Expanding Our Reach

In October we launched our Teen Mentorship Program, including our new initiative the Emerging BIPOC Designers Mentorship, administered by artist and educator André Samples and our reimagined First Job in the Arts Mentorship, administered by artist and educator Jeannine Coulombe. The program is designed as an opportunity for youth ages 16-19 to explore careers in theatre arts beyond acting. Paired with mentors who are working professional theatre artists, teens receive guided exploration and hands-on work experience. Our Emerging BIPOC Designers Mentorship, funded by the John W. Mooty Foundation, is specifically geared for BIPOC youth who are interested or curious to discover career opportunities in theatrical design. Our First Job in the Arts Mentorship, funded by Best Buy, is open to youth interested in playwriting, directing, design, choreography, education, or marketing. The program runs from December 1 through June 30 and each mentee is awarded a $400.00 stipend at the completion of their mentorship. Eligible youth apply through our website. The deadline is November 8.

Stages Theatre Company and FAIR School Crystal return to live indoor theatre at the arts integrated middle school with Legendary: A Detect the Story Adventure. The show runs December 3-5, 2021 at the school’s 300-seat theatre. Inspired by the myth of Pandora’s Box, the play features live actors, video elements, and interactive puzzles. The script, concept, and puzzles were created by Jim Hibbeler and the show is directed by Melanie Salmon Peterson and Roy Richardson Jr. Stages partnership with FAIR (Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource) started in 2000 when the school was founded. Since their inception, Stages has partnered with FAIR to provide in-depth theatre education within the school. Our full-time teacher, Laura Mahler, teaches and directs at the school and our company produces the school’s fall and spring shows. This year, FAIR added the SEA Middle program to the site with a science, technology, engineering, and arts focused curriculum. SEA students are involved in many behind the scenes elements of Legendary. Ms. Mahler worked with a team of four SEA students to design avatars for the four detectives in the play who end up in the show’s video elements. SEA students interviewed the actors playing the roles and designed their avatars based on those interviews.