Education and Youth Programs
Education and Youth Programs
Camps and Classes for youth enrolled in grades Kindergarten-12th
Matinee Performances, Workshops & Residencies for School Groups
Mission & Values
Mission
To inspire and support curious, confident young people who use theatre-making to make connections to their community and world.
Values
Generosity- Sharing ideas, space, and self by collaborating with peers and staff respectfully and responsibly.
Mastery- Practicing Theatre Making with experienced and skilled instructors who encourage excellence.
Self-Advocacy- Confidence to use physical, vocal, and emotional expression of self to communicate ideas and needs.
Inspiration- Using personal discoveries, and exploring the world and community to creatively develop stories, ideas, and solutions.
Kindergarten-2nd Grade Programs
Using Story Drama, Process Drama, and Creative Drama practices, these young artists will explore a guided dramatic experience that explores creative problem solving, story creation, and social-emotional learning.
Learning Goals & Outcomes
Use imagination to create characters, worlds, and problem solving techniques.
Use body and voice to express character and environment at an emerging level
Develop and express a wide range of emotions, physicality, and vocal techniques
Contribute to the adaptation of dialogue, and plot of story
Make real world connections between stories and community
Imagine and create props, costumes, art and other physical story elements
Use collaboration to discover, adapt, and create stories using a 3-part story structure breakdown.
3rd-5th Grade Programs
The focus of these camps and classes are building the foundations of theatre making and performance skills through a variety of theatre styles. Rooted in the exploration of character, relationships, objective and environment, these classes and camps develop physical, vocal, and emotional creative expression through storytelling and theatre activities.
Learning Goals & Outcomes
All skills from K-2 and…
Build an Actor’s Toolkit of skills including voice, body, story, community collaboration, and imagination..
Understand and demonstrate foundational theatre vocabulary such as projection, diction, stage directions, given circumstances, etc.
Observing, Practicing, Recognizing and Evaluating the role of an audience
Use collaboration to discover, adapt, and create stories using a 5-part story structure breakdown.
Use thoughtful reflection and discussion to give and receive comprehensive feedback
Learn the basics of a rehearsal process
Make story connections to community, history, and social/global issues
6th-8th Grade Programs
These camps and classes put the spotlight on specific theatre making styles and procedures. Students are encouraged to explore theatre making that encourages deep understanding and appreciation. Working in collaboration with peers and staff, young artists work toward honing a variety of theatre making skills, in a variety of experience levels.
Learning Goals & Outcomes
All skills from K-5th and…
Contribute student voice and perspective into staging and design
Deepen understanding of Actor’s Toolkit and explore movement, pitch/tone, objective, gesture, and expression.
Apply critical analysis to art works and collaborations. Share leadership roles and collaborative goals.
Introduce building blocks for the creative process rooted in personal, historical, or social perspectives.
Compare and contrast a variety of theatre making styles
9th-12th Grade Programs
Designed for high school students, these programs enhance and elevate a broad range of theatre making skills. From backstage, to on stage, students are challenged and inspired to explore the world through a variety of perspectives and experiences.
Learning Goals & Outcomes
All skills from K-8th and…
Hone skills to produce believable and authentic artistic choices
Research, Formulate, and Justify artistic choices in a original or scripted story
Incorporate advanced technical production elements
Pay-As-You're-Able
Our Pay-As-You're-Able (PAYA) tuition pricing initiative is a community effort to make our programs accessible to all families regardless of socio-economic status. The price listed for our programs reflects the true cost, but please choose whichever tuition level works best for your family, no questions asked. If additional support is needed beyond what is listed, please email us at creativelearning@parksquaretheatre.org
Please consider making a donation to the PAYA program. Upon registering for camps and classes, you will be asked if you'd like to add an additional contribution to PAYA.
If you would like to contribute without registering for classes, please visit our donation page by clicking the link below.
Community Engagement
If you would like to bring Park Square Education to your school, please email our programs manager, Rachel at creativelearning@parksquaretheatre.org
2024-2025 Student Matinee Season
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Written by Barbara Robinson Directed by Ellen Fenster
In this hilarious Holiday classic, a young parent struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids – probably the most awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the Herdmans collide head-on with the story of Christmas! This delightful show is adapted from the bestselling Young Adult book.
Thursdays December 5th, 12th, and 19th at 10:00am & 1:00pm
Fridays December 6th, 13th, and 20th at 1:00pm
Between Riverside and Crazy
Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis Directed By Stephen DiMenna
The story of Walter "Pops" Washington, an ex-cop and recent widower, who, with his recently paroled son Junior, struggle to hold onto one of the last rent-stabilized apartments on Riverside Drive in New York City. Suing the city for being shot while on duty by a fellow police officer, Walter tries to find justice within the system and in do so finds redemption and peace.
"A stunning achievement crackling with humor and shot through with surprises. A rare breed of theater." - Variety
SENSITIVE MATERIALS WARNING
Dates in May/June TBA
Class Policies & Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Register My Child For Programs?
Our online registration system, Coursestorm, is accessible by visiting our website and clicking directly on the photos, or REGISTER HERE button for each individual class. View our entire class catalogue by clicking HERE
To register over the phone, please call 651-291-7005 x105 between the hours of 10am-4pm Monday-Friday.
What Classes and Camps Should I Register My Child For?
Our programs are usually broken up by grade level, Kindergarten-2nd Grade, 3rd-5th Grade, 6th-8th Grade, 9th-12th Grade. We do not typically make age exceptions for students younger than kindergarten, or outside the listed grade level.
What Should Students Bring to Class?
Please make sure that your student has a water bottle, healthy snack or full lunch (depending on the length of the program), and is dressed comfortably in clothes and shoes that are secure and easy to move in.
Classes and camps longer than an hour will have planned snack and rest breaks.
Is My Child Performing A Play? What Can I Expect From Classes?
Our programs focus on building theatre skills through activities, games, scene work, collaboration, and many other tools. Some classes may work on scripted pieces, or work together to create an original story, but others may focus on a variety and combination of other theatre and art making skills. Occasionally we may feature certain programs, like production camps, that culminate in a featured performance for the public. The End of Class Showcase is a reflection of the classroom experience, and can take a variety of shapes and forms!
What If I Need to Cancel or Transfer a Class?
Our full cancelation policy is listed below. We are able to transfer registration into future programing at no cost to you. Please keep in mind, at the time of registration you are making a non-refundable deposit. Cancellation requests made two weeks before the start of programming will result in a refund of the tuition you paid, minus the non-refundable deposit.
Can My Child Perform in the Mainstage Productions?
Park Square Theatre will produce shows that feature youth actors. In those cases, we will communicate to our students and families, and encourage our students to audition!
Our programs are welcoming to all skill levels, if it's your first time on stage, or a seasoned veteran!