We know it is a big commitment – of your time, trust and resources – to register your student for a STAGES program. If after reviewing the following information you still have questions, contact us anytime!
UPDATED NOVEMBER 3, 2025
Who Can Play at STAGES?
All programs are open to all students within the published age range. No prior stage experience is necessary, as we believe that all kids hold tremendous creative potential, and will benefit from our nurturing, kid-focused rehearsal environment. **Please note that (unless otherwise specified) all STAGES rehearsals/classes for all ages are closed, “drop-off” classes. There will be no parent/friend observation or participation in any class at any time. (all classes have final sharing presentations or fully-staged public performances for this purpose).**
Where do STAGES Programs take place?
All STAGES programs take place at STAGES Youth Theater, where our classrooms, offices, and performance space are located; or in our online/virtual (zoom-enabled) classroom. NOTE: while classes, rehearsals, lessons and other events will take place at STAGES, public performances of STAGES productions now take place offsite at other Portland-area venues as of 2025. Please click here to read about construction taking place at our venue.
When do Programs take place/When is STAGES open?
With few exceptions, STAGES programs for school-aged students primarily take place during after school hours of 3-8PM, Mondays through Thursdays. Full and half day camp options are often offered during February, April, and Summer school vacation weeks. STAGES performances take place over one week/weekend with between 1 and 3 performances (depending on the program) on some combination of Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday dates.
Our administrative offices are open for phone and email contact, Mondays through Thursdays between 10:00AM and 3:00PM, or by appointment at other times. Please make note of the following times at which STAGES is closed, or programs are modified.
Federal Holidays
(STAGES is closed)
New Years Day
Martin Luther King Jr Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Indigenous Peoples Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving week
The last two weeks of December
Religous Holidays
(STAGES is open, but no classes or performances are scheduled)
Passover (first night)
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Ramadan (first night)
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Adha
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Hanukkah (first night)
What is the STAGES Health/COVID-19 Policy?
As of June 2023, STAGES no longer requires students, staff members, or audiences to wear face masks/coverings while in our building. That said, we ask that all STAGES community members respect the decisions of others with regards to whether they choose to mask or not. If you or your student are feeling unwell, or exhibiting any cold/flu/COVID-19 symptoms, please do not attend performances, classes, camps. Thank you for helping to keep our community safe.
My student does not meet the minimum age for one of your programs. Do you make exceptions?
The short answer is yes – in some cases. If your student is within 3 months of the minimum age requirement at the time the program would be starting, STAGES may consider these requests on a case-by-case basis. STAGES will not, however, make exceptions based on outside references or assessments of talent.
What is the STAGES Cancellation/Refund Policy?
BOX OFFICE REFUNDS: Unless a production is fully cancelled (with no in-person or recorded/online options available), tickets to STAGES productions are non-refundable, even in the case of inclement weather.
PROGRAM PARTICIPATION CANCELLATIONS: Full refunds of tuition payments will be made to participants only in the case where STAGES cancels the entirety of a class series or production experience before the program begins. If STAGES cancels an in-progress program, pro-rated refunds will be made to participants.
Since resources are committed to staffing, show licensing/royalties, and materials well before a program takes place, all other STAGES tuition deposits and installment payments for all STAGES programs are non-refundable except in the form of account credit to be used later, in some circumstances. To avoid disappointment later, please fully review the following policy details:
CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY:
- SUMMER 2026 PROGRAMS: You may cancel your program participation – and receive a full refund ONLY in the form of an account credit to be used toward future STAGES programming – if the cancellation takes place on or before April 1, 2026. Cash/Check/Credit Card refunds will be offered only if STAGES cancels a program for any reason, including low enrollment.
- FEBRUARY & APRIL 2026 VACATION DAYCAMP PROGRAMS: You may cancel your program participation – and receive a full refund ONLY in the form of an account credit to be used toward future STAGES programming – if the cancellation takes place on or before January 15, 2026 (for the February 2026 Vacation Camp); or, on or before March 15, 2026 for the April 2026 Vacation Camp program. Cash/Check/Credit Card refunds will be offered only if STAGES cancels a program for any reason, including low enrollment.
- 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMS & SCHOOL YEAR CAMPS: You may cancel your program participation no later than one week before your program begins to receive a refund ONLY in the form of an account credit to be used toward future programming at STAGES. Account credit refunds for cancellations taking place after the program has begun will be offered only at the discretion of STAGES management on a case by case basis.
To cancel your participation in a STAGES program and request your account credit refund, please contact us in writing.
Does STAGES offer Payment Installment Plans?
Absolutely! STAGES offers a very flexible payment installment plan, the details of which can be located here.
Does STAGES offer scholarships or discounts?
Yes! STAGES is able to offer financial assistance for students – we welcome your inquiries so we can work to make our programs more financially accessible for your family. Please contact us any time!
The following discounts are currently available for STAGES programs. Please note it may not be possible to self-register with these discounts. If you are eligible for one/more of the following discounts, please email hello@stagesacademy.com for more information and assistance with your registration process:
Sibling Discount: 10% – when two or more siblings are registered for the same program, or for programs taking place in the same semester. Applicable to all registered siblings in the same program/semester. Available year-round.
Partner Discounts: STAGES offers 10% discounts to students enrolled at some of the schools at which we provide ongoing programming. Discounts are currently available for students enrolled at Breakwater School.
STAGES occasionally also offers tuition-free programs and workshops/community events. Those programs will be announced as they are scheduled.
How do I register for a STAGES program?
If you are paying in full or making a deposit with a bank card, STAGES offers secure, online registration for our classes and productions. Please use the “ENROLL/PLAY” option on our menu bar above, and browse the current program offerings, each of which includes a link to our online, secure, registration system.
Please contact STAGES by email or phone to register if:
- You believe you are eligible for a discount (sibling, school-specific, other)
- You are having trouble with our online registration system
- Your child is a few days from a prerequisite age cut-off
- You wish to create a payment plan that is not listed in the standard online options
- You wish to pay for your registration by check or with cash
- You would like to inquire about financial assistance/scholarship options
- …or if you have any other questions or concerns!
Contact STAGES any time:
PHONE: (207) 699-3330
EMAIL: hello@stagesacademy.com or by using our contact form.
Please Note: email or using our contact form is often the FASTEST way to reach STAGES.
“Inclusion, confidence, empathy, support. STAGES teaches life long lessons that go far beyond any stage. There is NO youth theater experience like it.”
“I’m not sure I would have wanted my children anywhere else during their formative years, other than with STAGES or at performing arts related programs. The supportive atmosphere was like no other.”