PLAY Conservatory

unique and challenging Theatre projects for young people

36days until
Disney's The Little Mermaid opens

50days until
Escape From Titanic opens

64days until
Go Go Beach opens

TYA

TYA stands for Theatre for Young Audiences.
 
TYA offers plays written specifically for audiences of children or adolescents. The issues discussed concern these audiences directly.  Ideally the performers are skilled actors and the production is overseen by skilled and trained directors and technical staff.

The story line can be drawn from history, literature for children, folk and fairy tales or real life issues important to young people.  When most people think of Theatre for Young Audiences they think of fairy tales, presented with lots of bright colors and peppy music, but while such entertainment has a place in the field, TYA can be much more.  Contemporary playwrights are becoming ever more aware that children can handle -- indeed should handle -- sophisticated ideas and serious issues.  Children's plays are being written today that challenge young audiences both by their subject matter and by their theatricality.  The plays of AURAND HARRIS, SUZAN ZEDER and JAMES STILL, along with many others, are writing plays with active child protagonists addressing serious issues of concern for children today.  Many of these plays are just as joyful and fun as any traditional fairy-tale play.

While all of the plays presented by PLAY Conservatory are considered TYA, the ones performed by our student casts might also be considered "Youth Theatre" or even "School Theatre" -- young people performing for young people and the community at large.
 
In the winter of 2011-12, PLAY Conservatory began producing professional TYA with the production of The House at Pooh Corner.  We plan to offer at least one professional TYA production each year.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subpages (1): Future TYA