About Our Program

Theater for Kids at Portland Stage strives to give children in our community access to experiences that teach theater and literacy, encourage creativity and spontaneity, and engage in active participation and collaboration. Our Play Me a Story Program and Summer & Vacation Week Theater Camps inspire children to approach literature and theater from a new perspective through watching performances, investigating text, participating in workshops and learning new roles – all while having fun!

Our staff at the theater works closely with literacy experts and children’s book professionals in developing our reading lists. All readings are done with the author’s and / or publisher’s permission. Theater for Kids instructors are all professional, equity actors with experience teaching acting and leading workshops with children.

Literacy advisors include Vicky Smith, Children’s Book Editor of Kirkus Reviews; Mary Pervada, Head Children’s Librarian at Portland Public Library; Beverly Corsey, Principal of Nathan Clifford School; Cynthia Loring, Principal of Presumpscot Elementary School and Kirsten Cappy of Curious City.

Theater for Kids is made possible by the generous support and vision of Susie Konkel. As a former educator and a lover of the arts, her funding enables Portland Stage to bring the magic of theater to the children of Southern Maine.

Theater for Kids has received funding from the Maine Humanities Council, The Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation, Sam L Cohen Foundation and The Catalyst Fund to continue our work in bringing children, books and theater together.