The Academy, Part 3

Jade has vanished. But when she awakens, she isn’t merely missing—she has been sent to a place that may, in fact, be where she was always meant to be. Meanwhile, Ralpha’s gift deepens, uncovering truths hidden in plain sight, while the appearance of “Dobblegrangers”—twisted reflections of ourselves—mirrors the complex identities we adopt to survive.

At The Academy, superpowers become allegories for the unseen coping skills of youth navigating trauma and foster care, revealing how resilience, imagination, and insight can emerge from adversity. In a world that often silences the vulnerable, Rosario faces a pivotal choice: abandon the system that shaped her or become the transformation she once longed to see for herself.

About the Film:
The Academy is a performance-based, narrative-driven exploration of trauma, identity, and empowerment. Each character’s superpower—Raven’s fire, Ralpha’s information insight, Dillon’s future-drawing, and Lydia’s ability to disappear—symbolizes the hidden strengths children in foster care develop to navigate uncertainty and reclaim agency.

Through cinematic storytelling and psychodramatic expression, the film illuminates the paradox of protection: sometimes the very acts meant to shield youth can inadvertently obscure or fragment their sense of self. By merging supernatural allegory with lived experiences, The Academy invites audiences to witness the resilience, creativity, and courage of youth who turn survival into power.

Key Themes:

• Identity and self-discovery under pressure
• Resilience emerging from trauma
• The cost and complexity of protection
• Transformation and empowerment in vulnerable populations

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Mark O'Donnell Theater at The Actors Fund Arts Center, 160 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, United States