In-School Programs

Students performing a scene onstage for a seated audience
Students present a scene onstage during an Allentown Public Theatre youth program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.

Allentown Public Theatre provides bilingual youth theatre programming in partnership with area schools. These programs help students develop confidence, creativity, critical thinking, communication skills, teamwork, and a stronger sense of belonging.

APT’s current work includes peer mentorship between middle school students and high school students who have been developing their theatre skills since middle school. Students learn acting, backstage technical skills, collaboration, responsibility, and mentorship.

Through instruction, rehearsal, mentorship, and performance, students take an active role in creating theatre. Projects have included a production of Into the Woods at Trexler Middle School and an original piece written by students at Harrison Morton.

These projects give students opportunities to perform, make creative decisions, work together, and see their ideas brought to the stage.

Stagenators Live Production Crew Pilot

APT is also developing the Stagenators Live Production Crew Pilot. The program introduces young people to sound, lighting, stage management, event production, and other technical theatre skills.

Stagenators gives students practical experience in live production while helping build the skills needed for future theatre productions and community events. The program extends our school-based work by giving young people additional ways to participate in theatre, both onstage and behind the scenes.

Allentown Public Theatre has a long history of providing theatre workshops and performances in Allentown schools. Earlier programs included Page to Stage, workshops based on Latin folk tales, Big Plans, In the Heights-inspired writing and acting workshops, and other educational theatre projects.

Those programs remain part of APT’s history and continue to shape the youth programming being developed today. Through school partnerships and programs such as Stagenators, we are expanding opportunities for students to perform, create, lead, and learn the many skills involved in live theatre.

Students performing a scene onstage for a seated audience
Students present a scene onstage during an Allentown Public Theatre youth program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Students participating in an ensemble theatre activity in a classroom
Students participate in an ensemble theatre activity during an Allentown Public Theatre youth program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Three students seated on the floor developing a scene together
Students develop a scene together. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Students seated on the floor collaborating in small groups
Students collaborate in small groups during a theatre exercise. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Students participating in a group theatre exercise in a classroom
Students participate in a group theatre exercise during an Allentown Public Theatre youth program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Students and adults sharing a meal around tables
Students share a meal during an Allentown Public Theatre youth program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Photo of Students at Raub Elementary School
Students at Raub Elementary School rehearse an Allentown Public Theatre production. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Ramos Elementary School students rehearsing together in front of an audience
Students at Ramos Elementary School rehearse during an Allentown Public Theatre program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Students working in pairs on a theatre activity in a classroom
Students work together on a theatre activity during an Allentown Public Theatre youth program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Student performing in front of classmates seated in a circle
A student performs for classmates during an Allentown Public Theatre youth theatre program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Young performers presenting a scene to an audience in a large room
Young performers present a scene for an audience during an Allentown Public Theatre youth program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Three young performers rehearsing a scene for a seated audience
Young performers rehearse a scene during an Allentown Public Theatre youth program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.
Young performer speaking to a seated group during a theatre exercise
A young performer participates in a theatre exercise during an Allentown Public Theatre youth program. Photo by Norberto Dominguez.