Parker Arts Academy tells board it served nearly 100 students, previews world-premiere musical

Jan Knudsen, coordinator of the Parker Arts Academy, told the Janesville School District board that the academy has ‘‘served nearly a hundred students’’ since opening in fall 2021 and has 55 students enrolled this fall, 10 of whom come from outside the district.

Knudsen said the program began with a three-year grant from the Hendricks Foundation and is transitioning to district oversight this fall. She described a blended schedule in which students take regular academic classes for half the day and intensive arts instruction—acting, dance, choir and weekly voice lessons—for the other half. Knudsen recounted master classes, offsite performances, awards and college placements for graduates as measures of program success.

Students onstage praised the program. Jacob Schmeling, a junior, and a senior student identified as Troya described PAA as opening opportunities to perform in the community, take daily arts classes and participate in master classes with visiting professionals.

Knudsen also announced the academy will present the world premiere of Christopher Curtis’s new musical, Scrooge’s Romance, and listed other upcoming productions including Steel Magnolias and Shrek the Musical. She urged the community to attend the Nov. 30–Dec. 10 run.

Board members thanked the students and staff for the presentation.