East End Performing Arts opened its doors in September of 2011, and in that time, we have grown along with our students. What began as one 90 minute class each week and a handful of private music students has begun to develop into a training program that now encompasses classes in musical theater, improvisation, and acting for grades two through twelve. The private studio is filled with hard-working individuals, each pursuing their own unique goals under the guidance of owner and instructor Jamie Fair.
EEPA group classes are held at Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church in the Regent Square neighborhood of Pittsburgh, with private lessons taking place at a Ms. Fair’s residence in Wilkins Township. It is the goal of EEPA to bring an appreciation and understanding of music and theatre to the children and adults of the surrounding neighborhoods. By interacting with like-minded classmates, it is our hope that students, regardless of age, realize that participation in the arts can:
- Bring together people of all backgrounds
- Foster confidence in the abilities and ideas of the individual
- Encourage the individual to take artistic risks and stretch themselves
- Show the value of team work
- Inspire emotional, intellectual, and artistic growth
The instruction provided through EEPA provides a safe environment in which students learn to “trust their instincts” and stretch themselves creatively.
The Story of the East End Performing Arts
“I was teaching the lone acting class at a dance studio, and felt that the student population that came just for acting was being under-served. Around the same time, I was at a social event, and colleague began telling me about her side business as a salsa instructor, and that she rented space at a converted school in Regent Square. I visited the Wilkins School Community Center on her recommendation, and suddenly, starting my own businesses seemed like it was within my reach. I had a need that needed to be filled, and a place to call home.”
“EEPA came into existence almost by accident.”
“I hope to see EEPA continue to grow to meet the needs and interests of its student population, and to begin to build bridges with the community at large. Recently, EEPA was contracted to hold several acting workshops for Brothers of the Scottish Rite at the Pittsburgh Masonic Center. A new eight week workshop for high school students began this fall, in part to help local students learn how to prepare for auditions for high school and community theater productions. I don’t know where the next growth spurt will take us, but I am enjoying the ride.”
The Story of EEPA is an excerpt from an interview with the I Am An Arts Lover magazine. You can read the full interview here.
LINK: https://issuu.com/sophiasunshineahn/docs/iamanartslover_magazine2015