Youth & Teen Classes

Youth & Teen Classes at Shakespeare Theatre Company offer students ages 6 to 17 an active, creative introduction to Shakespeare, acting, and theatrical design. Participants explore stories and characters from Shakespeare’s plays, develop performance skills, and contribute ideas to presentations for friends and family. Classes are taught by professionally trained actors and educators, with an emphasis on students’ physical, intellectual, and artistic growth.

The fall 2026 program includes introductory classes for younger students, scene-study courses for teens, and a 10-week performance intensive centered on *The Tempest*. Each session concludes with a sharing or performance for friends and family.

When: Fall 1 classes begin September 12, 2026. Fall 2 classes begin October 31, 2026.

Showtimes: Fall 1 six-week classes meet on Saturday mornings or Monday afternoons. Fall 2 classes follow the same Saturday or Monday schedule. The Teen Intensive meets on Saturday mornings for 10 weeks.

Tickets: Six-week classes cost $259. The 10-week Teen Intensive costs $550.

Spooky Shakespeare, weekends: For ages 6–11. Saturdays, September 12–October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon. There is no class on October 10. Students explore witches, ghosts, fairies, and other magical Shakespearean characters through theatre games, creative play, and art projects, building confidence and performance skills before a final presentation.

Spooky Shakespeare, weekdays: For ages 6–11. Mondays, September 14–October 26, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. There is no class on October 12. The class uses creative play, theatre games, and art inspired by Shakespeare’s supernatural characters and stories, culminating in a sharing for friends and family.

Something Wicked: Playing Shakespeare’s Villains: For ages 12–17. Mondays, September 14–October 26, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. There is no class on October 12. Students investigate Shakespeare’s notorious villains through scene work, script analysis, and character development while learning to interpret the language, work with a director and scene partner, and create compelling performances. The session ends with a presentation of selected villainous scenes.

Teen Intensive: The Tempest: For ages 13–17. Saturdays, September 12–November 21, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no class on October 10. Intended for committed teen actors, this performance-focused program covers the theatrical process from audition through final production. Rehearsals, scene work, character development, text study, and ensemble collaboration lead to a performance of *The Tempest* for friends and family.

Shakespeare’s Clowns and Fools: For ages 6–11. Saturdays, October 31–December 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon. There is no class on November 28. Students explore comic characters from *As You Like It*, *Twelfth Night*, and *The Tempest* through games, storytelling, creative play, and hands-on art projects. The course develops foundational acting skills and concludes with a final performance.

Revolutionary Shakespeare: For ages 12–17. Mondays, November 2–December 14, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. There is no class on November 23. Students examine revolution, rebellion, and political ambition in *Julius Caesar*, *Richard II*, and *Coriolanus*. Through script analysis, character work, and scene study, they learn to interpret Shakespeare’s language, collaborate with a director and scene partner, and present selected scenes in a final sharing.

Venues: Most classes meet at STC’s Rehearsal Studios, 516 8th Street SE, Washington, DC. The Teen Intensive meets at The Forum at Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC.

Discounts: Registered siblings receive 10% off. Families should email Classes@ShakespeareTheatre.org for details.

Scholarships: Need-based scholarships are available. Applicants should complete the scholarship application and email it to Classes@ShakespeareTheatre.org at least one week before the intended class begins.

Inclusion: STC describes the program as a safe, supportive, and 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 cannot attend, including because of weather. If STC cancels a class, the organization will notify families by email and will try to reschedule; tuition remains non-refundable. A written withdrawal request sent to Classes@ShakespeareTheatre.org may receive a 50% refund if submitted until one week before the first scheduled class. Withdrawals beginning one week before the first class are non-refundable, and eligible refunds may take two to three weeks to process.

Contact: Questions and registration assistance are available through Classes@ShakespeareTheatre.org.