WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The sounds of the hallways are much different outside the classrooms of Wilkes-Barre Area’s Creative and Performing Arts Academy (CAPAA). At CAPAA, students can embrace and embolden their passion for music, visual arts, and theatre. 

Students like senior Emma Christianson recognize the value of this opportunity.

“I wish every school had the opportunity for this because there’s so many people who love their drama club and wish they could go further into it,“ said Christianson.

“There are so many young people in our world today where the arts are treated like they’re not important, and they are,” said theatre instructor Alice Lyons.

Lyons has been the theatre program instructor at CAPAA since its inception seven years ago. CAPAA started at GAR High School in the 2018-19 school year and then moved to the new consolidated high school in Plains Township.

Lyons has performed in and directed hundreds of performances across the theatre scene in Luzerne County. It’s a passion that lines the walls of her classroom.

“I can’t explain to you how special this is to be able to do this—this was sort of my dream. I decided when I was younger, I didn’t want to go into acting, even though it is a hobby and passion of mine. I’ve always wanted to teach in a performing arts high school,” added the instructor.

After teaching English and Public Speaking for nearly two decades, this program now gives Lyons the opportunity to teach that passion to 24 students every day. The students have common core classes in the morning and attend their specialized courses during the second half of the school day.

“This gives them that push in their core classes because they know they have to be great in those, and in the afternoon, they’re just going to be completely enveloped in their love with other people who share that passion,” added Lyons.

The Wilkes-Barre Area School District is looking to expand the academy with increased state funding. This will nearly double Lyons’ theatre cohort and open up more opportunities for students in the area and beyond. CAPAA is open to students in surrounding districts across Luzerne County. Sophomore McKenna Claudio Batista currently attends Crestwood School District as well as CAPAA.

“It’s great that we get to go to Crestwood and then come here, and that it’s not just limited to the people who go here. It’s so special to me to get that experience, even if my own school doesn’t offer it,” said Claudio Batista.

Allowing their passions to extend well beyond the hallways of the Wilkes-Barre Area.

“This is my drive to come here. This is my purpose to be here. We are a family, this whole group,” said Dallas Fernandes, a sophomore.

“I’m so grateful to be able to be in a space that lets us explore theatre and lets us learn and grow from each other,” said senior Abby Olander.

Applications for Wilkes-Barre Area’s CAPAA program open in early March.