It’s the heart of summer, and every parent knows how this goes. The pool trips and camps were great, but the “I’m bored” chorus has begun, and Friday night rolls around with everyone itching for something new to do. CAA has the answer!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of PopArts, a brand-new monthly kids’ night out right here in Matthews that blends hands-on arts immersion with the pure joy of pizza and a movie.
PopArts is four hours of arts, new friends, dinner, and a movie, all led by the professional teaching artists of our CAA faculty. But it’s more than a drop-off night. Each PopArts event is designed around a featured film, and the movie is the finale, not the whole show.
Before the lights dim, kids spend nearly two hours in arts immersion inspired by the night’s movie. Depending on the theme, that might mean singing, acting, visual art, dancing, or all four. When the night’s feature is Harry Potter, expect a night filled with magical artworks. When it’s The Greatest Showman, expect some circus-inspired fun. Our teachers build each experience from scratch so that by the time the movie starts, kids aren’t just watching a movie. They’re watching a story they’ve already stepped inside.
Then comes the part every kid votes for: pizza, a movie, and a room full of new friends.
4:45-5:00 PM: Arrival and check-in. Get your child settled with our friendly staff, then head out and enjoy yourself. You’ve earned it.
5:00-6:45 PM: Arts immersion. A hands-on, themed experience in Music, Theatre, Visual Art, or Dance, centered on the night’s featured movie.
6:45-7:00 PM: Clean up and wind down. Wrapping up the creative fun and washing hands before dinner.
7:00-9:00 PM: Pizza and the movie. Pizza, the big featured movie, and a whole lot of happy kids.
8:45-9:00 PM: Pickup. Pick-up your thoroughly entertained PopArts star and hear all about it on the drive home!
Who is it for? PopArts is designed for kids ages 7 to 13.
How much does it cost? Tickets are $40 per child and include the arts instruction, pizza dinner, and the movie. Prefer to send your own dinner? Choose our $30 arts-and-movie option instead. Either way, payment is collected at registration right on our website.
What about allergies? PopArts is a nut-free event, and a gluten-free pizza option is available. Just note any food allergies on the registration form.
Who’s teaching? The same experienced, professional teaching artists who make up our CAA faculty. Meet them below!
Each night is guided by four experienced, professional teaching artists from our CAA faculty, familiar faces our students already know and love.
Marissa Hertzfeld, Musical Theatre & Acting Teacher
A Charlotte native with a Theatre Education degree from Appalachian State, Marissa has directed Academy favorites like Willy Wonka Jr, Matilda Jr, Beauty and the Beast Jr, and The Wizard of Oz, and led our Jr Theatre Festival troupe to an Excellence in Acting award in Atlanta. She believes theatre builds confidence, empathy, and creative problem solving, and she brings that same joy of self-discovery to every PopArts night.
Jesse Armstrong, Art Teacher
With more than 15 years of art-teaching experience, Jesse serves as fine arts department chair at East Mecklenburg High School, helped write the CMS K-5 visual arts curriculum, and was nominated for CMS 9-12 Visual Arts Teacher of the Year in 2026. Now in her fourth year at The Academy, she can’t wait to create awesome art projects inspired by each month’s movie.
Cameryn Bost, Music Teacher
An educator and performer, Cameryn teaches music and theatre at Chantilly Montessori, where she has directed many musicals and earned back-to-back nominations for CMS Up & Coming Arts Educator of the Year. Her performance resume spans musical theatre and opera, including Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, and after several years with The Academy she can’t wait for PopArts.
Lindsey Ranz, Musical Theatre, Dance & Acting Teacher
A theatre teacher, director, and choreographer who fell in love with the stage at 15, Lindsey studied Film Acting at the Savannah College of Art and Design and Theater Education at the University of Northern Colorado, and most recently directed and choreographed our summer production of The Little Mermaid Jr. She believes theatre is about more than performing, and she loves helping young performers build empathy, confidence, and a lifelong love of storytelling.
We’re treating our first year like a great series, and every episode is a favorite. From holiday classics like Elf in December to Broadway-sized adventures like Wicked in the spring, there’s a night here for every kind of kid. And with a new theme every month, no two PopArts nights will ever feel the same. Here’s the full Season One lineup:
August 14, 2026 Wonka
September 11, 2026 SING!
October 9, 2026 Harry Potter
November 13, 2026 Hairspray
December 11, 2026 Elf
January 8, 2027 Frozen
February 12, 2027 The Greatest Showman
March 12, 2027 Peter Rabbit
April 9, 2027 Wicked
May 14, 2027 Annie
June 11, 2027 Into the Spider-Verse
July 9, 2027 Phineas & Ferb
At Charlotte Academy of the Arts, we believe in developing confident, creative students of character through excellence in the arts. PopArts is that mission in its most joyful form! Every night is built on the values that guide everything we do: leading with kindness, creating with excellence, growing in character, and serving with purpose. That means every child who walks through our doors on a PopArts night steps into a warm, welcoming environment where kindness is the expectation and every kid feels like they belong. They’ll leave with new skills, new friends, and a new favorite memory.
Registration is quick and simple: sign up and pay directly on our website, and get ready for an amazing night. Spots are limited and our first event is coming fast, so don’t wait. Season One begins Friday, August 14, 2026 with Wonka.
Reserve your child’s spot today → We’ll see you (well, your kids) at PopArts!
