ARV Arts Academy provides high-quality theatre education designed to help students develop confidence, creativity, and the skills needed to succeed both on and off the stage. Through personalized instruction and hands-on learning experiences, students can explore acting, audition preparation, monologue performance, character development, and technical theatre in a supportive and encouraging environment.
From a student’s first experience on stage to preparing for school productions, auditions, competitions, or collegiate theatre opportunities, ARV Arts Academy is committed to helping every student achieve their individual goals through experienced instruction and a passion for theatre education.
Our mission is to educate, inspire, and connect music and theatre students throughout the Arkansas River Valley by providing exceptional performing arts education while fostering confidence, discipline, creativity, collaboration, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
We believe every student deserves access to high-quality music and theatre education that extends beyond the traditional classroom, creating meaningful opportunities for students to grow as musicians, performers, artists, and individuals.
Audrey Houghton serves as the Director of Theatre for ARV Arts Academy, where she leads the development of theatre education, programming, and performance opportunities for students throughout the Arkansas River Valley.
Audrey is a theatre educator, director, stage manager, and teaching artist currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with an emphasis in Acting and Directing and a minor in Vocal Music at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith. Her experience spans acting and directing as well as technical theatre, stage management, lighting, props, hair and makeup design, and production management.
In addition to her production work, Audrey has many years of experience providing private acting instruction focused on audition preparation and monologue coaching. She is also involved with the Educational Theatre Association and currently serves as the Arkansas Guest Artist Chair.
As Director of Theatre, Audrey is committed to creating accessible, high-quality theatre experiences that help students develop confidence, creativity, collaboration, and performance skills both on and off the stage.
Contact: audrey.houghton@arvarts.org
Founded in 2018
Dedicated to high-quality music and theatre education
Personalized instruction and educational experiences
Programs for beginners through advanced students
Music instruction in concert percussion, marching percussion, drum set, keyboard percussion, jazz, Latin percussion, and expanding areas of music
Theatre instruction in acting, audition preparation, monologue coaching, performance, and technical theatre
Consistent Arkansas All-Region and All-State student success
100% of academy alumni pursuing collegiate percussion have earned scholarship opportunities
Experienced leadership in music, theatre, performance, and production
Positive, encouraging, creative, and challenging learning environment
Classes, private lessons, workshops, camps, and performance opportunities
Proudly serving students throughout the Arkansas River Valley
The success of our students reflects the academy’s commitment to excellence in theatre education.
ARV Arts Academy theatre students develop the confidence, creativity, and performance skills needed to succeed both on and off the stage. Through individualized instruction and hands-on experiences, students strengthen their abilities in acting, audition preparation, monologue performance, character development, and theatrical production.
Our theatre program is designed to prepare students for school and community productions, auditions, theatre programs, competitions, and future collegiate opportunities while encouraging each student to grow as a confident and collaborative performing artist.
ARV Arts Academy envisions a future where every student throughout the Arkansas River Valley has access to exceptional music and theatre education. As the academy continues to grow, our goal is to expand private instruction, classes, educational programs, productions, performance opportunities, community outreach, and specialized learning experiences while maintaining the personalized instruction and supportive environment that define ARV Arts Academy.
Whether a student dreams of performing on stage, mastering an instrument, joining a school ensemble, preparing for an audition, pursuing collegiate opportunities, working behind the scenes in theatrical production, or simply developing a lifelong passion for the performing arts, ARV Arts Academy exists to provide the instruction, encouragement, and opportunities needed to help make those goals a reality.