Build confidence and expand creativity with the ultimate team sport: Theatre.

Offered in partnership with City of Staunton Parks and Recreation.

With Shakespeare’s text as our touchstone and his technology as our laboratory, ASC Drama Club meets once a week in ~12-week terms to explore Shakespeare’s wordcraft and stagecraft through play, building confidence and expanding creativity by working together to craft and rehearse a final performance at the Blackfriars Playhouse. Included in the cost of each Drama Club is a ticket for each participant to join the group on a field trip to the Blackfriars Playhouse.

Registration for Spring 2025 ASC Drama Clubs is currently CLOSED. Registration will re-open for Fall 2025.

DATES & INFO

Fall 2025 CYCLE: September 14 – December 7, 2025

Final Performance: Sunday, December 7 @ 7:30pm

ASC Drama Club – Junior

Ages: 8-13

Play: The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Cost: $185 for residents, $187 for non-residents

Learn the theatrical basics by working on an abridged production of a Shakespeare play. Participants audition at the beginning of the cycle to receive their parts and spend the remainder of the cycle rehearsing for their final performance on the Blackfriars Playhouse stage. Included in the registration cost is a ticket for each participant to attend a special field trip to see a mainstage American Shakespeare Center production.

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW:

Weekly Rehearsals: Sundays from 1-3 PM (1-4 PM beginning October 26) from September 14 – December 7

Playhouse Field Trip to see The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Saturday, October 4 from 1:45-4:30 PM

Playhouse Dress Rehearsal: Saturday, November 22 from 9 AM-12 PM

Final Performance: Sunday, December 7 at 7:30 PM

(View full details and mandatory dates under the “Schedule” tab above)

Register for ASC Drama Club - Junior

ASC Drama Club – Senior

Ages: 14-18

Cost: $185 for residents, $187 for non-residents

Develop a deep appreciation for Shakespeare’s stagecraft while learning more about his wordcraft. Participants will work on a variety of scenes and speeches from Romeo & Juliet throughout the cycle, culminating in a final performance of scenes on the Blackfriars Playhouse stage. Included in the registration cost is a ticket for each participant to attend a special field trip to see a mainstage American Shakespeare Center production.

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW:

Weekly Rehearsals: Sundays from 4:30-6:30 PM, September 14 – December 7

Playhouse Field Trip to see Romeo & Juliet: Saturday, October 4 from 7:45-9:45 PM

Playhouse Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, November 23 from 5-7 PM

Final Performance: Sunday, December 7 at 7:30 PM

(View full details and mandatory dates under the “Schedule” tab above)

Register for ASC Drama Club - Senior

Why join a drama club?

ASC Drama Clubs introduce participants to the vocabulary of theatre, generally (things like “blocking” and “stage right/left”) as well as Shakespeare’s language, specifically (why do they talk like that?).

Participants gain all the benefits of theatrical training: greater collaborative skills, enhanced creative and critical thinking, increased awareness of physicality and movement, personal responsibility, and group camaraderie (to name a few). Specifically, they learn how to work together to put on a performance and gain valuable skills and experience in doing so. Making theatre isn’t just about memorizing lines and writing down blocking: it’s also about listening actively and responding genuinely, taking care of yourself and your teammates, and working together on a project that will always be greater than the sum of its parts.

Participants also gain an advanced, early understanding of Shakespeare—often before they encounter his plays in an academic environment. The objective of all ASC Drama Clubs is to foster a lifelong love of theatre in general and Shakespeare in particular. Available evidence suggests early exposure (before the onset of “Shakesfear” in high school) to be the best way to achieve that objective.

Drama Club's JULIUS CAESAR (Spring 2024). Photo by October Grace Media.

Drama Club Rehearsal (Fall 2023). Photo by October Grace Media.

Drama Club's JULIUS CAESAR (Spring 2024). Photo by October Grace Media.

Drama Club Rehearsal (Fall 2023). Photo by October Grace Media.

Drama Club Rehearsal (Fall 2023). Photo by October Grace Media.

Drama Club's JULIUS CAESAR (Spring 2024). Photo by October Grace Media.

Drama Club Rehearsal (Fall 2023). Photo by October Grace Media.

Drama Club Rehearsal (Fall 2023). Photo by October Grace Media.

Drama Club's JULIUS CAESAR (Spring 2024). Photo by October Grace Media.

Drama Club Rehearsal (Fall 2023). Photo by October Grace Media.

Both Drama Clubs meet weekly for rehearsals at the Nelson Street Center (900 Nelson Street, at the corner of Liberty and Nelson streets) in downtown Staunton, VA.

The field trip, dress rehearsal, and final performance are all located at the Blackfriars Playhouse (10 S Market St, Staunton, VA).

Junior Drama Club meets on Sundays from 1-3pm, which extends to 1-4pm beginning October 26. The mandatory dress rehearsal takes place on Saturday, November 22 from 9am-12pm.

Senior Drama Club mostly meets on Sundays from 4:30-6:30pm. The mandatory dress rehearsal takes place on Sunday, November 23 from 5-7pm.

For both clubs, the Playhouse Field Trip takes place on Saturday, October 4. The Junior Club will see the matinee performance of The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1:45-4:30pm) and the Senior Club will see the evening performance of Romeo & Juliet (7:15-9:45pm).

Full schedule details and mandatory dates for both clubs can be found under the “Schedule” tabs.

Junior Drama Club is open to budding thespians ages 8-13.

Senior Drama Club is open to budding thespians ages 14-18.

Both clubs welcome all experience levels.

Enroll in ASC Junior or Senior Drama Club through our official program partner, the Staunton Parks & Recreation Department.

Registration for the Fall 2025 ASC Drama Clubs is currently OPEN. 

Register for ASC Drama Club - Junior

Register for ASC Drama Club - Senior

Enrollment in either Drama Club costs $185 per residential participant (or $187 for non-residents) and includes 12-15 weeks of club meetings and a ticket to a mainstage performance at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse.

Please contact the head of ASC Drama Club, Lia Wallace, at lia.wallace@americanshakespearecenter.com.

We have so much on offer, including:

Visit our Education Homepage to learn more.

Syllabus subject to change.

Registration for the Fall 2025 cycle is currently OPEN.

Register for ASC Drama Club - Junior

rehearsal schedule – FALL 2025 cycle

JUNIOR Drama Club (AGES 8-13)
  • Sunday, September 14: Welcome to Club (Nelson Street, 1-3PM)
    • Icebreakers, introductions, overview of Club goals and schedule
  • Sunday, September 21: Play/Audition Prep (Nelson Street, 1-3PM)
    • Introduction to our play and preparation for Auditions
  • Sunday, September 28: Auditions! (Nelson Street, 1-3PM)
    • Attendance at this Sunday’s auditions is mandatory for all clubbers. If your clubber needs to miss the auditions for any reason, please contact me ASAP to make alternate arrangements.
  • Saturday, October 4: Field Trip (Blackfriars Playhouse, 1:45-4:30pm)
    • We will be attending the Fall 2025 production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Blackfriars Playhouse.
    • Please plan to drop your clubber off at the Blackfriars Playhouse (10 S Market Street) at 1:45pm and pick them up from the Playhouse after the show, which should conclude no later than 4:30pm.
    • Tickets for each clubber are included in the cost of registration.
    • Parents & siblings may purchase additional tickets if they would like to accompany Drama Club on our field trip.
  • Sunday, October 5: Rehearsal (Nelson Street, 1-3PM)
  • Sunday, October 12: Rehearsal (Nelson Street, 1-3PM)
  • Sunday, October 19: Rehearsal (Nelson Street, 1-3PM)
  • Sunday, October 26: Rehearsal (Nelson Street, 1-4PM)
    • Club meetings move to three hours for the rest of the cycle.
  • Sunday, November 2: Rehearsal (Nelson Street, 1-4PM)
  • Sunday, November 9: Rehearsal (Nelson Steet, 1-4PM)
  • Sunday, November 16: Rehearsal (Nelson Street, 1-4PM)
  • Saturday, November 22: Playhouse Dress rehearsal (Blackfriars Playhouse, 9AM-12PM)
    • Attendance at the dress rehearsal is mandatory for all clubbers. If your clubber needs to miss the auditions for any reason, please contact Lia Wallace ASAP to make alternate arrangements.
  • Sunday, November 23: Rehearsal (Nelson Street, 1-4PM)
  • Sunday, November 30: Rehearsal (Nelson Street, 1-4PM)
  • Sunday, December 7: Rehearsal (Nelson Street, 1-3PM)
  • Sunday, December 7: Final Performance (Blackfriars Playhouse, 7:30PM)
    • Clubbers should arrive at the Blackfriars Playhouse in their black base costumes at 6pm.
    • The Playhouse will open for audience seating at around 7:00pm.
    • Drama Club’s performance is part of “Share the Light,” our annual Community Celebration, which also features short performances by students from the Silver Line Theatre Exchange and Staunton High School as well as Drama Club Senior. 
      • Each performance will be ~30-45 mins long, with ~10-15 minute intermissions between each, and the whole thing should wrap up by 10pm.
      • Drama Club Junior will perform first, and if you have to leave immediately afterwards we’ll understand, but we hope you’ll stay for the other students’ performances, as well.

Syllabus subject to change.

Registration for the Fall 2025 cycle is currently OPEN.

Register for ASC Drama Club - Senior

rehearsal schedule – Fall 2025 cycle

SENIOR Drama Club (AGES 14-18)
  • Sunday, September 14: Welcome to Club (Nelson Street, 4:30-6:30pm) ft. icebreakers, introductions, and an overview of Club goals and schedule
  • Sunday, September 21: Intro to Verse (Nelson Street, 4:30-6:30pm)
  • Sunday, September 28: Intro to Rhetoric (Nelson Street, 4:30-6:30pm)
  • Saturday, October 4: Playhouse Field Trip (Blackfriars Playhouse, 7:15-9:45pm)
    • We will be attending the Fall 2025 production of Romeo & Juliet at the Blackfriars Playhouse.
    • Please plan to drop your clubber off at the Blackfriars Playhouse (10 S Market Street) at 7:15pm and pick them up from the Playhouse after the show, which should conclude no later than 10pm.
    • Tickets for each clubber are included in the cost of registration.
    • Parents & siblings may purchase additional tickets if they would like to accompany Drama Club on our field trip.
  • Sunday, October 5: Text and Scene Work (Nelson Street, 4:30-6:30pm)
  • Sunday, October 12: Text and Scene Work (Nelson Street, 4:30-6:30pm)
  • Sunday, October 19: Text and Scene Work (Nelson Street, 4:30-6:30pm)
  • Sunday, October 26: Text and Scene Workl (Nelson Street, 4:30-6:30pm)
  • Sunday, November 2: Text and Scene Work (Nelson Street, 4:30-6:30pm)
  • Sunday, November 9: Text and Scene Work (Nelson Street, 4:30-6:30pm)
  • Sunday, November 16:Text and Scene Work (Nelson Steet, 4:30-6:30pm)
  • Sunday, November 23: Playhouse Dress Rehearsal (Blackfriars Playhouse, 5-7pm)
    • Attendance at this dress rehearsal is mandatory for all clubbers. If your clubber needs to miss the dress rehearsal for any reason, please contact Lia Wallace ASAP to make alternate arrangements.
  • Sunday, November 30: Final Rehearsal (Nelson Street, 4:30-6:30pm)
  • Sunday, December 8: Final Performance (Blackfriars Playhouse, 7:30pm)
    • Attendance at the final performance is mandatory for all clubbers.
    • Clubbers should arrive at the Blackfriars Playhouse in their black base costumes at 6pm sharp.
    • The Playhouse will open for audience seating at around 7pm.
    • Drama Club’s performance is part of “Share the Light,” our annual Community Celebration, which also features short performances by students from the Silver Line Theatre Exchange and Staunton High School as well as Drama Club Junior.