Conservatory
Fall 2026, Winter and Spring 2027 Open for Registration
Email conservatory@nationalchildrenstheatre.org to join the waitlist for sold out programs
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Students learn to confidently audition for our upcoming spring musical production: slating (introducing yourself), selecting and rehearsing a song, performing choreography, taking notes from the director, and calming audition nerves.
Workshop led by Jen Jacobs (Director), Patti Woolsey (Choreographer), and Stella Monshaw (Music Director).
Saturdays: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Register for: Musical Theatre Audition Workshop
November 14, 21, and December 5
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Teaching Artists guide students through creating characters, crafting art projects, and performing stories with friends.
Students must be potty-trained to enroll.
Saturdays: 9 - 10 a.m.
FALL 2026
NEW for Ages 4-5 (previous Creative Players class or equivalent experience required)
SOLD OUT: Anansi the Spider
September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, (no class 31), November 7, 14, 21, 28, December 5, 12
Email conservatory@nationalchildrenstheatre.org to join the waitlist
SOLD OUT: Courageous Kids and Critters
November 7, 14, 21, 28, December 5, 12
Email conservatory@nationalchildrenstheatre.org to join the waitlist
WINTER 2027
Register for: Amazing Actors and Artists
January 9, 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13
For Ages 4-5 (previous Creative Players class or equivalent experience required)
Register for: Marvelous Myths
January 9, 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13
SPRING 2027
Register for: Peculiar Pets and Playmates
February 27, March 6, 13, 20, (no class 27), April 3, 10
For Ages 4-5 (previous Creative Players class or equivalent experience required)
Register for: Frog and Toad
February 27, March 6, 13, 20, (no class 27), April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22
Register for: Spunky Superheroes and Sidekicks
April 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22
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Students learn performance and design fundamentals, and collaborate with friends to rehearse and perform scenes from plays.
FALL 2026
Saturdays: 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
SOLD OUT: The Little Prince
An ensemble-based adaptation of The Little Prince by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar. Adapted from the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.
September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, (no rehearsal 31), 24, November 7, 14, 21, 28, December 5, 12
Performance: Saturday, December 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Email conservatory@nationalchildrenstheatre.org to join the waitlist
Mondays: 4 - 6 p.m.
SOLD OUT: Courageous Kids
November 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7, 14
Email conservatory@nationalchildrenstheatre.org to join the waitlist
WINTER 2026
Saturdays: 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Register for: Adventurers and Magical Creatures
Imagine your own story (inspired by Dungeons and Dragons)
Create your own character and collaborate with friends as you protect your fantasy world from dragons, fairies, and trolls.
January 9, 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13
Mondays: 4 - 6 p.m.
Register for: Fantastical Folktales
January 4, 11, (no class 18), 25, February 1, 8, (no class 15), 22
SPRING 2027
Saturdays: 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Register for: Peter Pan
Students learn performance and design fundamentals, and collaborate with friends to rehearse and perform an ensemble-based adaptation of Peter Pan. Adapted from the book by J.M. Barrie.
February 27, March 6, 13, 20, (no rehearsal 27), April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22
Performance: Saturday, May 22 at 11:00 a.m.
Mondays: 4 - 6 p.m.
Register for: Playful Pirates
March 1, 8, 15, (no class 22), 29, April 5, 12
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Students learn performance and design fundamentals, and collaborate with friends to rehearse and perform The Snow Queen by Stanton Wood, adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen tale that inspired Disney’s Frozen.
THE SNOW QUEEN (WOOD) is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Playscripts.
Mondays: 4 - 6:30 p.m.
SOLD OUT: The Snow Queen
September 14, 21, 28, October 5, (no class 12), 19, 26, November (no class 2), 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7, 12 (Saturday 3-5:30 p.m.), 14
Performance Cast A: Saturday, December 12 at 4:00 p.m.
Performance Cast B: Monday, December 14 at 5:00 p.m.
Email conservatory@nationalchildrenstheatre.org to join the waitlist
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Students learn dance, music, and performance fundamentals, and collaborate with friends to rehearse and perform Mary Poppins Jr., presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International.
Mondays: 4 - 6:30 p.m.
Register for: Mary Poppins Jr.
January 4, 11, (no rehearsal 18), 25, February 1, 8, (no rehearsal 15), 22, March 1, 8, 15, (no rehearsal 22), 29, April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10
Additional Saturday Rehearsals (12:30 - 2:30 p.m.): January 16, February 13, February 20, March 20, May 8
Tech Week: May 11 (Tuesday), 12 (Wednesday), 13 (Thursday at Arena Stage until 8:30 p.m.)
Three Performances: Friday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Arena Stage 1101 6th St SW, Washington, DC 20024
Rehearsal Location: Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church 201 4th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
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Students of all levels of experience will strengthen their performance skills as they collaborate with friends on scenes from plays.
FALL 2026
Saturdays: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, November 7, 14, 21, 28, December 5, 12
Performance: December 12 at 2:00 p.m.
SPRING 2027 PRODUCTION
Announced by October 31, 2026
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Students of all levels of experience will strengthen their performance skills as they collaborate with friends on scenes from plays.
FALL 2026
Thursdays: 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. EST
September 24, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, November 5, 12, 19, (no class 26), December 3, 10, 17
SPRING 2027
Announced soon!
Location: Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church 201 4th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
In addition to being a fun after-school and weekend activity, here are some great reasons to enroll:
Key Findings on the Benefits of Theatre Education
Prepared by Thalia R. Goldstein, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, George Mason University
Language: Theatre and drama classrooms are highly verbal via the analyses and performance of scripts. Findings include building vocabulary skills, particularly for English language learners, narrative skills, and verbal skills including story understanding and reading readiness.
Social-Emotional Development: Across age groups and settings, theatre has been linked to a large variety of social and emotional skills and abilities. These include empathy, self-esteem, emotional control and regulation.
Creativity and 21st Century Skills: All theatre involves some improvisation, but specific classes and interventions using improv skills have shown improvements in 21st century skills and increases in divergent thinking and uncertainty tolerance, a necessary skill to make informed decisions, and a correlate of mental health.
Acting Habits of Mind: A recent nationally representative study of acting classes showed teachers are giving students opportunities to practice body awareness, imagination, self-confidence, meta-cognition, empathy, collaboration, decision making skills, and cognitive flexibility.
Class Details: will be emailed to registered students the week prior to the class start date. Full tuition is due at registration. There is a non-refundable deposit of $50 per registration. If you need to withdraw your registration, refunds (minus the deposit) will be available up until the week before the class begins. A limited number of need-based scholarships will be awarded on a rolling basis. Please email info@nationalchildrenstheatre.org to request a scholarship application.
Generously supported by:
Photos of Creative Players, Young Performers, She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition, and Matilda The Musical Jr. by Randall Pike