Best children's program for miles around. In Encore, kids learn all ins and outs of theater, leadership, management, and technical theater skills. There is something to get involved for any child, whether they want to sing, act, dance, write scripts, work lights or sound, or understand how marketing and addressing community works. Encore is fantastic at fostering an entire confident child, whether they plan to continue theater beyond childhood and adolescence or not. For my son, Encore is family. This is the place for learning, for being creative, for making friendship, and for being and being accepted and appreciated for what you are. I am very thankful for all the experiences and opportunities my son has gotten at Encore over the years.
Wonderful children’s theatre program! Camps, classes, and high-quality shows! What’s really amazing is that no tuition is charged if your child is selected for cast/crew for the many shows they have throughout the year! This really levels the field to take cost out as a consideration for auditioning! Great summer camps and day off from school camps as well! Kids have fun, develop confidence, and make new friends! Highly recommend!
Encore truly means it when they say they produce "theatre for kids, by kids." Kids are as involved in every aspect of a production as possible from the stage to the front of house crew. Along with opportunities to be on crew and act there are young designers assisting with sets and costumes. Their no set fee to participate in a production also breaks down financial barriers.
I worked as a volunteer intern with Encore over this past summer and absolutely loved every second of it. The staff was so welcoming and supportive to me and every single person they encountered. Encore is fully committed to providing kids with a supportive environment to grow and develop, not only their theatre skills, but their confidence as well- all while having fun!
Encore has been a gateway for my daughter to pursue her love of theater. Starting with enrichment classes in elementary school, she has gone on to perform in several Encore shows. She’s enjoyed each experience, gaining the confidence not only to perform in high school plays and musicals, but also to express herself in class and other activities.
Encore Stage was a port in the middle school storm for my son. Such a great community away from school and neighborhood, and many of them continue to be friends after they've gone on to high school. So grateful for this organization!
My daughter began attending classes and summer camps with Encore at 5 years old and performed in several Encore season productions. Encore has enabled her to improve her theater skills and give her the confidence to audition for roles at her high school. I continue to devote my time to Encore because I see how they continue to reach out to the larger community by creating productions for our youngest audiences-preschoolers-and bringing these productions to our underserved populations here in Arlington-the children enrolled in the Virginia Preschool Initiative. Encore helps Title 1 communities like Carlin Springs Elementary where approximately 90% of the population receives free/reduced lunch services. Encore paid for a VERY expensive song writing residency for Carlin Springs 4th graders and those songs were featured in an original Encore production. Encore provided tickets to the ENTIRE 4th grade to attend one of these performances so these students could see their works performed live, on stage. Encore also generously lent costumes, props and choreography assistance to Carlin Springs for their first ever musical. Encore is helping inspire future leaders, not only in theatre but in many other endeavors by fostering this creativity.
We have been involved with Encore since 2014. My son has participated in summer camps, school year shows as an actor and backstage crew member, and in summer shows. This is a wonderful group of people, from the staff to the kids to the parents. The staff go above and beyond to make the experience the best it can be for both the kids and the parents! Well worth being a part of!
I got involved with Encore as their Arts Management intern and it was an immensely valuable experience! My time spent there was filled with different tasks, creative projects, helping with shows and workshops, helping with volunteering in the community, and I got to witness the incredible talent that the people involved with Encore have. The staff constantly shows how much they care for theatre and for this organization and because of that passion, they're able to constantly challenge themselves to become better and serve the community as best as they can. It was my first time working with them and I plan on keeping in touch with them and supporting them. A wonderful staff, great programs, and great selections of shows for everyone to get involved with makes this organization stand out from others!
Encore Stage and Studio is a wonderful environment for anyone who wants to learn about theater! Whether or not you have prior experience, Encore welcomes anyone willing to join. Doing an Encore show is like being apart of a wonderful show family, you know you can count on anyone around you. Every camp and show I have ever been apart of has been absolutely amazing and super fun.
I have had the chance to work with Encore as a teacher and a cast member, and every experience I have with them is nothing short of professional, welcoming, and friendly. As a teacher, I love that Encore gives the students ownership and responsibility. Encore puts education first, and it always pays off.
Encore Stage & Studio is a wonderful organization to witness and be involved in. The dedicated staff is passionate about their mission for building a lifelong appreciation of live theatre for young people, and it reflects on their students! The productions are well done and the students are so professional, Encore is building creators, professionals and leaders.
I did really enjoy the show Frozen Jr. Your casts members are amazing as young actors and actresses! Hope to see them in the future's show! Bravo!
Encore helped me to learn and grow in technical theater. I first was in their tech summer camps, and then moved on to being on the crew in their regular year shows, where I gained experience in a variety of different roles, and eventually became a stage manager at Encore. The staff at encore supported me as a stage manager, helping me to learn the role and improve my abilities, especially Rebecca Pfeil, the production manager, who mentored me throughout my time there, and helped me to get where I am today with stage management. Currently I am in the stage management program at VCUarts, and I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am now without the support and training that I received at Encore.
Encore is a welcoming home for all. Not only is it a vibrant arts community for actors, but encore has tech crew opportunities backstage and on front of house, classes, camps, volunteer opportunities, and more. I have been participating in encore programs since 2014, and I am very grateful for every minute of my experience. I’ve learned leadership skills, communication skills, public speaking skills, and so much more. I’ve worked on many productions throughout NOVA, but nothing is quite like encore.
Encore Stage & Studio offers such an amazing array of programs for young people who are interested in theatre. The combination of passionate staff and volunteers, theatrical experience, and dedication to the community provides residents of Northern Virginia with an experience that is rare and truly special. Having seen their recent production of Disney's Frozen Jr., it is clear that Encore provides an enriching and supportive environment for young performers and technicians to grow into confident theatre professionals. I encourage all young people to take advantage of Encore's camps, classes, and/or audition opportunities!
Encore Stage and Studio provides an environment for both the people enjoying the programming to grow and shine but also the employees. The higher level staff members are open to new ideas that challenge the employees to be creative and forward thinkers. The ensemble or team aspect that the company has created helps to foster the employees professional growth by allowing their own ideas and artistry to be highlighted in a collaborative work environment. Having worked in after school settings and camp settings coupled with being an audience member and office employee, Encore welcomes and nourishes young artists on so many level while supporting its staff and teaching artists in a creative and engaging way.
I have benefited from Encore's mission as both a participant and a young professional. As an Arts Apprentice, I gained valuable workplace experience from the staff of Encore. Their creativity and integrity were and remain inspiring to me as a person working in the world of arts administration.
I've also had the joy of participating in two of Encore's summer theatrical productions, which are open to members of the local community. It's a wonderful thing, to see theatre-makers of all ages join together to create with and learn from one another. It's also a ton of fun!
Encore gave my shy son the confidence to perform, first in a class and then in front of many many audience members. It was magical watching his face light up as he created his performance. For kids who still live in their imaginations (long may they do so!) Encore provides many open opportunities through classes, camps, and shows for kids to shine.
Encore has been a wonderful part of our family's experience over many years. When my first daughter was a preschooler, we started attending Encore theater performances (called The Children's Theater at that time). Fifteen years later, she's in college, and I still enjoy my relationship with Encore, as my other two children are currently benefiting from their activities here. It has been the best single place for all three of my kids - and all three of my kids are very different from one another. A remarkable degree of responsibility is given to kids both on the stage and behind the scenes. My kids have friends they've made at Encore who are different ages and genders and who attend schools in other counties. They always feel downhearted when a show ends, but they keep up to date with the new friends they've made, and time and again, they have ended up working on another show with them. The shows are appropriate, clever and FUN. The atmosphere is enriching, encouraging and appealing. Thank you, thank you Encore!
I started working at Encore Stage and Studio 2.5 years ago, when I started I was not in a great place however encore is such a great environment that it brought me out of that and is now the most important part of my life. Aside from this I have learned a huge amount about theater, leadership, and carpentry. Skills which I use all the time out out side encore. I cannot properly express how good encore is in almost every way.
Encore Stage and Studio has been the most wonderful place for me and my family to spend a few years working in theatre together with other families and theatre-lovers. The work is remarkably creative and professional. Gratefully, Susan
Participating in Encore shows taught me how to work in a team and speak in public. It also inspired my interest in theater. I am grateful for all the lessons learned and memories created!
I performed in my first show with encore when I was nine. It was an awesome experience! I have seen many shows at encore over the years. Everyone is so nice and it's a great organization!
My teenage twin daughters have been involved with Encore since their elementary school days. Their Encore experience has taught them invaluable lifelong skills, such as teamwork, resilience, poise and resourcefulness. I joined the board of directors because I saw first-hand what this powerful community theatre organization can do for kids in building their confidence, meeting new friends, and introducing them to the performing arts.
I watched a performance for the first time last year and it was darling! The theater was packed and I was impressed by the professionalism of the cast and crew. Looking forward to another great show
It's fun to see the students enjoy the programs and shows that this organization provides for the community! I started volunteering for Encore last year and I can see why the staff members are so dedicated. They truly believe in the organization and making sure that students have an outlet of the arts.
Encore is an amazing organization. My first contact with Encore was through attending shows in which my students were performing. I saw these students grow with their continued interactions with Encore. Both in front of the stage and behind the stage Encore offers opportunities for young people to be involved with theater in real, meaningful ways. I have enjoyed taking my own daughter to shows and she has now had the opportunity to attend the camps. As a board member I feel privileged to be involved with an organization that infuses theater into the lives of youth and the larger community.
I got involved with Encore a few years ago, after my daughter was cast in a show. Now I am the President of the Board of Directors. To me, Encore is an amazing organization. On the one hand, it is a children's theater. But on the other, perhaps less visible, side, it is really a laboratory where young people learn leadership, responsibility, teamwork, accountability, poise, thinking on their feet, and how to develop others. I have never seen a place with groups of young people working together quite like this: they are mixed gender and range in age from 9 to 18. Schools are segregated by age. Sports are segregated by skill and/or age and usually by gender. But here, they are all working together and the older kids - the teens - take care of and nurture and guide and support the younger ones - who are usually in elementary school. I have never encountered anything like it before and its really remarkable to watch.
My first exposure to Encore was as a parent, bringing my very young children to many shows. It was the perfect introduction to theater for them, and always a special outing for all of us. (Even better because the shows were 10 minutes from home, with very reasonable ticket prices and free parking!) I was always amazed by the professionalism of the young casts, the fabulous sets and costumes, and the obvious commitment to creating a positive experience for all involved. Once my children were a bit older and I was better positioned to indulge my longtime passion for musical theater, I won roles in two of Encore's summer productions (in 2010 and 2012). I was fortunate to get to know Encore even better from an insider's perspective, and Encore now holds a very special place in my heart. What a joy to be part of a thriving community theater experience once again, after so many years! I was always particularly happy when busloads of audience members arrived from local senior citizen centers (they actually got all the jokes in "Anything Goes"), or when little kids were excited to meet us "real actors" in the lobby after a show. And wow, what a fabulous summer experience for high school and college kids. I feel quite fortunate to have worked with so many talented young people. And now I have come full circle...one of my children will soon audition for an Encore show herself!
If a children's theater company can win a Tony Award, ENCORE STAGE AND STUDIO would win! Encore’s children shows and productions are sooo good! A great mix of professional actors with professional staff members, which creates a wonderful ensemble of CREATIVE ARTS for our youth!!
Encore Stage offers wonderful performances that are on par with those in larger cities. You don't have to travel far to watch a terrifically orchestrated live theatre show. The theatre offers a ton of family friendly productions. I highly recommend supporting this theatre and all their productions!
This was the very first non-profit I had volunteered for. I came to know this organization through one of their employees. Immediately, I was welcomed with open arms. Throughout volunteering, I realized that Encore has the ability to encourage arts among the youth and young teens. I believe that this is extremely important, especially for self expression. I have nothing but positive things to say about Encore and I definitely enjoy volunteering for them.
I joined the board last September, after reconnecting with Encore after many years. I was a participant in Encore's program's when I was growing up. I participated in the Stage Door summer camp as a young person, I performed on the stage in shows, and I worked behind the scenes on the crew of a number shows. I learned so much from the individuals involved in this organization and it was with Encore that I developed my love of the theater. I could not think of a better way to give back to an organization that taught me and meant so much to me, then get involved and serve on Encore's board. I can't say enough great things about this organization. Theater by kids, for kids!