MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Students of all ages can register now for classes and workshops in art, theater, music, dance, wellness and more this winter at the Middletown Arts Center.

Classes begin January 2, 2025.

Classes and workshops will run from January 2 – March 15. There is something for everyone on the curriculum with classes offered in Theater, Improv, Dance, Visual Arts, Music, Wellness and more. The Middletown Arts Center boasts a 23,000-square-foot facility with a newly renovated state-of-the-art dance studio, theater, art gallery and art studios, plus the MAC Annex Education Building located minutes away.

Registrants can book online at www.middletownarts.org, by phone at 732.706.4100 or onsite. You do not need to be a Middletown resident. Discounted rates apply to MAC members.

The Middletown Arts Center is excited to offer Art Discovery with Breanna Kircher, a newly designed, specialized program for adults and teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With two classes for adults, Open Studio and Introduction to Hand Weaving, and a teen Workshop, Mixed Media Social, the program introduces students to various art disciplines, inspiring fun, creativity and imagination. It is also a DDD Provider with scholarships available. Kircher is a licensed Art Therapist, passionate about working alongside children and adults with developmental disabilities.

The Middletown Arts Center’s Dance Program continues under celebrated instructors Njelama Dacas Johnson and Marissa Finkelstein. Njelama has an Ed.M in K-12 Dance Education and a BFA in Dance Performance from Rutgers University. She will teach Youth Pre-Ballet, Ballet 1-3 and Modern 1-2, as well as Adult Ballet and Modern. Marissa has been dancing for over 20 years and trained at Freehold Regional’s Fine and Performing Arts Magnet Program and earned her BA in Dance and Business from Muhlenberg College and her MFA in Dance from the University of North Carolina–Greensboro. She will teach Youth Jazz + Broadway Dance 1-2 and Tap in addition to Adult Jazz + Broadway Dance and Tap.

New Adult Art Classes include Laura Mandile’s Classic Watercolor Still Life and Watercolor Portraits. Laura (BFA, School of Visual Arts) is an award-winning artist with a career as an illustrator, art director and art teacher. Gianna Manzardo teaches the new Adventures in Art for Adults, as well as the returning Art Partners (Ages 4-6 with Adult) and Adventures in Art for Teens. Gianna has over 20 years of elementary through high school education teaching experience.

Trish Tyler is back this season with Adult Improv. Trish is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory in Chicago – studying Improv, Musical Improv and Directing. Notable improv credits include the Del Close Marathon, Philly Fringe Fest and the TBS Just for Laughs Festival. Some of her corporate improv clients include Northwestern University, MLB and Gwen Stefani.

The MAC Wellness Program has added a Thursday Yoga in addition to the Saturday Class with an optional Meditation taught by Mimi Cross. Cross, a 200+ hour certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor, is the creator of Body of Writing, a practice that adds a dimension to the traditional mind-body-spirit discipline of Yoga: Story.

Zumbini with Lisa Zwerin is a dynamic music and movement experience for adults with children ages 0-4. Zumbini celebrates the power of music to enhance our lives, stimulate learning, inspire dance movement and strengthen the bond between parent and child.

Other popular programs returning this Winter include the acclaimed Student Theater Academy led by award-winning director and teaching artist Kathy Connolly. The Academy offers a Winter Mini-Musical Theater Intensive, Beginning Acting (ages 6-8) and Acting (ages 9-12). Doodle Dude inspires students this winter with classes in Cartooning & Clay, The Art of Gaming and Painting Palooza and Miss Fish offers her Watercolors & More, as well as Fabulous Art for Fantastic Artists.

Adult Painting Workshops will again be held this Fall: Painting Workshop with Grace Graupe-Pillard and the Evening Adult Painting Workshop with June Wilson.

FULL LIST OF 2025 WINTER CLASSES:

Youth Dance:
• Pre-Ballet with Njelama Dacas Johnson | Ages 3-6
• Ballet 1 with Njelama Dacas Johnson | Ages 7-9
• Ballet 2 with Njelama Dacas Johnson | Ages 10-12
• Ballet 3 with Njelama Dacas Johnson | Ages 13+
• Modern Dance 1 with Njelama Dacas Johnson | Ages 7-9
• Modern Dance 2 with Njelama Dacas Johnson | Ages 10+
• Intro Jazz + Broadway Dance with Marissa Finkelstein | Ages7-9
• Jazz + Broadway Dance Level 2 with Marissa Finkelstein | Ages 10-14

Youth Art:
• Art Partners! with Gianna Manzardo | Ages 4-6 with Adult
• Adventures in Art for Teens with Gianna Manzardo | Ages 13+
• Watercolors and MORE with Miss Fish! | Ages 4-8
• FABULOUS Art for FANTASTIC Artists with Miss Fish! | Ages 8-12
• Painting Palooza with Doodle Dude! | Ages 5-12
• Cartooning + CLAY with Doodle Dude! | Ages 5-12
• The Art of Gaming with Doodle Dude | Ages 5-12

Youth Musical Theater and Theater:
• Winter Mini-Musical Theater Intensive with Kathy Connolly | Ages 6-9
• Perform SEUSSICAL JR. with Kathy Connolly | Ages 10+
• Perform 13 the Musical with Kathy Connolly | Ages 12+
• Acting with Kathy Connolly | Ages 9-12
• Beginning Acting with Felicia Russell | Ages 6-8

Art Discovery Program for Teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities introducing a variety of art disciplines, inspiring fun, creativity and imagination!
• Mixed Media Social WORKSHOP with Breanna Kircher | Ages 13-18

Youth/Adult Music:
• ZUMBINI with Lisa Zwerin | Children ages: 0-4 with Adult
• Private In-Person Piano or Voice Lessons with Miss Peggy and Melanie Colby Morgan | ALL AGES

Adult Dance:
• Ballet with Njelama Dacas Johnson
• Tap with Marissa Finkelstein
• Jazz + Broadway Dance with Marissa Finkelstein

Adult Art:
• Adventures in Art for Adults with Gianna Manzardo
• Child and Parent Art with Gianna Manzardo | Ages 4-6 with Adult
• NEW Classic Watercolor Still Life with Laura Mandile
• NEW Watercolor Portraits with Laura Mandile
• Painting Workshop with Grace Graupe-Pillard
• Evening Adult Painting Workshop with June Wilson

Adult Wellness:
• NEW Thursday Yoga with Mimi Cross
• Saturday Yoga with Optional Meditation Session with Mimi Cross

Adult Theater
• Improv with Trish Tyler

Art Discovery Program for Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities introducing a variety of art disciplines, inspiring fun, creativity and imagination!
• Open Studio with Breanna Kircher
• Intro to Hand Weaving with Breanna Kircher

The Middletown Arts Center is located at 36 Church Street, Middletown 07748 (next to Middletown Train Station). Free parking is available onsite with additional free parking available in the station-metered lot on weekday evenings after 6 p.m. and on weekends. The MAC Annex Education Building is located at 121 Kings Highway, Middletown 07748 (next to Middletown Reformed Church).