About SPARC
Through exceptional performing arts education, SPARC helps youth find their inner light and share it with the world!
SPARC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1981 and is one of the nation’s most comprehensive, community-based youth performing arts education organizations. We provide an atmosphere where creative expression flourishes, meaningful connections are built, and individuality is celebrated.
Stay Connected
#CuriousIncidentAtSparc Last night StageCraft teamed up with Curious Incident Paint Charge, Laine, and helped base and blend the walls for Curious Incident. It was such a fun class! In a few weeks this group will join the show as crew members in the booth and backstage. We can’t wait!
We’re being silly with cake today because it is SPARC’s FOURTY SECOND BIRTHDAY! We can’t wait to see what the next year brings. Drop your favorite SPARC memory below! #HappyBirthdaySparc
Video Description: Members of SPARC’s staff are huddled around a cake that has 4 candles and says “Happy Birthday SPARC.” Members tell everyone to huddle, then Maura points out that it is a video and everyone laughs. The team shouts “Happy 42nd Birthday, SPARC!” Then Amy grabs the camera to zoom in on the cake.
Introducing the extraordinary cast of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (in no particular order)! We are just 3 weeks away until we begin technical rehearsals. Get excited! #CuriousIncidentAtSparc
sparcrichmond.org/shows/tickets
$20 for adults
$10 for students
PC: Tom Topinka
Image Description: A grid of photos featuring the professional headshots of the cast of Curious Incident. Each student is smiling at the camera and standing in front of a black background.
A HUGE thank you to all the playwrights that submitted their one-act plays to the New Voices for the Theater playwriting competition. Next the plays will be evaluated by a panel of theatre professionals and feedback will be distributed in the spring via individual emails to the playwrights. A very special thank you to all the teachers and mentors that supported the playwrights through the submission process.
Tickets are now on sale for our winter production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time! Immerse yourself in the spectacular world of Christopher, who uses his extraordinary brain to solve the mystery of who killed the neighborhood dog. This production features 14 talented students from across the greater Richmond community.
We’ve partnered with Virginia Voice to provide audio description and a tactile tour as well as Mosaic Interpreting Services to provide ASL interpretation. The nature of this show may not be for everyone; the recommended age is 12+.
sparcrichmond.org/shows/tickets
Tomorrow (1/19/23) at 11am, SPARC will open registration for our award-winning summer camps on our website. You can find more information there on our preview catalog about dates, locations, cost, themes, and scholarship. Take some time to look it over and get with your friends and family to plan an exciting #sparcsummer.
Photo Credit: Susan Wermus
Image Description: Two students in yellow t-shirts high five each other in celebration during their final share of August Adventure.
We're back in action this month with Curious Incident rehearsals and can you believe tickets go on sale next week?! Everyone involved is so excited to share this story with you all. Stay tuned for more information.
PC 1: Maura Sinnenberg
PC 2-4: Em Bochette
Image Description: A series of photos of the cast of Curious Incident working in rehearsals. The first photo is the cast standing in pairs looking at one another with their arms stretched towards each other, interlocked. The pairs are crouched at different height levels. Another cast member is crawling through the archway of arms with their back towards the camera. The second is the whole cast split on different levels doing action poses. The third is the director and 3 cast members smiling at the camera from a small table where they are doing research in their scripts. The final photo is 6 cast members lying on their stomachs on the floor with their arms stretched forward, smiling at the camera.
Limited space remains in our winter class schedule. The few courses listed above still have room -- but act quickly! Registration closes Tuesday, January 17. Visit the link in our bio to learn more and enroll.
Image Description: Five colorful boxes are placed atop an image of youth in a kick-line. The background image is tinted blue, and the five colorful boxes hold text that says: 3 classes have open spots in SPARC's winter session. Storycraft (5th to 8th graders write and perform their own material), Lighting Design (6th to 12th graders get hands-on experience with lights), and The Actor's Process (9th to 12th graders explore and apply acting techniques). The last box says: Registration closes January 17!
The One-Act Play Submissions Deadline has been extended to January 14, 2023! We have heard from teachers and students that they need a little more time to finalize their plays. We understand that the holidays were a busy time and that is why we are extending the deadline. Questions can be addressed to Heather Falks at hfalks@sparcrichmond.org.
Calling all playwrights grades 9th- 12th! New Voices one-act play submissions are due January 7, 2023. This year SPARC is offering a $250 prize to each winner that completes the New Voices two-week residency.
Information about the application and submission process can be found on the New Voices page on the SPARC website.
Facebook Posts
We’re being silly with cake today because
it is SPARC’s FOURTY SECOND BIRTHDAY! We can’t
wait to see what the next year brings. Drop your
favorite SPARC memory below! #HappyBirthdaySparc
Video Description: Members of SPARC’s staff are
huddled around a cake that has 4 candles and says
“Happy Birthday SPARC.” Members tell everyone to
huddle, then Maura points out that it is a video and
everyone laughs. The team shouts “Happy 42nd
Birthday, SPARC!” Then Amy grabs the camera to
zoom in on the cake.
Easy, my first year at sparc for the very first live art
Wow 😮 that’s exciting news 📰
Happy,Happy Birthday to SPARC !!!!!!!
LOL...y'all are hilarious. Happy birthday to SPARC! Yay!!!!!
Happy Birthday SPARC!
Happy birthday to SPARC!!
Introducing the extraordinary cast of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (in no particular order)! We are just 3 weeks away until we begin technical rehearsals. Get excited! #curiousincidentatsparc
sparcrichmond.org/shows/tickets
$20 for adults
$10 for students
PC: Tom Topinka
Image Description: A grid of photos featuring the professional headshots of the cast of Curious Incident. Each student is smiling at the camera and standing in front of a black background.
You guys rock 🪨