About Us
Philosophy of the Studio | Studio Benefits | Biographies
Philosophy of the Studio
The Let's Play
School of Performing Arts focuses on providing students with the best
performing arts education possible in a friendly and relaxed, yet
professional environment. We teach to the student's needs and desires.
We believe that the journey through this education is as important as
the resulting destination a student can reach. Students do not master
things overnight, but the education can last a lifetime.
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Studio Benefits
Our studio setting for arts instruction is unique to the area, allowing
students to learn in a professional, yet comfortable school-like
setting. Generally, students find they apply themselves and focus
better, and therefore advance and learn more rapidly. Our instructors
are well-educated and experienced in the arts. We offer recitals,
contests, evaluations and conferences to update progress levels with
families, our Player! Newsletter, and several opportunities to become
involved with the arts throughout the year. And our entertainment
offerings provide something for all ages to be entertained in a
memorable and one-of-a-kind way. As always, we strive to provide means
for all "Players" to partake in and learn from their exposure to the
arts!
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Biographies
Let's Play Bio
Heidi Heeren Grimsley Bio
Randy Grimsley Bio
Kate Wismer Bio
Micah Wetzel Bio
Eric Creswell Bio
Jaret Stormo Bio
Let's Play Bio
Let’s Play
opened in September 2005, after owners Randy and Heidi Grimsley sold
their previous studio in Illinois to return to their home state roots.
Let’s Play is unique in the varied and well-rounded expertise it
brings to its offerings. All instructors have or are soon to
receive their arts-related degrees. They have years of experience
studying, instructing, and/or performing their skills for
audiences. And they continue strengthening their abilities thru
studies or performing. And thanks to our original Teacher
Integration Program, students can receive the value of multiple
insights. In short, these are the people to trust to share their
knowledge and skills with you, the student.
And as an actual studio learning center, Let’s Play is a unique
business offering in the Brookings area. A true studio method of
learning provides several benefits to anyone studying the arts.
And the benefits are as varied as the students who enter our
doors. It may be the predictability of time and place people
enjoy. It may be the ability to study in a professional location,
not a place doing double-duty as a living room or basement. It
may be the sense of “community” such as what occurs when
you look around and realize everyone in the building is also sharing
your same goals and ideas. We’ve instructed both out of our
home, in students’ homes, and in studio environments over the
years. Perhaps you’ve reached the same conclusion as us,
that the multiple benefits of learning in a studio environment add up
to a student who easily learns and progresses. They take the
study seriously, gain responsibility, are exposed to more diversity,
and show an increased respect for the arts. We’ve seen it
in what is now the thousands of children and adults we’ve worked
with over the many years. We hope you see it, too.
The students at Let’s Play come for a variety of reasons.
Initially, it is because of their desire to learn, try new things, and
have lots of fun. They stay because of the excellent fine arts
instruction available to both individuals, groups and various schools,
and at an affordable price. The offerings cover the spectrum of
age from baby to senior citizen, school student to businessman.
And students know they are part of a shared Let’s Play community,
filled with others who want to do their best to “celebrate life
thru the arts” while bringing energy and life to the Brookings
community.
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Heidi Heeren Grimsley
Let’s Play Owner/Instructor
Heidi Heeren
Grimsley began her singing and instrumental studies as a five-year-old
in Beresford, South Dakota. She spent her early years performing
throughout the Midwest with her siblings in “The Heeren
Sisters.” During this time she began composing original
material, screen-tested for the “Annie” film lead, and
continued music studies prior to attending St. Olaf College in
Minnesota. She eventually transferred to South Dakota State
University to direct and accompany numerous stage productions,
including “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Pump Boys and
Dinettes,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” among
others. Some of her favorite stage roles include lead
performances in “Nunsense,” and “Anything
Goes.”
Before receiving
her Bachelor of Music Education degree and her Bachelor degree in
Communication Studies and Theatre, she began an affiliation with 4H
Performing Arts Troupes throughout the Midwest. Mrs. Grimsley has
been a music teacher in South Dakota and Illinois public school systems
before beginning to teach privately. She ran a successful music
school called “Stu’sStudio! School of Performing
Arts“, in Aurora, Illinois from 1999 - 2005 with her husband and
business partner Randy Grimsley. It was in that studio that her
music curriculum “Music & Me,” a program developed for
infants/toddlers and their parents, was created. Mrs. Grimsley
composed all original music, lyrics, and recordings as well as
completely developed the program curriculum itself. Eventually,
Mrs. Grimsley plans to license both “Music & Me” and a
music instruction piano series to instructors nationwide.
In September 2005, the Grimsleys opened “Let’s Play School
of Performing Arts.” She thoroughly enjoys being back in
South Dakota and is excited for the many years to come. Having
recently music directed productions “The Full Monty” and
“Bat Boy” Mrs. Grimsley enjoys the many opportunities found
at South Dakota State University Theatre. She is so fortunate to
be able to work and instruct with such a variety of students and music
programs and loves the challenge of each new day. She also has
two CDs of original material, “Another Chapter” and
“Under the Orange Moon.” Recently she acted as composer for
“Group,“ an original musical soon to be produced as an SDSU
Main stage production in 2008. She continues her involvement in
the arts outside of studio hours with select performances, ongoing
compositions of new music, and spending quality time with her husband
Randy and daughter Francie.
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Randy Grimsley
Let’s Play Owner/Instructor
Randy Grimsley
began performing in his family band, “The Grimsley
Brothers,” when he was three years old. Playing tambourine
and napping between sets, he grew up playing weddings and nightclubs
throughout the Midwest until he was nearly 10 years old. His
interest in theatre began when he was thirteen and cast in a local
touring production of “The Sound of Music.” His
involvement in the South Dakota Centennial celebration led to a
performance for then President George Bush, Sr. He also directed
performing arts troupes in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Illinois.
Mr. Grimsley received his Bachelor of Science degree in Communication
Studies and Theatre from South Dakota State University. While
there, he continued performances in several musical and non-musical
productions, including leads in “Diamond Studs,”
“Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “You Can’t Take it With
You,” “Lend Me a Tenor,” and more.
As a graduate student, he also worked within the Speech Communications
Dept. at SDSU before moving to Chicago in the mid 1990‘s.
While initially performing in Chicago, he followed a
“normal” life for a while to balance the risks involved
with starting a performing arts studio with his wife and business
partner, Heidi Heeren Grimsley. Mr. Grimsley served as Media
Director for both the Illinois Trade Association and ad agency Emery
and Associates, as well as Client Services Manager for PBS Television
and WFMT public radio in Chicago. In early 2002, he dedicated
himself full time to the studio work. Selling their studio and
relocating back to Brookings with his wife and daughter, Mr. Grimsley
still enjoys performing and working with students. The Grimsleys
started the Let‘s Play studio in 2005 to continue spreading the
knowledge that life is best celebrated thru the arts.
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Kate Wismer
Let’s Play Instructor
Kate Wismer comes
to Let’s Play having already studied music and performing for
years. This vocal music education major at SDSU started
singing at age three, and began studying piano at age eight. Kate
has played in numerous recitals, although her personal favorites
occurred in her Grandmother’s living room, as Kate began
instruction with her aunt - a continued source of inspiration for
her. Kate continues her long tradition of being active in the
arts with her work in both instrumental and vocal ensembles. She
finds time to enjoy theater, most notably as Anna in PRT’s 2007
production of “King and I.” Kate is also the
recipient of the 2007 Lorraine Bruce Vocal Award. Additionally,
she is proud to represent our state as Miss South Dakota 2007.
She looks forward to working with the many students at Let’s Play!
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Micah Wetzel
Let’s Play Instructor
Micah Wetzel's
music career started at the age of ten, while he has been focused
solely on the guitar for the past several years. He performs his music
throughout the area regularly, and has recently returned once again to
the recording studio. With his second full-length album on the way, he
hopes to share his music with others, while continuing to increase his
fan base. Mr. Wetzel enjoys working with kids, having worked at various
after school programs in both Minnesota and South Dakota. Some younger
students may recognize him from his current work at Hillcrest
Elementary, which he does in addition to his attendance at SDSU. He is
pursuing degrees in both Music and Business, which allows him to
continue to perform and grow as a musician. Happily, it also
allows him to share his knowledge with students at Let‘s Play!
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Eric Creswell
Let’s Play Instructor
Eric Creswell
joins Let’s Play as the leader of visual arts studies. He
helped develop the curriculum with instruction and classes in drawing,
painting, and other fine arts offerings. He received his BA in
Art History and his teaching certificate from the University of Iowa,
before working in the Iowa school system. His teaching experience
includes preschool through high school art, as well as adult education
classes at the Marshalltown Community College. He remains an
active artist specializing in drawing and painting, and is excited to
be part of the Let’s Play Cast and Crew!
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Jaret Stormo
Let’s Play Instructor
Jaret Stormo joins
us as a Hayti, SD native who has been actively studying piano since the
age of five, even participating in numerous festivals and
competitions. While he continues toward perfecting his final
recital at SDSU, he has remained an active performer. From his
work with the SDSU Statesmen, Concert Choir, Opera Workshop, Madrigal
Dinner, and even the Civic Symphony, Jaret continues to hone his
skills. Soon reaching his goal with a Music Business degree, he
continues as the organist for the church in Bryant as he has for the
past 10 years. Jaret is a wonderful performer, and we
welcome him to the team!
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