Free Kids to Kids theatre arts program coming to 'The Middle' in Franklin

The Middle New Hampshire Arts and Entertainment Center has announced a new partnership with award-winning Northern Stage, a professional LORT-D Equity theatre company based in White River Junction, VT. Building on the extraordinary four-year success of its Project Playwright program, Northern Stage’s new K2K-TA (Kids to Kids – Theatre Arts) program was developed to address the current lack of performing arts instruction in America’s schools.

This new program, entirely funded by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, is designed to introduce a new generation of audience and artists to the excitement of live theatre and lay the foundation for ongoing performing arts opportunities for young people. Northern Stage chose Franklin based on its isolation from arts centers and potential to increase performing arts programming for young people, the economic need of the community, and a willingness and capability on the part of The Middle to support the program.

“We looked at more than a half a dozen towns in New Hampshire, weighing a number of factors in our choice, and in all areas Franklin came out a clear winner,” explained Jody Davidson, Northern Stage Director of Education. “With K2K being a new program, it was essential that we had a local partner with strong working relationships in their community, able to effectively reach a wide segment of the population — but also one that was enthusiastic, supportive and eager to partner effectively to ensure the program succeeds.”

Jule Finley, English teacher and drama program director at Franklin High School, is especially excited by the potential to bring year-round children’s theatre education to the community and fill a gap for her young Franklin Area Children’s Theatre (FACT) summer program participants. In association with Casey Family Services and the Franklin Recreation Department, FACT has attracted hundreds of area children aged 4–18 since 2007.

“Now these kids have a place to go when the summer is over,” said Finley. “This really is a great opportunity for year-round exposure to performing arts.”

Over the course of the school year, at least one Northern Stage professional teaching artist and eight members of the Northern Stage Ensemble will conduct workshops for up to 60 area children ages 8–18 in the historic Franklin Opera House, home of The Middle. The program is free of charge, and sessions will be offered one Saturday each month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., culminating in an entirely student-run production in June. The proposed schedule and Unit Plan for the program is as follows: Oct. 24: Introductions, acting exercises, begin playwriting; Nov. 14: Review, acting exercises, playwriting, directing; Dec. 12: Performance of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"; Jan. 9: Review, acting exercises; playwriting; stage management; Feb. 6: Review, acting exercises, playwriting, set design; March 13: Review, acting exercises, playwriting, set design, costume design; April 10: Performance of "Bridge to Terabithia"; May 29: Review, acting exercises, prop design, rehearsal/technical production; May 30: Review, acting exercises, lighting design, rehearsal/technical production; June 12: Review, acting exercises; rehearsal/technical production, tech/dress rehearsal; June 13: Review, acting exercises, tech/dress rehearsal, public performance.

For information or registration, please e-mail info@themiddlenh.org or call (603) 934-1901.