Vail Performing Arts Academy celebrates 30 years of creating performers

The Vail Performing Arts Academy’s tagline is “The Most Important Stage in a Child’s Life,” and Annah Deluca-Scully has seen how it has transformed kids over the past three decades. What started out as workshops for youth quickly blossomed into full theatrical musical performances for students ages 8-18.

“It was 1994 and I was looking for something creative to do with my bratty young children, Anthony and Maria,” Deluca-Scully said. “Back then, there were plenty of sports offerings, but not a lot of performing arts for kids in the valley.”

The answer to her motherly dilemma was to create her own theater classes for students, exploring musicals and comedy improvisation. Vail Performing Arts Academy’s humble beginnings were held at the Homestead Court Club, and the first production of “The Tale of Castle Fun” took place on the Berry Creek Middle School stage in 1996.

Sensing the need for more than just classes, Deluca-Scully decided to meet with the directors of the brand new Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek in 1998. Deluca-Scully pitched the idea that if the burgeoning Vail Performing Arts Academy could perform a student musical on their world class stage, it would not only encourage the community to discover and attend their professional productions but would truly offer a life-changing experience for so many local children.

The answer was a resounding “yes” and the first Vail Performing Arts Academy musical, “Grease!” was set into motion with a huge cast of students. The need was there and the performances were sold out each night.  

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The Vail Performing Arts Academy had initial success, but Deluca-Scully was challenged by many roadblocks, including the time when a music director got cold feet and abandoned the band during the dress rehearsal of their second production at the Vilar Performing Arts Center, “Fame” in 1999.

“That night, with the determination of a mother grizzly, I managed to beg the piano player at the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek to step in and save the weekend of shows. I was literally on my knees in the middle of his gig in the lobby,” Deluca-Scully said. “The show must go on, and indeed it did!”

The Vail Performing Arts Academy had a few more years of successful performances, but Deluca-Scully said there still was an issue with staff instability.

“And then, as if sent from Heaven, I received a call from Colin Meiring, a Broadway veteran with a tremendous resume, who was moving to Vail to snowboard and was looking for a job,” Deluca-Scully said.

Meiring started his performing arts career when he was 6 years old and won multiple national and international titles for ballroom dancing. His fancy footwork led to jobs in musical theater, television, film, Broadway and on the cruise ship circuit.

“The students were immediately drawn to his South African dry sense of humor and ability to make the hard work of rehearsals insanely fun,” Deluca-Scully said. “Colin transformed the Vail Performing Arts Academy into the magic musical machine it is today.”

Meiring believes that the focus of each rehearsal is infusing laughter, fun and humor into every instruction. “Students respond well to boundaries and structure, but when the process is fun, they are eager to please,” Meiring said. Both he and Deluca-Scully emphasize the importance of honesty and humor in their teaching approach, creating a safe space for self-expression and inspiring students to work hard.

Together the dynamic duo of Deluca-Scully and Meiring has offered extraordinary top-quality instruction and productions that perpetuate a legacy of excellence and personal transformations. Deluca-Scully said one of the most rewarding aspects of their work is witnessing former students succeed in both college and their careers, crediting the confidence they gained from performing.

“Many former “VPAAers” have continued their musical pursuits in such prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Mellon, Columbia and Cambridge to name a few,” Deluca-Scully said. “Every summer, the Vail Performing Arts Academy is blessed with alumni who come back and become assistant directors, backstage help, light and sound techs and ultimately, they are really cool role models and mentors to their prodigies.”

As the valley grew and divided, the Vail Performing Arts Academy embraced the idea of bringing the community together, integrating students and families from East Vail to Gypsum and beyond. 

“Over the decades, watching lasting friendships flourish on stage, without economic, ethnic, nor geographic boundaries, is inspirational and gratifying. VPAA is truly a family with deep roots,” Deluca-Scully said.

With the help of sponsors, donors, volunteers and other community members, Deluca-Scully and Meiring have put on some amazing productions including “Into the Woods,” “Frozen,” “Legally Blonde,” “West Side Story,” “Little Mermaid,” “Pirates of Penzance” and “Willy Wonka.”

Today, the Vail Performing Arts Academy offers year-round programs for performers aged 8 to 17, including the Early Summer Intensive program and full-scale musical productions in July. The Fall and Spring Revues showcase a diverse array of musical and theatrical numbers. The academy also extends its reach through enrichment programs for local schools, such as Colin’s Cotillion, Star Power Theater Arts, Acting for the Camera/Music Video Production, Public Speaking, and participation in community events.

Vail Performing Arts Academy’s success is intertwined with the support of donors, volunteers and strategic partnerships with local schools and venues. This support enables this nonprofit to offer scholarships, maintain high-quality productions and expand its outreach programs.

As the Vail Performing Arts Academy celebrates its 30th anniversary, it stands as a testament to the transformative power of the arts. With a commitment to excellence, inclusivity and community engagement, the Vail Performing Arts Academy continues to enrich the Vail Valley, inspiring the next generation of performers and audiences alike.

The Vail Performing Arts Academy’s legacy of excellence continues with the summer production of “Mean Girls, Jr” at Battle Mountain High School on July 27 and 28. For tickets, to donate and for more information about the Vail Performing Arts Academy, visit VPAA.org.