Anderson Mainstage Theatre brings arts education to youngest students yet

Anderson’s Mainstage Theatre is bringing arts education classes to kids as young as seven, thanks to a new local grant.  IPR’s Thomas Ouellette reports.

Mainstage officials say beginning in October, kids as young as seven and as old as 18 can learn about topics including theater history, improv, and stage movement.

Program director Anna Clark has been in theater most of her life, and she believes in its real-world applications.

“Every single person in the cast has their place here. So, I believe it teaches confidence. It teaches connection. It teaches public speaking,” Clark said. “There’s just so much that theater can offer kids that will help them become more well-rounded adults.”

Grant money from the Madison County Community Foundation will help pay for things like makeup kits for kids to practice with and visits from industry professionals. 

Clark says the idea for the youth program came about after members of the theater noticed a lack of arts opportunities for children in the community.

“When I was growing up, there was fall play, there was drama club, there was the spring musical, there were one acts. We wanted to continue to give opportunities for a place to have a creative outlet like that,” she said, “And a lot of the schools are doing their best with this too, but it doesn’t hurt to have additional outside stuff that’s not just school.”

The classes have a strong focus on a complete overview of theater, with no full-length productions currently planned. Clark says if the program is successful, she sees the classes expanding to incorporate theater tech.

According Clark, students who take part in the program will perform a showcase for parents after the six weeks of classes ends.

The deadline for registration is October 13 and financial assistance will be available to those eligible.

Thomas Ouellette is our reporter and producer.  Contact him at thomas.ouellette@bsu.edu