Each year that our daughter has attended a Traveling Players program (3 summers and 2 winters), I have been so impressed not only by the wonderful and professional nature of the programs, but by the genuine camaraderie developed between the cast and the directors. No other program or experience has been more challenging or meaningful for my daughter.
Technical Theatre
Current Grades 8-12
Saluda Campus
Create Costumes, Sets, & Props Alongside Professional Designers
Technical Theatre Apprentices are considered storytellers as much as stage performers are, and they immerse themselves in the imaginative worlds of our plays. Tech Apprentices work alongside our professional designers, receiving individualized, hands-on training. These young artists learn the tricks of the trade and craftsmanship of theatre and summer stock.
Tech Apprentices explore and gain foundational knowledge in both the costume and scene shop. Then they will choose an area in which to build new skills-either costumes (construction, alterations, and dyeing) or scene shop (props, puppets, and scenic painting). Tech Apprentices will operate as stage crews during tech week and performances for Ensemble Festivals. Their experiences preparing for and supporting live performances teaches: resiliency, ingenuity, and collaboration-skills for both theatre and life.
The individualized attention from our expert faculty ensures that students grow in both creativity and craftsmanship.
Expert Faculty, Supporting Skill Building
At Traveling Players, we believe teens deserve quality training from caring teachers. The staff in our shops are construction artists as well as designers who are eager to teach the next generation. Several of our Shop Heads have earned MFAs, worked professionally, and even designed on Broadway. Our Shop Assistants all have or are currently working on their BA/BFAs.
With a small number of student technicians, staff are able to tailor their projects to each camper’s skill set and make sure every camper experiences significant growth over the summer. Our students are set real but achievable challenges in every area of technical theatre. Some of our advanced students have gone on to serve as lead designer for Traveling Players shows.
If a Technical Theatre Apprentice will be applying to college for Theatre Tech and Design, then we can identify a special project that the student can solely build and document for their portfolio.
What Families Are Saying
Lisa, Parent
Traveling Players is perfect for children who want to nurture their creativity, build confidence and make life long friends.
Rachel, Parent
I’m not sure what kind of magic you worked, but [my son] left more excited and jazzed about something than we’ve seen him be in years! He said tonight was incredibly fun, and it awoke a new passion in him for acting! Thank you for being such an inspiration to him. It was great to see that sparkle in his eye!
Jody, Parent
Frequently Asked Questions
For over 20 years we’ve been creating great theatre in the great outdoors with teens and pre-teens. Our team will happily walk you through any one of our carefully crafted programs.
What happens at the auditions and interviews?
AUDITIONS: You will perform your monologue/“non-ologue” and then play theatre games and/or read from the script. Plus, we’ll discuss what the summer will look like for you if accepted. The audition is an opportunity for the director to get to know you. You’ll have a chance to ask us questions, too!
You will have your best audition if you relax and have fun. We have been told that our auditions are significantly more fun than the average audition. We plan to keep it that way.
INTERVIEWS: We’ll discuss your portfolio, interests, current skills, what you want to learn, and how summer can help you achieve your goals. You’ll have a chance to ask us questions, too!
Where do the campers rehearse/do tech work?
As stated in a 2007 Washington Post article about Traveling Players, “Many kids’ first spiritual encounters take place in nature, where they discover something larger than themselves.” Therefore, we link theatrical work to nature by rehearsing and performing outdoors.
Our scenic outdoor rehearsal spaces overlook the Rappahannock River. They are all well-shaded to keep students cool on hot days and have easy access to restrooms and water fountains.
We also have ample indoor rehearsal space to keep our students safe and rehearsing all day long – no matter the weather!
Both our Costume & Scene shops have large windows which let in natural light – ideal for painting and sewing. The Maker’s Space allows our technical students to push the bounds of their creativity. Under the supervision of our Shop Faculty, students are trained to use a plethora of machines and tools, including a CNC Laser Cutting Machine and a 3D printer!
Who founded Traveling Players? Why?
Jeanne E. Harrison founded Traveling Players in 2003 as a nurturing, challenging, educational theatrical community to bring great theatre into the great outdoors. In our first year, we had 18 students and toured our plays to Shenandoah National Park, where we performed As You Like It while backpacking off the Appalachian Trail. That is probably the quintessential Traveling Players play – you escape into the woods and return transformed.
Transformation is at the heart of what we do. We limit the ensembles to only 13 students so that we can give every student the attention they deserve. We only work with students (in grades 1-12) who are literally transforming before our eyes as they grow up, become the next best version of themselves, and, on stage, take on bold roles in our plays. All of this is to help them on their way to adulthood, when they will impact our world.
The basic formula remains the same, but many details have changed since our founding in 2003. We serve over 1000 students a year, offering programs year-round in our Studio in Tysons Corner Center, a major shopping center. We have won national awards for our comprehensive and intensive curricula, and we have seen our alums perform on Broadway and in the West End, serve as Artistic Directors, have their plays published, and become theatre professors. We still tour our plays to the community in our signature purple school buses.
I always knew I could form student ensembles that could create wonderful art while challenging themselves and each other. What I didn’t know was that I was creating friendships that would last a lifetime – the people who will be your “maid of honor/best man” at your wedding. Traveling Players’ friendships endured well beyond summer, through college and adulthood. As an alum said, “Most adults don’t name their summer camp as a central part of their identity.” Traveling Players do.
Who are your students?
Traveling Players students are highly collaborative young artists. They strive to challenge themselves artistically on stage and are kind, inclusive friends off stage. They know that a cohesive and effective ensemble needs a mix of experiences and backgrounds – performers with different skill sets and growth opportunities — all of whom are eager to support and challenge each other to do their best work.
We accept actors into our auditioned programs who are a good fit for our ensembles and our community – and they tend to stick around! Our retention rate is about 70%, and on average, they stick with us for 4 years.
Most of our students don’t stay in the arts – they have eclectic interests and are multi-talented. (Although those who have stayed in the arts have received impressive success.) Probably the most surprising discovery is that 20+ years on, this community remains in the heart of our students.
How is Traveling Players known?
Traveling Players has two distinct reputations.
Called a top “25 summer school for the arts” by the National Endowment for the Arts, Traveling Players is known and nationally awarded for our artistic excellence. Our curriculum is rigorous, and the Shakespeare Troupe in particular has been noted for offering artistic challenges “unlike any other pre-college theatre program in the country.” You can read more about our awards and the excellent work of our students and alumni here.
However, if you asked a Traveling Players student, parent, or alumn to describe us, they wouldn’t start by talking about the awards we’ve won, or the best show they were in or had seen from us. They would talk about our community.
With a 70% retention rate, our community is vibrant, connected, and kind. Our curriculum is intentionally designed to promote artistic collaboration. We limit our ensembles to just 13 students to ensure that everyone receives individualized training and attention. We select scripts that offer a wide range of roles and cast to maximize each student’s artistic growth. We help foster friendships both in and across ensembles through theatre games, low ropes challenge courses, and structured fun. The result is a community that remains thriving – and always welcoming. You can read more about why parents choose Traveling Players here.
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