RMRT's Youth Theatre Program Information
Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Youth Theatre Program’s mission is to provide Grand County youth, ages eight to eighteen, with a unique educational, cultural and positive life experience through participation in a theatre workshop. The program culminates in performances in which the children participate in all phases of theatrical production.
The goal is to provide a positive and accepting environment in which the participants feel comfortable expressing themselves creatively. Each participant has the opportunity to take risks, work as a team, learn from their mistakes, and be successful. Professional actors will teach the participants and serve as role models while sharing their practical knowledge and experience of the theatre.
Currently, the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Youth Theatre Workshops are broken down into three programs:
Teen Theatre Academy is an intense theatre training program. Teens, ages 14 to 18, participate in scene work, monologue work, dance classes, vocal training and audition skills. This program concludes with a three- performance, cabaret style production on the RMRT stage.
Youth Theatre Production, offered to children 11 to 13 years of age, is designed to produce a musical theatre show. It is a three- week workshop rehearsing a children’s musical chosen by the director. Three performances are produced for the public.
Youth Theatre Workshop was created because of the overwhelming positive feedback from the Music Theatre Workshop. Offered to young children ages 8 to 10, this workshop focuses on the basics of performing on stage. A cabaret style show is performed at the end of this two week program.
History of Theatre Workshop Programs
The Grand Lake Metropolitan Recreation District, in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, established the Youth Theatre Workshop in 1998 with twenty-two participants. The goal was to provide a cultural and creative outlet for youth ages eight to thirteen. Given the ongoing success of the program, youth ages fourteen through eighteen requested another program for continued development. The Teen Theatre Workshop was implemented in 2001. Teen participants then requested an opportunity to continue dance and vocal instruction. In 2003, the Music Theatre Workshop was developed and implemented, providing an intensive music theatre instruction course. As the demand continued for the Youth Theatre Workshops and the waiting list grew each year, a second Youth Theatre Workshop was established in 2004.
The program has generated ongoing funding through numerous fundraising efforts, grants, program fees and ticket sales. Each year program evaluations are completed and youth interviews are conducted, giving us the opportunity to meet the needs and provide the youth with expanded programming and enhancement of the workshops.
It was unknown the endless benefits that would be gained by the youth. These programs offer a cultural and creative outlet for youth that many do not have the opportunity to experience at school. Youth have learned to tap into their creative side and it offers a different arena for youth to be successful. As one parent shared, "As the younger of two brothers, this experience really boosted Isaac's confidence and gave him an area to shine."
To date, eight of our participants are now pursuing arts and theatre at a college level. This year, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre has started raising funds for scholarships for youth to continue their education efforts in the arts. In 2007, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre awarded two $1,000 Judith and Skelly Warren Scholarships to Grand County graduating seniors.
For questions or more information, please contact:
Sally Scott - sallyscottrmrt@hotmail.com