BYE BYE BIRDIE, JEKYLL AND HYDE and More Set for Stoneham Theatre's Young Company, Summer 2013

Even though there are still traces of snow, Stoneham Theatre's young company is gearing up for summer by announcing its Summer Festival's line-up of shows. "Just like on the Mainstage, we strive to bring our young actors and audiences a variety," Director of Education Caitlin Lowans shared. "I think that becomes especially important in our act 3 festival for high school actors who are looking for new experiences and more advance methods. We're doing world-premiere work and edgy, complex musicals that students won't find in any other summer training program."

Their variety of shows are one of the reasons Stoneham Theatre's young company program continues to grow by leaps and bounds. This summer, Stoneham Theatre expects to have 180 students in 6 fully-staged productions.

The overture program is for students entering grades 1-3. There are 5 weeks (today, July 8-August 11, 2013), and students can select their participation weeks a la carte. Each week has a theme and culminates in a short, original play with music and dance.

act 1 is for students entering grades 4-6, and act 2 is for students entering grades 7-9. These are 5-week long programs (July 8-August 11, 2013). Starmites Lite and Bye, Bye Birdie are the shows for act 1 this year. act 2 will also be doing Bye, Bye Birdie as well as The Wiz. act 3 is for students entering grades 10-12 and 2013 high school graduates. It is also a 5-week long program (July 15-August 18, 2013). There are 3 shows for act 3: Jekyll and Hyde; The Handless Maiden (loosely adapted from the Grimm's fairy tale by Producing Artistic Director Weylin Symes); and a musical yet to be announced.

The program day is 8:30am to 2:30pm. All actors are cast in a production. The final week is a culmination of their work with performances on Stoneham Theatre's Mainstage.

the young company educators are Boston-area theatre professionals, who are assisted by current university students, many of whom are graduates of the program.

Aftercare/late pick-up is available for an additional fee to students in overture, act 1, and act 2.

Through the generosity of Stoneham Theatre donors, scholarships are available on a first come, first-served basis to those families who demonstrate financial need. Payment plans are also available.

For more information, visit www.stonehamtheatre.org/youngcompany/summer, email education@stonehamtheatre.org, or call the Box Office at (781) 279-2200.