All about Nashville Children's Theatre

Photo (from Einstein is a Dummy) by Dan Brewer

Theatre is especially exciting for children, and there's something for kids of all ages at NCT! Engaging, endearing performances and wonderful educational programs await your family in Nashville!

The Nashville Children's Theatre is a fully professional, non-profit theatre dedicated to providing entertainment and education to children. Founded in 1931, the company is America's oldest operational children's theatre, and focuses on quality and accessibility, offering a tremendous variety of plays and events. NCT offers some 200 performances every year to an audience of 75,000 children, teachers, and parents, working closely with school systems throughout middle Tennessee to provide educators the opportunity to expose their students to the magic of theatre.

Student tickets are only $7.00 for groups of 10 or more (subsidies available through the Tennessee Arts Commission), and the company offers two shows daily during the school year. Weekend shows are also provided, costing only a little more. The Weekend Family Series subscription package offers a great value, including not only discounted tickets but also price reductions for classes and summer drama camps.

The company's Hill Theatre is located at 25 Middleton Street in downtown Nashville, between 2nd Avenue and Hermitage Avenue. The venue is welcoming and comfortable, fully accessible, and offers easy parking.

NCT offers more than fun, affordable shows: their educational program is top-rate too. Saturday workshops, camps during spring break and summer vacation, and even special workshops for home school groups are available. Early registration is highly recommended, as these opportunities are very popular and fill up quickly. Parents are also encouraged to explore scholarships and financial assistance offered by the company. Older students can benefit from the Dragonkeepers program, designed for high school students 16 years or older and offering valuable theatre experience and a paycheck! There are also internships available to college students.

Current and upcoming shows include:

• Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse (the story of a mouse who has her purse taken by her teacher in class)
• Still Life With Iris (the Finder of Lost Things is lost and must find her way home)
• The Fisherman and His Wife (An Irish fisherman meets a magical talking flounder)

Reservations are strongly recommended, as shows sell out regularly. For example, NCT has already added performances to The Fisherman and His Wife, which doesn't open until June.

Nashville Children's Theatre is a Pandora's box of fun! Don't let your kids miss out on all the wisdom and whimsy this nationally recognized company offers!