Kidstock! Creative Theater

Kidstock! Creative Theater is a children’s theater school in Melrose where young actors explore acting, storytelling and improvisation while building self-confidence. Through classes, youth theater ensembles and summer programs, students grow both as performers and as individuals. The school describes itself as a theater that grows with each child, starting from the belief that every kid is a natural storyteller capable of performing onstage with the support of teachers and peers.

Its approach, called educational creative theater, differs from the traditional model of rehearsing toward a single production date. Students examine how characters resolve problems, which is meant to build social empathy, and they learn teamwork and compromise through onstage workshops, rehearsals and presentations. The program pairs a unique curriculum with the resources of a professional theater, and staff and educators share their approach and at-home activities on the Kidstock! blog.

What to Know

• Kidstock! has been teaching young actors for 35 years.
• Free open houses let families see the program before registering.
• The school’s FAQ covers parties as well as classes, registration and cancellations.
• Kidstock! publishes a diversity and inclusion statement.