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Registration Now Open

January 7th – April 6th, 2025

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March Break Broadway Boot Camps

March 10th to March 14th

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Announcing the Third Annual High School Project

Mean Girls High School Version

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The Caterpillar Program

For ages 18 months to 7 years

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Show Tunes Wellness

Now 3 days a week!

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kids performing in a stage play

Create. Imagine. Inspire.

Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy

performance for kids

Create. Imagine. Inspire.

Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy

2 male students performing

Create. Imagine. Inspire.

Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy

Rooted in belonging, Drayton Entertainment delivers a profoundly new and positive approach to performing and technical arts education.

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Classes by Age

Everybody Belongs Here

Our aim is to help dismantle systemic constructs which serve as cultural, financial, and physical barriers to representation and participation in arts education.

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Our Facility

Upstairs at our 10,000 square foot training facility, you’ll find four rehearsal halls with natural light, wall-to-wall mirrors, wood sprung floors, state-of-the-art sound and screen systems, and a water bottle hydration station. The main floor features tutorial classrooms, a choral music room …. and a green room with kitchen homework bars with laptop connections!

Every training space of the Academy is equipped with real-time digital video surveillance, broadcast to monitors in our waiting area. The Academy’s technical arts training programs will be made available through Drayton Entertainment’s adjacent Production Centre. An elevator and exterior ramp, with two inclusive washrooms and accessible hallway configurations, ensure barrier-free access for everyone.

Transformation

The symbolism of the butterfly found in our logo is universally related to its journey that starts crawling and ends flying. Our curriculum of classes is designed to align with the idea of a butterfly’s powerful transformation, metamorphosis, growth, learning and endless potential.

Testimonials

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This environment is free of judgment and full of love. Thank you for always pushing us and reminding us how important, valued and powerful we all are.

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I can’t thank you enough for the courage, independence and kindness you help to instil in my kids.

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Although my Dad never spoke of it to Evan or me, he was a little hesitant with the dance stuff and then theatre stuff… but then he came out of the Panto that Evan was in crying, so happy that Evan had found a place where he felt like he belonged.

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As parents we got to ride this high with our son. We got to see him, for the first time, totally come into himself, for the first time, pure happiness. Something changed, he has changed….thank you.

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This was the most amazing theatre experience I’ve had to date, and I’ve had a LOT! It’s the first time I’ve felt like I really belonged because you made such an inclusive environment.

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Thank you! She walked away with more confidence about body image, an even deeper love of everything “theatre” and huge love and respect for her community!

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The patience David shows to the children is perfect! As a teacher I recognize that this man was made to work with kids!! The way he speaks to kids makes them believe they can do anything!!!

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This is where I want to be. I get to learn from Broadway performers who are performing at a theatre right next door but more importantly, I’ve made lifelong friends. Even the audition process is awesome. Drayton has helped me grow not only as a performer, but as a person.

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My son has done lots of programs and I think he felt the most at home here. The children and staff were the most inclusive of any I’ve encountered.

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Each and every day he arrived at Huron Country Playhouse, he knew he was stepping into a place where his passions and dreams were going to be honoured, respected and encouraged.

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Kids (and even adults!) really have fun and learn skills, responsibility, and teamwork here. David Connolly (Director of Education) is a fantastic leader.

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The two musical theatre classes I attended were a lot of fun and I enjoyed them tremendously.

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I have thoroughly enjoyed the adult classes at DEYA. It is a great opportunity to get creative with like-minded peers in a judgment-free environment: singing, dancing, acting and even improv! I love that Drayton is giving us adults a chance to live the theatre dream and learn new skills from talented instructors.

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The staff involved had an incredible ability to push the kids outside of their comfort zones to try new things and take risks. Most of all, they were able to teach kids to embrace differences and that it’s okay to be different.

News

Sep 30, 2024

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy announces that starting September 30th, 2024, all Indigenous youth under 18 will receive free tuition for training programs.

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Aug 26, 2024

Pre-Professional Triple Threat Intensive

Our Triple Threat Intensive welcomed 25 auditioned performers who participated in a week-long of training led by the Youth Academy’s Director of Education, David Connolly.

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Jul 26, 2024

2024 Summer Camp Schedule

EPIC Summer Camps

We offered Summer Camps full of theatre kid fun and friendship at FIVE locations across Ontario!

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Jun 17, 2024

FUTURE LEADERS

In June, we were thrilled to launch our enrichment leadership program training for 23 participants, selected by application.

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May 20, 2024

Promotional flyer for Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy Future Leaders Program, for ages 15 and above. The flyer features a colorful design with a rocket ship on the right side symbolizing launch or growth. There are four sections with different activities offered by the program: ‘How to be a Pop Star’ with a microphone icon, ‘Show Your Talent’ featuring an image of a person holding a trophy, ‘Magic Class’ with a playing cards icon, and an image of Stacey Kelly with text about mentoring by professionals. The background has silhouettes of cheering crowds and city buildings at the bottom.” The image showcases various opportunities for youth development in creative fields provided by the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy. It emphasizes personal growth and skill development through diverse activities.

WHAT’S NEW?

The Youth Academy is always looking to expand and improve our class offerings and learning opportunities!

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Apr 23, 2024

top photo is kids performing a dance routine in front of a mirror and parents. Bottom photos nclude girl in orange shirt striking a pose, boy dressed in black on one knee, boy laying on floor giving thumbs up to the camera

Spring Session Wrap Up

THANK YOU to all the friends and families who cheered on our Spring Session students.

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Mar 18, 2024

March Break Broadway Boot Camps

THANKS to everyone who made our first multi-campus March Break Broadway Boot Camps SO MUCH FUN!

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Feb 25, 2024

Second Annual High School Project: Footloose

Let’s hear it for the 2024 Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy High School Musical Production!

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Jan 27, 2024

WINTER SESSION SUCCESS

We were happy to welcome hundreds of students aged 8-Adults to the Academy in snowy January for our Winter Session.

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Dec 04, 2023

Harmony: A Family Choir

Our first international, community-minded choir was huge success.

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Nov 13, 2023

Peter Pan: The Panto Children’s Chorus

We’re so proud of every one of these young people for all the hard work, talent, and kindness they shared along their journey to Neverland.

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Oct 16, 2023

The Faces of Fall Session!

Thank you to all our students, families and supporters for believing in what we do, we are thrilled to be on this journey with you.

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