Youth & Teen Classes
Youth & Teen Classes at Shakespeare Theatre Company invite students ages 6 to 17 to explore Shakespeare through active, imaginative theatre work. Participants study acting and design fundamentals, investigate stories and characters, and help create performances for friends and family. Classes are taught by professionally trained actors and educators, with an emphasis on physical, intellectual, and artistic growth.
The fall session begins October 31, 2026, and offers two age-specific courses. Students may explore Shakespeare’s comic characters and clowns or examine stories of political power, rebellion, and revolution. Each course ends with a performance or sharing for friends and family.
When: Fall classes begin October 31, 2026. The six-week sessions run through December 12 or December 14, 2026, depending on the course.
Showtimes: Shakespeare’s Clowns and Fools meets Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, October 31–December 12, 2026. There is no class November 28. Revolutionary Shakespeare meets Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m., November 2–December 14, 2026. There is no class November 23.
Classes: Shakespeare’s Clowns and Fools is designed for ages 6–11. Students explore comic figures from *As You Like It*, *Twelfth Night*, and *The Tempest* through theatre games, creative play, storytelling, and art projects while developing confidence and foundational acting skills. Revolutionary Shakespeare is for ages 12–17 and examines *Julius Caesar*, *Richard II*, and *Coriolanus* through script analysis, character development, and scene study. Students practice interpreting Shakespeare’s language, collaborating with directors and scene partners, and building believable characters.
Tickets: $259 per class.
Ages: Youth and teens ages 6–17. Shakespeare’s Clowns and Fools is for ages 6–11, and Revolutionary Shakespeare is for ages 12–17.
Venue: STC’s Rehearsal Studios, 516 8th St. SE.
Final Performance: Each class concludes with a presentation for friends and family. The younger students give a final performance, while the older students present selected scenes in a final sharing.
Discounts: Registered siblings receive 10% off. Questions about registration may be directed to Classes@ShakespeareTheatre.org.
Scholarships: Need-based scholarships are available. Applications should be submitted by email at least one week before the intended first class.
Accessibility and Inclusion: The program aims to provide a safe, supportive, and fully inclusive environment for participants of all abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, national origins, citizenship statuses, faiths, ideologies, and income levels.
Refund Policy: Tuition is non-refundable if a student misses class, including because of weather. If the company cancels a class, it will notify participants by email and will try to reschedule, but tuition remains non-refundable. Registration withdrawals made until one week before the first scheduled class may receive a 50% refund. Beginning one week before the first class, tuition is non-refundable; refunds may take two to three weeks to process.