About Us

Providing high quality Performing Arts training & experiences for all ages - regardless of skill or experience.

STAGE DOOR Performing Arts Academy is a Performing Arts training institute in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.  We currently offer classes in Musical Theatre, Drama and Singing for students aged 5 years through to 18, pre-school drama classes for 3-5 year olds, and a monthly community choir for teens and adults. 

Dedicated to providing the best possible experience for students of any skill level, our mission is to offer a welcoming and inclusive environment where students will feel safe to explore their creativity, build relationships and most importantly, have fun!  We're committed to meeting the needs of our rohe for performing arts tuition while also growing our performing arts community by providing opportunities for rangitahi to experience the performing arts and all its associated benefits locally.

Stage Door began operations in 2014 with a small selection of students aged 7-18 across four weekly classes. Within just 5 years we expanded to have over 200 students enrolled, as well as a healthy number of casual students.

Founder Trace Tidd has been heavily involved in theatre since childhood, going on to study in the performing arts after graduating from Whakatane's Trident High School. She is extremely passionate about the Performing Arts, and Musical Theatre in particular. Trace has appeared in countless theatre productions and numerous concerts, events and variety performances around New Zealand, both amateur and professional.  In addition to running Stage Door Trace works as a private singing teacher, vocal coach, and performer, and is a regular tutor at the annual National Youth Drama School. She is a familiar face to Whakatane audiences, appearing locally in recent years as Nancy in Oliver, Grizabella in Cats, Eva in Evita and in Divas in Concert.

In addition to our regular weekly classes and monthly Voices Community Choir, we also host regular workshops, seminars and concerts featuring a variety of industry professionals.  Stay tuned to our Facebook page for exciting new developments as well as information about our upcoming youth production.

"Thank you to all the Stage Door tutors for all the time and effort you put in with our children. You do an amazing job! And they love it!!! You guys ROCK!!!"

~ Mikayla