FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE

DURING THE 2023/24 SCHOOL YEAR, FIRST STAGE OFFERED ITS THEATER IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO 82 SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS, 56% OF WHICH ARE WITHIN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE. THEATER IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDED FIELD TRIP PACKAGES, WHICH PAIR A CLASSROOM'S FIELD TRIP TO A WEEKDAY MATINEE THEATER PERFORMANCE WITH IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS; ARTS-INTEGERATED WORKSHOPS, WHICH INCORPORATE DRAMA-CENTRIC ARTS INTO THE CURRENT CLASSROOM CURRICULUM TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE A DEEPER CONNECTION TO THE MATERIAL AND HELP THEM EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVITY; THEATER SKILLS WORKSHOPS, CUSTOMIZABLE SESSIONS WHICH INCLUDE TRAINING IN ACTING, IMPROVISATION, MUSICAL THEATER, CREATIVE DRAMA, AND STORY DRAMA; AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, WHICH PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DRAMATIC ARTS AND THEIR UNIQUE ABILITY TO INSTILL PASSION FOR LEARNING AND TRANSFORM YOUNG MINDS WITH LIFE SKILLS THROUGH STAGE SKILLS. OVER 1500 WORKSHOPS WERE OFFERED, PROVIDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITES TO 10,230 STUDENTS.

OUR FIRST STAGE THEATER ACADEMY REMAINS ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST HIGH-IMPACT THEATER TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, TEACHING LIFE SKILLS THROUGH STAGE SKILLS TO YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 3-18 WITH A STAFF OF PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS. TOTAL ENROLLMENTS IN THE 2023/24 SEASON WAS 1,402 WITH A TOTAL OF 937 UNIQUE STUDENTS OVER 130 UNIQUE CLASS OFFERINGS. IN ADDITION, FIRST STAGE OFFERS THE NEXT STEPS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. THIS PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO SERVE 18 STUDENTS OVER THE SEASON. FIRST STAGE WILL NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY FROM THE THEATER ACADEMY DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY. WE OFFER THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM OFFERING FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AS NEEDED. IN 2023/24, 139 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TOTALING $60,419.