Today we’d like to introduce you to Angi Burns.
Angi, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Hi. I am a local theatre director, mostly with youth, and the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Ovation Academy of Performing Arts. I am also a wife and mother to three beautiful children.
The boring bio details: I have been involved in the Theater since the age of 4. I studied at the Creative Arts and Theatre School through elementary school and continued my study in high school at Plano Sr. High School, as well as in College at Collin College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in both Theatre and Broadcast Communication and went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Concordia University. I taught public school Speech, Theatre & Debate for nine years, directed UIL One-Act play, musicals and a variation of other productions both in the educational setting and throughout the community. As a performer, I have been involved in numerous educational, amateur and professional theatre productions across Texas and Oklahoma. I am also an award-winning Radio DJ, Sports Emcee, and Comedian. I served as the Assistant Director of Children’s Theatre for the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, Educational Director for the OSF After-school program, Owner/Director of Broadway Bound School of Performing Arts, a teaching artist for Junior Players and as the Artistic Director of The Young Actor’s Guild of Collin County and CenterStage Youth Theatre in addition to teaching in Wylie ISD and McKinney ISD. Angi is a UIL One-Act Play adjudicator and has worked with Destination Imagination, Big Thought, Junior Players and numerous other Youth performing arts groups. I have had students compete and place in ITS, UIL, TFA and NSDA including the State and National Tournaments. I have raised many students in the arts to gain scholarships and acceptances to top colleges across the country. My goal is to develop good humans who can give back to the community in a positive manner through their art.
My WHY: Theatre has always been my escape from reality. I had a bumpy road getting to where I am today but, I will spare you the ugly details. Ultimately, by the time I was 23, I was a full-time college student, all alone, recently divorced and a single mom of a two year old and newborn. Despite the obstacles, life threw my way I refused to give up and being an artist played a huge part in that perseverance. I always had my safe space, theatre family and art to use as a release of emotions and creativity to inspire myself to be better for myself and my children. After graduating from college, I established an after school and private school theatre enrichment program, Broadway Bound School of Performing Arts. In 2008, when the stock market crashed, I was no longer able to sustain a livable income with only that business, so I became certified to teach in public school. I taught in public school for nine years. Throughout that time I also served as the Artistic Director for a couple of non-profit youth theatre programs. During this time I began to notice many young artists who were not getting the training, opportunities or support they deserved. I equally noticed how, in my opinion, the public school system was allowing these unique and incredible individuals to fall through the cracks and lose their spark. I met numerous students who were bullied, suffered from anxiety and depression, had a tumultuous home-life riddled with abuse and neglect, who wanted more than they had the opportunity to experience yet were insanely creative and talented. They reminded me of myself at their age. I wanted to help them and give them a chance to succeed in using their passions. My own daughters had now grown into wonderful young ladies the who also enjoyed theatre, dance, and music and were experiencing some of the setbacks and pitfalls of being in public school programs along with similar personal issues. So, along with my friend, Katie Wilcox, we decided to find a solution to help save these kids from going down similar paths that we had both endured. As a result, we created a home for young artists to pursue their passions through professional training in the performing arts called Ovation Academy of Performing Arts. Ovation is a non-profit academy which offers full-immersion education for students in grades 6-12 through conservatory style training. We also have a homeschool co-op program and community outreach program.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do? Why? And what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am a Theatre Director, clinician, and consultant who specializes in mostly working with young artists.
I am the co-founder of Ovation Academy of Performing Arts.
Ovation Academy is a unique School of Performing Arts. We provide onsite training in the disciplines of Dance, Acting, Musical Theatre and Theatrical Production & Design as well as the business of being a professional artist and the life-skills needed to succeed in the industry. Our students are trained to be highly technical artists with a sense of community and humility. Philanthropy and Community Outreach are central themes at Ovation Academy. Through the talents our students possess we strive to make a difference in our community by giving back and helping those around us.
Ovation Academy encourages constant industry immersion. We provide field-trip opportunities in order for our students to grasp all aspects of the world of performing arts. We bring in industry leaders to assist in the high-level training our students receive, providing different styles and perspectives throughout their education. We encourage students to pursue opportunities to audition and work while continuing their art education with Ovation Academy. Additionally, we provide networking opportunities with talent scouts, managers, agents and directors as well as elite college recruiters. We equip our students to be good-hearted people as well as hard-working professionals and respectable leaders. We focus on each individual student and their unique journey. Ovation Academy strives to produce knowledgeable, respectful, empathetic and impactful artists who will contribute to their communities and to the performing arts industry. We focus on each individual student and their unique journey. Ovation Academy strives to produce knowledgeable, respectful, empathetic and impactful artists who will contribute to their communities and to the performing arts industry.
The accomplishments and growth of our students have been incredibly mind-blowing. The culture at Ovation and during the process for any show I direct or any group of young people I work with is one of support, positivity, and humanitarianism. These are things many of these kids do not experience at home or in society. Regardless of the troubles, they come in with they all gravitate towards spreading love and light. They WANT to be better people and contribute to society. My job is to help facilitate that and provide them with experiences and opportunities to share their passions and talents. I want to give them a safe space to be creative and be themselves. I encourage the students to take ownership of their journey and art. Diversity, Inclusivity, and philanthropy are crucial to making meaningful art and change in the world. I strive to help my kids find their purpose in any way I can.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
Passion and potential get you further than talent and ego, every time!
Your work ethic and reputation will elongate your career or kill it.
If no one likes working with you it does not matter how talented you are; you will not survive in this industry.
Networking is 90% of being an artist. Know your brand and be able to market and advocate for yourself.
As an artist, it is your responsibility to use your passion to make the community a better place.
There are ways to use your art that you probably never thought about. Be creative and think outside the box to share your passion with a wider audience.
Your art can and will make a difference and can change not only your life but the life of those around you. It can literally save a life.
Art is not a competition! We must all be supportive of one another for the industry to survive! There IS room for multiple theatres, dance studios, galleries, etc. We all have something unique to offer.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Ovation Academy of Performing Arts has numerous productions throughout the year. We produce musicals and stage plays through the academy as well as monthly cabarets and showcases. The Ovation Community Outreach Program also performs various shows year round. We are located in McKinney, but we perform at events all across North Texas. Our students and staff are all working professionals who enjoy new opportunities to perform. Currently, I am only directing for Ovation and consulting for local schools, but I occasionally will direct at other local theatres. I can give details of specific productions and events if needed.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ovationapa.org
- Phone: 9729485859
- Email: aburns@ovationapa.org
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ovationapa
Image Credit:
Production photos from CenterStage Youth Theatre, Young Actor’s Guild and Ovation Academy.
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
