Acting Academy for Kids

Parents & Kids Rave that AA4K is the Best in the OC!

by Val Vanderpool

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world into lockdown last spring, Acting Academy for Kids (AA4K) immediately focused on how to safely operate its long-running theater and performing arts programs for kids and teens.

By July of 2020, AA4K co-founders Stephen and Maggie Zygo developed a way to host small, in-person summer camps, enabling students to continue acting, singing and dancing — while following CDC guidelines. During a time when the pandemic had all but decimated in-person events and most other youth activities, AA4K’s summer camps provided kids and teens with an opportunity to make new friends, create fun memories and build confidence — all in a safe environment.

“This year, we will continue to operate, rain or shine, following every required CDC and state protocol. We’ve always been leaders in youth safety, so we can confidently say that kids will be safe, and they will walk away from our camps with an awesome experience,” said Zygo, who founded AA4K with his wife Maggie in 2008. Stephen holds dual degrees in elementary education and musical theater, and both Stephen and Maggie hold Master’s Degrees in education.

The Academy’s flagship location in Mission Viejo features a state-of-the-art theater complete with LED lighting wall, professional sound, and plenty of space for students to safely perform and interact. AA4K’s virtual class component allows even more kids to participate in its performing arts program.

Like so many adapting to the new normal of online life in 2020, Zygo said it took days of research and experimentation to create a virtual solution, drawing on the expertise and experience of his team, the broader theater community, and his brother — an 8-time Tony Award winner. “In the process, we became a leader in virtual theater production,” he said. “Other groups were able to glean information and inspiration from us. We all were just trying to figure out how to make it work, and fortunately, our team created an experience that was phenomenal for so many kids!”

AA4K’s virtual summer camp option also made it more feasible for kids to sign up for multiple sessions, and it allowed those from outside Orange County to attend last year. “We had kids signing up from all over the country. We even had one kid from China, who got up at 4 a.m. to attend,” Zygo said. “The virtual crew became friends on TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms. They created all kinds of fun stuff together — and they all met at our camps.”

In the theater, Zygo and the AA4K staff had to determine how to facilitate in-person productions, where students could interact safely and have fun. The team designed a unique approach which allowed them to perform while social distancing. Students also received daily temperature checks and were required to wear masks. “Over the 9-week period last summer, we did not have a single COVID case,” Zygo said. “Our students and parents can trust us; we are following every CDC COVID guideline.”

From June 7 to August 13, AA4K will offer weeklong, in-person summer camps in Irvine/Tustin and Mission Viejo. To accommodate families who prefer to have their children participate from home, a virtual component will also be offered. This year’s performances will include Evil Descendants 2, Aladdin’s Magic Lamp, Matilda, Harry Potter, and several others. Until the guidelines change to be able to gather in front of a live audience again, AA4K’s final camp performances will be live-streamed and professionally filmed and edited, every Friday, for families to watch and share.

AA4K offers a $25 sibling discount, and a multiple camp discount when registering for more than one camp at a time. Register today, as space is limited!

ACTING ACADEMY FOR KIDS | AGES 5-17 | ActingAcademyForKids.com | 949.427.0072