About the Grades 9-12 Programs

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Experienced artists will strengthen their actor’s tools, broaden their repertoire, and explore new ways of storytelling through different genres and performance opportunities. Our Teen Ensemble & Design Tech Intensive are designed to challenge and stretch our most experienced artists.

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.

ONE WEEK MASTERCLASSES

Ready to level up your skills this summer? Wheelock Family Theatre’s one-week master classes are designed for passionate high school artists who want to train like professionals, build confidence, and explore new ways of telling stories. Each class is led by experienced teaching artists and offers focused, hands-on training in a supportive, creative environment.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your performance skills, try something new, or prepare for auditions and college programs, these intensives are the perfect place to grow.

Special Offer: Register for any two classes for $525 and save $75

Acting the Song: Sondheim

Acting a song

June 29 – July 3
1:00–4:00 PM

$300

Sondheim’s songs are more than music, they are stories in motion.

In this master class, students will dig into the layers of a song, exploring how lyrics, character, and emotion come together to create a compelling performance. Learn how to make bold choices, connect to the material, and bring clarity and intention to every moment.

Perfect for performers who want to move beyond just singing and start truly storytelling through song.

Contemporary Acting Methods

contemp. acting methods

July 6 – July 10
1:00–4:00 PM

$300

What makes a performance feel real?

This class introduces students to modern acting techniques used in top training programs and professional rehearsal rooms. Through scene work and exercises, students will explore authenticity, intention, and truthful behavior on stage.

A great fit for actors who want to deepen their craft and build more natural, grounded performances.

Playwriting & Devised Theatre

playwriting and devised theater

July 27 – 31
1:00–4:00 PM

$300

Create something entirely your own.

This collaborative master class invites students to experiment with storytelling from the ground up. Through writing, improvisation, and group work, participants will generate original material and explore how ideas become performance.

Perfect for creative thinkers, writers, and performers interested in making new work.

THETARE DESIGN & TECH INTENSIVES

Bring a show to life from concept to execution. This program is a dynamic immersion in the theatre crafts that are vital to professional stage productions. This course balances theory with practical experience through the study of scenic, prop, costume, lighting, and sound design. Students will work with WFT’s professional technical staff during this three-week intensive, designing and building technical elements for the Musical Theatre Production programs performances!

Session I |Honk Jr.
June 29 – July 17
$1575

PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS

all shook up

July 27 – August 14 | 10:30am – 5:00pm

$1575

No Audition Needed – Register NOW!

Our newest advanced theatre experience bridges the worlds of acting, singing, & dance. This program is designed for teens in high school with prior musical theatre training and performance experience who are committed to deepening their skills as actors, singers, and dancers. Through voice, dance, and character work, students will bring the musical production to life while also deepening their knowledge and understanding of their craft. The performance will be on Thursday, August 13th at 7:30pm at The Booth Theatre at Boston University.

About the Musical:
ALL SHOOK UP is a hilarious and heartfelt musical, loosely based on Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT. It’s 1955, and into a square little town rides a guitar-playing young man who changes everything and everyone he meets. Featuring mega hits from the beloved Elvis® catalogue, this musical fantasy will have you jumpin’ out of your blue suede shoes with such classics as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”

raising the bar - api

August 3 – August 14 | 10:30am – 5:00pm

$1050

Our longest-running advanced acting experience is back for its 17th summer.

This program is designed for teens in high school with prior training and performance experience who are committed to deepening their acting skills and knowledge of the craft. Through challenging exercises in vocal, movement, and character work and exploration of scenes from outstanding plays, students will experience the actor’s process in depth, culminating in an acting showcase on the final day of the program.

Join the dozens of teens who have experienced and benefited from this intensive, many of whom have gone on to attend top acting and theatre programs around the country.

The performance will be on Friday, August 14th at 7:00pm in the Studio One at the College of Fine Arts at Boston University.

dont let the pigeon

June 29 – July 17 | 9:00am – 3:30pm

$1575

SOLD OUT: Theatre On Tour: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – 3 weeks!

Let’s take this show on the road! This program gives experienced teen performers the opportunity to rehearse, tour, and perform a show for the most discerning of audiences, children! For the first two weeks, actors rehearse the musical Winnie the Pooh, and then take the show on tour, performing for children and their families at The Boston Children’s Museum. This program will challenge experienced actors to create performances that not only entertain but also educate the next generation of theatregoers. Students will learn firsthand what it takes to create a traveling theatre piece. Weeks 1 and 2 will take place at Wheelock Family Theatre. Week 3 will take place at the Boston Children’s Museum (2 performances daily).

Weekend Classes

Actor’s Studio: Mastering the Monologue

Ticket sales for this class have now closed.

Mastering the monologue is one of the essential skills of the actor. How does one “take the stage” and tell the character’s story in those dramatic moments when the actor is alone with the audience? Building on foundational acting techniques, students will explore the nuances of both comedic and dramatic monologues.
Grades: 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, 8th Grade | Type(s): Creative Drama, In Person |
Tuition: $335
Saturdays: January 24 - March 21 *No class on Feb 14 or 21* 11:00am - 12:30pm

Teen Ensemble (Performance and Production)

To learn more about upcoming Teen Ensemble opportunities, click here.

Explore Other Age Groups