JUMPSTART THEATRE RETURNS!

After a long, pandemic-induced hiatus, the Playhouse’s acclaimed JumpStart Theatre program returned in full force this year. All five participating middle schools resumed activities for this exciting initiative that helps build theatre programming in middle schools where there previously was none. For three years, participants receive skills and resources to produce their school’s first musical through a proven combination of hands-on mentoring and bootcamp style training. The process helps to create a sustainable musical theatre program once the three-year support and training period ends.

The Playhouse has been partnering with De Portola, Knox, Innovation, Montgomery and Los Coches Creek Middle Schools since 2018. After each school produces their musical this spring, they’ll come together at the Playhouse for a celebratory showcase this summer.

“JumpStart Theatre helped us bring the joy and empathy-building tools into schools where the arts are often not a priority,” said Bridget Cavaiola Stone, La Jolla Playhouse’s Director of Learning. She also shared that the benefits are not only visible in the students—the teachers reap the benefits of doing musical theatre as well. “The teachers often say they learn about their students through JumpStart in ways they wouldn’t otherwise. This connection enables students to find support and success in their academic classrooms as well.”