Youth Programs
Upcoming Productions
Why Theatre?
Theatre has so much to offer!
- It is collaborative, so it helps build soft skills like listening, communication, and patience.
- It improves reading and reading comprehension skills.
- It helps build meaningful relationships.
- It encourages creativity.
- It improves self-esteem and confidence.
- It provides opportunities to work with field professionals.
- And it’s FUN!
This is just a short list of benefits that come from participating in theatre programming. Children have amazing imaginations, and at Theatre Atchison, we help guide that ability with focus and structure, which ends with a wonderful, final product to share with family and friends.
Programs
After School Players
ASP has been a popular program since it was developed by Travis Grossman in the early 2000s. It is designed for grades 2nd-6th. Two shows are produced each year – October and February. It operates with two casts – Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday – that rehearse from 4pm-6pm on their respective days. It is a six week rehearsal process that ends in two performances.
Next Step Players
NSP was developed by Amanda Joy Hauman in spring of 2020 but wasn’t realized until spring 2021. Its first show was Jolly Roger and the Pirate Queen. This program is for grades 7th-12th and produces one show. It only has one cast with a four week rehearsal process that ends in two performances at the beginning of May.
Summerstage
Summerstage is TA’s longest running youth program. It was developed in 1989 and has been running ever since. It is two three-week camps: June is for grades 2nd (matriculating to 3rd)-6th (matriculating to 7th) and July is for grades 7th (matriculating to 8th)-11th (matriculating to 12th). There are two sessions for each camp. The AM cast works from 8:30am-11:30am and the PM cast works from 12:30pm-3:30pm. With only two and a half weeks to produce a full show, it is a fun challenge for all involved. Not only are all participants guaranteed a role, but it is designed as a workshop so that they learn more about acting and theatre craft than our school year programs. Wonderful friendships and memories are built during Summerstage!
Education Director
Amanda Joy Hauman is the current Education Director at Theatre Atchison. She has been doing theatre for twenty-five years and has her MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University.
If you have any questions about TA’s youth programming or wanting to get involved, contact her at education@theatreatchison.org.