|
Youth Community Class Offerings At Charleston Heights
Are Expanding This Fall!
In this series of newsletters, we thought we would take the opportunity to introduce
our faculty and the amazing classes they'll be offering.
This week: meet Erin and Erica!
They will teach Audition Prep and Playwriting.
|
|
Meet Jane Austen...er...Erica Griffin!
Director, "Sense & Sensibility"
Instructor of The Play Room: A Youth Playwriting Workshop
Erica Griffin is an award-winning playwright with a special interest in character-driven dark comedy, and a former guest teaching artist with the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre. Serving as our new resident playwright, Griffin is excited to lead the "Play Room," an exciting new works workshop offered to young playwrights, ages 10-18.
Griffin’s works include: "Roles For Girls" (Rainbow Company Youth Theatre), "Juju Goes To Pahrump" (Las Vegas Little Theatre), "Kizzy In A Tizzy" (Current Theatrics), "Atrocious Traditions" (Cockroach Theatre, available from Original Works Publishing), "The Sungazers" (Asylum Theatre), "Roles For Women" (Table 8 Productions, Best of Vegas Fringe 2012), "Spearminted" (Las Vegas Little Theatre New Work Winner 2012) and "Casa De Nada"(Found Door Theatre, Best of Vegas Fringe 2011).
Originally from Seattle, Griffin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting and Directing from Utah State University, where she won a Meritorious Achievement Award for her play "Mulch" from the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival. She wrote for Las Vegas Little Theatre's Insomniac Project, and was a resident playwright at the Katherine Gianaclis Park for the Arts. Serving as a resident playwright for Cockroach Theatre (now Vegas Theatre Company), she was named Best Local Playwright by National Public Radio's Desert Companion magazine in 2017. In her spare time, she loves making things out of stained glass and traveling, especially to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with her 16- year-old!
The Play Room Youth Playwriting Workshop will begin in February. More information to come!
In the meantime, Erica will be directing Rainbow Company's
"Sense & Sensibility," with performances scheduled Nov. 12-14.
Auditions are set for Aug. 1.
Audition slots will open for registration July 1.
|
|
Meet Erin Coley
Instructor for Theatre and Audition Prep (ages 13 - 18)
***Starting In August***
Erin Coley is a theatre and communication expert with a passion for education! Her innovative, gamified approach in coaching, along with her impactful workshops and classes, have propelled thousands of kids and adults toward achieving their goals in all things communication - acting, public speaking, writing and beyond.
After teaching high school theatre, Erin co-founded a children’s theatre in South Florida, Standing Ovation Performing Arts, where she directed and produced hundreds of theatrical productions. She has worked as a professional stage, film and voiceover actor for decades, but has found a true passion for coaching students to acceptance into specialized theatre arts and communication arts programs.
She currently teaches improv and public speaking at UNLV and is a corporate trainer and speaker, specializing in interview and presentation prep for corporate clients. She currently serves as the Membership Director for National Speakers Association Las Vegas and as an Area Director for Toastmasters. Erin made her home in Las Vegas a few years ago after three years of traveling in an RV across the world, and is thrilled to work with young Las Vegas talent!
The "Theatre and Audition Prep" course is perfect for:
- Eighth-grade students hoping to enter performing arts high schools.
- High school seniors applying to performing arts colleges or universities.
- Any student who needs a little help with all the aspects of theatrical auditions.
Unlike many of our fall classes, which are available September through December, "Theatre and Audition Prep" begins Aug. 11 and meets every Tuesday through the end of January (generally when academic applications are due).
***Registration for "Theatre and Audition Prep" opens July 1.***
|
|
Charleston Heights Class Sessions Are Changing
In Fall 2026
For the past 15 years or so, cultural community classes have been offered in six annual six-week sessions: Fall I, Fall II, Winter, Spring I, Spring II and Summer.
To align better with the Clark County School District school year, and matching our colleagues at city recreation centers, we will now be offering community classes month-to-month. We hope that this will add flexibility for families and make it easier to schedule their students around in-school activities.
Starting this fall, Charleston Heights will open registration Aug. 1 for classes held in:
- September
- October
- November
- December
Spring classes will open for registration in November.
Most (but not all) classes are priced at $10/session. So, a month with four classes, once weekly, would be $40. A month with five classes, once weekly, would be $50. A month with a holiday and only three weekly classes will be $30.
Families may register for all four fall months in advance or register and pay month-to-month.
Keep watching this space for updates on curriculum, faculty and registration. Have a great summer. We can't wait to see you in the fall!
Registration for most fall classes opens Aug. 1, 2026.
Rainbow Company auditions and "Theatre and Audition Prep" registrations open July 1, 2026.
|
|
Rainbow Company Youth Theatre Now Accepting Ensemble Applications
For more than 50 years, Rainbow Company Youth Theatre has helped young artists grow, create and perform. Now, we’re introducing the next generation of advanced training through the Rainbow Company Ensemble Program.
This is more than just taking another class. Ensemble students collaborate on real projects, develop leadership skills, create original work and train alongside other dedicated young artists, all under the guidance of experienced professionals.
The Ensemble Program is designed for students ages 10–18 who are ready for commitment, growth and the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves.
Students focus their training in one of three tracks:
- Performance
- Film Production
- Technical Theatre
Applications, interviews and auditions are required for acceptance into the program. Once accepted, students remain in the Ensemble Program until they age out or decide to leave, making this a long-term artistic home for passionate performers, filmmakers and technicians.
Whether you dream of performing on stage, creating films behind the camera or bringing productions to life through technical theatre, the Rainbow Company Ensemble Program is built to help you grow.
Located at Charleston Heights Arts Center in Las Vegas.
|
|
Sign up to receive emails or text messages about our youth and adult programs!
Parks & Recreation
To sign up for the Parks & Recreation newsletter, click here.
Las Vegas Seniors
To sign up for the seniors newsletter, click here.
Las Vegas Parents
To sign up for the parents newsletter, click here.
|
|
|
|
|
