I arrived early at the Denver Marriott South, realizing I had forgotten my glasses at home. Yet, even for my blurry vision, the gold shimmered: dresses glinting under lights, smiles glowing. It felt fitting: the Performance Arts Academy’s Stars in Arts Gala is less about individual stars and more about what happens when many shine together.
At the heart of the night was PAA’s mission, written in their website: “creating a connected community, developing and building each student’s character, and inspiring excellence through classes and productions.”
On their website, PAA emphasizes that while they certainly nurture talent, their priority is the individual’s contribution within the community circle. That’s why when the gala halls were filled with people and I interviewed them on their favorite part of PAA, the most common answer was community.
From the moment guests arrived, donned in costumes ranging from flappers to red-carpet celebrities, the energy was warm and lively. The gala featured a silent auction, a live auction, a wine pull, and, the anchor of the evening, student performances that embodied growth, discipline, and joy.
In my conversations with the guests, I had found professionalism to be another key trait of PAA. This would prove to be very true when I witnessed their student performance. A Broadway medley including Anything Goes, Luck be a Lady, and Stepsister’s Lament, was the star of the night. The students were able to showcase their hard work, dedication to craft, and true talent. It’s these students that made the gala what it is.
Throughout the night, I was able to interview many people, including Alicia Macdonald, attending with her husband for what she called a “date night.” Their daughter dreams of Broadway, Macdonald said, and long before the family settled in Colorado, she looked up nearby performance academies.
“The moment I knew we were moving to Colorado, I looked up the closest performance arts academy because our daughter loves performing,” Macdonald said. “We signed her up and have loved it ever since.”
Despite being new to the region, Macdonald saw the gala as more than a night out.
“We’re fairly new to the area so it would be great to meet other parents,” she said. And when asked her favorite part of PAA, she replied simply, “PAA is very professionally done.”
For Reese Pucciano, 15, joining PAA this past year was a turning point. She spoke with sincerity about what drew her in. “They have really good values at PAA. They just have a great mission,” she said. “It’s really nice to be with a company that puts on amazing shows but also has the heart behind it and it’s really easy to love the people here.”
Similarly, Lyla Mills, 12, a student for several years, emphasized the importance of belonging.
“I love the community,” Mills said. “This program is just so welcoming. They just take feedback from the students.”
Then there’s Lochlaun Shryack, also 12, who joined in 2021. His takeaway? Trust and perseverance. “At first I was a bit skeptical joining the theater,” he admitted, “but my parents were like ‘hey, theater’s fun,’ so I tried it out and loved it.” He’s played roles from Aladdin to a hyena in The Lion King, and reflected: “I learned to trust each other and never give up.”
In the crowd was Janet Forbes, a volunteer, devoted attendee, and lifelong supporter.
“I was there on day one,” she recalled. “I was sitting with Dr. Jim when the idea hit him, and we worked on it that very first year.” Forbes has watched dozens of students blossom. “It’s spectacular,” she said. “Lives are changed by the effect of performing arts — on someone’s confidence, character, and their ability to interact with others. It just changes you.” As someone once shy, she added, “Theater turned me more confident.”
That connection between art and personal transformation is central to PAA’s ethos. The organization traces its roots to 2006, when Dr. James Ramsey (now executive director) launched a small theater program with 26 children and their families.
Today, PAA serves over 1,600 students across all ages in the south Denver metro area. The curriculum is tiered by age (from early elementary through high school and adult classes), offering acting, dance, voice, and technical theatre. PAA’s values of character, curriculum, and community translate into daily practice: teaching artists align to state music and arts standards, offering diverse inclusion initiatives, and integrating backstage roles so every student sees themselves as essential to the overall production.
The gala was a success in funds and spirit, but more importantly, it renewed confidence and spirit in a shared purpose. Even without full clarity of sight, one thing was unmistakable: the power of collective achievement. The gold still shone to my very near-sighted eyes, not just in decor, but in the faces, in the passionate voices, and the community and love within that room.
