Junior Academy for The Performing Arts

Curtains up! Discover the magic of theater this season with JAPA

Since 2016, The Junior Academy of the Performing Arts (JAPA) has provided semi-professional level performing arts experiences for youth and teens in Prince George’s County and the Greater Washington, DC area. JAPA introduces theater to students who have a talent and curiosity for the performing arts and strengthens the knowledge and skill level of students already interested in performance. Students discover the magic of theater through the process of auditioning, rehearsing, and performing a Broadway-style musical theater production presented on the stages at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland. 

JAPA presents a fall and spring musical production and offers summer camps for ages 8 to 12. The program rehearses at the Prince George’s County Suite at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.   

Junior Academy of Performing Arts

The Junior Academy of Performing Arts has exciting performance and training opportunities occurring year-round. We run 12-week sessions in the fall and spring and run 2 week day camp session in the summer season. In the fall class is held on Sunday’s 10am-3pm and in the spring class are held on Saturday’s 10am-3pm. All sessions will be held at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center within the PG Suite classroom and dance studio. Check out the photos from our past shows below!  In the past year we have produced a diverse range of musicals: Cinderella, 101 Dalmatians, Madagascar, High School Musical 1 & 2, Frozen, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, and Annie! Stay tuned for more information about the next JAPA production, activity codes for our next sessions are listed below:

Fall Session Activity Code – 23643-502A

Fall Session Dates: Sundays, September 14 – December 14 10am-3pm (No class on November 30th)

Additional Information

For additional details and questions, please email Shaiday Dancy at shaiday.dancy@pgparks.com