Connections Academy Student Has Lead in Lakeville Musical

Minnesota is rich in the arts. Lakeville knows that! This October, Children's Castle Theater's will entertain audiences with "Billy Elliot - The Musical." It's the regional premier of the musical and a big deal for a small theater!

With productions such as these, how do child actors do it!? Auditions, rehearsals, performances ...some of these kids can see 60-80 hours of theater commitments (which they love!) per week. With such busy schedules, how do they fulfill their dreams but also get a high-quality education?! 6th grader Gavin Nienaber, who will be playing Billy Elliot, is among many Minnesota students who have found the perfect combination with their theater commitments—online public school. Gavin attends MTS Minnesota Connections Academy, a K-12 online public school that students across the state attend from home.

If you have a child with a passion and need flexibility, a high-quality online public school may be the answer for you. The flexibility also allows families to maintain their sanity and preserve some family time. Minnesota Connections Academy meets the needs of students and their families who are looking for an alternative to a traditional school setting— those who need a flexible schedule, learn at a different pace from their peers (ahead or behind), need more individualized attention or seek a learning environment outside of a traditional classroom.

Gavin Nienaber is well on his way to a successful theater career. He recently played Colin in The Secret Garden at Theatre in the Round. Last year he played Michael Darling in Peter Pan the Musical at Children’s Theatre Company. Since the age of six, Gavin has hit the stage in multiple productions, including serving as an essential in A Christmas Carol (Guthrie Theater), as Young Shrek/Dwarf in Shrek the Musical (Eagan Summer Community Theatre), and as Young Tarzan in Disney’s Tarzan the Musical (Children’s Castle Theater). Needing a flexible school schedule to accommodate his acting career, Gavin enrolled in Minnesota Connections Academy during the 2014-15 school year. “The flexibility and quality of the curriculum has been great,” says Gavin’s dad, David, a former math teacher. “Gavin can even study between shows at the theater.”

IF YOU GO

What: Children's Castle Theater's "Billy Elliot"

When: Oct 14th - 23rd 2016

Where: Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Av.

More Info/tickets: http://www.childrenscastlethea...