Education: Grades 1-3 – Wheelock Family Theatre

About the Grades 1 to 3 Programs

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Rooted in process-based story drama, students are introduced to the actor’s tools of body, voice, mind and imagination. Students develop characters, solve creative problems and enter the world of the story. Students have fun while also developing valuable literacy and life skills such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration, focus and creativity. Each session, there is a new theme to spark the imagination, creating a fun, new experience each class!

If you have questions about whether a program is the right match for your child or if your child needs accommodations to access any of our programming, please reach out to Jeri Hammond, Director of Education, at jerih@bu.edu

Weekend Classes

Musical Mashups: Celebrating Silly Sidekicks

From under the sea, to enchanted castles, and everywhere in between, the heroes of Broadway’s most popular musicals depend on their second in command. Inspired by the most comical (and loyal) musical theater sidekicks, students will bring these sometimes small, but mighty, characters to life. In this class, students will act, sing, & dance stories while learning appropriate techniques that will enable them to create vivid characters. A final demonstration for family and friends will take place on the last day of class.

Grades: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade | Type(s): In Person, Musical Theatre |

Tuition: $450

Saturdays (1/20 - 4/6) No Class 2/17 & 2/24 11:00am - 12:30pm
Taught by: Alex Brodsky-Benedetti, Mary Mahoney

Sundays (1/21 - 4/7) No Class 2/18 & 2/25 11:00am - 12:30pm
Taught by: Juanita Pearl, Sarah Plotkin

Stories on Stage: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Get ready to enter a world where food rains down from the sky! In this class, students will use their actor’s tools (body, mind, voice, and imagination) to create dynamic characters and delicious stories inspired by Judi Barrett’s book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Each week students will deepen their skills as actors as they develop short pieces that are both dramatic and delicious. A final demonstration for friends and family will take place on the last day of class.

Grades: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade | Type(s): Acting, Creative Drama |

Tuition: $450

Saturdays (1/20 - 4/6) No Class 2/17 & 2/24 9:30am - 11:00am
Taught by: Alex Brodsky-Benedetti, Mary Mahoney

Sundays (1/21 - 4/7) No Class 2/18 & 2/25 9:30am - 11:00am
Taught by: Juanita Pearl, Sarah Plotkin

February Vacation Program

Making a Musical: Arctic Antics (Grades Pre-K to 1)

An action-packed week diving into the world of musical theatre by creating a short original musical. Utilizing popular music from across the decades, students will piece together scenes and songs celebrating the amazing creatures found in the “Coolest” places on the planet. While working on their mini-musical, students will advance their acting, singing, and dancing skills. A final demonstration for family and friends will take place on the final day of the program. Students will attend a 1pm matinee performance of our main stage production of Mr. Popper’s Penguins.

Grades: 1st Grade, Kindergarten, Pre-K | Type(s): In Person, Musical Theatre, Vacation Week |

Tuition: $492

Monday, Feb 19 - Friday, Feb 23 9:00am to 3:30pm
Taught by: Juanita Pearl, Alisa Cassola

Making a Musical: "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" (Grades 1 to 3)

An action-packed week diving into the world of musical theatre by creating a short original musical. Utilizing popular music from across the decades, students will piece together scenes and songs that transport us to frozen wintery wonderlands. While working on their mini-musical, students will advance their acting, singing, and dancing skills. A final demonstration for family and friends will take place on the final day of the program.
Students will attend a 1pm matinee performance of our mainstage production of Mr. Popper’s Penguins.

Grades: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade | Type(s): In Person, Musical Theatre, Vacation Week |

Tuition: $492

Monday, Feb 19 - Friday, Feb 23 9:00am to 3:30pm
Taught by: Eva Murray, Alisa Cassola

April Vacation Program

Page to Stage: The Three Little Aliens & the Big Bad Robot (Grades Pre-K to 1)

Get ready to blast off on an adventure that is out of this world! Inspired by the funny and fantastical retelling of the classic three little pigs story, The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot, students will work together to imaginatively bring the story from “page to stage”. Through creative movement, imagination, and hands-on art activities, students will travel across the galaxy without ever leaving their classroom on this interactive theatre experience specially designed for our youngest students. A final demonstration for family and friends will take place on the last day of class.

Grades: 1st Grade, Kindergarten, Pre-K | Type(s): Acting, Creative Drama, In Person, Vacation Week, Visual Arts |

Tuition: $492

Monday, April 15 - Friday, April 19 9:00am to 3:30pm
Taught by: Jennifer Duval White

Page to Stage: Time Warp Trio (Grades 1 to 3)

Calling all Time Travelers! Over the course of the week, students will work as playwrights, actors, and designers creating scenes inspired by the Time Traveling (and rib-tickling) Series from award-winning author Jon Scieszka. Students will learn first-hand what it takes to bring a story from page to stage. When in the world will this class take us? A final demonstration for family and friends will take place on the last day of class.
Students will attend a 1pm matinee performance of our main stage production of A Wrinkle in Time.

Grades: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade | Type(s): Acting, In Person, Vacation Week |

Tuition: $492

Monday, April 15 - Friday, April 19 9:00am - 3:30pm
Taught by: Danny Bolton