Students and Families Re-Connect with Project Success Live Theater Experiences

For more than 15,000+ 6th-12th grade students, our Theater Experiences program creates a valuable foundation for self-discovery and real-time connection with their families, peers, the community and the arts. With the pandemic transforming the landscape of theater and what performances can look like, Project Success has remained dedicated to providing transformative opportunities while maintaining the safety of our students and families. 

 The year 2020 was full of adjustments. Rather than being in-person, much of the theater opportunities available were viewable solely through pre-recorded videos and live-streamed performances. Thankfully, fall 2021 was a step towards (a form of) normalcy. While navigating various theater COVID protocols, Project Success acquired 4,000 theater tickets from our generous theater partners for 42 in-person theater evening and weekend events. Additionally, students participated in two in-person field trips to experience the UMN Marching Band, the Children’s Theatre Company production of “Annie,” and five virtual streamed and pre-recorded shows.  

While much continues to change and shift with our 50+ theater partners due to the pandemic this winter, we expect to offer more than 70 performances to our students and families. We are also planning multiple artist residences within MPS schools for both middle and high schoolers from local theaters: Northrop, Theater Mu, Ragamala Dance Company, and James Sewell Ballet.  Project Success’ Theater Curriculum Associate Khary Jackson shared, “These upcoming shows offer opportunities to practice compassion, explore our complex histories and expand our own perspectives.” 

“These upcoming shows offer opportunities to practice compassion, explore our complex histories and expand our own perspectives.” 

While Project Success has co-facilitated artist residencies for many years, we expanded these offerings during the 2020-21 school year  to help partner teachers continue to provide great arts experiences within the virtual classroom. During this time, students solely learned from teaching artists via Zoom and Google Classroom Meet. Now that students have returned to primarily in-person learning, more get to experience a blend of virtual and in-person artist residencies directly within the classroom.  

 The expansion of our in-class residency activities resulted from teachers and students requesting more opportunities for experiential learning. While specific activities will vary depending on the theater and artists, students will experience a mixture of writing, dance, performing, presenting in-class, learning percussion, as well as engaging in other artistic activities. By the end of this interactive program, students will have the confidence to tell their stories both in writing and public speaking. 

 Theater Mu, in particular, is a returning residency partner with their Mu Stories program. For five weeks students will participate in 10 sessions where they’ll explore their own personal experiences and histories to create a script that they’ll be able to perform to their families and peers. For the Northrop and Ragamala Dance Company, students will participate in residencies in-class, and then have the opportunity to watch performances from those theaters that coincide with all they’ve learned.  

And the list goes on! 

 Project Success artist residencies are interactive and educational, as well as enlightening and fun! Students have the opportunity to learn more about themselves, different cultures, and sharpen a new set of skills that they can apply in school, to their future goals, and in their daily lives. Most of all, as Project Success Theater Experiences Program Manager, Linnea Fahnestock, shared, “Students have had a really hard year, and the arts can be a bridge to experiencing building relationships with their peers and feeling more connected to school.” 

“Students have had a really hard year, and the arts can be a bridge to experiencing building relationships with their peers and feeling more connected to school.” 

 Over 28 years, Project Success has designed our theater experiences to inspire students, demonstrate they are members of a larger community, act as a springboard for discussion, and promote family and peer bonding. Our current programming exemplifies that more than ever!