Acting Academy For Kids

Specialties

Teaching children authentic theatre led by experienced performing artists and professional educators. Building confidence, teamwork, friends, and lifetime memories through a fun and vibrant educational environment. Serving kids ages 4 – 12 and teens 13 – 17 in musical theatre performance, TV/​film acting, voice, dance, guitar, piano, music theory. We also offer summer performing arts camps which include music, dance, art, and acting education.

History

Established in 2008.

When Stephen Zygo was teaching 4^th grade and running his school’s K-​8 theater department, Acting Academy for Kids was just a seed of an idea. As arts programs were being slashed, Zygo saw a need in the community and wanted to continue helping kids grow. Stephen and his wife Maggie took a leap of faith, followed that passion and created an environment where students are free to explore musical theatre, acting, voice, dance and instrumental music. The Academy’s home base at the Camino Real Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano and satellite location at the Cabrillo Playhouse in San Clemente, allow young cast members to produce and perform popular Broadway musicals every 12 weeks. The Academy also offers the best Performing Arts Camps in the OC! These week-​long sessions provide students with a full-​theater immersion experience, capped off with a performance for family and friends. In addition, the Academy provides after school acting classes, vocal training, guitar and piano lessons.

Meet the Manager

Stephen Z.

Manager

Stephen is the Founder and Director of Acting Academy for Kids & Teens. He and his wife, Maggie, co-​founded the Academy in 2008 as a dream to combine Stephen’s twin passions of education and the performing arts.

Originally a native of Rochester, New York, Stephen J. Zygo started his performing career in the 4^th grade as a member of all-​county choir and went on to perform in countless musicals, performing groups, dance ensembles, and theatrical troupes.

Recognized in New York State as one of the most promising high school performers (Elenbe Award Winner), Stephen then pursued a double major in Musical Theatre Performance and Elementary Education at SUNY Cortland. Stephen has directed over 100 youth productions in New York, Hawaii and California. Stephen started his California career with productions of «Peter Pan» and «The Music Man JR» at St. Mary’s School in Aliso Viejo, where he was the Theatre Arts Dir…

Read full bio on the ABOUT US page on Acting Academy for Kids.