If your child has an interest or talent in singing and/or acting, I've got a gem to share with you! Theater in the Park is a small, locally owned and run theater group for kids ages 3 to 16. Rehearsals and lessons are held at the Severna Park Community Center, and performances are held either at the community center or Anne Arundel Community College.
Types of Programs
There are several types of programs to choose from, including a musical that kids rehearse and perform in and special dedicated acting and singing classes. Both the musicals and classes are broken down by age. For musicals, each age group performs the same musical and is specially adapted and modified to be age appropriate.
* Broadway Babies - for kids ages 3 - 6
* Broadway Juniors - for kids ages 6 - 9
* Broadway Pre-Teens - for kids ages 9 - 11
* Broadway Teens - for kids ages 12 - 16
* Youth Actor's Studio (YAS) - Acting for kids ages 9 - 16
* Pitch Perfect for Kids - Vocals for kids ages 9 - 16
* Superstars Acting and Storytelling - Acting for kids ages 5 - 9
My Family's Experience
My 7-year-old son, Quinten, participated in his first Theater in Park musical this past fall. He had asked to take "acting classes," but my husband and I thought that him being a part of a production would be best since he could experience first hand if acting was really an interest he wanted to pursue. We are so glad we did! Quinten, my husband and I could not have been happier with our experience.
Quinten was in the Broadway Juniors production of Legally Grade School, which was an original production written by their play's own director and local playwright, Phil Kittiver. The older groups performed Legally Blonde, and Phil had written an adaptation of the musical for the younger kids. They rehearsed for approximately 12 weeks, and had 2 performances on a Saturday afternoon in December.
Why We Love Theater in the Park
- Theater in the Park strikes the right balance between fun and education. We could see from Day 1 that while Quinten was learning dancing and acting concepts, he had so much fun doing so, he did not even realize there was instruction happening. He couldn't wait for Saturday morning rehearsals.
- They meet the kids where they're at and foster each child's unique talents. For Broadways Juniors, there were not "auditions" per se for parts. Phil and his colleagues were able to see what role each child was best suited for and assigned them their parts.
- The scripts were easy to read and memorize for kids, and my husband and I could easily help Quinten with his lines.
- Professional head shots were included with tuition. We received both digital copies in color and black and white as well as a black and white print. At the performance, all the actors' heads shots were compiled on the cutest performance poster.
- Legally Grade School's performances were at the quaint Boone Station Hall on the grounds of the Severna Park Community Center. My husband and I loved the small, intimate setting, and we felt we were part of the action for Quinten's debut! Seeing all his hard work come together on stage was truly a highlight of our year.
- Both Phil and Theater in the Park's artistic director, Jennifer Lee, love their work, and their passion is evident in all they do. They have a zest for the arts and have a special gift of working and connecting with kids.
Quinten loved his experience so much he asked to enroll in Beauty and Beast for the spring session. There is no better endorsement than a returning customer! We were thrilled too, because if indeed theater turns into a long-term interest for him, we are thrilled that Theater in the Park is where he will continue to learn and grow, all the while having FUN!
My son participated in the Broadway Juniors program in exchange for this review. All opinions shared in this article are my own. Photos are courtesy of Theater in the Park.
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