The National Endowment for the Arts recognized Traveling Players’ Shakespeare Troupe as unlike any other pre-college theatre program in the nation. Here is what makes us nationally unique.
Cast Size – Only 13 Actors
Traveling Players ensures a positive, quality experience with each Ensemble capped at 13 students and three directors. Our immersive, 1:4 teacher-to-student ratio guarantees each student receives the personalized training and attention they deserve. Small casts allow students to bond and know their teachers personally. Our students see tremendous growth in their skills as performers because they spend their full rehearsal day engaged directly with our talented teaching artists – not just waiting for their entrance in the wings.
Holistic Auditions
Training at Traveling Players begins before a student has even been accepted into the program during the audition process. Unlike other programs who base their admissions on a single video submission or accept students indiscriminately, and then class them once they have arrived for the summer – Traveling Players intentionally builds each and every ensemble to maximize student growth. Our auditions are structured like a class, rather than a traditional audition. In addition to performing a prepared monologue, students are asked to improvise, read from the script, and meaningfully engage with the director about the play. As an Ensemble theatre company, it is vital that we see how students work with one another. Theatre is a collaborative art form and students must be able to listen and build off of new ideas. This is a skill set that we highly value both onstage and off and it is at the core of every one of our programs.
Real Challenges, Real Growth
Small casts also ensure that every student truly has a vital role to play in the production. Every actor plays a named speaking role and receives direct training and instruction in acting, text analysis, improv, stage combat, character physicality, voice, and more. By focusing on classical theatre, Traveling Players trains performers who are bold, resourceful, and skilled. If you can act Shakespeare, then you can act anything. Classical acting is demanding — and remains foundational to all modern acting technique. Hence, a summer at Traveling Players trains you to act not just anything, but anywhere. All the world’s a stage!
Go on a professional performance tour while still in High School
A summer in Traveling Players Shakespeare Troupe culminates in a week-long professional performance tour. Past tours have included performances at The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Shenandoah National Parks, Lime Kiln Theater, and Colonial Williamsburg.
Beyond Highschool
Traveling Player students are curious, creative, and dedicated to their art. Beyond summer and high school this curiosity, creativity, and dedication evolves into a commitment to excellence.
While not all of Traveling Players’ alumni pursue theatre professionally, many of them continue to create dramatic art on an extracurricular basis, while majoring in a completely different field. No matter where they end up, our alumni take life lessons from the arts with them.
Our students have received artistic awards and scholarships from universities across the nation.
"A little-known summer gem for the budding actor"
Perform in our Plays – Small by Design
Small casts led by expert faculty give every student the individualized attention they deserve.
Awarded for Excellence- Selected as 1 of 25 model Summer Schools in the Arts by the NEA
- Arts Education Award, 2020-21, ArtsFairfax
- #1 Arts Camp in the Nation, CampEasy
- Featured in Catalogue for Philanthropy, “featuring the area’s best, vetted, community-based charities for high-impact local giving”
Expert Faculty
Every play is directed by professional artists and educators. Students receive training in character creation, movement, physical comedy, stage combat, improvisation, text analysis, as well as acting.
Unplugged, yet Deeply Connected
With no cell phones or social media around, students get the chance to unplug and meaningfully connect with peers.
Real Friendships, Real Growth
Team building activities in and out of rehearsal help to build a strong supportive community of actors who work well together, and create friendships that last a lifetime!
Space is limited –
Register to
Audition Today!
We’ll reach out to talk you through
options for your child.
Unplugged, yet Deeply Connected
With no cell phones or social media around, students get the chance to unplug and meaningfully connect with peers.
Real Friendships, Real Growth
Team building activities in and out of rehearsal help to build a strong supportive community of actors who work well together, and create friendships that last a lifetime!
“Acting created a place for me to express myself and to feel like people are listening — and being at Traveling Players made me feel as if I was worth listening to. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
— Student
“300 people auditioned. 22 people were cast. My son, who was a Traveling Players student for many years, will make his Muhlenberg Mainstage debut this November in the Greek tragedy ‘Agamemnon.’ He is one of only a very few freshmen to be cast in any of the school’s Mainstage productions.”
– Parent
Summer Programs
Acting Studio
- Grades 2-4
- 1 week
- Spark imagination & new friendships!
- Day Camp at Tysons Corner Center
- Spark Imagination and new friendships!
- NO AUDITION REQUIRED
Mythology Ensemble
- Grades 4-6
- 2 weeks
- Sleepaway Camp – Just 1 hour from DC
- Perform an EPIC world premiere play based on Greek mythology!
- By Audition
Thespian Ensemble
- Grades 6-8
- 3 weeks
- Sleepaway Camp – Just 1 hour from DC
- Expert acting training for the Middle School Comedian!
- By Audition
Shakespeare Ensemble
- Grades 8-12
- 3 weeks
- Residential Conservatory – Just 1 hour from DC
- Shakespeare taught by experts in acting techniques!
- By Audition
Shakespeare Troupe
- Grades 9-12
- 6 weeks
- Residential Conservatory – Just 1 hour from DC
- Pre-professional actor training
- Go on a professional performance tour while still in high school!
- By Audition
- Touring Summer 2023 – Romeo & Juliet
Technical Theatre Apprenticeship
- Grades 8-12
- 3 or 6 weeks
- Residential Conservatory – Just 1 hour from DC
- Hands-on technical theatre training in costumes, props and scenic painting.
- By Interview
About Traveling Players Ensemble
Where Aspiring Actors go to get Personalized Instruction
from Professionals
Innovative and personalized training is at the heart of every Traveling Players program.
- Class sizes are limited to no more than 12 students
- Classes & performances are led by master teachers
- Teachers have years of experience in professional theatre
- Faculty is trained in First Aid
- All teachers hold a BA, BFA, or MFA in theatre
- Many staff are Traveling Players alumni
Our Artistic Director, Jeanne Harrison (she/her), personally interviews every member of our staff and selects them for their proven skills as educators, artists, and role models. All employees of Traveling Players are rigorously background checked.
Our staff is our biggest asset — comprised of talented artist educators who work professionally in the DC-metro area and around the world. They are hand-picked to give your child the best experience possible.