Registration now open for the 2022/2023 Hoogland Education Season!
July 2, 2022
Register now for the 2022–2023 school year!
Hoogland Education is thrilled to announce registration is now open for the 2022/2023 school year! We have an exciting season planned with great shows and an amazing team of teachers leading the way! The Hoogland Juniors, Kids and Teens program provides a wonderful opportunity for students in 1st through 12th grades to learn about the performing arts in a fun and creative environment.
Students enrolled in the Hoogland Juniors, Kids and Teens receive an outstanding theater education from professional instructors that excel in their fields of study. There will be several performance opportunities for students over the course of the school year. Find more details below about our program, instructors, this season’s shows, and our weekday classes!
This season Hoogland Education will have awesome opportunities for students to perform on stage in Disney's High School Musical on February 3-5 (Directed by Craig Williams II, Music Direction by Molly Norris, and Choreography by Anna Bussing Maisenbacher) & Willy Wonka Jr. on March 10-12 (Directed by Zoey Zara). The students will also perform in an end-of-year concert in May.Meet the Hoogland Education Directors
Molly Norris- Program Director
Molly is a Vocal Music teacher currently based in Springfield, IL. She has degrees in Vocal Performance BM, Music Education BME, and a minor in Musical Theater. Currently, Molly owns a private voice studio with a blend of online and in-person students. Previously, she was a classroom music teacher for 5 years with grades ranging from K-12. Molly has been the show choir director, musical director, vocal coach, madrigal director, and cheerleading coach for her previous school districts. She also served as the children’s choir director and the bell choir director for her church.
Her passion for the arts is driven both by educating students and performing herself. She has worked for multiple companies, being hired as a classical soprano. She has also performed as the soprano soloist for oratorio works such as “Handel's Messiah”. During her education, Molly had the opportunity to travel abroad to perform in operas in both China and Italy. Most recently, she joined the cast of “Spongebob” to perform on the Muni stage.
Craig Williams II - Artistic Director
Craig fell in love with the arts at an early age and has shared his passion with the Springfield community for more than 20 years. As a director, he led the Springfield High School theater department through 8 years of growth in student involvement, program enrichment, and production quality, culminating in the receipt of the Kevin Lehman award for outstanding leadership service in extra-curricula. Craig has directed, acted, and designed for more than 75 productions through the Springfield Theatre Centre (STC), Springfield High School (SHS), The Muni, and the Hoogland Center for the Arts. He has also served as a member of several nonprofit boards including STC, Springfield Area Arts Council, Springfield Urban League, Copper Coin Ballet, and most recently as President of The Muni Board of Managers. In his full-time career, Craig works for the State of Illinois SAP team as finance functional expert, and enjoys traveling with his husband, Ryan. Favorite Theater credits, include: Springfield High School’s All Shook Up, The Wiz, Cats, Hairspray, and Ragtime; Snow White, 9 to 5, and Chicago at STC; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Wiz, The Last Five Years, and Songs for a New World at Hoogland Center for the Arts; and Disney’s High School Musical, Hairspray, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Dreamgirls, Disney & Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, EVITA, and The SpongeBob Musical for Muni.
Hoogland Juniors
Program Coordinator - Chrissy Mauck
Grades 1-3
The Hoogland Juniors program is for students in first through third grades interested in learning about the performing arts. Classes will be held every other week on Saturday mornings. Juniors will have the opportunity to appear in one of the Hoogland Education mainstage productions and in the end-of-year concert. The Hoogland Juniors will receive a top-notch performing arts education from educators from the local theatre community.
Hoogland Kids
Program Coordinator - Zoey Zara
Grades 4-7
The Hoogland Kids program provides a fun, energetic environment where your children are able to learn to sing and dance with confidence! Hoogland Kids will meet every Saturday in the early afternoon. They will have the opportunity to perform in at least one of the Hoogland Education mainstage productions and in the end-of-year concert. Students are also required to take at least one weekday class during the school year, focusing on specific skills to bring their performances to the next level. The Hoogland Kids will receive a top-notch performing arts education from educators from the local theatre community.
Hoogland Teens
Program Coordinator - Molly Norris
Grades 8-12
The Hoogland Teens is one of the most exciting performing arts programs available to high school students in the region! Students who enroll in the program will have the chance to be in high quality productions on the Hoogland stage, and even perform with Broadway legends at the Hoogland's annual gala! The Hoogland Teens will meet every week on Saturday afternoons, and work with professional performing arts educators to grow as performers. Students enrolled in the program are also required to take at least one weekday class during the school year, focusing on specific skills to bring their performances to the next level. Our goal for the Teens program is to create leaders in the community, and give them the skills to be successful in their future, both on and off stage.
