Online Public School Allows For Passions of Student and Education

Minnesota Connections Academy 11th grader Sara Magnuson isn’t new to theater. She made her debut at Stages Theatre Company (STC) in Hopkins three years ago, playing Gloria the Gopher in Bear Snores On. Since then, she has appeared in STC's productions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Beauty & the Beast Jr. Sara has also recently performed with Youth Performance Company (Hairspray Jr.) and Fridley Community Theatre (Sister Act). But in July when she made the cast of Children’s Theatre Company’s I Come from Arizona, Magnuson and her family started to explore other options besides a traditional public school anticipating the intense schedule.

“Children’s Theatre Company is considered a professional theater, which comes with a huge time commitment,” says mom, Mariann. “Sara wanted to be in the best position possible to be successful at school and with her performance, and still maintain a healthy life balance. We found Minnesota Connections Academy to offer a fabulous mix.”

Sara is able to maintain a rigorous and full course schedule–on her time. She says she loves her teachers and finds that she has more interaction with them, with more opportunities for one-on-one time vs. being in a traditional class with more students. For Sara, the change has been empowering, too. She knows what is expected of her, is her own advocate for communicating with her teachers, and has embraced the responsibility. Mom feels all are skills that will greatly benefit her in college as well.

CTC’s I Come from Arizona (which runs Oct. 9-Nov. 25, 2018) is a non-musical production performed by a small group of adult and student actors. The production is a world premiere–meaning that this is the first time it has ever been performed in the world. Check out the show at childrenstheatre.org/Arizona.