About

The Vail Performing Arts Academy (VPAA) was founded in 1995 and dedicated to providing theatrical, educational and cultural experiences for the youth of the Eagle Valley.

Vail Performing Arts Academy offers year round programs which only exist through community support. We dramatically thank those who make our productions possible.

Click here to download the sponsorship form

Vail Daily 30 YEARS OF VPAA article


History

  • 1994-1997 The Vail Performing Arts Academy (VPAA) was founded, dedicated to providing theatrical, educational and cultural experiences for the youth of the Eagle Valley. Our first fundraiser was An Evening of Karaoke hosted by Bobby Hernreich which helped launch our first Theater Arts Production Workshop and recital performance of The Tale of Castle Fun. It was performed at Battle Mountain High School. and directed by Mark Salentine.

  • 1998-Theater Arts Classes were offered. Summer musicals GREASE! was our first performance at the new Vilar Center.

  • 1999- Theater Arts classes were offered during the school year and Fame were performed at the Vilar Center.that summer.

  • 2000 -Comedy Improvisation taught by National Comic Headliners and Acting and Audition Skills were added to our workshops. Guys and Dolls, Jr. was performed at the Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC).

  • 2001 Theater Arts Workshopswere offered and Fiddler on the Roof, Jr. was performed at the Vilar Center. Holiday carolers performed in Beaver Creek and Vail.

  • 2002 A newBroadway Professional Workshop was added taught by over 17 lead performers from the Broadway musical, The Lion King. Enrichment programs were offered to several local schools, assisting with Talent Shows, fundraisers, and in class performances. Our summer musical, Music Man, Jr. was performed at the Vilar Center for the Arts. VPAA also participated in The Community Christmas Concert, Evening on Broadway, Vail Music Fest, and Holiday Caroling for public and private events throughout the Vail area.

  • 2003 Workshops and enrichment programs continued, including a Mystery Dinner Theater. The summer production, Bye Bye Birdie, was performed at the Vilar Center. Students performed in The Community Christmas Concert, Evening on Broadway, Vail Music Fest, Beaver Creek Rodeo, and Holiday Caroling for public and private events in the Vail area.

  • 2004The summer musical, Godspell, Jr. Our Fall Program, You Cant Stop The Beat,(YCSTB) a musical revue , as well as The Holiday Community Concert, and Evening on Broadway at the Vilar. Our fundraiser for the Tsunami Relief, Turn The Tide Review, raised $6000. All proceeds were donated to the Red Cross.

  • 2005In addition to all of the annual programs, workshops and enrichments, VPAA introduced a Spring Student Showcase at Battle Mountain High School (BMHS). Our Summer Production, was Bugsy Malone, Jr., .and we also offered a summer Theater Camp for Minis, for children ages 5 -8.

  • 2006- Summer musical Aladdin, Jr sold out the Vilar ,followed by YCSTB-Goes Motown, Holiday Concert, First Annual Broadway Field Trip, Spring Student Showcase, Starquest Band Showcase.

  • 2007- Our summer production was High School Musical., and in the fall , YCSTB-The Funny Side of Broadway!

  • 2008-- Spring Showcase at BMHS featuring Div 2 students ,while Div 1 students starred in an original Music Video, Broadway Cabaret. VPAA also presented a Starquest Teen Band Showcase, and Willy Wonka Jr at Vilar. Our Fall and winter shows included YCSTB -Viva Las Vegas and Holiday Community Concert .

  • 2009 Our Spring Showcase- FLASHBACK was performed at Vail Mountain School (VMS). Vilar performance of Pirates of Penzance, Jr. and fall YCSTB-The British Invasion. VPAA students also participated in The Nutcracker. Vail Christian High school (VCH) musical. VPAA also provided dancers for The Youth Foundation’s Star Dancing Gala.

  • 2010- VPAA provides enrichment arts classes for Eagle County Charter School (ECCA) and Berry Creek Middle School (BCMS), and our Spring Showcase- Flower Power was performed at the new BMHS. Our Summer production of West Side Story, Fall YCSTB - All About Swing! and winter Holiday Concert was performed at VPAC.VPAA also collaborated with VVF Star Dancing Gala and enrichments at ECCA and BCMS.

  • 2011- Spring Showcase Kidz Rock in March at BMHS. Summer Musical -13 atVPAC AUG 12 & 13, and Fall It’s Prime Time TV Revue at VPAC. VPAA collaborated with VVF in Star Dancing Gala and enrichments at ECCA and BCMS.

  • 2012- Spring Showcase, The Buffalo Moon revue performed at Homestake Peak School, with the summer musical, Legally Blonde, performed at VPAC. VPAA collaborated with VVF in Star Dancing Gala and enrichments at ECCA and BCMS and Power Hours at Gypsum Elementary school for At Risk Students.

  • 2013- Fall 80’s Rock Revue, more exciting school enrichments, Spring Showcase - On Broadway! , Summer Musical - The Little Mermaid, Jr, Fall Revue- Broadway Fantasy

  • 2014- Spring Showcase- Around The World. at Homestake Peak. Summer musicals Mulan.Jr for Div 1, and Rent-Youth Edition for Div 2 at VPAC. Fall- Young Broadway Revue at VPAC! Many school and event enrichments including directing & producing Fame, jr for VMS, performing in the Star Dancing Gala, The Vail Tree Lighting, and more.

  • 2015 -16 -Broadway Workshop and Spring Jump Jive and Wail Revue at HPS., Summer Shakespeare in Park in Vail, and the Musical- SHREK, Jr. and Fall Revue- Celebrating 20 Years of VPAA! at VPAC. and Spring - Pop Lock & Break at BMHS, as well as many school enrichments and community performances. Summer 2016 we introduced a Minturn Intensive. Our musical was Xanadu,Jr in August and Fall - Hooray for Hollywood at VPAC.

  • 2017-Spring- A Tribute to FOSSE at BMHS, in March, Summer- Singing in the Rain at VPAC in August and Flower Power in Minturn in June. Fall-It's The Tony's Revue at VPAC. in November. School enrichments and community performances include SDG, Christmas Pagent, Cotillion, Theater Arts, Pre-School Movement, and Public Speaking and Communication. for the Camera., and more!

  • 2018- Spring - I Got Rhythm, Summer - Madagascar -A musical adventure and our out-reach Minturn program - Kid's Rock. Fall - Showstoppers! And school and community year round enrichments with the addition of our new violin instruction program - Mini Maestros at Gypusum Elementary.

  • 2019 - Spring - Let’s Get Loud, a tribute to Latin pop and Broadway hits, Summer - Broadway 3 Day Intensive and FROZEN, Jr!! Fall - Broadway Stars Revue.

  • 2020- The pandemic hit right as we were about to launch our Spring show, Animation Stars. The performance was cancelled but the students still had an amazing experience during rehearsals. VPAA bounced back with our summer hit, MOANA, JR, featuring two casts and two shows, Shows were filmed without an audience. Fall Acting for The Camera enabled students to continue performing arts, offering acting, dancing and Music Videos.

  • 2021-Spring Comedy Club Revue was a hit, and was performed on film. Summer - VPAA offered a Broadway Intensive, and the musical FAME, jr. AND FALL - 70’S FEVER!

  • 2022- Spring - Broadway Buzz, Summer - Matilda jr., Fall Rock This Town Revue, and School Enrichments.

  • 2023- Spring Broadway Showtime Revue, June Broadway Intensive , July Summer Musical - INTO THE WOODS, JR., Fall Revue MAKE BELIEVE, and School Enrichments.

  • 2024 - Spring Time of Our Lives Revue, Summer Intensive in June and Mean Girl’s Jr in July. plus many school enrichments! Fall- CELEBRATING 30 YEARS!!