On Stage is designed to enhance in-class learning, to make local theater relevant to younger and non-traditional audiences, and to lay the groundwork for building future theater attendance.

 

On Stage is a theater outreach program that brings actors and theater educators into classrooms and community settings around the Twin Cities. Actors and students read scenes from a play in current local production followed by a lively discussion of the themes tying in current events, personal values and narratives, and stimulating critical thinking. Subsequently attending the full play is encouraged.

​

The event/discussion is one-hour in length (10 minutes to introduce the play, 20 minutes for the actors to read two scenes from the play, and 30 minutes for a discussion with the students). We assume that students have not seen the show and know nothing about it prior to our visit.

​

On Stage continues to focus on partnering with more small/mid-sized theaters that don’t have the resources for their own outreach efforts, and the plays we choose to promote and discuss highlight a variety of social, cultural and political issues.

​

​

​

​
 

​

 

 

Total number of On Stage in-class and community setting discussions covering eighteen plays: 250+

 

Total number of students and community members On Stage has visited and exposed to local theater: 6,100+

​

Total number of students and community members who have paid to see the show before or after our discussions: 1,700+

​

28% of the students and community members we visited saw the play that was discussed. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

​

​

​

ON STAGE ACTS AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THEATERS, COLLEGES, HIGH

SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS TO HELP BUILD CONNECTIONS

FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE THEATER-GOERS.

​

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES:
 

St. Thomas University, University of Minnesota, St. Catherine University, Metro State University, Augsburg College, Macalester College, Concordia University, Hamline University, Bethel University, Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Normandale Community College, North Hennepin Community College, Hennepin Technical College, Century College, Inver Hills Community College, Summit Academy, St. Cloud State, Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies.

​

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS:

Communications, Sociology, Theater, English - Creative Writing, English - Literature, History, Education, Psychology, Music, Family Social Sciences, Leadership, Linguistics, Law, Environmental Science, Political Science, Women and Gender Studies, African American Studies, Addiction Studies, Culinary Arts. 

​

HIGH SCHOOLS:

 

Washburn High School, South High School, Southwest High School, Perpich Center for Arts Education, Harding High School.
 

COMMUNITY SETTINGS:
 

East Freedom Library, Shoreview Library, Sumner Community Public Library, Mill City Commons, Abiitan Mill City, Grandview Square, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, First Covenant Church, Hazelden Betty Ford, Lino Lakes Correctional Facility.

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

• ​​Students and younger audiences - Strengthening critical thinking skills and sparking emotional responses. Theater educators use theater to blend the arts and other educational disciplines to enhance in-class learning beyond the classroom. Students learn about the local theater community in the Twin Cities. 

​

• Teachers and community organizers - Shows teachers how theater can compliment academic content and for community organizers to see the relevance of local theater productions.

​

• Twin Cities Theaters - Marketing and outreach that reaches a wide range of younger and non-traditional theater audiences including a variety of college departments. On Stage also helps create a continuous link between teachers, community organizers and theaters.

​

• • On Stage has partnered with the following Twin Cities Theaters: 

    • ​Mixed Blood Theatre, Park Square Theatre, Jungle Theater,  Six Points Theater, Pillsbury House Theatre, Frank Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company, Yellow Tree Theatre, Open Eye Theatre, New Dawn Theatre, Theater Mu, Exposed Brick Theatre and Theater Latte Da. 

​

• Actors/theater educators - Gives actors creative freedom to build curriculum and to teach and discuss themes in plays in their own way. On Stage intends to be a fun and interactive experience for actors/theater educators that they might not have in more traditional teaching settings and post show discussions at theater venues.

​

​

​

​

​