Theatre has been around for a long time, and it is not anything new, but the interest in it appears to continue to grow. Students have always had access to their school’s theatre program, but there are now more outlets available for them to broaden their horizons and to be involved in productions outside of school.

Spotlight Youth Theater, originally named Christian Youth Theater (CYT), is a Christian non-profit theatre program for kids ages 5-18, designed to reflect Christ through the performing arts. Three sessions of classes are offered each year in 11 different areas of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Classes are offered for Vocal Performance, Dance, Acting and Musical Theatre, which allows you to use all of your skills. They also have summer camps at over 40 different locations. Students ages 8-18 who are enrolled in classes are eligible to audition for one of the musicals that are produced each session in each area. Classes (available on three different days of the week) are $180 ($165 if you register by the early bird deadline), summer day camps are $195 ($180 early bird) and summer overnight camps are $400 ($380 early bird). http://www.spotlight.org/homepage

This next company was founded fairly recently, in September 2011. Broadway in Naperville is a playhouse that is dedicated to bringing some of the world’s best plays to the stage and “increasing the greater Naperville area’s access to Broadway level theatre. The founder, Andrea Wukitsch said, “It is our intent to produce the creative works of artists from every background and culture, while raising up the next generation of Broadway artists.” They offer a variety of classes for youth and adults. Prices are determined by length and intensity of class. For example, the youth Musical Theatre Dance, Vocal and Dramatic Arts Intensive costs $250. In addition to classes, the company offers one summer camp, Camp Wiz: A Fitness & Dramatic Arts. Full day price is $215/week and the half day price is $185/week. http://www.broadwayinnaperville.com/

Last, but not least, The School of Performing Arts began as a tiny little school in the basement of a bank and has become a leading center in the community for education in the fine arts. Through the school, they offer music instruction, theatre instruction and dance instruction. With a wide range of different types of classes and levels, classes could cost $265 and up, or cheaper for the little kids’ beginner classes. The school also has auditions for productions throughout the year. Auditions are geared towards those who would like to have a bigger, speaking role. Camps and workshops are offered during the summer, and they will be producing a musical theatre performance (audition only). http://www.schoolofperformingarts.com/

Whether students would like to stick with school theatre or branch out and test out something new, theatre is a great outlet to put creativity to use, build up self-esteem, make new friends and prepare one for life. As Shakespeare wrote in his comedy As You Like It, “All the world’s a stage”!