Metropolitan School of the Arts

What does arts education mean to you? There are 10 days left in our campaign. Share your reason for supporting MSA and make a donation today! Help us reach new heights with our students and their craft. LINK in BIO or in our STORIES

At this time of year, the phrase "it take a village" is SO TRUE. Featured here are some of the 2022 Nutcracker backstage volunteers with Nutcracker Artistic Director . They represent the hundreds of volunteers we rely on every year. The shows and our success would not be possible without your generous donation of TIME! Thank you MSA VOLUNTEERS!

Thank you to one of our annual sponsors, Burtons Grill & Bar for donating the delicious eats for THE ALUMNI PROJECT! .grill of Alexandria is a wonderful community partner and we are so grateful for their support. Burtons is a trusted dining destination for gluten-free and allergy friendly meals. Wonderful for the whole family!

Congratulations to everyone involved in THE METROPOLITAN FOLLIES. After 4 months of rehearsal, 7 shows, a Teddy Bear Tea, a FOX5DC appearance, and over 80 cast members and costumes, we are so proud of your dedication to bring holiday cheer and joy to our community! A special congratulations to and , Co-Directors of FOLLIES! And a big thank you to Northwest Financial Advisors for sponsoring this show!

Congratulations to ! Nakya is now a Vegas Viva for the Vegas Golden Knights. Other credits include: Performing artist for O***m at the Cosmopolian of Las Vegas. Most recently Nakya was featured in Usher's Vegas Residency. When she isn't dancing, Nakya is pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Accounting at UNLV. Way to Go Nakya! We are so proud of you!

THE ALUMNI PROJECT - DECEMBER 19, 2022
@ The Black Box Theater at MSA
Join us in celebrating 23 years of dance, music, and theater at Metropolitan School of the Arts! The evening will include songs, spirits, and fundraising. We look forward to welcoming back so many of our students and families for a wonderful reunion. Limited Tickets are now available to the public. Check link below to reserve your tickets for this wonderful event!

https://form.jotform.com/223314281548151

We are offering some amazing prizes for our campaign fundraisers! Performance tickets, summer program access, and private coaching packages. Learn more about becoming a fundraiser for MSA by visiting the link below.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/msanextlevelhttps://www.justgiving.com/campaign/msanextlevel

Spring Production Ensemble and Main Character Audition Registration NOW OPEN!

Visit our website or check our STORIES for the link to register for auditions.

Eligibility:
dance ensemble (age 9+ and dance level 2+)
vocal ensemble/main character (age 9+ enrolled in MSA lesson or class)

Students: if you want to be considered for a main character, you need to attend BOTH days of the audition.

January 7 and 8! We can’t wait to get started!!!!!

Cole’s Closet began when Steve and Ellen Tomczyk were looking for a way to get through the day on the first anniversary of their son’s death. They thought if they had a get together and asked people to bring a new toy to take to the hospital that might somehow make the day not so awful. Some 400 toys later, they knew they had started something special. Cole’s Closet has continued to donate toys and other items to hospitals to ensure a more comfortable hospital stay for all children.

MSA is honored to support Cole’s Closet. If you are able, please bring a new, unwrapped toy to the MSA lobby by Saturday, December 17th to help this amazing organization reach as many children as possible.

We are offering some amazing prizes for our campaign fundraisers! Performance tickets, summer program access, and private coaching packages. Learn more about becoming a fundraiser for MSA by clicking the LINK below

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/msanextlevel

A reminder this is the last week of classes before winter break! The ACADEMY and STUDIO youth dance/theater classes and private music lessons will NOT be held Mon. Dec. 19 -Sun. Jan. 1 for WINTER BREAK. Please check out Mindbody for a slightly modified adult class schedule - many classes will be held so check out the schedule to keep your bodies moving!

Our campaign this month will help us take our students, teachers, and curriculum to the next level for generations to come. Join our campaign today by making a donation or becoming a fundraiser! Learn more:

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/msanextlevel

HAPPY OPENING to The Metropolitan Follies Cast.
Shows today in Kingstowne (outside Panera) and 6pm and Sunday on the National Harbor Stage .
FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES brought to you in part by Northwest Financial Advisors.

Give the gift of MSA this holiday season. Offering classes in dance, theater, music, and fitness to ages 3-80+, surprise a loved one with an experience that will have a great impact on their life. Give the gift that keeps on giving! A performing arts gift will help the recipient get active, make new friends, feel more confident, have fun, and learn a skill they'll enjoy for a lifetime. Click on the link below to purchase an MSA gift card.

https://metropolitanarts.org/gift-card/

Our campaign this month will help us take our students, teachers, and curriculum to the next level for generations to come. Join our campaign today by making a donation or becoming a fundraiser! Link to DONATE below!

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/msanextlevel

Congratulations to everyone involved in THE NUTCRACKER. You have brought magic and joy to our community. We are so proud and fortunate to have this incredible team and loved every minute of this beautiful weekend! A special thank you to for leading the way as The Nutcracker Artistic Director. And thank you to our patrons! Your support for the arts is outstanding and so appreciated.

MSA is teaming up with Cole's Closet this holiday season. Each year Cole’s Closet donates numerous items to hospitals that will ensure a more comfortable hospital stay for all children. In addition, they donate thousands of new toys, books, gift cards and care packages to seriously ill children and their families. In support of their mission, we will be collecting unwrapped new toys in our lobby today, Dec 5th - Saturday, Dec 17th to share with Cole's Closet. We look forward to supporting their generous efforts!

M***e to the Cast and Crew of THE NUTCRACKER! We are so proud of your hard work and look forward to seeing your artistry and joy LIVE on stage this weekend! It's not too late to purchase tickets! Show times 12pm and 5pm today, 12pm and 5pm tomorrow.

A friendly reminder that the yellow curb outside of MSA is not an appropriate place to wait or park while waiting for your children. It is extremely difficult to back out of the parking spots when there is a row of cars on the curb. Thank you for doing your part to keep our children, our cars and the MSA community safe!

During the month of Dec we are launching our Campaign with the aim of raising $30k so we can continue bringing our renowned arts education to students for generations. Join us today! Learn more: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/msanextlevel

Body Dynamics December schedule is set. BDI is a health and wellness center that integrates physical therapy, massage, fitness, nutrition, counseling and other wellness programs to create a dynamic treatment plan designed around you, made specifically for you. To book an appointment, call BDI directly (703-527-9557) and mention MSA onsite appointments. THANK YOU

Thank you to our community! On Giving Tuesday we raised $4,595!!! With your support, MSA kicked off the holiday giving season with great momentum! We are so grateful to our donors and to those that continue to share the impact that MSA has on our community. The

Today is GIVING TUESDAY! If you are considering donating to a non-profit on this day of giving, we hope you will consider supporting MSA. Starting today and continuing into the month of Dec., we are launching our Campaign with the aim of raising $30k so we can continue bringing our renowned arts education to students for generations. Join us today! No amount is too small. If you are able to give, please click on the link below

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/msanextlevel

LAST DAY TO ENJOY OUR BLACK FRIDAY SALE!!!

MSA Adult Fitness and Dance Black Friday Sale! Take 15% off of a 10 or 20 Fitness Pass or a 10 class Drop-In Adult Dance Pass! Purchase your pass on the mind-body website instead of the app. Use the code: MSAFitnessandDance This code will be good now through Sunday, November 27, 2022. If you have any problems, email Melanie at [email protected] and she'll be happy to assist you!

LAST CHANCE TO PURCHASE YOUR DISCOUNTED TICKETS! This weekend is the last time you can purchase Nutcracker tickets at the early bird pricing. Don't wait to reserve your seats. Tickets this weekend are $28 senior/student and $30 adult! We can't wait to kick off the holidays with this magical tradition! Purchase tickets below

https://ci.ovationtix.com/35491/production/1140336

Enter our Annual Nutcracker Decorated Pointe Shoe Raffle and you could win one of the beautifully decorated shoes! Each shoe has been designed and decorated by our very own Nutcracker cast of 2022 This wonderful annual tradition will help support the ballet performances at MSA while giving you a chance to have your own autographed pointe shoe!!

https://metropolitanarts.rallyup.com/nutcracker-2022/Campaign/Details

🍁🍂 HAPPY THANKSGIVING 🍂🍁

Patrons, we would love you to enjoy the NEW Nutcracker Holiday Market at our MSA Nutcracker Performances this year! Enjoy early holiday shopping as you browse the vendors tables for beautiful gifts for this holiday season! Handbags, earrings, crocheted friends and much more. The Holiday Market will be open 30 minutes prior to each performance! We look forward to seeing you there!!

Check out James Woods! James is currently serving as the Tour Music Director and playing the role of Schroeder on the Charlie Brown Christmas National Tour. In the spring, he worked on various productioins at the Kennedy Center, including playing in the pit for the world premiere of the musical, Show Way. He has worked as an accompanist in New York for companies such as Statement Arts, and served as the music director for the most recent production of the new musical, Distant Thunder. James earned his degree in music composition for The Catholic University of America in December 2021. We are so proud of you James!

If you’ve ever seen The Nutcracker, you’re aware of the ornate and larger-than-life costumes that appear throughout the show. MSA's production includes more than 275 costumes appearing on stage designed and managed by Ms. Jean! Mother Ginger's little children emerge from a skirt made from wood and many layers of fabric. The Sugar Plum Fairy performs her solos in a beautiful tutu covered with crystals. We hope you can join us - grab your tickets before they sell out!

TICKETS HERE
https://ci.ovationtix.com/35491/production/1140336

Check out Alumni Bridget Keenan, a graduate of the Alvin Ailey/ Fordham University BFA Dance Program. Bridet will be performing in Broadway's Christmas Wonderland at The Orb Theatre in Tokyo, Japan! Other Credits include: New York Fashion Week, Kings Dominion, The Chanukah Spectacular, Resident Director and Dance Captain for Anthems of Rock and Le Grand Cirque: Zero Gravity at The Broadway Theater Myrtle Beach. Bridget is currently the Artistic Director for Santa’s Christmas Wonderland at the Eldorado Showroom Theatre in Reno, Nevada. We are so proud of you, Bridget!

We are so excited to announce The Metropolitan Follies, presented to you in part by Northwest Financial Advisors, performing dates! We are thrilled to be spreading joy this holiday season and hope you can join us for the public events!

To all those who have served, and those who continue to serve… Thank you. A reminder: MSA is OPEN for all day-time and after-school activities on Veterans Day.

We will be hosting a Pop Up Workshop on Saturday, Nov. 19th for Jazz dancers Levels 5-10. This is open to students outside of MSA as well (ages 13+ and intermediate jazz dancers). Jackie is a NOVA native and is currently an NFL dancer on the Command Force for the Washington Commanders. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond where she was a part of the Gold Rush Dance Team for four years and held the captain role during her senior year. Fun Fact: Jackie is also an MSA alum! She joined the studio when it first opened in Alexandria and trained at the studio for 8 years. Her favorite memories include performing in the Nutcracker and being able to play the role of the Lion in the Wizard of Oz! Don't miss out on this fun workshop! Register on our website under the calendar events.

This year we are showing our support for Ukraine by featuring our brand new Ukrainian folk dance suite from the Volyn region of Ukraine. We will bringing you choreography by Colleen Prince!

Congratulations to the cast and crew of the Academy One Act, The Candidate. There were two performances on Sunday, November 6 at MSA, and a talkback with the director and cast. Great work all!

Congratulationis to Veronica Quezada who recently was cast in the upcoming International Tour of West Side Story as Margarita and Anita u/s. The tour will open in Germany in December before traveling through cities in Europe and Asia for the next year and a half. A graduate of Point Park University, Veronica’s regional credits include On Your Feet! (Phoenix Theatre Company), Bandstand (Phoenix Theatre Company), and In The Heights (Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center). We cannot wait to see the beautiful place Veronica will perform. .pqr, we are SO PROUD OF YOU!

Come join us as MetroImprov kicks off their 9th season! All ages will laugh along as the troupe creates a one-of-a-kind world premiere based on audience suggestions. Don’t miss the chance to see their one-night-only show! MetroImprov, MSA's resident pre-professional improv troupe will have their winter showcase on December 9th at 8:00pm in the MSA Black Box Theater. This is a free event! Come join the fun.

We are SO EXCITED to get started on our end of the year production A NIGHT AT THE MET, another original script and concept! The PLOT: The museum is facing terrible news that it must close. What happens when a young art-loving girl travels to New York and discovers this news? Little does she know the art comes to life at night and with her help she embarks on an epic plan to save them all. This show will focus on the value of teamwork and the importance of preserving and appreciating art and our history. CHECK YOUR EMAILS for more details about the show. SAVE THE DATES June 15-18!