The Schedule: A Sneak Peek

You've got everything on your checklist prepared. Now, you're wondering, "What will we do when we actually get to the new Signature Education Studios?" (Located at 2784 S. Arlington Mill, Dr, Arlington, VA, 22206). 

When you arrive for your first day, you will check in and be given a binder that contains, among many other things, your schedule for the full two weeks. Your schedule is different everyday, so you'll be expected to read it closely. 

Anyway, here's a sneak peek of what to expect for Monday:

Monday, July 20

• 9:30AM-10AM - REGISTRATION - Sierra, Matt, David
• 10AM-11:20AM - DANCE with Ashleigh
• 11:20AM-11:25AM - BREAK
• 11:25AM-12:25PM - DANCE with Ashleigh
• 12:25PM-1:05PM - LUNCH
• 1:05PM-2:25PM - VOICE with Tracy and Elisa
• 2:25PM-2:30PM - BREAK
• 2:30PM-3:30PM - VOICE with Tracy and Elisa
• 3:30PM-3:40PM - BREAK
• 3:40PM-6PM - ACTING with Sierra, Matt and David

That's plenty to get excited about. And it's only the first day! We've got loads of masterclasses, exercises and moments that are going to blow your mind! Don't be late for registration - every second counts. 

ABOUT THE SIGNATURE EDUCATION STUDIOS

Parking for StageOne? There are limited parking spots in the surface lot during the day. The Shirlington Garage only has parking spots available in the evening. If parking in the surface lot is full, park in either the Campbell Garage or the Randolph Square Garage and walk the five minute walk to the Signature Education Studios. 

StageOne: WHAT TO BRING ON DAY ONE

By now, you're probably chomping at the bit to get to work at Signature Theatre. We know some of you may be nervous (don't be!) or forgetful (don't be!). As you get ready for your first day, here's a handy checklist for your first day at Stage One:

• Pen and pencil.
• Lunch. We will have a microwave you can use. Your lunch break is not long enough for you to go out and buy lunch.
• Plenty of water. We have a water fountain but you won't want to leave class to get water!
• Optional: Snacks for morning and afternoon breaks. 
• Clothes and dance shoes. Closed-toes shoes only for all classes at Stage One!
• Pop Song - You will need a 16-32 bar cut of a pop song (and will need to supply sheet music for it.) Your voice instructors suggest that you use the pop song that you love to sing in the car, the song you love to jam out to, that is exciting in your voice. What’s the song that makes you feel like a star? Your pop song selection should not be from a musical (and preferably isn't in a jukebox musical) and should have accompaniment that sounds good on the piano. If you are struggling to find sheet music, reach out. We have a very limited pop library and may have what you want (but again, it’s limited.)  
• Additionally, you will need a 32-bar cut of a Golden Age musical theatre song (you will need to supply sheet music for it.) Golden Age musicals are typically defined as early 1940s to early 1960s. For both this and pop music, we have a large library of selections if you don’t have music of your own. Let us know if you need help finding music (or if you just need us to print the sheet music you already have!) 
• Optional: Change of clothes for post-dance classes (most mornings will begin with a dance class but note that your acting classes will frequently be fairly movement-heavy as well.)
• Recording device.
• Sheet music for your memorized assigned song. 
• Your audition songbook, if you have one.  At the front of your book, you should have a list of everything in your book.
• One 1-2 minute, age appropriate monologue from a play you have read. The monologue should come from a play where you understand its context. For more information on choosing the right monologue, check out our other blog posts. Please bring a printed copy of your monologue with you on day 1. 
• Your resume and picture (if you have it in headshot format, that's preferred. If not, no worries.) 
• For the class demo on the last day, you will need black pants or black shorts that you can dance in. We’ll give you a shirt to wear that you get to keep at the conclusion of the program.  
  
• Don't forget that on day one, we ask that you arrive at the theater at 9:30AM for final registration. After that, every day begins at 10AM. See you on Monday.

ABOUT THE SIGNATURE EDUCATION STUDIOS

Parking for StageOne? There are limited parking spots in the surface lot during the day. The Shirlington Garage only has parking spots available in the evening. If parking in the surface lot is full, park in either the Campbell Garage or the Randolph Square Garage and walk the five minute walk to the Signature Education Studios. 

The Instructors of StageOne

Stage One offers its students the chance to meet, learn and work with a plethora of talented instructors from around the DC metro area. From vocalists to dancers to actors and directors, Stage One will help you forge strong and personable connections with the instructors you will be working with during the program. Here are a few bits of interesting background on the core faculty behind StageOne 2026. 

• Tracy Lynn Olivera (Voice Instructor): is an actor and instructor in the DC area. Signature performing credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Assassins; Simply Sondheim; Signature Vinyl; A Little Night Music (Helen Hayes award); Titanic; The Fix; Gypsy; Company; Hello, Dolly! (Ford’s Theatre co-production); The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; Brother Russia; The Hollow; The Boy Detective Fails; Les Misérables (Fantine, Helen Hayes nomination); ACE; The Happy Time; Merrily We Roll Along (Helen Hayes nomination); Allegro (Helen Hayes nomination); Follies; Side Show; Sweeney Todd and countless concerts and cabarets. Tracy appeared on Broadway in the 2009 revival of Ragtime. In the DC area, she has performed in Ragtime (Ford’s Theatre and the Kennedy Center); Sunday in the Park with George (Kennedy Center); Passion (Kennedy Center); Merrily We Roll Along (Kennedy Center); Candide (The Shakespeare Theatre); Liberty Smith (Ford’s Theatre); 110 in the Shade (Ford’s Theatre—Helen Hayes Award); Meet John Doe (Ford’s Theatre); Shenandoah (Ford’s Theatre); Comedy of Errors (Folger’s); Closer Than Ever (MetroStage); The Last Five Years (MetroStage); Cinderella (Olney); On the Town (Olney); and Bachelorette (Studio Theatre).  Additionally, she has performed at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in Candide. She has taught at Signature, Adventure Theatre, BAPA and The Theatre Lab. Tracy received her training from Catholic University and is now an adjunct professor there in the musical theatre department and at American University as well.

• 
  Ashleigh King (Dance Instructor): (she/her) is a Washington DC-based director, choreographer, actor, and teaching artist. Her National Tour credits include: Jenn Weber and MEP’s The Hip Hop Nutcracker. Her DC area credits include: Signature Theatre: HAIR; Ragtime; Which Way To The Stage (Helen Hayes Nomination); Hairspray; Dreamgirls; The Kennedy Center: Fovea. Ford’s Theater: Little Shop of Horrors; Grace (world premiere); Olney Theatre Center: Beautiful; World Goes ‘Round; Most Wonderful Time; Woolly Mammoth: Sentational Sea Minkettes; Teenage Dick; Fairview; Studio Theatre: Fun Home. Keegan Theatre: Seussical; Legally Blonde (Helen Hayes Award); The Full Monty; Solas Nua: Maz and Bricks; Labor Heritage Foundation: Working the Musical; Adventure Theater MTC: Make Way for Ducklings (world premiere); Big River; Alexander and the Terrible...; Artscentric: Smokey Joe’s; JMU: Head Over Heels; MCC SDT: Little Women.  Regional credits include: Northern Stage: ‘Bov Water (world premiere); Spring Awakening; Spamalot; Huntington Stage: Teenage Dick; Virginia Rep: Mamma Mia (RTCC Award). Imagination Stage: Year with Frog and Toad (Helen Hayes nom); Nate the Great; Adventure Theater MTC: Junie B. Jones; Charlie Brown; Make Way for Ducklings; Big River; Alexander and the Terrible…
  
  

• Elisa Rosman (Accompanist/Music Director): is a local music director and accompanist and is always happy to be back with Stage One!  Her credits include: Keegan Theater: Falsettos; The Bridges of Madison County; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Adventure Theater: Freckleface Strawberry; Lightning Thief; Knufflebunny; Junie B. Jones; You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; NextStop/Elden Street: Little Women; Ordinary Days; Matilda; Singing in the Rain; [title of show]; Godspell; A Grand Night for Singing; Urinetown; Catch Me if You Can; City of Angels; Into the Woods; Caroline, or Change; Passion; Falsettos; Side Show; Suburb; Creative Cauldron: Snapshots, The Sondheim Revue; Into the Woods; Disenchanted; Thunder Knocking on the Door;  CUA: Anything Goes and Next to Normal; Imagination Stage: Cinderella;  WSC Avant Bard: Visible Language; and MetroStage: A Broadway Christmas Carol. Elisa frequently accompanies classes, camps and cabarets around town.  
  

• David Zobell (Acting Instructor): David is Signature Theatre's Education Director, a Las Vegas native and a graduate of Brigham Young University. As Director of Education, David has directed thirteen Signature in the Schools premieres, directed joint productions with Arlington Public Schools and produced the Signature in the Schools 20th Anniversary festival. He has taught extensively with Signature Theatre, Adventure Theatre-MTC, The Rainbow Company, Arlington County Public Schools Adult Education and Brigham Young University.

• 
  Matt Strote (Acting Instructor): Matt, Signature Theatre's Education Program Manager, is a DC-area educator, actor, director, writer, dramaturg and native. He studied at the University of Maryland, College Park. Matt has taught around the area at such places as Signature Theatre, Arlington County Public Schools, Washington Improv Theatre, The Studio Theatre, ArtStream, The Space and Montgomery County Parks and Recreation.
• 
  Sierra Lockrem  (Acting Instructor) Sierra Lockrem, Signature's Assistant Education Program Manager, earned her degree in Theatre Education from Ball State University. Since then, she's worked as a director, teaching artist, and stage manager for various theatres and schools in the D.C. area. Outside of Signature, Sierra is the owner and founder of STARS Performing Arts, and educational theatre production company for advanced theatre artists.