A Look Back at a Successful Education @ Hartford Stage Summer Studio

By Grace Clark, Education Enrollment and Marketing Coordinator

For the Education Department at Hartford Stage, the summer weeks between July 2 and August 17 consisted of over 300 students, 20 teaching artists, five productions (on two different stages), and more than 2,000 audience members.

On Hartford Stage’s mainstage, a cast of 18 took to the stage in Breakdancing Shakespeare Twelfth Night, marking the twelfth year of the program. Teens from Hartford, East Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartland, East Granby, Simsbury, Wethersfield and Windsor comprised the talented cast, who rehearsed for six weeks to create the energetic and hip-hop infused production of the classic text. The program is part of the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s Neighborhood Studios program.

Three miles down the road at Classical Magnet School in Hartford – which houses our Summer Studio program – the classrooms and studios were full of students. Students rehearsed and performed in four productions – Mary Poppins Jr., The Thrilling Tales of the Three Musketeers, and A Year with Frog and Toad Kids – all in Classical’s blackbox theatre. Our teen company concluded their summer with a production of The Addams Family, to standing ovations, on Hartford Stage’s mainstage downtown.

Meanwhile, the younger artists of the Children’s Cast, Day Dreamers and Bookends (ages 3-8) created charming performances through story theatre, music and movement, and a mixed-age ensemble of students wrapped up the summer with a One Act version of The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland.

As summer winds down, we’re looking forward to the fall. Back to school means student matinees, in-school and afterschool arts programs, and fall classes for students and adults. View more information and registration for our Fall Studio, including new satellite classes held in Avon, Connecticut.