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Theatre programs across Fairfax County are helping middle school students build confidence, friendships and empathy—whether they perform under the lights or work behind the scenes.
Theatre Arts Appreciation and Advanced Theatre Arts Appreciation are standard middle school courses available at every school in the district. Tara Taylor, a Theatre Arts and Dance educational specialist, said that access gives all middle school students an opportunity to participate.
Technical roles offer another path for students who may have stage fright or prefer backstage work. Those students learn how each contribution supports the larger production.
Ethan, a student at Kilmer Middle School, said theatre helped him find a community where he belongs and gave him another reason to look forward to school.
Students also practice communication, collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving. Their work ranges from fall plays to original sketches and skits performed in school courtyards, with some students carrying their interest into local organizations and community theatres.
Kelsey, an eighth grader at Hayfield Secondary School, said creating original sketches and skits has strengthened her social and problem-solving skills.
By exploring characters and stories from different cultures, students also learn to consider experiences beyond their own. The result is an inclusive environment designed to help them grow both as performers and as people.