About Us
Here you’ll find our mission and vision, meet the team who makes it all possible, and get answers to some of the most common questions we receive.
Our Mission
Our mission is to create a supportive learning environment in which all students pre-K through 12th grade can feel the freedom to create, learn, and interact through performing arts.
Our vision
interACT Performance Academy was founded upon the need for a supportive environment for students to express themselves creatively, free of judgment. In today’s society, even art forms can become competitive at such a young age. Oftentimes, children are told they are “too old” to start a new interest, but we feel the exact opposite. The vision of this academy is to allow all students to express themselves and grow as people, as well as artists, even if they have no prior theatre experience.
As parents and educators, we feel students should be free to explore their character, take risks, and build self-esteem through structured, positive peer relationships. This tends to be overlooked in the public education classroom with the push for standards and testing mandates even though many educators would agree with this need. interACT gives the space for just such experiences.
The interACT Team
Where creativity sparkles, confidence blossoms, and every student shines—no prior experience needed.
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Jami Weckstein
Artistic Director, Owner
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BFA University of Southern Indiana
MA of Education, Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus
Adv MA of Administration for Education, Bank Street College of EducationJami, with 20+ years of theater and teaching experience, has written, directed, and produced programs for students ranging from ages 5-19.
As the founding director of the Greenville Theatre Club in Southern Indiana, she began her love of theatre through her studies at USI in Evansville, with a focus in stage management and directing. While in college she worked with the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, assisted in New York City (NYC) equity auditions, and worked as assistant to the artistic director for the New Harmony Theater in Southern Indiana. Upon graduation, she moved to NYC where she worked with the Tribeca Film Festival, Tribeca Theater Festival, Wife Swap (reality TV), Cedar Lake Dance Company, Vital Theatre Company, and various improv shows across the city.
Jami’s passion has always been in teaching so in 2006, she was recruited by the NYC Teaching Fellows to study education at Long Island University, Brooklyn. She received her Master’s of Education while teaching inner city public schools in Language Arts, Special Education, and Theatre. She had the opportunity to attend professional development across the city, including theatre sessions in performing arts high schools. She founded the Urban Assembly School for Law & Justice Theatre Club, as well as writing the theatre curriculum for this NYC high school. When moving back to Indiana, to be closer to family, she taught at Salem High School before joining the New Albany-Floyd Co School family. She has had the opportunity to teach grades K-12 through various experiences over the years, and holds a valid Indiana teaching license in Language Arts, Special Education, and Theater. Directing credits include Life’s What you Make It! (NYC), With Their Eyes (NYC), Cinderella and the Grand Ball (IN), The Mermaids’ Tale (IN), We are Monsters (IN), Journeys in Oz (IN), Only the Theatre for Me (Floyd Central main stage pre-show), Peter Pan’s Treasure (IN), The Greatest Snowman (IN), The Most Epic Birthday Party Ever (IN), and Leap Day (IN). She assisted in the direction of Newsies Jr at Highland Hills Middle School and looks forward to assisting with Shrek Jr as well!
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Carol Willman
Musical Theatre Director
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Bachelor of Music Education (BME) – OU
Master of Music Education (MME) – OU
Kodaly Certificate (Level 1) – OU
Orff Certificate (Level 1) – Texas A&M (Commerce)
Lifetime Texas Teacher Certificates
Elementary (grades 1-6)
All Level Music (grades K-12)
State of Indiana Accomplished Practitioner Licenses
Elementary/Primary Generalist
Elementary/Intermediate Generalist
Vocal and General Music (grades K-12)Carol has over 30 years of teaching experience. She has been the music specialist at Greenville Elementary since 2011 and recently retired from that position.
At Greenville, she wrote scripts and compiled and taught the music for the annual Kindergarten Christmas program. She also helped prepare and rehearse each year’s Veteran’s Day and Indiana History programs at Greenville.
Prior to her time at Greenville, Carol and her family lived in Texas. She taught preschool creative movement and music classes in Houston. She also taught private piano and taught 3rd grade, as well as elementary music in the Plano Independent School District.
Carol has a passion for teaching music to children, and she finds great joy instilling a love for music in her students that she hopes will last a lifetime.
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Heather Faith
Musical Theatre Instructor
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Heather is excited to join the InterAct staff. She is currently a licensed elementary teacher for NAFC School System. She has worked with elementary aged children in a theater setting for many years.
She helped her mother with her K-6 productions at SEJ when she was in high school. For the past ten years she has directed 8 shows (Boo Covid!) with 2nd to 4th graders at Grant Line Elementary in New Albany, Indiana. She has also worked with the RDA Musical Theater program and the Scribner Theater department in various capacities. Her school productions use musical selections from NAFCS’s corporation adopted music program and are original versions of classic fairy tales or other well known stories which she puts her own spin on. She can’t wait to bring her experience and expertise to InterACT!
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Vivian Bulleit
Musical Theatre Instructor
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Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre (BA) – Loyola University - New Orleans
Floyd Central High School Alumni (Floyd Central Theatre Arts)Vivian is a recent college graduate from Loyola University New Orleans with 12+ years of theatre experience.
Vivian took many directing, theatre management, design, playwriting, dance, and acting classes to become a well-rounded theatremaker! Working alongside industry professionals to learn what is currently going on in the industry. Vivian has been nominated for Best Director from Broadway World for her production of Rabbit Hole (2018). She has also won Best Musical for her performance in 42nd Street (2016) & Newsies (2018) and the New Orleans Gay Appreciation Critics’ Choice Best Musical Award for Head Over Heels (2022). Vivian currently works at Derby Dinner Playhouse after being the Summer Camp Admin Assistant in 2022, and participated in the Actors Theatre of Louisville Teen Council. In her free time, Vivian works at her family’s ceramic shop making all sorts of delicate ceramics. Growing up locally, she has always had a love and passion for the performing arts. Vivian is thrilled to start working at InterAct Performance Academy and can’t wait to see where this new adventure will take her!
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Julie Gross
Technical Design Instructor Emphasis in Drawing & Painting
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Art Specialist at Greenville Elementary School from August , 2011 - March, 2021
Offered Art classes for children from 2011 – 2018
Currently employed at Georgetown Elementary School in Special EducationAs an Art Specialist at Greenville Elementary School, Julie always had a great passion for helping children explore their creative potential.
She feels it’s very important to encourage her students to pour their own unique ideas into their artwork. She also feels that Art , ALL the Arts, such as music and theater, etc., are critical in a child’s development. The Arts help with developing communication skills, problem solving skills, social and emotional development, fine motor skills, and helps with self expression. The Arts can play a huge role in a child developing a healthy self esteem.
Julie’s favorite Art mediums are drawing and painting, where she likes to put a focus on teaching how to draw lines, create highlights, and do shading to capture a realistic 3D effect.
In 2011, Julie began teaching art at Greenville Elementary School, which she describes as some of the most amazing and joyous years of her life. Shortly after, she began offering art classes at Motion Studio in New Albany. From about 2012 – 2018, she offered painting and drawing classes in her home during summer breaks, which grew to be quite popular.
Julie really enjoyed volunteering her time and talent with fundraising events. She did annual painting classes for the school’s PTO to help raise money for the school. She also loved doing face painting booths for the annual spring fundraiser, where she would train some of her former students to help assist with the face painting. She also worked with one of Greenville’s teachers, Tammy Kruer, in raising money for American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life by offering monthly painting classes at their school. Julie feels strongly about giving to the community around her and feels it is incredibly rewarding to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
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Lexie Stites
Musical Theatre Dance Instructor Intermediate and Advanced Dance Focus
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Pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at Southeast Missouri State, Dobbins Conservatory
Pursuing a BA in Dance at Southeast Missouri State, Dobbins Conservatory
Floyd Central High School Alumni (Floyd Central Theatre Arts)Lexie is a 2021 graduate of Floyd Central High School where she performed in Newsies, Legally
Blonde, Guys and Dolls and other FCHS shows.Lexie also served as dance captain, assistant choreographer and performed at the International Thespian Festival with the Floyd Central
theater troupe. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre and a BA in dance. She
has recently completed her 2nd year at Dobbin’s Conservatory where she has had the privilege
of performing in Cinderella, SpongeBob, Fall for Dance, Spring into Dance and Art in Motion as well as serving as the Assistant Choreographer for Carrie the Musical. Along with all these incredible performance opportunities, she enjoys taking a variety of classes focusing on dance styles (musical theatre, ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, hip-hop, Fosse), acting styles, and vocal performance.Lexie has worked as a private dance instructor since she was 14 and loves working with kids of all ages. She has also worked for Stage One as a camp choreographer and as a choreographer for Stage One’s Kids4Kids Summer shows where she is currently choreographing Spamalot. She also had the privilege of choreographing 3 shows at Scribner Middle School. Her love for working with kids and helping them pursue their love for their arts and find their passion is what she hopes to bring to the InterACT Studio.
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Joshua Presley Adcock
Theatre Instructor Stage Combat
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Joshua Presley Adcock (he/him) is very excited to be joining the InterACT Team! Josh originally comes from New Orleans, LA and has now been living in Indiana for the past 2 years.
Josh graduated from Chalmette High School in 2018 where he spent his time crafting his skills in the performing arts, such as theatre, show choir, and as a percussionist in marching band. Josh also spent some time at Holy Cross Community College pursuing a degree in Christian Theology. Josh has always had a life-long love of theatre and creating art. He hopes to continue to develop community engagement and empathy through the performing arts. Josh looks forward to teaching stage combat workshops at Interact Performance Academy this spring!
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Grace Platt
Musical Theatre Instructor
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Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance (Anticipated BA May ‘26) – Univ of Kentucky
Floyd Central High School Alumni (Floyd Central Theatre Arts)Grace Platt, soprano, is a native of Floyds Knobs, Indiana. Grace is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Kentucky and studies with Dr. Angelique Clay.
With University of Kentucky Opera Theatre, she has performed Puccini’s La bohème (chorus), It’s a Grand Night for Singing 30th Year Anniversary (Featured Soloist), Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (First Lady), The Stars of Tomorrow Opera Gala (Featured Soloist), Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah (Mrs. Gleaton & Susannah Cover), and Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Donna Anna). She has previously appeared with The University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and The University of Kentucky Choirs in Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Soprano Soloist) and in The Mozart Requiem (Soprano Soloist). Platt revived her role as Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at The Estates Theatre in Prague, Czechia for the 2024 Prague Summer Nights: Young Artists Music Festival. Her competition credits and awards include The 2021 Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition First Place Undergraduate Award winner, The 2022 National Association of Teachers of Singing: Second Year Treble First Place winner, Honorable Mention in the Finals for The 41st Meistersinger Competition, and District Winner in The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition."
IS MY CHILD TOO YOUNG TO START THEATRE CLASSES?
In this short video, Interact Performance Academy’s founder and head instructor, Jami Weckstein, explains to parents how the performing arts can help develop skills and confidence in your child at any age.
Can you tell me more about summer camps 2024 and fall 2024?
In this short video, Interact Performance Academy’s founder and head instructor, Jami Weckstein, explains to parents about the upcoming summer 2024 camps as well as new changes to our fall 2024 class line up! Registration will start April 1st.
WHAT CLASS IS BEST FOR MY CHILD?
In this short video, we offer advice for parents to help navigate which of our various classes offered is the right one for their child. If you still have questions after this video, we would love to help you decide! Email us at info@interactacademy.com
FAQ
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No! The mission and vision of interACT Performance Academy is for all students to grow and learn through a theatre arts lens. Please just bring your creativity, an open mind, and a willingness to try your best. Those are the only pre- requirements for participation in most classes.
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We are located right off Highway 150 at the intersection of Edwardsville-Galena Road and High Street. Our address starting is 7015 High Street, Floyds Knobs, IN.
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Classes will take place at 7015 High Street. We have a black box theatre space, multi-purpose room, as well as vocal studios. There is a main lobby for parents to wait for their child during class if you wish. Our building is ADA accessible, including the restroom.
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Class prices vary dependent on the length of class. Please see our CLASSES page for more information for each class fee. Full class tuition is required at the time of registration. If you need a payment schedule, please contact us in advance. A non-refundable yearly registration fee of $25 per student is due upon enrollment (included in each class fee). This fee covers each academic year - August thru July. Please reach out if you are registering more than one child for a discount code.
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There will be two semester long sessions throughout the year (Aug-Dec and Jan-May). Each session will have a different focus to continue your learning for every age/class level, but if you are not able to join us for each one - don’t worry! Limited experience is needed for most classed. Please note that if a class does not have at least 6 students signed up, the class will be canceled. View Schedule
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The owner, Jami Weckstein, will be providing theatre instruction and overseeing all curriculum. She is a licensed teacher with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Southern Indiana (Go Eagles!) She has a Master’s of Education from Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, as well as an Advanced Master’s for Education Administration from Bank Street College of Education in NYC.
Carol Willman, our musical theatre director, will be leading our early elementary classes, group vocal classes, and assisting in some of our most advanced classes. She has over 30 years of teaching experience, including a Master’s of Music Education from the University of Oklahoma.
Heather Faith, our musical theatre instructor for elementary aged students, is a licensed NAFCS teacher. She has over 10 years experience in musical theatre directing.
Vivian Bulleit, our musical theatre instructor and vocal coach, is a recent college graduate from Loyola University New Orleans, has 12+ years of theatre experience. She has won various theatre awards including during her time at Floyd Central Theatre Arts!
Julie Gross, our technical design instructor, focuses on art techniques. Julie’s favorite art mediums are drawing and painting, where she likes to put a focus on teaching how to draw lines, create highlights, and do shading to capture a realistic 3D effect.
See ABOUT US for more information on all our instructors.
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Loose and comfortable clothing that allows for free movement is recommended. Movement is a key component in every class, including on the floor so please keep this in mind when selecting clothing - you might even get a bit dirty! Shorts under dresses/skirts are required, as well as shoes having some form of straps (no flip flops, boots, or slip on shoes). Please help us protect our dance floors! You may bring ballet or jazz shoes, but it is not required unless you are enrolled in our musical theatre dance classes. Longer hair should be pulled back from the face in some way.
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A water bottle should be brought to every class. We recommend having a bag or folder with a pencil included (for grades 1st and up) in order to keep class assigned papers such as scenes, monologues and music that we will work on from week to week. These materials should be brought to EVERY class. We cannot be responsible for the security of any personal property. Please leave valuables at home. We do have a lost in found in our lobby if something is left behind.
NOTE: We have a water bottle refill station, but no water fountain. -
Students are encouraged to bring their own refillable water bottle to every class. Hydration is key for the body and voice. No other food items should be brought into the rehearsal space. There is a water bottle refill station in our lobby for your convenience.
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Students may receive a forehead temperature check before entering each class. Masks are recommended when Floyd County is at HIGH RISK as per the CDC guidelines. During HIGH RISK (RED) status, masks will be required for all students and faculty when distancing cannot be achieved. Our facility is cleaned on a regular basis using CDC recommended cleaning products. While CDC recommendations are being followed to the best of our ability, there can be no 100% guarantee without the help of parent involvement. If you, or a close member of your family is feeling ill, please opt to stay home to enhance our classroom safety measures. This goes for any illness, not just COVID-19.
If any federal, state, or local government mandates the closure of our in person classes, then all classes will convene on a virtual platform. This includes teacher illness or inclement weather unless otherwise notified.
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The $25 annual fee is only due for each family, not each student. Please reach out to receive a discount code for siblings as this fee is included in each class tuition. This fee is collected each academic year and valid August through July each year.
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No. Since we will not be creating a full staged production, no costumes are necessary. If you participate in a performance camp, costumes will be provided unless otherwise notified. A $50 fee will be collected for all students who audition and are accepted into our Winter Musical.
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Our semester long sessions will not culminate in a rehearsed, staged production. Parents/guardians are invited to a SHARE WEEK which will be presented at the LAST CLASS of each semester to show parents what has been learned by the group. This share day demonstrates the process of learning, not a polished production. Sharing may include short scenes, singing selections, group dance scenes, and/or monologue demonstrations. Share dates are listed on our schedule page and will take place at Interact Performance Academy during the last week of classes unless otherwise noted. Limit ONE CAR per family for share day.
If you participate in one of our performance camps or winter musical, there will be specific information about the final show. For example, our 2023 winter musical theatre performance of Leap Day culminated in a fully performed and costumed musical onstage at Wesley Chapel.
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Parents are welcome to wait for their child in our main lobby, but we have found students are more willing to participate, focus, and take risks without any watchful eyes. Students need to feel freedom of expression without an audience to build their character as a key component of the rehearsal and learning process. Please see SHARE DAY information above. Follow us on social media to see pictures of the work being completed in class.
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Yes. Although we recommend parents to stay nearby for our Little and Big Connections classes at least for the first week. However, children should not be left unattended in the main lobby at any time. Parents may leave once students have entered the classroom at their set class time. Classroom doors will open 5 minutes before class time begins. We ask that you wait in your car until 5 minutes before your class start time to minimize lobby congestion.
Since classes are scheduled back to back, we are unable to supervise students once class is dismissed so it is the parent’s responsibility to return with enough time before class ends to greet their child. No students will be allowed to leave the building without an adult (unless grade 3 or older) so pick up must be in the main lobby. If for some reason, you are running late, please call/text 812-250-8773 to notify the teacher. More than one occurrence of this could lead to termination of participation in the session without a refund.
Please note the front door will remain locked for safety if another adult or staff member is not present in the lobby. If you are running late, please call/text for entrance.
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As our enrollment grows, we want to give all new students a fair chance in being included in our most advanced classes. In addition, auditions are a large part of the theatre so the more your child has a chance to audition, the more confident they will be going into school and community theatre to nail that next audition. Audition feedback will be given upon request at a later scheduled time.
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Unfortunately, we may not be able to accomodate each child in the class in which they wish to participate. Based upon age, ability and auditions, children will be recommended for classes. This does not mean the child may not be able to enter their desired class in the future, but more skills need to be mastered in order to move up. Similar to academics, there are skills needed to attain higher levels of performance skills and our classes and lessons are designed to help your child master those skills based on their individualized progress, not just based upon age. Please trust the expertise of our instructors.
NOTE: If you pay the $25 audition fee, it may be applied to your tuition balance. If you choose not to accept your class placement, the $25 audition fee is non-refundable.
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Unfortunately, we do not offer make up classes unless you are taking private lessons. Occasionally you can attend another class the following week to make up missed instruction. However, we do build in ONE extra class each semester free of charge in case of an absence for illness or weather. Please be sure to list your class in conflicts any time you are auditioning for a show.
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Please be sure to list your acting class as a conflict, but we understand shows may not be able to accommodate the conflict during tech week. Notify us as soon as you are cast in a show if your tech week schedule creates conflicts with your class time. The sooner we know, the sooner we can try to accommodate your conflict. If we are unable to find alternate class make up times, you will be credited up to TWO classes for a future session. A minimum of one month notice in writing is needed for the cast member clause.
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If you cancel your paid registration at least one week before the first day of class, we will refund tuition less a $10 reservation charge. If you cancel less than one week before the class begins, no refund will be given.
Because we want all our students to be satisfied with their experience, if you attend the first day of class and decide not to continue, we will refund tuition less a $25 first class charge. After the second class day, no refunds will be given. Any student leaving the program due to discipline or attendance problems will not be entitled to a refund.
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Our goal is to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students. Parents are encouraged to list any specific individual student accommodations needed on the information form to register for classes. As needed, a teacher will contact you to discuss reasonable and respectful accommodations.
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Ready to sign up? Find upcoming session dates and times based on your child’s interest.