Mini Stage

Introducing MTC’s ‘Mini Stage’

A New Experience for Our Youngest Theater Enthusiasts!

 

Moorestown Theater Company is excited to announce ‘Mini Stage’, a new part of our ‘Summer Stage’ program designed especially for children between the ages of 5 and 7!  After nearly 20 years of offering our beloved Summer Stage program, we’ve created Mini Stage to provide an introductory theater experience tailored to our youngest performers, running concurrently with Summer Stage. 

 

What to Expect at Mini Stage:

 

Enrollment and Cost:

Mini Stage offers six separate one-week sessions, each priced at $350. As a gesture of appreciation, we’re offering the choice for our returning 7-year-olds who joined us for Summer Stage ‘24 to be “grandfathered” into Summer Stage ‘25, or to join Mini Stage as the Rising Stars this summer. 

These six (non-SS ‘25 show) weeks are:

Week #1:  June 23 - 27

Week #2:  July 7 - 11

Week #3:  July 21 - 25

Week #4:  July 28 - August 1

Week #5:  August 11 - 15

Week #6:  August 18 - 22

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Daily Schedule: 

Mini Stage offers a day of creative and engaging activities from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM:

- Theater Training (9 AM - 11 AM): Led by a specific team, children will explore the basics of theater in a fun, supportive environment, including learning simple sheet music and choreography, and acting fundamentals.

- Lunch Break (11 AM - 12 PM): A chance to relax and refuel.

- Stage Time (12 PM - 1 PM):  A chance to rehearse on the stage, as well as learning about being backstage and entering / exiting the stage, how stage lighting works; etc.

- Afternoon Fun (1 PM - 4 PM): The afternoons are filled with crafts, games, and other creative activities designed to keep young minds engaged and entertained, as well as snack break in the middle.

 

Performances:

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Each week concludes with a performance on Friday at 5 PM where family and friends can see what the children have learned. Mini Stage performances are designed to be a delightful, simplified showcase of what our youngest actors have learned throughout their week.  With a focus on foundational theater skills, these performances are shorter and more informal than our full Summer Stage productions, allowing children to experience the thrill of being on stage without the complexity of a larger show.  Each week’s performance will highlight simple songs, short scenes, and creative movement, giving family and friends a glimpse into the fun and learning that happens at Mini Stage.  To keep the process enjoyable and accessible, children will perform in their camp T-shirts rather than full costumes.  A few carefully chosen props and accessories will add a touch of theatrical flair, while still allowing young performers to feel comfortable and confident on stage.  This streamlined approach keeps the experience light-hearted, making it the perfect introduction to theater for young performers.

 

Why Mini Stage?

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We designed Mini Stage with the unique needs of younger children in mind, creating a safe, structured, and fun space where they can explore the joy of theater in a smaller, more manageable setting.  This program also allows us to staff Mini Stage with a trained staff who specialize in working with younger children, ensuring every child has a meaningful, positive experience.

 

How will Mini Stage Interact with Summer Stage?

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While Mini Stage is a completely separate program designed for younger children, it will run alongside our traditional Summer Stage sessions at First Methodist Church (FMC) of Moorestown.  Mini Stage participants will have their own dedicated staff and schedule, focusing on introductory theater activities, crafts, and games tailored to their age group.  However, Mini Stage will hold a single end-of-week performance at 5 PM, allowing young performers a taste of the spotlight on our FMC Stage while giving families a glimpse into the joy and growth their children have experienced.  We also hope to have a preview performance at 12:30 PM so that our Summer Stage Campers can watch the Mini Stage Campers perform and cheer them on!  This arrangement allows both programs to thrive independently, while fostering a shared love of theater across all ages.

 

What Changes Does This Mean for Summer Stage?

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Summer Stage will continue to operate with the same high-quality programming and multiple sessions our community has come to love and enjoy.  The addition of Mini Stage will not impact the core structure or staffing of Summer Stage; instead, it provides a unique, parallel experience for younger children.  While space and scheduling will be carefully managed to accommodate both programs, Summer Stage’s schedule, performances, and activities will remain focused on delivering the exceptional theater training and production experiences for which it has become  known for the past 19 Summers. The introduction of Mini Stage simply expands our summer offerings, enriching the MTC community as a whole.

 

Join Us!

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We’re thrilled to expand our summer programming and can’t wait to welcome our youngest performers to Mini Stage. Whether they’re new to theater or building on past experiences, this program will be a fantastic introduction to the world of performing arts.  Spaces are limited, so don’t wait – enroll your child today and let their theater journey begin with Mini Stage!