BridgeUP:
Theater in the Schools

A Helen Gurley Brown Foundation Initiative Bringing Theater to Classrooms

The mission of BridgeUP: Theater in the Schools is to increase theater access and learning resources for 4th-6th grade students throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.

Northern Stage partners with area elementary and middle schools to offer an eight-week residency program of performative experiential learning that supports the curriculum of the classroom. Over the course of the 8 weeks the classrooms will learn and perform an abridged version of a Shakespeare Play. In addition we invite the schools to attend our Holiday production each season. The program introduces young people to theater through low-cost access to professional productions and arts education.

BridgeUP Partner Schools are selected by invitation only and after a formal application process. Contact Co-Directors of Education Sam Empey at sempey@northernstage.org and Kevin David Thomas at at kthomas@northernstage.org if you would like to be considered as a BridgeUP Partner School.

Hear from our past BridgeUP students and teachers by clicking HERE.

“You taught our students the elements of drama, the difference between prose and poetry, and introduced them to iambic pentameter. You taught them poise, how to speak in public, and how to take risks when things seem challenging. You gave them a space where they were comfortable to try new things, to make suggestions, and to be creative. But above all else, you gave each and every one of them confidence: confidence to be risk takers, confidence to try something difficult, and confidence in themselves. These are gifts they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

– 4th Grade teacher, Hartford, VT