderie and the real meaning of true love. Adapted for young performers, this musical includes favorite Frozen songs such as “Love Is an Open Door,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?,” and “Let It Go,” as well as wonderful new songs from the Broadway production. This production of "Frozen KIDS" is sure to prove that “some people are worth melting for.”
Session 2
The John Carroll Musical Theatre Academy’s Musical Theatre classes are production/performance-based classes with a focus on putting together a show from beginning to end. Students in grades 2-8 will learn the fundamentals of musical theatre performance while also building friendships, confidence, creativity and, most of all – having fun! On our final class date, students will perform "The Spongebob Musical: Youth Edition" for an invited audience.
Performance: May 17, 1:00 p.m.
Tech Rehearsals: May 12-16, 5:00-8:00 p.m.; May 17, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and became the hottest star on Broadway? Why, it's SpongeBob SquarePants! This edition of the hit Broadway musical, brilliantly adapted from the iconic Nickelodeon series, is specially tailored for young actors.
Meet our instructors
Julie Parrish is the Director of Performing Arts at The John Carroll School and Music Department Chair. She graduated magna cum laude from Elon University in 2005 where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre Performance with a minor in Music. Mrs. Parrish has taught at John Carroll since 2013, where she instructs Chorus/Advanced Chorus, Bella Voce (a mixed a cappella choir), Patriettes (all-female a cappella choir), Acting I & II, and AP Music Theory. She produces and musically directs the Fall and Spring musicals, and is the troupe director of the John Carroll chapter of the International Thespian Society, JC’s Music Ministry leader, and Director for the John Carroll Academy of Performing Arts & Dance's Musical Theatre Academy.
Mrs. Parrish has extensive musical direction experience with several local community, school and children’s theatres including Children’s Playhouse of Maryland, Phoenix Festival Theatre, Cockpit in Court, Pumpkin Theatre, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community High School, Beth Tfiloh Community Theatre, Spotlighter’s Theatre, Teatro101 and Immaculate Conception School. She's performed with several regional and community theatre organizations including Tidewater Players, John Carroll Community Theatre, Phoenix Festival Theatre, Dundalk Community Theatre, Beth Tfiloh Community Theatre, Suburban Players, Cockpit in Court, SummerStock at the University of Findlay and the Suncoast Broadway Dinner Theatre (formerly known as the Show Palace Dinner Theatre). She is excited to share her passion for musical theatre with the students of the John Carroll Musical Theatre Academy!
Brenna Patzer '20 joins us in the 2024–2025 school year for her first year teaching at the John Carroll Performing Arts Academy! As an alum, Brenna is no stranger to the John Carroll theatre community. She grew up dancing and spent multiple years doing JC’s Kids on Broadway camp. From then on, she began doing theatre in middle school and fell in love! She spent her high school years in every John Carroll production, multiple summer productions, performing in the Performing Arts Academy shows and working as a counselor at Kids on Broadway. Brenna recently graduated from The University of the Arts with her BFA in Acting, and has been working and performing professionally for the past four years. She’s so exciting to work with the kids and bring the magic of Arendelle to Bel Air!
