For the first time this past school year, City Hearts was thrilled to partner with The Academy of Cinematic Arts (ACA) at Lawndale High School, a dynamic learning community where emerging filmmakers, digital artists, and storytellers develop their creative voices through hands-on, industry-informed projects.

Through our curriculum, “The Actor’s Role,” City Hearts introduced ACA students to the fundamentals of acting and performance. Students dove into scene study and performance, character analysis and development, improvisation, stage and on-camera acting techniques, and essential industry skills such as self-taping.

City Hearts’ Guitar & Songwriting Program offers students a holistic and engaging introduction to music-making through guitar. Blending technique, creativity, and emotional expression, the program explores folk, classical, and contemporary styles while introducing the fundamentals of songwriting as a tool for creative exploration and collaboration. Students learn effective, enjoyable practice routines, gain confidence performing in supportive group settings, and discover how music can reduce stress, strengthen focus, and build community.

Students strengthen their technical skills, critical thinking, and creative voices while exploring a range of art media and techniques. Projects begin with single-medium studies (tempera, oil pastel, collage) and build toward Mixed Media works that foster confidence and artistic independence. Each project is anchored by a theme (such as community, identity, storytelling, or a historical artist/movement) providing a meaningful entry point for exploration.

Hands-on practice is balanced with discussions that build visual literacy and demonstrations of new techniques, culminating in an End-of -Year Exhibit/Showcase, typically held on each school’s campus.

Movement Through Dance uses dance as a dynamic pathway for physical and social-emotional growth. While dance serves as the vehicle, the class emphasizes core movement fundamentals, coordination, flexibility, and overall physical well-being, drawing from multiple dance styles. In addition to supporting students’ physical health, the program fosters social-emotional learning by building confidence, cultivating joy, encouraging self-expression, and strengthening community through shared movement experiences.

Stimulating an appreciation for analog and digital Photography, students also experiment with camera-less processes to understand the fundamental role of light in imprinting an image. Exploring the history of photography and pioneer photographers, students build a portfolio of various styles, including self-portrait, still-life, collage, photomontage, and experimental landscape.

Led by professional comedians, this program introduces upper elementary, middle, and high school students to the fundamentals of writing and performing Stand-Up Comedy. Research shows that improvisation and comedy help build self awareness and tolerance of uncertainty, skills that are strongly linked to reduced depression and anxiety. In this 2-4 week offering, students craft and deliver original material drawn from their own lives. Classes foster self confidence, social emotional growth, and academic writing skills in a supportive, collaborative environment.

*After-school only. Invitation after application and interview process.*

The Wilson ‘n William Theatre Program is a one-of-a-kind, conservatory-style experience that immerses high school students in the works of two of the most important and accomplished playwrights of all time: August Wilson and William Shakespeare.

Designed for students of all skill levels and backgrounds, the program combines rigorous artistic training with a holistic, heart-centered approach to acting. Students not only study classical and contemporary stage scripts but also explore on-camera techniques and scripts from film and television, gaining versatile performance skills.

In addition to developing as artists, students learn about the business of acting, including how the entertainment industry operates as it pertains to actors: self-taping, audition standards, and the professional expectations required to thrive in various work environments (e.g., on set, in rehearsals, and more). They also gain real-world insights by attending live theatre and learning directly from renowned industry Guest Artists through special workshops and Masterclasses, further preparing them for a professional career in the field.

The program culminates in a meaningful showcase, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their growth, creativity, and confidence in a professional-style setting.

Building critical thinking, reading, and comprehension skills, the Young Actors Club focuses on providing elementary-aged students the opportunity to perform modern and classical monologues and scenes while allowing them to improvise and develop expressive Acting skills through fun Theatre games. Centering on holistic development, students may also journal, meditate, and practice relaxation exercises to increase their social and emotional wellness.