Antagonist's Academy (Ages 7-12)

Heroes save the day... but villains steal the show!

Have you ever noticed that some of the most unforgettable characters aren't the heroes?

From Captain Hook and Ursula to Scar, Hades, and the Wicked Witch, villains are often the most exciting characters to watch. But what makes them so memorable?

In Antagonist's Academy, students will dive into the thrilling world of theatre's most iconic villains to discover what it really takes to play an unforgettable antagonist. Through acting games, improvisation, movement, voice exploration, monologue work and scene work, students will learn that great villains aren't simply "mean"—they have dreams, fears, goals, and reasons for every choice they make.

Because every great story needs someone worth rooting against.

Throughout the session, students will explore:

🎭 What makes a compelling villain

🎬 Creating believable character motivations

🎤 Voice, laughter, accents, and vocal expression

💀 Confident movement and stage presence

🎨 Physicality and body language

📖 Character analysis

😈 Playing larger-than-life personalities

🎭 Exploring classic theatre, fairy tale, and movie villains

🤝 Scene work with heroes and fellow villains

✨ Making bold acting choices

Every class combines theatre games, improvisation, collaborative scene work, and creative challenges designed to help students step outside their comfort zone while discovering just how much fun it is to play the character everyone loves to watch.

Students will quickly learn that portraying a villain is about understanding why a character believes they're the hero of their own story.

By the end of the session, students will have developed stronger acting skills, greater confidence making bold performance choices, and a deeper appreciation for the characters who make stories unforgettable.

Students Will Learn:

🎭 Character development

💀 Stage presence

🎤 Vocal variety and projection

🎨 Physical storytelling

📖 Script analysis

😈 Character motivation

✨ Creative decision making

🤝 Scene work and collaboration

🎬 Improvisation

🧠 Empathy through acting

💡 Creative problem-solving

🎯 Confidence making bold choices

📢 Public speaking

❤️ Emotional expression

🎭 Storytelling

Perfect For…

✔ Kids who love dramatic characters

✔ Future actors who want to stand out

✔ Students who enjoy Disney, fantasy, superheroes, and adventure stories

✔ Performers looking to build confidence

✔ Young actors who love making big, creative choices

✔ Anyone who's ever secretly rooted for the villain

Why Study the Villain?

Understanding an antagonist doesn't teach students how to be "bad." It teaches them how to understand people.

Great actors know that every character believes they're making the right choice. By exploring motivation, conflict, relationships, and emotional truth, students develop stronger empathy, sharper critical thinking, and more authentic performances.

Whether they're cast as the hero, the villain, or somewhere in between, they'll leave with a deeper understanding of storytelling—and the confidence to make bold, unforgettable acting choices.

Because every unforgettable story begins with unforgettable conflict... and every unforgettable conflict begins with a great antagonist.

Class Information:

• Ages 7-12

• Thursdays 5:30pm-7:00pm

• Start date: September 17, 2026

• End date: December 10, 2026

• Final showcase performance: Thursday, December 10, 2026 @ 5:30pm