Award-winning choreographer leads new Journey Studio program for teens – ClarkCountyToday.com

Journey Theater is introducing a year-long program to provide rigorous training to young artists considering careers in the industry

Her first trip to the Journey Theater in Vancouver began about 10 years ago when she arrived from her home in San Diego to help with the summer adult programming.

She did it the next summer too.

In 2018 she returned.

Award-winning choreographer Chelsea Nicole Lapp will lead a new program called Journey Studio at the Journey Theater to provide more rigorous training in the theatrical arts for young performers. Photo by Paul Valencia

Over the years, Chelsea Nicole Lapp has traveled across America as a choreographer, lending her talent to theater groups. She lived in New York for two years. She visited Europe to see productions in London, Denmark. She worked in Africa and choreographed a show in Uganda. She has received numerous awards in the industry.

All of that experience and all of the travels have brought her to where she has wanted to be for about 10 years.

Lapp, 32, is back in Clark County.

“Even in 2011, I always knew I wanted to land here, Vancouver, Washington,” said Lapp. “I fell in love with the area”

Lapp brings her expertise and passion for theater to the table as the director of a new program for the local theater group.

Journey Studio is a one-year program for students ages 13-18 who wish to pursue further education in the arts, who wish to pursue theater as a profession.

“I really love preparing children for the job industry,” said Lapp. “With high school theater and children’s theater groups they can get really good lessons, but you don’t really prepare them for the real world. It is something that is very close to my heart. “

Travel studio

What: A new annual program for teens who want a more rigorous training in theatrical arts presented by Journey Theater

When: Students meet once a week, every Monday evening, throughout the school year.

Audition: Performers ages 13-18 can audition for the program on August 16.

More information, including costs and expectations: http://journeytheater.org/studio/ or call (360) 750-8550 or email: [email protected].

Journey Studio offers more rigorous training than a typical Journey program. Lapp said they would “immerse themselves in acting, singing and dancing and train them on triple threats”.

Lapp will teach students about auditioning and callback preparation. She has a number of friends in the industry that she will bring along to share her experience. Many may need to speak to the class about Zoom because they are in New York or maybe London.

Lapp also stressed that she will do all of this in light of Journey Theater’s mission: Journey is a Christ-centered theater arts program designed to nurture youth and their families in character and purpose.

“One of the things we’re going to work on is believing in an industry that is usually pretty dark,” Lapp said. “Talking about what it means to see what kind of shows you’re going to do, what roles you’re going to take, what you personally want and feel able to do, isn’t going to trip you up.

“We’re going to talk about being a light in the industry and staying humble … and continuing to give glory to God.”

Chelsea Lapp was 4 years old when she followed in her older brother’s footsteps in her first production.

“I was born into the theater, we always say,” said Chelsea.

Performances were her thing. However, as a teenager, she took a course in choreography. When she was in college, she realized that she loved choreography even more than performing.

J. Scott Lapp, her older brother, started his own theater company. Chelsea has worked on several productions with his group.

Now Chelsea wants to help young artists in southwest Washington realize their dreams. And she hopes they will have experiences similar to her over the years.

“The theater gave me my community,” said Lapp. “I am still very close to many of the friends I grew up with. I have friends I have had since I was three because we played theater together. “

Directors, authors, choreographers and many more make a production. You share a passion.

“I just love telling stories. I think it’s great that a story can have such an impact on someone’s life, ”said Lapp. “We learn more empathy when we work in the theater. When we see theater, we get to know other people’s perspectives. You learn so much about culture and other people. I love the working environment in the theater, to be creative. It is so much fun. It really doesn’t feel like a job, which is great. I am very blessed to be able to do it. “