{"product_id":"acting-and-improv-3rd-thru-6th-wednesdays-4-30-to-5-30-pm-spring-2026","title":"Acting and Improv –  3rd thru 6th – Wednesdays 4:30 to 5:30 pm – Spring 2026","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eActing and Improv (grades 3 – 6)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eJoin Jill, Jamie, and Staples Players' guest teachers for a fun exploration of acting for stage and screen. Students will enjoy a mix of theatre games, improv, scene work (both improvised and scripted), commercials and even experience filming a self-tape audition. Class will be a joyous place for kids to exercise their creative imaginations and also learn foundational techniques for theater and tv\/film auditioning and performance. Parents are welcome to observe the final class. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 pm\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7-week session: April 29; May 6, 13, 20, 27; June 3, 10.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClasses will be held at  \u003cstrong\u003eSaugatuck Congregational Church\u003c\/strong\u003e, the white church between the Playhouse and downtown Westport, 245 Post Road East (enter through the back entrance; class will be on stage in Hoskins Hall on the lower level, as available, or on the top floor in the choir room\/\"Chapel\").\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaught by: \u003c\/strong\u003eTriple Threat Co-Director Jill Mann + guest teachers: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eJamie Mann, fresh off his run in \u003cem\u003eStranger Things: The First Shadow\u003c\/em\u003e on Broadway, and other Staples Players stars and alumni! \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"199\" width=\"266\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1070\/0078\/files\/Jill_Mann_headshot_low_res.jpg?v=1752341146\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJill Johnson Mann – Co-Director\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJill Johnson Mann fell in love with acting at age 8 and is a passionate supporter of the arts and aspiring performers. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe loves to discover and develop young talent, a pastime inspired by her journey managing her own actor kids (Jamie Mann – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eStrangers Things\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e original Broadway cast, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCountry Comfort\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on Netflix, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eDays of Our Lives\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on Peacock; Cameron Mann – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eEddington, Mare of Easttown, New Amsterdam, Daredevil, Law \u0026amp; Order SVU\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e; and Natalia Mann – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA California Christmas, City Lights, The Passage).\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJill has connected actors with representation and\/or coaches that have led them to roles on Broadway, TV shows, and feature films. She has taped and coached over 1,000 professional auditions (including those that have landed her kids the roles listed above). She has also guided her own teens and many others through the complex process of applying\/auditioning for college musical theater and acting programs. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1070\/0078\/files\/Jamie_Mann_1_crop_480x480.jpg?v=1736038048\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"257\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJamie Mann – Acting\/Dance\/Vocal Coach, Dance Teacher\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eJamie Mann, a Westport native, made his Broadway debut in spring 2025 in \"Stranger Things: The First Shadow,\" playing Ted Wheeler (the teenage version of Mike Wheeler's dad, from the famed TV series) and understudying James Hopper, Jr. Jamie began training with Cynthia Gibb at the age of 8, which is when a casting director scouted him and his professional acting journey began. A dancer since he could walk, Jamie trained with Alvin Ailey and the School of American Ballet in New York and danced with New York City Ballet (\u003ci\u003eSwan Lake, Nutcracker, Harlequinade).\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eAfter landing his dream role of Billy Elliot in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eBilly Elliot the Musical\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(Maltz Jupiter, Fulton, Palace), Jamie fell in love with musical theatre. In addition to being an active Staples Player in high school, he played “Dunlap” in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eBecause of Winn Dixie\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat Goodspeed and put his singing and dancing skills to use in his series regular role as “Brody” on Netflix’s music themed show\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eCountry Comfort\u003c\/i\u003e, starring Katharine McPhee. Most recently Jamie portrayed Tate on\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eDays of Our Lives\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(Peacock). He earned his BFA in musical theatre from the University of Michigan in spring 2025. Go Blue! Jamie is represented by Innovative Artists and Jen Namoff.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"Jamiemartinmann.com\" href=\"https:\/\/jamiemartinmann.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ejamiemartinmann.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Georgia Wright\" href=\"https:\/\/triplethreat.us\/pages\/meet-the-staff\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen registering, please click on \"add a note to your order\" (toward the left side of the \"Your Cart\" page) and indicate your child's name and grade. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter registering, new students please fill out this electronic: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/triple-threat-academy.myshopify.com\/pages\/participant-info-waiver\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eINFO\/WAIVER FORM\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003ePhoto by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Greg Cohen Photography\" href=\"http:\/\/gregcohenphotography.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGreg Cohen Photography\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Triple Threat Academy","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42723554918498,"sku":null,"price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1070\/0078\/files\/AliceinWeblandcast-TripleThreat-lowres.heic?v=1739471951","url":"https:\/\/triple-threat-academy.myshopify.com\/products\/acting-and-improv-3rd-thru-6th-wednesdays-4-30-to-5-30-pm-spring-2026","provider":"Triple Threat Academy","version":"1.0","type":"link"}