StageOne Academy / Walden Conservatory

StageOne Academy / Walden Conservatory offers StageOne Academy Drop-In Days for ages 5-11, StageOne Academy After-School Classes, and Walden Conservatory classes that include Imagination Storycraft, Improv, Ensemble, Studio, Apprentice, Playmaking, Performance, and Acting for Adults. Specific activities include students conceiving and performing an original play, working through games and exercises, rehearsing scenes with a partner, studying 20th- and 21st-century works and Shakespeare, and studying acting techniques alongside 10-minute plays and scenes from Shakespeare.

Programs

• StageOne Academy Drop-In Days — 5-11 · $60 per day · School’s Out days are $60 per day with an option for extended day care (4pm-5pm) for an additional $10.
• StageOne Academy After-School Classes — After-school classes that encourage students of all ages and abilities to explore and practice the fundamentals and fun of theatre.
• Walden Conservatory Imagination Storycraft — 6-8 · Saturdays, 9:30-11:30AM · $412 · Students conceive and perform an original play.
• Walden Conservatory Improv — 9-12 · Saturdays, 10AM-12PM · $522 · The actor’s toolkit is explored through games and exercises; an end-of-semester showcase gives students an opportunity to improvise on stage.
• Walden Conservatory Ensemble — 10-14 · Saturdays, 10AM-12PM · $632 · Intermediate students explore acting through ensemble-based work.
• Walden Conservatory Studio — 10-14 · Wednesdays and Fridays, 4:30-6:30PM · $797 · Intermediate students study influential works of the 20th and 21st centuries and Shakespeare while rehearsing scenes with a partner.
• Walden Conservatory Apprentice — 12-14 · Wednesdays and Fridays, 4:30-6:30PM · $808 · Students study acting techniques alongside 10-minute plays in the fall and scenes from Shakespeare in the spring.
• Walden Conservatory Playmaking — 14-16
• Walden Conservatory Performance — 16-18
• Walden Conservatory Acting for Adults — 18+

At a glance

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Price range: $60–$808
• General schedule: Quarterly offerings include once a week classes, single-day camps, weekly camps, and performance intensive experiences.

About the provider

StageOne Family Theatre has served greater Louisville since 1946. The leadership team is Charlie Sexton, Conservatory Director, and Morgan Younge, Education Associate. Walden Conservatory offers in-depth theatre training, educational outreach, and student performance opportunities in a safe, inclusive environment.

Ages are fluid within class levels. Some younger students with extensive experience may be placed alongside older students at an intermediate level, and older students with no theatre experience will start at the beginning levels. Please contact Conservatory Director, Charlie Sexton, with questions about class placement. For Drop-In Days, enrollment is open for ages 5–11 and students are grouped by age to enjoy developmentally appropriate activities and engaging experiences.

Last updated September 12, 2026.