Programming for Teens
WHAT'S NEXT:
Dungeness
by Chris Thompson
A Stages Play Reading
Thursday, May 7th from 6:00-7:30. Redbud Books.
"In a remote part of the UK, where nothing ever happens, a group of teenagers share a safe house for LGBT+ young people. While their shared home welcomes difference, it can be tricky for self-appointed group leader Birdie to keep the peace. The group must decide how they want to commemorate an attack that happened to LGBT+ people, in a country far away. How do you take to the streets and protest if you're not ready to tell the world who you are? If you're invisible, does your voice still count? A play about love, commemoration and protest."
Content Disclosure: coarse language, mention of suicide, sexual references and religious trauma
Merrily We Roll Along
by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth
Produced by IU Theatre
A Stages Play Outing
Friday, April 17th at 7:30. IU Theatre.
Come with Stages to see 'Merrily We Roll Along' by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth on April 17th at 7:30 at IU Theatre! This show will be presented by IU Theatre.
Please meet us inside the Lee Norvelle Theatre's Lobby at 275 N Jordan Ave at 7:15 PM. The show is recommended for ages 14+. There are limited slots available, and we encourage grades 8th through 12th to register.
"Sondheim's semi-autobiographical musical turns back the clock on friendship and the high price of success. Merrily We Roll Along begins in the present and moves backwards, tracing the lives of a wealthy, jaded composer and his two estranged friends through each milestone of their personal and professional lives."
CW: sexual references
For more information about the show, click here.
WHAT'S NEXT:
SKILLS-BASED CLASSES
We offer classes to help teens hone specific skills for the stage. These classes can vary in length; sometimes they'll be a one-day master class, sometimes they'll span weeks. We partner with local teaching artists to teach a wide set of skills, from improv to dance.
Stay tuned to hear more about our Spring 2026 Devising in Our Backyard Workhop!
PLAY OUTINGS
Whenever possible, we partner with local arts organizations to bring free tickets to our teens. We offer these on a first come, first serve basis through a google sign up link. This past year, we secured tickets to the following performances:
Hurricane Diane at Off Night Productions
Next to Normal at Constellation Stage and Screen
Dance Nation at IU Theatre and Dance
The Prom at IU Theatre and Dance
Stay tuned for our next play outing!
PLAY READINGS
These readings aren't rehearsed, and there's no audience for them: teens just read for the fun of it! Once teens sign up, they receive the script so they can look it over beforehand (but they don't have to). Once we get closer to the reading date, we reach out with assigned roles. After the reading, we have a short discussion, usually about staging possibilities!
We started this series to create more low-commitment events that Stages teens can participate in, and expose them to scripts they may not be familiar with.
Past readings include:
Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom by Jennifer Haley
a series of public apologies by John Donnelly
Outside of our production classes, we have other opportunities for teens to get involved with Stages. We have:
Skills-Based Classes:
These classes vary each year, and cover a wide set of skillsets. In the past, we've taught devised theatre, solo and ensemble writing, acting studio, and more!
Play Outings:
We partner with local organizations to offer free tickets to our teens.
Play Readings:
These informal, closed play readings happen 2-3 times a semester, and expose teens to plays they may not have read before.