A TRAINING GROUND FOR GROWING PERFORMERS!
BUILD CONFIDENCE, FOCUS, AND ENSEMBLE SKILLS!
LEARN TO LISTEN, RESPOND, AND SHINE ON STAGE!
Welcome to STAGES PLAYLAB!
STAGES PLAYLAB! | ages 9-10
limited to 14 Students per 5-week session
STAGES PLAYLAB is a theater training experience designed for growing performers — students ready to level up from creative play into the building blocks of real performance. In PLAYLAB, students build essential ensemble and acting skills while exploring bold, theatrically scripted stories in each themed session.
Whether solving a mystery in a crumbling mansion or stepping into the lives of passengers aboard the Titanic, STAGES PLAYLAB performers practice working together, listening actively, and responding truthfully — just like in a real rehearsal room. Each 5-week session is guided by STAGES Teaching Artists and culminates in a short, informal sharing for family and friends.
Students in STAGES PlayLab will:
- Take on characters they don’t invent themselves — and learn how to bring them to life
- Practice improvisation and scripted work to strengthen collaboration and focus
- Build confidence through active listening, reacting truthfully, and making bold choices
- Learn how to support their scene partners and shine as part of an ensemble
- Develop skills in memorization, movement, voice, and storytelling — while having fun!
The new STAGES PLAYLAB program is designed to bridge the gap between early childhood theater programs and STAGES’ mainstage performance opportunities for older students. It’s the perfect next step for kids who are ready for more structure, more challenge, and more ensemble-based creation.
STAGES PLAYLAB offers 5 separate 5-week sessions throughout the school year. Students can join any – or all! – of these unique, standalone programs, running on Tuesdays from 5:00PM-6:00PM. The first session begins on September 23, 2025.
No previous theater experience is required — just a willingness to play, try new things, and grow together!
Frequently Asked Questions!
What happened to the Young Performers Ensemble (YPE)?
The Young Performers Ensemble (YPE) was a year-long program for students ages 8–11, running from Fall 2021 through Spring 2025. Each year brought new themes and approaches, and over time, we learned what students in this age group truly need as they grow as performers. This spring, YPE officially evolved into STAGES PLAYLAB — a new program designed to better serve students at this stage of their creative journey.
How is STAGES PLAYLAB different from YPE?
STAGES PLAYLAB builds on the spirit of YPE while offering a more focused and flexible experience. Key differences include:
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Shorter, stand-alone sessions with new opportunities to enroll throughout the year
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Scripted material and character work — students are cast in roles they didn’t create themselves
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Improved performance opportunities, including informal share outs at the end of each session
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A stronger focus on actor training, including memorization, collaboration, and improvisation
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Ensemble-based learning, with emphasis on listening, responding, and supporting scene partners
PlayLab is designed to help young performers grow their skills and confidence — while continuing to have fun and stay creative.
Will there be a final show?
Each STAGES PLAYLAB session ends with a short, informal performance for family and friends. These low-pressure sharings allow students to showcase what they’ve learned in a supportive, encouraging environment — without the stress of a large-scale production. It’s a celebration of their growth, teamwork, and creativity, designed to build confidence and joy in performing.
My student would be a great fit for this program, but is not quite 9 (or is almost 11) years old. Can you make an exception?
If your student is not quite 9, or just over the age of 10, and you feel like the PLAYLAB is a good fit, please reach out. STAGES will consider these requests on a case by case basis. Please note: Registrations for students falling outside of the program age range must be handled by STAGES, as our registration system will not permit you to do so on your own. STAGES offers mainstage musical theater opportunities for kids ages 11+, as well as fun and age-appropriate programming for younger students through our PLAYVENTURE (ages 6-8) and PET VETS (ages 4-5) programs.
Have questions about whether STAGES PLAYLAB is the right fit for your student? Contact us — we’re happy to help!
UPCOMING STAGES PLAYLAB PROGRAMS!
MYSTERY AT
THE MANSION
A classic whodunnit with a theatrical twist! You’re a secretive dinner guest at a grand estate and help unravel the mystery when a shocking crime is revealed.
TUESDAYS
5:00PM-6:00PM
Sept 23 – Oct 21
WHISPERS IN THE
THRONE ROOM
Rival royal houses. Shifting alliances. Secrets behind every smile. Step into the world of palace intrigue – who will seize power… and who will fall?
TUESDAYS
5:00PM-6:00PM
Oct 28 – Dec 9
note: there will be no class on Nov 11
(Veteran’s Day) or on Nov 25 (Thanksgiving).
MOONLIGHT
& MAYHEM
When a band of troublesome fairies sets their sights on unsuspecting humans, nothing is as it seems — and mayhem and mischief abound!
TUESDAYS
5:00PM-6:00PM
Jan 6 – Feb 3
Tuition: $138 per each 5-week session. Payment installment options are available. Please plan accordingly – all STAGES Tuition Deposits are Non-Refundable, except in the form of an account credit to be used toward future programs. Financial Assistance is available.
COMING IN 2026 – REGISTRATION OPENING SOON!
MOONLIGHT
& MAYHEM
TRIALS OF
THE TITANS
TITANIC
VOYAGE
“STAGES brings together people who may not have met otherwise and allows kids to develop the skills to make friends in a setting outside of school. Without theater, some of my dearest friends would be strangers to me.”
“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.”