The Center for Theater Arts is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization founded in 1981 to offer professional performing arts classes to children and teens in the Pittsburgh area.
Our Mission Statement:
The CTA is dedicated to offering the highest quality performing arts instruction and committed to providing all students with opportunities to improve their self-image and self-confidence through artistic expression.
The CTA is committed to exploring and developing the abilities of our students. With an ongoing commitment to best practices in education, you will find we are student centered focused on exploring multiple avenues to success. Our knowledgeable instructors and staff have a shared commitment and vision as we embark on our 4th decade of operation. The Center for Theater Arts is confident that you will find we are dedicated to our students’ and united by our mission.
We are very proud to offer high quality instruction in acting, musical theater, ballet, jazz, tap hip hop, voice as well as musical theater for students with special needs. In addition there are classes in movie making, comedy improv, audition technique, sketch comedy and performance opportunities for singers, dancers, and actors.
The CTA curriculum is intended to instill a sense of process, training, personal accountability and self-respect in all students regardless of where they apply this experience. In a fun, exciting and energetic environment our students Reach for the stars and continue to expand the universe! Our classes provide opportunities for all children to train, explore, participate, observe, develop, discover and meet classroom expectations.
The Center’s classes are divided into three divisions:
Junior Division
Ages 4-7
Student Division
Ages 8-13
High School Division
Ages 13+ or 8th-12th grade
or by teacher recommendation
All tuition is per 15- week semester.
Classes are two semesters and run for 30 weeks. All tuition is per 15-week semester. Classes meet once per week unless otherwise noted. The second semester is a 15-week session with classroom performances and observation during the last week of classes.
Center classes strive to challenge students while inspiring creative expression, boosting positive self-esteem, enhancing presentation skills and developing a love and respect for the arts. While some Center students have gone on to appear on Broadway, in television, and film, all students have a chance to shine by experiencing and exploring the performing arts!
Our curriculum focuses on process, not product. This means classes emphasize learning and skill development. Our non-competitive, non-recital program uses age and developmentally appropriate material geared for students of all skill levels. Performance opportunities exist apart from the class curriculum and are intended to be opportunities for Center students who wish to experience and explore skills developed in the classroom.
spotlight
2011-12 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
Tickets on SALE NOW
This girl loves ghoul rock and roll Off Broadway musical is set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High, where the law is laid down by a zany, tyrannical principal. Pretty senior Toffee has fallen for the class bad boy. Family pressure forces her to end the romance, and he charges off on his motorcycle to the nuclear waste dump. He returns glowing and determined to reclaim Toffee’s heart. He still wants to graduate, but most of all he wants to take Toffee to the prom.
The principal orders him to drop dead while a scandal reporter seizes on him as the freak du jour.
As crisis takes hold of the school, the following questions are raised – Will Toffee take Jonny (spelled without the “h”) back? Will Miss Strict let Jonny come back and finish school, or will she cancel Senior Prom, ruining the most important night in the lives of the students of Enrico Fermi High!? History comes to his rescue while a tuneful selection of original songs in the style of 50s hits keeps the action rocking across the stage.
“A blast…. Slick fun for the whole nuclear family.”
Spotlight – THANK YOU
A HUGE SUCCESS – CTA RAISIES FUNDS
at the CTA SPECIAL ACTORS BENEFIT
“PROM NIGHT – An evening with the STARS”
Ben Lawry playing his guitar for PROM NIGHT – a night with the STARS!
For 30 years the Center for Theater Arts has offered special needs children the opportunity to explore creativity and self-expression through weekly free musical theater classes. In addition to the joy of singing, dancing, and acting our special students develop self-confidence, self-esteem, and vital communication and presentation skills that enhance their lives in countless ways that benefit the community.Please call the Center for Theater Arts for more information
412.563.5080
The Galleria is a proud SUPERSTAR sponser of this fantastic night out!
Spring Semester
begins JANUARY 9th
Call to reserve your class today!
ALL SCHOOL MUSICAL -
- Sign up begins March 3rd.
….for the first time in the CTA history we proudly bring you THE MUSIC MAN – Con man Harold Hill travels to the small town of River City, Iowa to earn his fortune. He decides to convince the town that they need a marching band and then plans to run away once the participants have paid for instruments and uniforms. He even claims to be a professor of music. His scheme is moving along perfectly until Harold falls in love with the town piano teacher, Marian. Even though she knows that he’s a con man, she still loves him for the hope that he brought to the town. Harold, on the other hand, is inspired by Marian’s goodness, reveals his secrets to the town and becomes an honest man.
SONGS include – Ya Got Trouble -Gary,Indiana – Goodnight, My Someone – Seventy-six Trombones – Wells Fargo Wagon – Marian The Librarian – Shi-poo-pi – Till There Was You …and many more!
MUSICAL THEATRE HISTORY – In 1957, the show became a hit on Broadway winning five TOny Awards including Best Musical, and running for 1,375 performances. The cast album won the first Grammy Award for “Best Original Cast Album”. The show’s success led to revivals and a popular 1962 film adaptation and a 2003 television remake. It frequently is produced by both professional and amateur theater companies.
CTA Spotlight – CTA Vocal Students invited to take over the stage at the “KNOCK OUT” Cancer event at the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon on November 13th
Join us for Visitors Week!
February 13-18th
