Orlando Family Stage Strengthens Its Role as Central Florida’s Home for Theatre Education

New classes, a Junior Thespian Troupe, post-show family workshops, and early childhood programs reflect a continued investment in learning through theatre.

ORLANDO, Fla. (July 22, 2025), Orlando Family Stage today announced registration for its 2026-2027 education programs, introducing expanded weekend and after-school classes, a new Junior Thespian Troupe for homeschool students, and a new series of post-show family workshops that extend learning beyond the stage.

The new season reflects Orlando Family Stage’s belief that theatre is a powerful tool for developing creativity, confidence, communication, and empathy. From a baby’s first theatrical experience to a high school student’s final bow before graduation, Orlando Family Stage is a leader of creating opportunities for children and families to develop social and emotional intelligence skills through theatre at every stage of childhood.

“Children are often described as future audiences or future artists,” said Chris Brown, Executive Director of Orlando Family Stage. “We see them differently. They are people with important stories, ideas, and voices right now. Whether it is a baby’s first experience with music and movement, a family discovering a story together, or a teenager finding confidence under the stage lights, our shared goals are the same. We are creating experiences that help young people grow while strengthening the connections between children, families, and their communities.”

Orlando Family Stage’s education programs are intentionally designed to grow alongside children and families.

First Steps
The journey begins with Baby & Me, where infants and caregivers explore music, movement, storytelling, and sensory play together. Young children continue discovering the arts through Story Stroll, combining literacy, outdoor exploration, and imaginative play, and through Theatre for the Very Young, immersive performances created specifically for children in their earliest years of development.

As children grow, weekend classes and after-school programs introduce acting, musical theatre, creative drama, and technical theatre in welcoming, age-appropriate environments led by professional teaching artists.

Learning through Participation
Students seeking additional performance opportunities can participate in Orlando Family Stage’s fully produced Youth Academy musicals, where young artists rehearse alongside professional directors, designers, choreographers, music directors, and stage managers in a production process modeled after the organization’s Main Stage productions. The 2026-2027 Youth Academy season features Disney’s Camp Rock The Musical (December 4-6, 2026) and Trolls The Musical Jr. (April 30-May 2, 2027).

The organization is also launching a new Junior Thespian Troupe for homeschool students, creating a dedicated community where students develop theatrical skills, participate in professionally evaluated events, build leadership experience, connect with peers and mentors, who share their passion for theatre.

Outside of the Classroom
Learning continues beyond the classroom through Orlando Family Stage’s nationally recognized educational programs, including school field trips, Arts Based Learning residencies, teacher professional development, and a new series of post-show family workshops designed to deepen each family’s connection to the stories they experience on stage.

Following select performances throughout the season, families will be invited to participate in hands-on workshops that explore each production’s themes, characters, and creative process that brings it all to life. Through guided activities, games, and discussion, children and caregivers can continue conversations sparked by the performance, create together, and strengthen connections long after the curtain comes down.

“Education is not a single class or a single production. It is a journey that evolves alongside each child,” said Jennifer Adams-Carrasquillo, Senior Director of Education. “That journey is made possible by an extraordinary team of educators who bring passion, expertise, and care to their work every day of the year. Our full-time education staff works alongside children and families every day of the year, making it possible to provide the depth and quality of programming our community has come to expect. We create programs that meet families where they are, from early childhood experiences that support sensory development, caregiver bonding, and early learning to advanced performance opportunities that prepare students for college, careers, and lifelong creativity. Our goal is to create spaces where every young person feels seen, supported, and inspired to grow.”

University of Central Florida Collaboration
Education at Orlando Family Stage is strengthened by the organization’s longstanding partnership with the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) nationally recognized Theatre for Young Audiences graduate program. Each season, UCF students work alongside professional artists as stage managers, directors, designers, teaching artists, dramaturgs (helping interpret scripts), researchers, and production leaders, gaining hands-on professional experience while helping create meaningful theatrical experiences for thousands of children and families. The partnership also fuels innovation in Theatre for Young Audiences through new play development, research, and collaborative artistic practices.

Built for Children and Families
What makes Orlando Family Stage’s education programs distinctive is the community of educators behind them. A full-time education team provides year-round leadership and continuity, while professional teaching artists, many of whom are classroom teachers, working theatre professionals, and University of Central Florida MFA students and graduates, bring a wide range of expertise into every classroom, rehearsal, and workshop. Many members of the organization’s education and artistic leadership have served Central Florida’s children for more than a decade, building lasting relationships with schools, families, and community partners.

This collaborative team creates learning experiences that serve thousands of children each year while preparing the next generation of artists, educators, and engaged community members.

Together, these programs reflect Orlando Family Stage’s mission to empower young people to be brave and empathetic by creating quality theatrical experiences. Through professional productions, arts education, and community partnerships, the organization serves children and families from birth through high school, creating opportunities to learn, imagine, and grow at every stage of childhood.

Registration for all 2026-2027 education programs is now open. Families can explore Baby & Me, Story Stroll, Theatre for the Very Young, weekend classes, after-school programs, Youth Academy productions, the new Junior Thespian Troupe, post-show family workshops, and additional learning opportunities at OrlandoFamilyStage.com.

About Orlando Family Stage

Celebrating more than 100 years of inspiring young people through theatre, Orlando Family Stage empowers young people to be brave and empathetic by creating quality theatrical experiences. As Florida’s only professional theatre dedicated exclusively to young audiences, the organization reaches more than 100,000 children and families each year through professional productions, arts education, school partnerships, and community programs that enrich the lives of young people across Central Florida. For more information, visit OrlandoFamilyStage.com.