Education

Education @ Hartford Stage

All levels of experience are welcome!

Hartford Stage offers innovative theater education programs for children, educators, and adults, creating opportunities to learn, perform, and experience the power of live theater. Our programs use theater to build creativity, confidence, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Serving more than 12,000 students and adults each year, Hartford Stage is committed to making quality arts education accessible to learners of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Youth Programs
Adult Programs
School Programs

AGES 16-21

Breakdancing Shakespeare

Breakdancing Shakespeare is a six-week summer program for teens that fuses hiphop dance and classical text.

Participants reimagine Shakespeare through choreography, acting, and music.

Learn More

Learn Together at Hartford Stage

Student Matinees

Bring your middle schools and high schools students to see a show! Each student matinee is followed by an educational talkback.

Learn More

Youth Studio

Educational programs designed for children and teens to build acting skills, confidence, and collaboration. Studio classes emphasize fun, creativity, and hands-on learning activities.

Winter Classes

Adult Studio

Whether you’re new to acting or looking to strengthen your craft, these hands-on classes offer opportunities to develop skills and discover something new in a welcoming, collaborative environment.

Fall Classes

School Programs

Hartford Stage partners with schools to bring theater, creativity, and hands-on learning into the classroom and beyond. Through customized school-wide partnerships, in-school residencies, and after-school programs, students can explore literature, strengthen reading and communication skills, build confidence, and experience the collaborative process of theater.

Learn More

Education Programs for Adults & Educators

For more information about how you can support or get involved with our education programs, please contact us.

Call 860-520-7244

Professional Development

Workshops designed to engage and empower through arts- integrated learning techniques.

Learn More

Teaching Artist Information

Job opportunities, upcoming events, and more for local teaching artists.

Learn More

Meet the Staff

Click on a name to read their bio.

Have a question?

Please contact Emely Larson for more information.

Email Emely

Call (203) 908-1832.

Jennifer Roberts

Director of Education

education_Jennifer-Roberts

Jennifer Roberts

Director of Education

Jennifer Roberts is in her seventh year at Hartford Stage, having previously held the position of Education Associate for Literary and In-School Programs. Before coming to Hartford Stage, she worked as the Resident Teaching Artist at George Street Playhouse and served as the Artistic Director of the Papermill Children’s Theatre in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Her work as a director and playwright has been recognized by the Austin Circle of Theatres and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. Her essay on the future of theatre and education, “Changing the How”, was published in the November 2008 issue of TCG’s American Theatre magazine. She received a Masters degree of Fine Arts in Drama and Theatre for Youth from the University of Texas at Austin.

Nina Pinchin

Associate Director of Education

education_Nina-Pinchin

Nina Pinchin

Associate Director of Education

Nina is responsible for overseeing department curricula for all programs, recruiting and training teaching artists, implementing professional development, and assisting the Director of Education in forming new partnerships and increasing Hartford Stage’s visibility in the community. In her artistic work, Nina has directed the Hartford Stage Young Company in Breakdancing Shakespeare productions of The Tempest, Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors, and Antony and Cleopatra. Other local directing projects include productions at Central Connecticut State University, Anna Maria College, Classical Magnet High School, Hebrew High School of New England, the Hartford Public Library, and Hartford Stage’s Write On! festival. She has also directed at Chicago’s Bailiwick Rep., the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, the Vital and Access Theatres in New York, and the Studio Space at Portland Stage Company. Assisting credits include working alongside director John Dillon and playwright Ariel Dorfman on the world premiere of Picasso’s Closet and with Josh Fox – director of the Academy Award nominated documentary Gasland – on his debut film Memorial Day. Nina received her MFA from Sarah Lawrence and her BA from Bowdoin College. She is a member of the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab, and an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. Nina also teaches evening courses at Capital Community College and Anna Maria College in Paxton MA where she is advisor to the Drama and Improv clubs.

Emely Larson

Studio Manager

education_Emely-Larson

Emely Larson

Studio Manager

Emely has taught in the Connecticut area for many years – teaching such classes as Comedy Improv, Accents and Dialects, Audition Workshops as well as providing acting coaching to students of all ages and levels. Some of her students have gone onto study at Stamford University, Eastern CT State University and one student has appeared in the film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Emely has also directed several productions including The Hobbit, Bang Bang You’re Dead, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Under Jekyll’s Hyde, Sally Cotter and the Prisoner of Ala Katraz and How I Became a Pirate. As a performer, Emely has appeared in many productions with area theatres such as Hartford Stage, Hartford Children’s Theatre, The Spirit of Broadway, Capital Classics Shakespeare Festival and Newington Mainstage. Emely is a highly trained professional, having earned her BFA from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, and also works as lead singer for her band “Hardwood.”