Performer's Playground: Committed To Youth Performance Arts Education

NEWPORT, NH - The Performer's Playground is a performing arts studio which caters to artistic, kids and young adults ages 21 and under, throughout Sullavin County. During its eight years, the Performers playground has served over 350 young artists throughout the region and currently has a membership of over 160 actors and teachers.

The Performer's Playground started as a school theatre program in Newport High School in 2001 and in 2004, became a non-profit organization. The original board consisted of Community members, parents theatre lovers and supports.

Under the artistic direction of Shelly Hudson, who is also the Executive Director of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, the Performer's Playground has blossomed to include an annual season of work that includes four main stage productions, a middle school production, a summer film production and The Film to Stage Series.

The mission of The Performer's Playground is to provide its members and the community with a well-rounded selection of productions from a variety of genres. Within the four to six year Performer's Playground program, students get the opportunity to participate in not only works drawn from the greater body of recognized dramatic literature, but also original and cutting-edge works as well.

"The Performer’s Playground is going into its 10th season of producing the best in youth theatre in the Sullivan County Region," Shelly Hudson said in a recent interview. "Its award-winning acting programs and commitment to arts literacy, and positive youth engagement that makes the Performer’s Playground a cut above the rest when considering theatre experiences for your children both on and off the stage."

They are members of the NHETA, ACCT and the New Hampshire Theatre registrar," and recently partnered with CUFSAP to produce the first Sullivan County Theatre Festival, and currently offer theatre workshops for actors in and out of school." This season, the age range has been increased to allow returning alumni to step back on to the stage in this, their 10th season," Hudson said. "With over 500 youth served from all over Sullivan County, The Playground is committed to arts education for all."

Hudson and The Performer's Playground also created Smalltown Productions and Dramaworks in 2003, a four-to-seven week summer film program and "crash course" in film making. The enrollment has grown tremendously and the program has produced several original films including numerous extras.

The Performer's Playground is committed to performance art education, aiming to work in the most professional way possible alongside established and novice professionals, fusing the worlds of amateur and professional performance art. "The Playground Performers feels enormous responsibility to individual and ensemble talent, the playwright, the audience and to the art form," Hudson added.

The Performer's Playground announces their season in June each year, and "Hamlet: A Tale of Terrier" was the first installment, with two more productions to follow. Next up is Next up is "A Little Princess" with auditions be held on Nov. 30 and Dec 1., which are open to everyone, ages 25 and under. The show will open at the Claremont Opera House on Feb 17th."

Following, the Spring Literature series with feature "Willy Wonka - The Musical." Auditions will be on March 21 and 22 and the show will open on May 4 at the Claremont Opera House. The Performer’s Playground’s Winter Children’s Literature Series is geared towards younger readers will be a classic for many - A Little Princess," Hudson concluded.

"This production will be an opportunity for the young actresses of The Playground to show their abilities while coupling with our older actors, allowing for real character development for all. This is the depth The Playground is known for."

The studio is located at 794 John Stark Highway in Kellyville and they hold all auditions there, as well as board meeting, summer programming and events. All the shows are produced on the Claremont Opera House stage. To learn more about The Performer's Playground, call 603.863.0022 or email Hudson at theperformersplayground@hotmail.com.