SteppingStone Theatre
School for Young Actors

School-Year Classes

Whether you’re looking for a creative outlet for your three-year-old or you’re an experienced teen performer wanting a taste of Glee, SteppingStone Theatre has a class for you!

Now at home in our beautiful new facility in the Historic Hill District of St. Paul, SteppingStone Theatre is expanding classes for youth during the 2010–11 school year. We’re now presenting a full schoolyear of classes in one place. You can use this information to plan your whole year of acting classes, or simply to make sure you register early for the classes that fill quickly.

Classes offered for ages 3.5-17. Check out our Fall Classes and register online!

 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

by Barbara Robinson
December 3-23, 2010

The Saint Paul holiday tradition returns to SteppingStone for the 19th year! This popular play, based on the book by Barbara Robinson, is the perfect reasonto never judge a book by its cover.

Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963

by Christina Ham
February 4-27, 2011

Set during the height of the Civil Rights movement in the early 1960’s, the production explores the lives of the four girls who were killed in the church bombing in Birmingham in 1963. Profoundly moving and yet filled with hope, this is a must-see.

Get Up Your Irish!
A Celebration in Music and Dance

Created by Norah Rendell and Natalie O’Shea
March 11-20, 2011

A young boy finds a way to make a home for his sister and father in Saint Paul’s Irish ghetto, Connemara Patch. Experience traditional Irish music and dance of the highest quality from Twin Cities Irish musicians & dancers including members of the Two Tap Trio with youth artists from O’Shea Irish Dance and the Center for Irish Music.

The Magic Bus to Asian Folktales

by R.A. Shiomi, Cha Yang, and Jaz Canlas, music by Gary Rue
Co-production with Mu Performing Arts
April 29-May 22, 2011

Three children are magically transported to Imperial China, to Laos, and to the Philippines, where they discover wondrous tales that teach them about their culture, their ancestry, and themselves.

The Emperor’s New Clothes

Book, music and lyrics by David Simmons
Adapted from the story by Hans Christian Andersen
July 8-31, 2011

The classic story of self-deception and the courage of a lone voice of reason returns to the Steppingstone stage. Filled with music and dance, this spectacular show appeals to all ages.

 

Get On Stage!

Actors ages 9-18 can audition for our shows, and act on our stage. Anyone can sign up. No Cost & No Experience Necessary!

We encourage children and youth with or without experience to audition. Our auditions are open to actors of all races, cultures, sizes, and abilities. Try it, it's fun!

All auditions are held in groups of 10-12 actors. There is no preparation necessary. We do request that you call to sign up for an audition time at least a week before the audition date.

Please call 651-225-9265 to arrange your time.

Audition Dates for our 2010-2011 Season

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2010
Auditions: Monday, September 20, Tuesday, September 21, and Wednesday, September 22, 6-8:30pm

Four Little Girls
Auditions: Monday, November 1 and Tuesday, November 2, 6-8:30pm

The Magic Bus to Asian Folktales
Auditions: Monday, February7 and Tuesday, February 8, 6-8:30pm

The Emperor's New CLothes
Auditions: Monday, April 11 and Tuesday, April 12, 6-8:30pm

Who We Are

For more than 20 years, SteppingStone Theatre has created entertaining and enlightening theatre for youth and families that emphasizes the diversity of cultures and experiences that make up our audience, performers and the region.

SteppingStone Theatre’s mission is to “develop the whole child by using educational theatre programs and fully-staged productions to build self-esteem, confidence, and a sense of community, while celebrating diversity in a supportive, non-competitive atmosphere.”

Our Core Values

• Theatre Education for Children Improves Quality of Life;
• Celebrating Diverse Cultures Improves Quality of Communities; and
• Excellent Management Improves Quality of Service.

What Makes Us Unique

Most of the plays we produce on our Mainstage are new works written especially for us by some of the region's best playwrights. The characters in the plays are almost entirely children & youth, so the young actors don't have to pretend to be 30-years older than they are. In the same way, all of the actors who are portraying children are themselves children—no 30 year-olds pretending to be 15 here!

Why We Do That

We strive for our plays to authentically reflect the experiences of our audiences. We don't talk down to them, we let the young actors talk directly to the young audience members without adults interpreting it for them. It's incredibly powerful for a child to see characters their own age having a positive effect on the world around them. And it's just as powerful for the actors in the play to feel in their bones what it's like to be the hero in their own story!

Who Are Our Shows Appropriate For?

Anyone and Everyone! All of our plays have elements that even the very youngest children will enjoy—music, dancing and theatrical magic. And likewise, all of our plays have elements that even the most jaded teenager will enjoy—not least, seeing their peers on a professional stage.

About Princess Amaradevi--The Belle of Victoria (pictured above)

During the summer of 2007, Sharra Frank and eight Apprentices from the COMPAS ArtsWork program, ages fourteen to nineteen, worked together full time for six weeks to create a outdoor mosaic sculpture for the SteppingStone Theatre.

The six foot cement sculpture was made out of welded steel rebar, metal mesh and cement. The cement sculpture was then covered with a mosaic made of glass, beads and mirror.

The sculpture represents Princess Amaradevi, a Cambodian folktale character who symbolizes honesty and courage. The SteppingStone Theatre works to develop and support children in a diverse, non-competitive community. Young artist's creativity, self expression and confidence is fostered and encouraged. Sharra and her apprentices goal was to communicate these important elements that define Steppingstone’s mission through the sculpture, Princess Amaradevi, who now greets the young actors and their families at the entrance of the Theatre.

For more information on Princess Amaradevi visit Sharra Frank's website.

 

ABOUT | STAFF & BOARD | SUPPORT | VOLUNTEER | ACCESS | MEDIA

For Teachers

Learn more about SteppingStone Theatre's programs, bring your class to see a show, find Study Guides for our shows, or bring a SteppingStone Theatre artist to your classroom or after-school program. More info...

Volunteer for SteppingStone Theatre!

SteppingStone Theatre can always use volunteers! Ushers, teaching assistants, gardening and much more. More info…

Interested in Renting SteppingStone Theatre for Your Event?

For Rates & Information, please click here.