Piedmont Players Theatre (PPT) is having a second season of its Youth Theatre Academy. Directed by Director and Choreographer Gwen Matthews, the program is designed around students who have a passion for theater and a desire to improve their skills and techniques.

Matthews, along with instructor Laurie Klaus, will guide students through a structured curriculum spanning 16 weeks. Students will continue to develop their craft and learn how to take their theater performance to the next level.

PPT’s program is designed to build a foundation of confidence and poise that will serve the students into adulthood. The program will begin on Oct. 12, with a break in December and resuming in January. This year’s program will offer two new classes and will expand the age range to include first through 12th grades.

Musical Theater for Students (16 weeks), meets Mondays, 7:15-8:15 p.m., for students in grades one through 5. Cost is $300.

Session 1 will be Oct. 12-Nov 30, (eight weeks). Designed for students interested in learning the basics of musical theater, this session is a confidence building opportunity for students with little or no previous theater experience. Singing, acting and dance will be covered with an emphasis on music and dance. Students will be able to choose a musical audition piece and the dance will focus on terms and execution of basic dance steps. The final class will showcase what the student has learned.

Session 2 will be Jan. 11-March 1, 2016 (eight weeks). This is a follow-up class to Session 1 with an emphasis on acting and character development.

Triple Threat Theater (16 weeks) will meet Tuesdays, 7:15-8:30 p.m., for sixth through 12th grades. Tuition is $325.

Session 1 will be Oct. 13-Dec. 1 (eight weeks). Designed for students with previous theater training who have a desire to go beyond the basics. Students will learn audition techniques, dance movements and proper terminology designed to give the student the upper hand during the audition process. Solo, duet and group singing techniques will be incorporated in the training. The final class will showcase the skills developed during the session.

Session 2 will be Jan. 12-March 2, 2016 (eight weeks). It is a follow-up class to Session 1 with a greater emphasis on acting and character development.

With a limited number of spots available this fall, registration may be made by calling 704-633-5471 or by stopping by the PPT offices on the second floor of the Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St. in downtown Salisbury. For complete details about the program visit PiedmontPlayers.com.

Gwen Matthews has been a popular instructors at PPT, having taught many youth theater summer camps as well as musical audition workshops. She has also directed and choreographed some of PPT’s youth musicals including Disney’s “The Jungle Book KIDS,” “Honk Jr.,” “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr.,” “The Little Mermaid,” “High School Musical,” “Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark” and Disney’s “Tarzan.” This season she will work on “Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn” and “The Wizard of Oz.”