Paper Moon Performing Arts

06/23/2021

Hello loyal students, family & friends. It is with a mixed bag of sadness and pride that I announce the closing of Paper Moon Workshop. It has been a challenging and growth-full year for me as a person and business owner. We had to say goodbye to our beautiful studio space in the West Acton Villageworks, as well as move to a new and deeply flawed zoom platform for classes, lessons and shows. I met Will Porter, and we created an amazing conservatory program for a small group of superstars. What a wild ride! I have learned and been so inspired by the tenacity and good humor of your kids as they joined me for these virtual experiences.

We really did make lemonade out of lemons!

I have decided to officially close the book on this venture of love with a deep bow to all of you who have joined me on the ride! This year uncovered a deep well of creativity for me that needs to be tended to and expressed. After all, what sort of teacher would I be if I didn't practice what I teach! I will be following my muse and making music, art, a podcast and writing! If you would like to follow my journey as an artist - you can follow me on Facebook at Fran Betlyon or instagram .

I am so grateful to all of you for our time making music and magic together. Please share your triumphs and stumbles with me along the way! I will always be a whooping fan in your audience.

All my love,

Fran

06/01/2021

POP UP Outdoor concert for kids and caregivers - tomorrow, June 2nd at Gardner Field - 11:30am! Let's sing and dance together outside! We will also be passing the hat for donations towards the renovation of the Gardner Field Playground! Friends of Gardner Field

04/29/2021

Bored of the tapping of all this rain? Sign up for some tap dancing Musical Theatre Comedy Sunshine instead! Join us this Saturday at 3pm to laugh and learn from one of Broadway's rising stars, Darien Crago! You do not want to miss this!

Discount codes available for current PMPA voice students and BIPOC and LGBTQIA family, get $10 off! DM us.
FREE to all PMPA Musical Theatre studio students
$25 for the general public.

Join us THIS SATURDAY! https://www.papermoonworkshop.com/event-details/musical-theatre-comedy-w-darien-crago-for-all-ages

04/13/2021

Let’s sing in a ROOM together again! Voice lessons are BACK in person at Fran’s home studio in Acton. We have windows and high ceilings and a mega air purifier and masks, etc. Safe singing in a beautiful setting with awesome acoustics! Join us for lessons today here or on ZOOM!

04/08/2021

THIS SATURDAY @10! Find your Voice with Molly Durand!

Join us THIS SATURDAY for an amazing Vocal workshop with an Industry Pro and beautiful singer, Molly Durand will join us from Los Angeles! FREE to current Paper Moon students, and only $25 for the rest of you! Join us on Zoom from 10am-11:30am THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 8TH and FIND YOUR VOICE!

LA Vocal Power house joins you in your living room! Do you miss class this spring? Have no fear! We are bringing Music Industry and Broadway pros to YOU! Join us for our Spring Industry Workshops, kicking off this weekend, Saturday April 10th from 10-11:30am. Molly Durand is a phenomenal singer/song...

04/04/2021

Racism Has No Place on the Competition Stage: One Judge’s Experience Watching “Modern-Day Blackface”

Please read this. I KNOW I have been a part of this modern day black face and appropriation on the stage, not to mention the privilege that robbed my colleagues of opportunities time and time again. I’ve been acting and teaching and directing for 35 years. I have been a part of this system. And. And. ALL of us need to know better and do better not tomorrow, but now! Thank goddess I have Will Porter to keep me on the side of love. We want to do better with you! On stage and in life.
Now and always.
Join us for class as we grow! Together!
Xo
Fran

As I tiptoed my way down to the judges' table, I passed dancers hurriedly rehearsing onstage. One more chance to make that lift soar, one more moment to swing t

03/31/2021

Class starts tomorrow!!!! Spaces available for our Musical Theatre Studio and for Intro to Broadway Dance! Drop ins for that one are always available at $20 each! Go to the web now and sign up! We can’t wait to see you.

03/30/2021

Are you a closet songwriter? Fran is seeking students for private songwriting development or for the Songwriting Studio class! Let’s make music!!! Check out the website or email us for more information.

ALSO, closet CLOWNS! We need you! Are you funny? Like really funny? Will Porter, professional clowning degree of silliness, will be guiding our Musical Theatre and Acting students through exercises that open up the clown in all of us!

We also have rolling spots available in our weekly Broadway dance class - Thursdays at 6pm!

We are so excited about this Zoom Conservatory! Join us! (With Broadway and LA special guests!)

Take the DOOM and GLOOM out of ZOOM!
Join us for fun and the magic of performing arts!
Xo
Fran W. (founder)

03/26/2021

Paper moon Fans-

Our new Studio classes are about supporting the ARTIST. The life of them. The expression of our unique student. Paper Moon Performing Arts Musical Theater Studio student, Sebastian 10yr, is also an amazing visual artist. You can see his creative connection to empathy in this portrait of Edward Scissorhands.

If I wish for ANYTHING as a teacher, it is to teach empathy - for yourself, your neighbor, your enemy, the earth. Connection. Sebastian is curious about life and people and art and so am I, his lucky teacher. When we stay curious, a student of life, we find ourselves back at square one over and over again wondering what to do next. Who am I now? Back to actor’s neutral, just a ball of clay ready to be remade. Who am I in THIS role, in THIS painting. Who am I in YOU? The artist is on a quest to understand the answer to this universal conflict.

If you have an artist for a child. Remember that what they are up to is important. Because it is art. And ART HEALS THE WORLD.

I would love to do art with them. All sorts! Performing ARTS!
3 conservatory programs in
ACTING - SINGING/SONGWRITING - MUSICAL THEATRE- 10 classes - 6 1hr private mentoring sessions - 3 workshops with Broadway and Music Pros - and 1 industry-invited showcase.

I am offering full scholarships to BIPOC AND LGBTQIA students in the metro-west Boston area, and partial scholarships to those folx from ANYWHERE. Please e-mail me for more information at [email protected].

Tuition is $499 - classes start April 1st

Pay what you can. We are exchanging love through art. If you have a financial concern about the class prices, please call me! We are a performing arts FAMILY. Thriving through a Pandemic! The show must go on and we Will!

Love, Fran

Also, meet my partner in crime and PMPA faculty, Will Porter!
Www.papermoonworkshop.com

03/23/2021

The spring calendar is OPEN for private lessons (virtual and in person). Book online for All ages - singing, acting, audition prep, songwriting, and more! Book with Fran Betlyon or Will Porter TODAY! Slots are filling up. ***6 private 1 hour lessons are included with the tuition price of all Studio classes. Check out the website for more information!

03/15/2021

We have a new name!! Join us for our BRAND NEW performing arts studio classes. Registration is LIVE for online spring classes and voice lessons! Check out the website for more information and join us! We cannot wait to play and perform with you.

03/12/2021

Help me welcome the amazing homegrown star, Will Porter, to the Paper Moon Spring Faculty! Will grew up in West Acton, performing with Commonwealth Ballet, Theatre III, Concord Youth Theatre, and has been performing ever since. He has been seen Off-Broadway in the revival of Bells Are Ringing, on National Tours including CATS and A Chorus Line, at sea with Disney Cruise Line, and at numerous professional theaters including The MUNY in St Louis, Theatre Under The Stars in Houston, The McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, The Fulton Theatre in Lancaster PA, The Berkshire Theatre Group in Stockbridge MA, and many more! His career as a choreographer has lead him to exciting collaborations with Cirque Artists aboard Richard Branson’s new cruise line Virgin Voyages. As an educator, Will is passionate about meeting his students exactly where they are, and helping them take courageous steps towards finding and harnessing their own unique voice.

We are so excited you are with us, Will! Let’s make some magic this spring!

Stay tuned for Spring class announcements and registration! MARCH 15TH!

01/15/2021

Act Free | Proscenium Circus

Check out AB's latest play tonight and tomorrow, "Act Free." Black stories and plays and lives and people and history and ideas MATTER!
https://www.abdrama.org/act-free?fbclid=IwAR2rgTJ8Y-Nb2xt7sjy9KQKQLgaBWejYnMBZ--AL6h8m-QN16srM1Uye35E

Proscenium Circus is proud to present a short play, “Act Free”, written by award-winning playwright and poet, Idris Goodwin. To honor Martin Luther King Day and inspire conversation about the Black and Brown experience in America, join the conversation of what it means to truly attain freedom as...

12/24/2020

Santa Claus (Original) | Trisha and Thara

Love this Christmas jingle from our resident song writing duo!!! So catchy and fun!👏

Hope you enjoy our Christmas Original ‘Santa Claus’!!STREAM OUR DEBUT SINGLE:https://songwhip.com/trishaandthara/you-used-to-be🌺 Follow us 🌺Instagram: htt...

12/19/2020

One more chance to see our FREE, final, LIVE showcase of this Fall’s musical theatre workshop with 5-8 year olds! Your heart needs songs from ANNIE right now! DM for the private zoom link.
Sunday, Dec 20th at 12pm!
This is a snapshot with our audience last week with our 9-14 year olds! They rocked it!

12/04/2020

Check it out!!!!

YOU USED TO BE IS OUT NOW!!!!!

https://songwhip.com/trishaandthara/you-used-to-be

11/24/2020

Thank YOU for your support, your love and for spreading the word about this small, theatrical upstart of a program! Winter classes will be announced soon!

09/29/2020

Say ‘hello’ to the newest member of the Paper Moon family, Audrey II! She is a growing tree from our local treasure trove, .black ! Thank you so much for finding our home vocal studio the perfect watchman and mascot!!!

09/19/2020

Sisters singing "Sisters" from White Christmas

Smile, sing, dance and SHINE! Sibling discounts available for all classes! Fall classes start tomorrow! Don't miss out on our fabulous theatre, movement and music offerings on ZOOM as well as in-person (outside) voice lessons!

https://www.papermoonworkshop.com/

Camila and Pietra having a blast in an outdoor voice lesson with Fran Weber from Paper Moon Workshop!