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GOSHEN — A new performing arts facility in Goshen is hosting auditions for its first show this week, opening its doors to new artists, and making a splash at First Fridays this weekend.

Phoenix Performing Arts, 211 S. Main St., opened it doors in August and is continuing to spread its wings. Phoenix will host an open house during Goshen’s First Fridays with free hot cocoa, holiday treats, kids crafts, live music, visiting with Santa, and tinsel hair extensions, and students from the new theater group will perform during the Christmas Tree Lighting downtown on Washington Street.

Located in the former Art House building, Phoenix boasts a movie theater, two rehearsal halls, and a small black box theater. They offer private voice lessons, group dance classes for a variety of ages and skill sets, and auditioned after-school programs.

“We’re really trying to offer, hopefully, different avenues for people to experience theater, whether that’s behind-the-scenes or on stage with auditions, performances, classes,” said co-founder Ashlea Harrington. She and her husband Zak serve as Executive Director and Director of Education, and Artistic Director and Technical Director, respectively.

Adults who want to learn performing arts may also be welcomed into certain classes, but theatrical productions housed at the Goshen Theater for the 2023-24 season will also be comprised of primarily older teen and adult performers.

A youth theatrical series will take place at the smaller stage at Phoenix Performing Arts’ house stage, the old location of Art House.

“We try to say we offer something for every age, 5 to 105,” Harrington said.

Some renovation work is being done on the property, including dance mirrors and ballet bar installation in the rehearsal halls, and electrical work in the tech booth. The first show at black box theater won’t be until March but rehearsals there will be ongoing.

There are also summer camps on the horizon and workshops ongoing near monthly. The next workshop will be the Holly Jolly Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 9. Featuring holiday-themed songs, dances, acting games and crafts for kids ages 5-15.

“They allow kids to kind of test out being in theater environment but not committing to something if they get nervous or shy,” Harrington said.

For those who find a passion for performing arts, there is an audition-only after-school program each Monday divided up by age group. Students who make the cut (Peeps: third grade through fifth grade, Jr. Elects: sixth grade through eighth grade, and Elects: high school freshmen through seniors) join the ranks of the theater company’s performance team on a semester basis. There is also a mentorship program in the after-school program, which teaches all things stage-related on and off stage, including stage management, costuming, painting, lighting, and design along with performing arts, and some older students are even getting experience as student directors.

“What we want to offer them is a space to kind of try things in an environment where they feel safe to make mistakes because we don’t have that off in the world,” Harrington said. “Everybody wants to be perfect, everybody wants to do their best, but we have to understand that in order to be our best, we have to make mistakes to get there and that’s a hard thing especially for youth to remember.”

They also touch on philanthropy, leadership skills, teamwork, and communication, all essential aspects of the theater world.

“I feel like it really does give them the full-rounded experience and that’s why I’m so passionate about these programs,” she said.

For students that aren’t in the company, there are age-based options for musician theater dance covering jazz, tap, and ballet; and hip-hop classes.

There are also private voice lessons available.

No one is required to take classes though to be a part of Phoenix. Auditions for the first show of the first season, Tuck Everlasting, will be at 6 p.m. today and again at noon Sunday. Callbacks will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday. Performances will be Feb. 23-25.

Harrington said they’re also working on offering teachers field trip opportunities to bring their students to see shows.

For more information, visit them online at thephoenixarts.org, or on Facebook or Instagram.

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