Oscia Artistic Development

OSCIA ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT

Building the Next Generation of Creative Professionals

Through arts education, mentorship, workforce training, and hands-on production experience, Oscia Artistic Development helps young people transform creative potential into professional possibility.

Oscia Artistic Development moves emerging creatives beyond instruction and into practical experience. Through guided study, mentorship, collaborative creation, and production-based training, participants strengthen their craft while learning how professional creative work is developed and delivered.

Our pathway is simple: Learn. Showcase. Work. Participants build essential skills, apply their learning through a completed creative project, and gain experience within a professional production environment. Through Oscia Next Stage, successful graduates receive paid production placements with the Oscia Theatre Awards—connecting preparation to opportunity and education to employment.

ARTS EDUCATION | CREATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT | PAID OPPORTUNITY

Oscia Next Stage

Youth Creative Workforce Development Program

Oscia Next Stage is a 24-week education-to-employment program designed for young people ages 14–19 who are ready to explore careers in theatre, live production, and the creative industries.

Through in-person instruction, virtual learning, mentorship, and hands-on creative projects, participants develop artistic, technical, digital, and professional skills. Students learn from experienced creative professionals while gaining a practical understanding of how ideas move from concept to stage.

The program culminates in a collaborative showcase where participants apply what they have learned. Successful graduates then move into paid production placements supporting the Oscia Theatre Awards, providing an early professional credit, meaningful work experience, and a pathway into the creative workforce.

Our Areas of Expertise

Oscia Artistic Development introduces participants to the many disciplines that shape theatre, live events, and the broader creative industry. Each area combines artistic exploration with practical skills and professional preparation.

Theatre History and Cultural Foundations

Explore the history, traditions, movements, and cultural contributions that have shaped theatre and performance. Participants learn how creative work reflects communities, preserves stories, and influences society.

Writing and Story Development

Develop original ideas through playwriting, storytelling, character development, dialogue, and script structure. Participants learn how to shape a concept into a story prepared for performance.

Performance, Music, and Movement

Build confidence and creative expression through acting, voice, music, dance, movement, and ensemble work. Participants learn how performers communicate stories and connect with audiences.

Production and Technical Arts

Discover the work behind the curtain, including directing, stage management, lighting, sound, scenic production, backstage operations, and live-event coordination.

Costume, Makeup, and Visual Design

Explore how costume, makeup, hair, styling, and visual design help define characters, establish atmosphere, and bring a production’s creative vision to life.

Digital Media and Professional Readiness

Gain experience in photography, video, editing, digital content, portfolio development, workplace communication, collaboration, and the professional expectations of the creative industry.

Chester A. Whitmore

Movement, Rhythm and Story

Movement, Rhythm and Story explores how dance and physical expression communicate history, culture, emotion, and character. Led by dancer, choreographer, and cultural historian Chester A. Whitmore, students learn to use rhythm, posture, blocking, gesture, and stage presence as storytelling tools.

The course connects African American movement traditions to contemporary theatre and performance while helping participants develop greater body awareness, confidence, discipline, and an understanding of how movement strengthens the emotional impact of a production.

Gloria Hendry

Theatre Is Everywhere

Theatre Is Everywhere introduces students to the history, cultural influence, and enduring relevance of theatre. Through the guidance of actress and theatre artist Gloria Hendry, participants explore how theatrical traditions have shaped film, television, music, fashion, and social movements.

The course teaches students to recognize the connection between historical context, storytelling, character, and complete production while helping them understand that today’s creative work is part of a much larger artistic legacy.

Trina Parks

Presence in Motion

Presence in Motion explores how performers use movement, expression, and body language to create character and command the stage or screen. Drawing from her groundbreaking career as a dancer and actress—and her legacy as the first Black woman to appear in a James Bond film—Trina Parks teaches students how physical presence supports storytelling.

Participants examine stage presence, camera awareness, performance confidence, movement-based character development, professional presentation, and the importance of versatility, representation, and longevity within the entertainment industry.

Trisha Mann Grant

Acting Mastery with Trisha Mann Grant

Acting Mastery gives students a practical foundation in performance for theatre, film, and television. Drawing from her experience as an actress and director, Trisha Mann-Grant guides participants through character development, script interpretation, improvisation, emotional preparation, audition technique, on-camera awareness, and confident performance.

Students learn how to make purposeful acting choices, respond truthfully within a scene, receive direction, and adapt their performances for different mediums while developing the preparation, professionalism, and discipline expected of working actors.

Anthony Kenniebrew

Behind the Curtain: From Page to Stage

Behind the Curtain: From Page to Stage introduces students to the professional systems that transform a written concept into a complete production. Anthony Kinniebrew guides participants through production meetings, scheduling, rehearsals, call times, artistic and technical coordination, backstage responsibilities, cue sheets, cue-to-cue rehearsals, technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, safety, and front-of-house operations.

Students gain a practical understanding of how departments communicate, how production challenges are solved, and how preparation, teamwork, timing, and accountability keep a live production moving successfully.

Dani B JAIA

The Sound of the Story

The Sound of the Story teaches students how music and sound help shape the emotional world of a theatrical production. Vocalist, musician, and musical director Dani B JAIA guides participants through vocal performance, musical interpretation, underscoring, transitions, sound cues, atmosphere, and collaboration between performers, musicians, directors, and technical teams.

Students learn that music is more than accompaniment—it establishes tone, advances the story, supports character, and helps create a memorable connection between the production and its audience.

Guided by Working Creative Professionals

The Next Generation Is Ready

Talent is already present. What young people need is access, guidance, preparation, and the opportunity to put their abilities to work.

Oscia Artistic Development is helping build the bridge between creative potential and professional possibility. Whether you are a young creative, parent, educator, community organization, or prospective partner, we invite you to become part of what comes next.

Preparing the next generation of creative professionals requires a community of support. Oscia Artistic Development welcomes partnerships with schools, colleges, arts organizations, foundations, corporations, and entertainment-industry professionals that share our commitment to expanding opportunity.

These partnerships help provide instruction, mentorship, technology, creative resources, workplace exposure, and paid production experiences. Together, we can help young people move from discovering their abilities to building futures within the creative workforce.