Welcome to YES Kids!
YES Kids is a fun, experiential learning program for students in 1st – 3rd grade, designed to introduce young people to the theater. Students will explore various aspects of the performing arts, including musical theater, Shakespeare, improvisation, short monologues and scenes, and more. The program will culminate in an invited family celebration, including theater games and a sing-along.
Calendar linked HERE
Classes will last two hours and will meet weekly.
Fall Session Dates – Cohort 1: 11/12/25, 11/19/25, 12/03/25, 12/10/25
Fall Session Dates – Cohort 2: 11/13/25, 11/20/25, 12/04/25, 12/11/25
Spring Session Dates – Cohort 1: 2/18/26, 2/25/26, 3/04/26, 3/11/26
Spring Session Dates – Cohort 2: 2/19/26, 2/26/26, 3/05/26, 3/12/26
Registration: $300
Financial Aid is available! Click HERE to learn more about our Sliding Scale Tuition Program and additional scholarships.
YES Kids FAQ
Click on the questions to learn more
We welcome students of all experience levels.
A 25% deposit is required to reserve a space in all Northern Stage programs. Payments must be made in full by the program start date. In an effort to ensure theater education is accessible to all, Northern Stage offers sliding scale tuition, need-based scholarships, and payment plans for our education programs. Please click HERE to learn more.
Northern Stage’s refund policies for Education programs:
– Cancellations 60+ days before the classes begin: 75% refund
– Cancellations 30-59 days before the classes begin: 50% refund
– Cancellations within 30 days: No refund
For additional information contact Co-Directors of Education Sam Empey at sempey@northernstage.org and Kevin David Thomas at kthomas@northernstage.org or the Box Office at boxoffice@northernstage.org.
We understand that some students are at different levels of maturity than their peers, but we design the YES program and its productions with specific grades in mind. With very few exceptions we urge you to sign up for the program/production that fits the student’s school year.
We no longer require Covid testing to participate in Northern Stage programs. Students experiencing coughing, sore throat, fever or gastrointestinal distress must contact program administrators to determine whether they can come to rehearsal/performance days.
If your child has a fever of 100 degrees or greater or if they have vomited two or more times in the past 24 hours, they may not return to Northern Stage. They are welcome back once they have been fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medication. For further questions you can contact Sam Empey at sempey@northernstage.org.
The Northern Stage Education department will typically cancel rehearsals and classes when a majority of surrounding school districts cancel school or have an early release due to inclement weather. We will reach out through email and/or phone to alert families to any cancellations. A make-up rehearsal or class will typically be scheduled to make up for any lost time, schedule permitting.
Weather-related performance cancellations are very unusual but do sometimes occur. If we are experiencing inclement weather on the day of a student performance, Northern Stage will determine if a cancellation is necessary and alert students’ families to the situation as quickly as possible.
For further questions you can contact Sam Empey at sempey@northernstage.org.
You will receive confirmation from the Northern Stage Box Office, and will be contacted by the Education department closer to the start of the program with a detailed schedule and an Online Student Intake Form. This form must be completed before the start of the program or the student will be unable to participate.
We will not have a ticketed public performance. However, on the last day of the program we will invite families to come enjoy treats, play games and participate in a group sing-along.
Communication
Theater is about collaboration and good communication is a pillar of this activity. When you sign up for this program, you are making a commitment to clear communication. Parents must check their email regularly and read all the information we send out. We encourage YES students to be actively engaged in email communication alongside their parents.
We are grateful to Janet Miller Haines and Heywood Alexander, Education Fund donors, and our entire family of supporters for making YES scholarships possible. If you would like to set up a payment plan or have questions about payment options, please email boxoffice@northernstage.
