Theatre Can Transform
Our theatre education program provides opportunities for numerous young audiences to enjoy the thrill of live performances, and it offers its participants opportunities for personal growth in ways that no other activity can. The Permian Playhouse provides a creative and productive way for children to spend their time after school and on weekends. As children learn to complete each element of a production, they learnthe value of teamwork, make new friends, and establish positive relationships with adults.
One cannot describe what the Playhouse means to students, parents, and all of us concerned with the education and development of our youth. We see an awakening, a thirst for more and a true appreciation of the arts developing in our children. We hope that, as these children mature to adults, our community will benefit from their love of theatre and their appreciation for other cultural and artistic events.
As always, our children are the future of the Permian Playhouse.
Classes and Workshops
The Permian Playhouse offers ongoing classes in youth theatre throughout the school year, as well as theatre camps during summer and spring breaks. The classes and workshops are supervised by Education Director Chad Cazee. Click on one of the titles below for more information!
Theatre Camps
After-School Theatre Classes
Youth Repertory Companies
About the Permian Playhouse
Theatre Education Program
What We're Doing
Theatre School classes are held in five sessions throughout the school year. Topics for each session include performance technique, showmanship, theatre crafts, and “creating worlds.”
Kaleidoscope Company is our resident advanced teen performing troupe. Its members pay dues, participate in classes, raise funds, take trips, assist with camps, compete in festivals, perform community service, and produce quality plays and musicals. Members are held to the highest standards of artistry, community spirit and professionalism.
Tadpoles classes prepare members for entrance into the KC. Tadpoles produce one play each year and, like their teen counterparts, the Tadpoles are trained to be self-sufficient so that all areas of production are youth-run by opening night.
Youth Plays and Musicals are a valuable learning tool for burgeoning actors. Students are excited to be part of the fun and often challenging shows, families are pleased with the quality entertainment, and audiences have expressed no less than awe at the high standards of professionalism exhibited by the young performers.
Theatre Camps are offered in the spring and summer. Enrollment is open to any student in grades K-7, and participants enjoy classes in acting, music, dance, and theatre crafts. During our intensive two-week performance camp, students rehearse and perform a fully-realized play.
Who We're Helping
Hundreds of recent research studies have shown that children exposed to the arts and participate in arts activities have consistently performed better academically, i.e. higher grades, better SAT scores, and better attendance, than those students who do not participate in a form of the arts.
Participation Numbers As of this printing, there are 59 active Youth Company members. Enrollment in theatre school classes changes every five weeks and is growing steadily.
Theatre for Everyone Participation in the Arts is traditionally biased by race and economic class. As part of our mission, we continually strive to overcome the mispercep-tion that theatre is only for the privileged.
Scholarships Youth are never turned away because of financial hardship. An array of scholarship opportunities exits, ranging from payment plans to work study scholarships.
What's Next?
DREAMS OF A NEW FACILITY
We continue to seek grant monies along with donors to renovate and create classroom spaces and ensure qualified staffing. The current facility is stretched beyond its capacity, and parents are requesting an even broader scope of educational opportunities that we cannot house. Our future is one that orbits around securing more space for our growing young actor population.
How You Can Help
Season Memberships makeup a small but important part of our funding. Youth season memberships start at only $30 and entitle you to tickets to every production in our season.
Playbill Advertisement sales are the young people’s way of contributing financially to their productions. If you are interested in advertising in the youth season playbills, contact the Playhouse office or any KC or Tadpole member.
Sponsoring a Show is tax-deductible. Shows are expensive prospects and costs usually fall between $2,000 and $4,000. Partial sponsorships are also available.
Sponsoring a Season is the best way to ensure continuance of our programming. Businesses and grantors helping to sponsor our season with their tax-deductible donations will receive special advertising packages. Contact the Playhosue office (432) 550-5456 for details.
Scholarship Fund donors can touch lives one child at a time. Please contact the Playhouse (432) 550-5456 for more information.
See a Show! Audiences are the lifeblood of any performance art. People who have seen our shows have consistently expressed amazement at the level of talent, technique and professionalism exhibited by even our youngest performers. Even if you never thought you’d like children’s theatre, you owe it to yourself to catch one of our shows.
Theatre Camps
SPRING BREAK THEATRE ARTS CAMP, dates to coincide with ECISD Spring Break. For grades K-12. Mon-Fri. Students will learn: puppetry, mime and movement, theatre crafts, musical theatre, dramatic acting, comedic acting. There will be a performance of songs and scenes on the last day of camp. Tuition charged.
SUMMER THEATRE ARTS CAMP for grades K-6. Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Students will learn: puppetry, mime and movement, theatre crafts, musical theatre, dramatic acting, comedic acting. There will be a performance of songs and scenes on the last day of camp. Tuition discount for siblings and for PPH season members.
TWO-WEEK PERFORMANCE CAMP for grades K-6. Musical Theatre in Rehearsal and Performance: Students are engaged in an intensive musical theatre workshop, building set pieces, coordinating costumes, and learning songs and dances. Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for two weeks, campers will rehearse a fully-realised musical. Tuition discount for siblings and for PPH season members
After-School Theatre Classes
Students are engaged in an intensive musical theatre workshop, building set pieces, coordinating costumes, and learning songs and dances. There is no requirement for this class other that wanting to learn the "Theatre". This class will prepare the students to advance to the Tadpole Troupe or the Kaleidoscope Company. Classes are held on Thursday afternoons each week. For more information please contact Barbara Iglehart at the Permain Playhouse.
To Register Click here
Youth Repertory Companies
The crown jewels of the Permian Playhouse are the two youth companies. The Kaleidoscope Company includes actors, technicians and other theatre-lovers in grades 7-12. The Tadpoles includes thespians in grades 2-6.
To Register for an Audition Click here
Plays for Youth by Youth
Part of our mainstage season this year are performances by the Kaleidoscope and Tadpole Companies. Titles include "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", "Winnie-the-Pooh", and "Bridge to Terabithia". In addition, the Kaleidoscope Company will rehearse and perform a one-act play to participate in Texas Nonprofit Theatre's YouthFest in June. During the season, these repertory companies will participate in various shows and "show-offs", both at the Playhouse and off-site.
Membership Information
Although classes are open to the public, membership in the Kaleidoscope Company (grades 7-12) and Tadpole Company (grades 2-6) are by audition only. These two advanced performance troupes are eligible for additional classes, and they participate in performances throughout the year. For information, please e-mail Education Director Chad Cazee. | 
