WELCOME TO OUR 10 year anniversary gala!

Enjoy the show!

A Note from the Founders

All young people deserve to thrive as they explore their passions. Innovative Arts was born out of a need for reinvention in arts programming for youth. Our studio was designed to be a place where youth are allowed (and even encouraged!) to make mistakes, and are motivated by a support system that is optimistic, enthusiastic, and patient. Here, young artists are surrounded by fellow passionate students and mentors who embrace individuality and authenticity. We have created a community where young performers can showcase their talents in a professional and exciting way, and where lifelong memories are as plentiful as life-long friendships. 

We started Innovative Arts because we searched for this community ourselves as young people who grew up loving theatre. 10 years later, the proof that we’ve achieved everything we wanted is in the students who continue to surpass our wildest expectations. Whether they go on to pursue careers in the performing arts, or something wildly different, the power of the arts stays with you forever.

It has been our privilege to work with individuals of all kinds, and collaborate with them as they take their moment on stage. Even those who started out shy, with two left feet, or who couldn't sing on-key, have blown us away in their commitment not only to personal growth, but to their casts’ success as a whole.

Our productions have always been a massive undertaking, requiring everyone to pull their weight as important pieces of a large puzzle. When we started, we wanted to do things differently from how we experienced musical theatre growing up. We decided to keep casts small, rehearsals efficient and engaging, and to challenge students to push outside of their comfort zones. Although this is a big ask, our students have consistently risen to the occasion, overcoming even the most difficult obstacles, and always supporting each other with kindness along the way.

It has been a pleasure to lead this community through the highs and lows of the past decade, to watch it adapt, and of course, innovate. The time has come to embark on a new decade, during which our core values of positive reinforcement and confidence building will remain steadfast. We will continue to put our students first and build upon the solid foundation we’ve created, with the hopes of continuing to help young people find their voices, build confidence, and create fond memories for many more years to come. 

— Nathan and Sophie McLeod