Northern Stage’s Education department seeks to broaden our relationship to the community by engaging with theater lovers of all ages through youth training and in-school programs, external events, internships, and adult learning opportunities. Led by new Director of Education Rob Grant, the department brings world-class theater professionals to the Upper Valley to provide unique training that challenges students and inspires them to create great art.
Education programs are made possible by the leadership support of the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation, The Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation, The Mary W. Harriman Foundation, Bonnie & Clint Swift, Gail & John Wasson, Hypertherm Owner’s Philanthropic Endeavors (HOPE) Foundation, The Sabra M. Hamilton Foundation, Education Fund Donors, and our entire family of supporters. To support changing lives, one story at a time through a Bespoke gift to our Education programs, please click here.
YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMS:
BOOT CAMP Boot Camp is a year-round program for high school juniors and seniors who want to pursue theater arts in college. Boot Camp provides personalized and in-depth mentorship in acting, singing, and dancing as well as college counseling to guide them through the highly competitive audition process.
PAC PAC (Production Apprentice Program) offers a variety of Production and Design opportunities tailored to each student’s unique capabilities and aspirations. They receive training from professional theater artisans on a one-on-one basis, in group master classes, and working on professional shows. PAC students engage in hands-on learning in their areas of focus, such as carpentry, sewing, props fabrication, and stage management. YES YES (Youth Ensemble Studio) is the core of Education at Northern Stage. Actors in grades 7-12 get to attend all Northern Stage shows, take masterclasses led by world-class artists, and the opportunity to perform in three productions a year. Past performances by the YES students include Yo, Vikings!, Twelfth Night, Brown Girl Dreaming, The Skin of Our Teeth, and She Kills Monsters. YES Jr. YES (Youth Ensemble Studio) Jr. is designed for students with a passion for theater in grades 4-6. They meet for acting workshops twice a week leading up to a five day February Vacation Camp that culminates in a studio show for friends and family. In past seasons, YES Jr. has performed The Emperor’s New Clothes, Charlotte’s Web, and Alice In Wonderland.
SMTI SMTI (Summer Musical Theater Intensive) is our celebrated theater training program for students ages 12-18. Over the course of five weeks, students rehearse and perform a full-scale broadway musical. This program is designed to extend the professionalism of our main stage to our young actors. Past productions include School Of Rock, James And The Giant Peach, and Legally Blonde.
SUMMER CAMPS A perfect introduction to theater! Classes focus on teamwork, self-confidence, and acting techniques. These half-day camps for students in grades 1-7 take place in late June and early July. Details about our summer camps are announced each winter.
E-TERM The Dartmouth Experiential Term grew from theDartmouth Theater Department’s awareness that students in the arts rarely have the opportunity to work alongside professionals in the field. During the E-Term, Dartmouth students interact with multiple aspects of theater production, from the logistics of running a not-for-profit business to the creation of the art itself. Since graduating, 10 E-Termers have come back to work for Northern Stage and others have gone on to companies such as Saturday Night Live, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Disney.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOLS:
BRIDGEUP The mission of BridgeUP: Theater in the Schools is to provide access to theater for elementary and middle school students throughout Vermont and New Hampshire. BridgeUP brings theater teaching artists into classrooms for a five week residency to teach an entire grade a 30 minute adaptation of a Shakespeare play. This program culminates in a public performance at Northern Stage. In 2021, we brought the BridgeUP program online, expanding our reach to 21 schools. In 2022, we look forward to being back in person with brand new show kits containing professionally designed costumes, props, and music to support these actors. BridgeUP supports the curricular needs of underserved schools by introducing young people to the magic of theater.
STUDENT MATINEE SERIES Northern Stage offers school-time matinees of select professional productions. Student’s imaginations are nourished under the lights and action of full-length productions at a discounted price. Before the show, students receive a study guide to use at a talk-back with professional actors immediately following the performance. Please contact Northern Stage’s Audience Services Manager, Michael Nichols, directly by emailing mnichols@northernstage.org or by calling 802-296-7000.
ADULT EDUCATION:
BACKSTAGE@NORTHERNSTAGE Backstage@NorthernStage is a series of four – five workshops offered in collaboration with local life-long learning partner organizations (Adventures in Learning, Osher at Dartmouth, and the Woodstock Learning Lab). Each program is announced on our website and via our partner organization. This course is a series of experiential workshops and discussions led by members of Northern Stage’s Leadership Team, special guests, and members of the production’s design team and cast. Each series is offered in conjunction with a selected main stage production and is designed to bring you closer to the artists and craft of Northern Stage.
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Success in business means finding comfort in uncomfortable situations and building a highly effective team. We can customize a program to help employees or individuals work on public speaking, presentation skills, team building, and more using acting and theater techniques. Interested in a day with your co-workers or employees? Please contact Eric Love to create your tailored workshop.
SPOT ON CONVERSATIONS Spot On is a series of community conversations designed to illuminate the major themes of selected plays in Northern Stage’s main stage season. Featuring artists, academics, community leaders, and inspirational figures you will want to hear from, these conversations are curated to spark resonant dialogue among our community members. Conversations take place prior to a Sunday afternoon performance: talks begin at 3 PM and end at 4 PM and are followed by receptions in the Roesch Family Lobby with light snacks and beverages.
