SLTAcademy

Alum Spotlight: Nicolas Bendele✨

Nicolas Bendele is currently a student at Benedictine College and is graduating in December of 2024 in Mechanical Engineering. He is aspiring to work as an Aerospace Engineer in California. Nicolas was a featured actor in the SLTA Musical production of "Legally Blonde" as Prof. Callahan. This was his first musical, and it opened up an opportunity for him to be scouted for the Shreveport Little Theatre musical "Bright Star" where he starred as Billy Cane in the first ever community theatre production of the musical. He would go on to make local news for this production. Nicolas says, "I am grateful for the experience provided to me by SLTA, and I am very fond of the memories that come with it."

We are proud to call you an alum, Nicolas, and we wish you all the luck with graduation!👏

We are so proud of our academy student, Adiel Allison, for being a winner at the Red River Revel Talent Show!🎉🎭

Congratulations, Adiel! Keep up the great work!🤩👏

“People who are different, their time is coming!” -Tracy Turnblad, “Hairspray”✨🎭

to this amazing production of “Hairspray” in 2011! We can’t believe it’s been 13 years!👏🤩

Alums from this show: comment below your favorite memory from this production👇

Alum Spotlight: Georgette Berne✨

Georgette began her journey with the Shreveport Little Theatre Academy (SLTA) in 2013 with a role in "The Wizard of Oz." She took on more prominent roles, including starring as Blue in "Blues Clues Live! The Most Spectacular Place." Over the years, Georgette participated in numerous productions, such as "A Little Princess," "Jingle Arrgh the Way," "Disney’s Cinderella KIDS," "Disney’s Aladdin Jr.," "Annie Jr.," "Elf Jr.," "Man of La Mancha," "Madagascar Jr.," "Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.," "Footloose," "Honk Jr.," "Legally Blonde," "The Theory of Relativity," and "Bring It On: The Musical." She also directed SLTA’s sold-out performance of "101 Dalmatians KIDS."

Beyond her roles in academy shows, she has also participated in SLT’s mainstage productions, including "White Christmas" and "Anything Goes." During high school, Georgette expanded her skills by assisting backstage and serving as a stage manager for Junior Academy productions.

She is currently a junior at LSUS, with plans to pursue a career in physical therapy. Georgette attributes her tenure at SLTA as instrumental in fostering her confidence, leadership abilities, and proficiency in public speaking. She is thankful to Laura, Adam, and Heather Hooper for everything they did in nurturing her passion for theatre. Georgette has many lifelong friends and relationships because of SLT.

We are proud of you Georgette, and thank you for your dedication to SLTA!❤️

Our K-2nd acting class is all about fun & growth🎭🤩

Our instructor, Olivia, is a talented actor, fight director, and teacher who has traveled all over the U.S. for her work. A graduate of Louisiana Tech University in 2018, she has performed Off-Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, and at regional theaters across the Northeast.

In addition to her impressive theatre career, Olivia co-founded More Than OK Studios with Katie Watts, a production company that brings the joy and hope of theatre to nursing home residents across Louisiana. Currently based in Shreveport, Olivia is passionate about inspiring young actors to explore their creativity and love for the arts.

In this acting class, she is teaching them about creativity, confidence, expression, and spatial awareness!⭐️🎬

We can’t wait to see these young artists grow this season!👏🙌

Alum Spotlight: Dalton Smiley✨

Dalton Smiley made his debut on the SLT main stage as Kurt Von Trapp in the Sound of Music. Dalton spent years in the academy and some of his favorite acting credits include Into the Woods, The Addams Family, Pinkalicious, and so many more. He is now an internet personality known for his quick wit and hilarious content where he has amassed a total audience of over 1 Million on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Dalton first gained recognition on TikTok in 2020, where his funny takes on trending topics and the pandemic went viral. His down-to-earth charm and ability to connect with his followers have made him a favorite among Gen Z and millennial users.

Now living in Orange County, California, Dalton is using his skills he gained in SLTAcademy to build a career. As his popularity grows, Dalton has begun to branch out into longer-form content, improv, acting, and even stand-up comedy. He’s worked with large brands such as Target, Taco Bell, GEICO, and you might recognize him from a recent video with Starbucks!

Dalton says, “SLTAcademy gave me a place to be myself and explore new sides of my creativity. I’m so grateful for the incredible staff at the Shreveport Little Theatre who spent years helping me perfect my craft and gave me the confidence to pursue the career I’m chasing today. Thank you SLTA for always encouraging me to follow even the scariest dreams! I never thought this would be possible.”

We are proud to call you an alum, Dalton!❤️🤩

We are so proud of our academy students, Kristoffer Berg and Zoe Thrasher, who are in “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” a Neil Simon comedy for their successful first weekend!🎉👏

Directed by John Daniel, Berg plays Eugene Morris Jerome and Thrasher plays Nora alongside some many talented SLT actors🎭

Audiences are raving about this hilarious and heartwarming production:

“Kristoffer Berg absolutely nails Eugene! His performance will have you laughing and feeling all the emotions!”

“What a wonderful show! Neil Simon’s wit comes to life with this incredible cast—don’t miss it!”

Don’t miss out on their second week of shows! Mature audiences recommended👇
📅 Show Dates:
September 13, 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 PM
September 15, 21, 22 at 2:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets are $25

Tickets are available at shreveportlittletheatre.com⭐️

Photos by David Fox

🎭 Don’t miss Shreveport Little Theatre’s Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon! 🌟 Audiences are raving about this hilarious and heartwarming production:

“Kristoffer Berg absolutely nails Eugene! His performance will have you laughing and feeling all the emotions!”
“What a wonderful show! Neil Simon’s wit comes to life with this incredible cast—don’t miss it!”

Follow Eugene as he dreams of baseball and girls, while coping with his quirky family life in Brooklyn, including his strong-willed mother, overworked father, and worldly brother. Throw in his widowed Aunt Blanche and her two daughters, and you’ve got a recipe for laughter!

📅 Show Dates:

September 13, 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 PM
September 15, 21, 22 at 2:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets are $25. Visit www.shreveportlittletheatre.com or call (318) 424-4439 to reserve your seats today!

Mature audiences recommended. You don’t want to miss this hilarious show! ✨

🎭 Get ready for an unforgettable night at Shreveport Little Theatre with Neil Simon's classic Brighton Beach Memoirs! 🌟

Follow Eugene as he navigates the ups and downs of family life in Brooklyn, dreaming of baseball and girls while dealing with his strong-willed mother, overworked father, and worldly older brother. Throw in his widowed Aunt Blanche and her two growing daughters, and you've got a recipe for hilarity—Simon-style!

📅 Show Dates:

September 13, 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 PM
September 15, 21, 22 at 2:00 PM
🎟️ All tickets are $25. Visit www.shreveportlittletheatre.com or call (318) 424-4439 to get yours today!

Mature audiences recommended. Don't miss this witty, heartfelt production! ✨

Wizard of Oz rehearsals are underway!💚⭐️

We can’t wait until we can put this show on stage in November🎭🤩

Stay on the look out for when tickets drop!👏

Although we love fun headshots, we want our young performers to have professional headshots👇👇👇

We have a unique opportunity being offered to SLTA members: Jennie McRae from Lento Heirlooms is to taking headshots! Students can get 5 digital headshots for $50!🎉👏

This is a fantastic opportunity to have professional headshots done at the studio for a very affordable price🤩

Headshots will take place September 11 from 5:40-7:00 pm. Please sign up here: https://book.usesession.com/s/sKHiFNkeF 📸

Photos below by David Fox

Last Chance to Register: Acting Classes Start in One Week! - https://mailchi.mp/8e386c77ca2e/last-chance-to-register-acting-classes-start-in-one-week

We want to recognize our amazing staff who are at the core of SLTA this Labor Day!💖

Our staff Laura Beeman Nugent, Nathan Gay, Heather Peak Hooper, Adam Philley, and Kelly Berne all work tirelessly to bring the magic of theatre to life✨

Thank you to our team for your unwavering commitment and hard work in educating the next generation of performers. We couldn’t do it without you!🤩🤗

Our 2024-2025 Season🎉

🎭Wizard of Oz: November 15-17
🎭13 Jr.: March 14-16
🎭Mean Girls: High School Version: May 22-25
🎭Matilda The Musical Jr.: June 6-15

We can't wait to see our young artists shine in these productions! Stay on the lookout for audition & ticket information!🌟

Let us know in the comments which show you are most excited to see👇

✨Alum Spotlight: Morgan Goldsberry✨

Morgan first appeared onstage at SLT in the academy production of “Little Women” -a special story she treasures to this day. In high school, she enjoyed assist stage managing junior productions like “Annie Jr.,” “Honk Jr.,” and ”Elf Jr,” and acted in every Loyola production under the fabulous and life-changing direction of Laura Beeman Nugent.

Morgan earned her BA in Theatre Arts from Furman University in 2021. She says, “Graduating during the pandemic was strange and felt devastating, especially when most of my theatre internship opportunities were cancelled. When I moved back to Shreveport, I reached out to Laura and she urged me to take an ensemble part in “Children of Eden,” which I gladly accepted. SLT was an artistic home for me when I was sure there was nowhere to go.” Later that season, Morgan prop designed/ASMed “White Christmas” and appeared in “The Lonesome West.” She then completed the Disney College Program as a driver for Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Morgan is currently a working in artist based in Greenville, South Carolina. Her credits include “Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” and “Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse.” In the fall, she will begin rehearsals at Centre Stage for Next to Normal where she will be playing Natalie Goodman.

Morgan says, “SLTA opened my world and provided me with opportunities to stretch me far beyond what I thought I was capable of.”

We are proud to call you an alum, Morgan, & we love you❤️

Another incredible season at SLTA⭐️🎉

From powerful performances to unforgettable moments on stage, our young artists have truly shined this year🤩

Thank you to everyone that made this season so special! We can’t wait to see what next season brings🎭✨

Auditions for It's a Wonderful Life: The Musical - https://mailchi.mp/073c342d87d3/auditions-for-its-a-wonderful-life-the-musical

“What makes us special, makes us strong.” - “Shrek: the Musical” 💚👑🌈

to our 2014 joint production of “Shrek: The Musical” with Shreveport Little Theatre!🎭🫏⭐️

Alums in this show: comment below your favorite memory🤩👇

✨Alum Spotlight: Chris White✨

Christopher White is a proud alum of Shreveport Little Theatre Academy and honored to be part of the namesake for the Shelburne-White Award that the Academy gives each year. His performances with SLTA began when he was only thirteen years old in “High School Musical.”Chris went on to perform in every single Academy show until his graduation from Caddo Magnet High School in 2013. That year, he performed two particularly special roles from favorite Sondheim musicals – the title role of “Sweeney Todd:” The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and The Baker from “Into the Woods.”

Chris went to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre from Point Park Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts in Acting from Binghamton University (State University of New York). He is entering his fourth season with Barter Theatre, the oldest professional theatre company in the United States, where he has had the opportunity to perform on their mainstage most recently in “The Shawshank Redemption” and with touring performances of the Barter Players, including “Frosty,” “The Velveteen Rabbit,” and “My Imaginary Pirate.” This fall, Chris appears in the Barter mainstage productions of “The Play That Goes Wrong” and “The Trip to Bountiful.”

Chris says “SLTA gave me an outlet to better understand the inner workings of theatre and to learn about my own self. The Academy helped to instill a great respect for this art form and a work ethic to go with it. I believe growing up with SLTA was a fundamental stepping stone into becoming a professional actor.“

We are proud of the amazing actor that you have become, Chris!❤️🎭

Registration is open for Fall Academy Acting Classes🤩🎉

Our fall acting classes will be led by Wallace Rakoczy. Classes start the week of September 9th and run through the week of December 2nd🎭

The class times are listed below👇
👉Monday 4:30-5:15pm: Acting - K-2nd grades
👉Monday 5:30-6:30pm: Acting - 3rd-5th grades
👉Tuesday 4:30-5:30pm: Acting - 6th-8th grades
👉Wednesday 5:30-6:30pm: Acting the Song - 9th-12th grades
👉Thursday 5:30-6:30pm: Jr. Thespian Competition Group - 6th-8th grades

Space is limited! BUT scholarships are available, please email [email protected] for more information⭐️

Now Enrollinghttps://mailchi.mp/e2479ec91b06/now-enrolling-academy-acting-classes

“Nice is different than good.” -Stephen Sondheim, “Into the Woods”🪵🌲🎭

to our production of “Into the Woods” 11 years ago⭐️🫘👑

Alums in this show, comment below your favorite memory from this production👇👇👇

✨Alum Spotlight: Clare Shelburne✨

Clare Shelburne was part of SLTA’s inaugural cast in 2007 and continued appearing in SLTA productions until she left home. She is the namesake of the Shelburne White Award for Academy Excellence, which is given to a Senior Academy student noted not only for their excellence as a stage performer but also in leadership skills and initiative to go above and beyond what is asked.

Clare holds a Bachelor’s degree in French and a Master’s in Linguistics. She is the Program Manager at the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, where she manages the Louisiana Poet Laureate, The Institute for Louisiana Culture and History, and the Annual Humanities Awards. Clare says, “some of my most fond memories come from my time at SLTA. Laura Beeman Nugent and Adam Philley instilled in me a sense of confidence and responsibility for my collaborators. I lean on my SLTA training daily in my professional life managing humanities-based public programs. My life would be completely different without the experiences and relationships SLTA gave me.”

Clare appeared in “High School Musical,” “High School Musical 2,” “Children of Eden,” Big River,” “Les Miserables,” “Pinkalicious,” “Pippin,” “Hairspray,” “Footlights I,” “Legally Blonde,” “Cinderella,” “Footlights II,” “Sweeney Todd (Concert),” “The Wedding Singer,” and “Into the Woods.”

We are proud to call Clare an alum & we love all that she does for us and the community❤️✨

Did you know that theatre students critically think & problem-solve artistic, academic, & life challenges in both conventional and unconventional ways, according to the Educational Theatre Association?⭐️🎭

This unique training hones their critical thinking skills, creativity, and adaptability, preparing them for a variety of careers beyond the stage. At SLTA, we nurture this development by emphasizing the importance of the learning process over the final performance. We want our students to learn how to collaborate, communicate, and create to achieve their goal🤩✨

“Being true to yourself never goes out of style” - Elle Woods📚👛👩‍⚖️

to our production of Legally Blonde 5 years ago!!! From pink outfits to empowering messages, this show was fabulous🎀

Alums in this show, comment below your favorite memory👇💕