Cottage Theatre offers acting programs for kids this summer and on into the fall

Edited by Randi Bjornstad

Coming this fall …

Cottage Theatre in Cottage Grove will continue its after-school theater program for students ages 6-11 years this fall, in a lead-up to putting on a fully staged play, Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids, early in November.

Here’s how it works: The eight-week long class sessions run from Sept. 13 to Nov. 2, with the productions taking place on Nov. 3 (evening at 7 p.m.) and Nov. 4 (matinee at 2:30 p.m.).

Younger kids, ages 6-8, will meet from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. for the first six weeks and will perform onstage as the Dalmatian Puppies. Youths ages 9-11 also will meet on those Wednesdays, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and will perform as Featured Characters. During the last two weeks of the program, all the kids will come together on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons for rehearsals for the Nov. 3-4 shows.

The cost to participate is $150 for the younger group and $175 for the older students. Some need-based, partial tuition scholarships will be available, thanks to donors to the Cottage Theatre.

Also, each participating student will receive one complimentary ticket for a family member to a November performance, with additional tickets available at $10 each.

Registration for the fall program begins in July, available through the theater’s website at cottagetheatre.org and clicking on the “Learn” tab.

Maddie Paige , who has 11 years’ experience teaching youth theater, is director and choreographer for this program, assisted by Susan Goes, Cottage Theatre’s executive director and longtime leader of its youth programs. Paige directed Cottage Theatre’s production of Frozen JR earlier this year.

“The goal for this program is to provide a safe and inviting space for students to express themselves through the art of musical theater,” Paige said in announcing the fall program. “There isn’t always opportunity in our main stage productions for youth to take center stage … and have the opportunity to shine.”

And in the meantime …

A show featuring young actors ages 12-14 years is underway at Cottage Theatre now, and the troupe will perform in public appearances on July 14-15.

A new offering for children ages 4-5 years, Preschool Playshop, will take place July 31-Aug. 4, and 6-8 year olds will have their turn at SKIT camp from Aug. 14-18. After that, SPARK, for students ages 9-11 years, will take place Aug. 21-25.

Information about these opportunities is online at cottagetheatre.org under the “Learn” tab.

About Cottage Theatre

Cottage Theatre, founded in 1982, produces a year-round season of plays and musicals featuring talented Lane County performers, as well as year-round educational programs for youth. A member of the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT), Cottage Theatre is one of just six theaters in the United States selected to produce a world premiere as part of AACT’s 2024 NewPlayFest. Cottage Theatre prides itself for its strong production values, in keeping with its mission of “engaging and enriching our community through the magic of live theater.”