Ziegfeld Arts Academy

★★★★★Bri Foster

We have been involved with Ziegfeld Arts Academy for years, and I can’t say enough great things about this program. The production team truly loves and cares for the kids—they take the time to highlight each child’s unique strengths and help them shine. I’ve watched my daughter grow more confident both on and off stage, and that kind of growth is priceless. The shows themselves are incredible—beautifully produced and genuinely enjoyable to watch (which isn’t always the case with children’s theater!). Every performance feels professional while still keeping the focus on the kids. If you’re looking for a youth theater program that not only develops talent but also builds confidence, friendships, and a love for the arts, I highly recommend the Zig!

★★★★★Natasha Gibbons

My daughter did two summer camps (Lion King and Sherk) at the Academy. She had so much fun and loved every practice. Cassidy and Logan did a great job from the directing, costumes and choreography. This was her first theater experience and they made her feel very welcome. We will be return and doing more shows with the Zig Academy!!

★★★★★kristin ogden

My son did Joseph and the amazing Technicolor Dream coat this summer at the Academy. He had So much fun and loved every practice. The show was so well put together from the directing, costumes and Choreography. They gave this show the same time and attention they would to a production with adults. We will be return and doing more shows with the Zig Academy!!

★★★★★Bobbidee Evans

We really enjoyed our first show/summer camp with Ziegfeld! We will definitely be coming back. The costumes were phenomenal. The theatre was fun. The directors did a great job with casting and teaching so many songs and lines in one week. Looking forward to more experiences there.

★★★★★Johanna Droubay

This place is magical! If you live in the Ogden area and have kiddos, you are incredibly lucky. I really doubt you’ll find a better youth theater program anywhere in the country—or at least not one that invites everyone to participate and makes everyone shine. There are lots of opportunities for young people to perform in this area, but the Ziegfeld Arts Academy stands out for these reasons: 1) The shows are so elaborate and so good! Whether it’s a two-week summer camp or a semester-long program culminating in 8-12 performances, the productions are always shockingly spectacular! The costumes are ornate, the sets/projections are gorgeous, the tech and stagecraft are innovative, and the kids are at their absolute best. It’s always surprising to me how much I enjoy the show itself…not just seeing my kid excel. 2) The teachers (aka production team) are next-level talented and passionate. They work so hard you worry about them. They are artists who also happen to be incredible mentors. They’re the kind of trusted, inspiring adults every child deserves in their corner. 3) The Ziegfeld Arts Academy welcomes everyone. Anyone can enroll. There are auditions, but the auditions determine who gets what part, not who gets in (with the exception of one or two shows a year for the oldest age group known as “Prep”). Even though the shows are incredibly sophisticated and high-quality, everybody gets to participate, and everyone gets a lot of stage time. 4) The community of kids, parents, and theater people is warm and wonderful and will enthusiastically embrace you. In a time when things are increasingly virtual, individual, and disconnected, theater is intensely in-person, communal, and connected. This particular theater community is especially robust, and if you’re a parent who wants to make friends and/or contribute your own artistic talents, you will have many opportunities. As a parent who has been involved with the program for a few years, it’s incredibly satisfying to see new families, with kids who sometimes have no theater experience, fall in love with the Zig. It’s thrilling to see kids with all kinds of personalities, strengths, and interests light up on stage and cry on closing night because of how much they’re going to miss their new friends. But they don’t have to cry for long because the Ziegfeld Arts Academy puts on a TON of shows. This is something your child can be involved in year-round if they want to be. If they haven’t yet found their thing, this might be it! If they have ADHD and you need an activity to focus them, this might be it! If they have anxiety and you need a quirky, loving group of friends for them to warm up to, this might be it! Even if you have a kid who is athletic and seems to have no interest in the arts, you might be surprised—theater this good is for everyone. I could go on and on, and I have gone on and on, so I’ll stop now. Don’t miss out on the Ziegfeld! Give it a shot. You won’t regret it.