As part of the KIDSTAGE Originals writer application, each student will be asked to submit two pieces of work. One piece should use one of the prompts provided; the other may be any creative writing you have, either created for this program or written in your own time. For more information on the prompts, please check out the prompt link above.  

The entrance process is designed for KIDSTAGE to get to know the interested students and assess their readiness for the program. All writing and prompt submissions are used to determine current skills in writing and storytelling. Perfection is not requested or expected – all writing can be improved, and the biggest hurdle all writers face is getting their ideas on paper!  

Successful members of the writing team possess the following qualities: 

• A passion for writing and telling stories or creating and composing songs 
• The willingness to collaborate and compromise as necessary on differing ideas or viewpoints  
• The ability to manage and advocate for their personal schedule 
• The motivation and time to commit to one hour a day or more of writing outside of the writing rehearsals, either by yourself or with your fellow writing team members 
• Access to a laptop with a word-processing program (Google Docs, Word, etc.). Writers will be asked to collaborate writing scenes and/or songs online. Please let us know if you do not have access to a laptop at home, and KIDSTAGE can help procure one for your usage. 

• Composer/Lyricist Applications Due: September 21, 2023 
• Writer Interviews: Week of October 2nd, 2023 
• Writer Meetings: Sundays from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. beginning in mid-October through February 
• KIDSTAGE Originals New Work Cabaret: April 5–14, 2023 at the Cope Gillette Theatre 

Village Theatre’s generous tuition assistance program ensures that everyone can participate regardless of financial circumstances. We believe that experiential learning in theatre arts is a powerful tool for building essential life and career skills including critical thinking, concentration, collaboration, discipline, communication, and creativity.   

Tuition for the 2023–2024 KIDSTAGE Originals writing program is $850.

Financial assistance is available

KIDSTAGE Originals is an original musical project created by emerging theatre artists. Students generate their own original material under the mentorship and guidance of a professional writing, composing, and directing team. 

Once the writing team has a completed script, student actors are added to the process and the show is shared with an audience for feedback regarding their script and story. This process is designed to teach students about process of creating a show from script to stage, and provide students the life skills of collaboration, compromise, communication of ideas, and receiving critical responses to creative endeavors, among many others. 

KIDSTAGE Originals productions are written by, for, and about teens, and can address some of the most important issues to teens today. Past KIDSTAGE Originals shows include: While They Last, I’m Doing This, Last Exit, In Your Eyes, Save As…, Hot Mess, Playing Fair, This is What They Tell Me, Sincerely Yours, Out of Bounds, and All That Glitters – A Rock Legend.