Piper Theatre Productions

In eleven years, you've helped Piper become one of the top emerging theatre companies in New York state. Last year was one of the most artistically exciting and ambitious seasons that we've ever had. And this season, we're dreaming even bigger. Come join us for days filled with busy children creating together and for evenings under the stars at the beautiful Old Stone House as we present professional actors sharing smart and engaging plays. This summer, with your help, our education program will include two musicals, an opera, three plays, and an art class in addition to the writing program. We'll also be expanding the younger companies with an exciting collaboration with the respected dance education company, Together in Dance and a garden workshop in partnership with the Old Stone House. On the main stage, we will produce two Equity showcases -- Moliere's comedy, The Miser, adapted and directed by our guest artist in residence, Welker White, as well as the quirky romance, Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins. Help us keep dreaming big and continue making great theatre accessible to both our children and our community. Thank you for all your continued support. John P. McEneny, Artistic Director

NURTURING AND EXCITING EDUCATION PROGRAMS ADVANCED THEATRE WORKSHOP ages 14 - 17 This course is designed for older and more experienced teens. Michael Buffer (Lord of Flies, Lilith, The Taming of the Shrew) returns to create another artistically demanding show. With an immersion in physical story telling, students will use principals of Artaud, Lecoq and Japanese Noh to present eleven stories taken from Ovid’s poem Metamorphoses. Learn more ... PIPER THEATRE WORKSHOPS ages 11 - 15 Join us for Piper Theatre Workshop – one of the most exciting drama programs in Brooklyn. Under the care of experienced directors, each child becomes part of a small company of student actors creating a challenging theatrical production. Auditions for specific roles will take place on Tuesday, July 5, the first day of the program. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Frankenstein is the story of a mad scientist toying with creation and reanimating the dead. A scary and relevant cautionary tale perfect for a dark summer night. Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Viola is separated from her twin brother and lands on the isle of Illyria. She disguises herself as a boy and is hired to woo the mournful Olivia. Mistaken identity fun. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most joyful comedies. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. Home loving hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, is sent by the wizard, Gandalf, to assist Thorin Oakenshield and 9 mighty dwarves to share in a mysterious treasure located in the Lonely Mountain which is guarded by the dragon, Smaug. Killer spiders, an invisibility ring and Gollum! Learn more ... THE PIPER MUSICAL PROJECT ages 12 - 16 The Piper Musical Project was created for students who have had some experience in singing and dancing. Owing to the success of last year’s Little Shop of Horrors, we are expanding into two companies. Auditions for specific roles will take place on the first day of the program. Into the Woods Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Directed by Ryan Michele Healey. “Into the woods you go again; you have to every now and then...” This summer, the Piper Musical Project will take you on an extraordinary journey. Join The Witch, Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood and dozens of other classic characters as they weave their way through their own triumphs and tribulations…and unwittingly fall into one another’s lives. Comfort and familiarity with the show is HIGHLY recommended. Rent School Edition Directed by Rob Elstein. Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson. Book by Jonathan Larson. Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer-prize winning Broadway musical based loosely on Puccini’s opera La Bohème. It follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York’s East Village. AIDS and both its physical and emotional complications pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel; Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble; Benjamin has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends; and Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general, always behind the camera recording the events but never playing a part. Comfort and familiarity with the show is HIGHLY recommended. Learn more ... THE PIPER OPERA PROJECT in collaboration with OPERA ON TAP ages 12 - 16 The Opera Project has been created for students who have had some experience in singing and acting. The opera score will be tailored to fit young, developing voices. Auditions for specific roles will take place on the first day of the programs. Preferences will be considered in selection but are NOT guaranteed. The Magic Fute. Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lyrics and Spoken Texts by Emanuel Schikaneder. “A mythical land between sun and moon.” This year the Opera Project will take you to another world ruled by wizards and sorceresses where all inhabitants must seek to discover themselves in a world where truth and falsehood are not easily decipherable and good and evil are tangible forces within nature. Join Prince Taminio, Princess Pamina, and Papageno the birdcatcher in their journey in pursuit of courage, virtue, wisdom, and love. Along the way you'll meet many fascinating, magical and colorful characters. Comfort and familiarity with the opera is HIGHLY recommended. Learn more ... CREATIVE WRITING AND ART PROGRAMS ages 12 -14 PIPER WORD – An ambitious writing program for teens interested in creative writing, as well as an opportunity to develop a portfolio for high schools or publication. Under the care of writer and teacher Felicia O'Hara, students will spend each day creating plays, short stories and novellas. Work will be published, with a reading and publication launch on July 28 for an invited audience of family, friends and Piper company members. Learn more ... PIPER ART – An intimate group working with a supportive teacher will study Brooklyn as a haven for artists. Students will spend their days finding inspiration in our own beautiful neighborhoods, traveling to different sections of Brooklyn (Sheepshead Bay, Prospect Park, the Gowanus art studios) and exploring the beauty of the borough through charcoal, pastels and pencil. On July 28, students will hold an art show for an invited audience of family, friends and Piper company members. This is a perfect course for students interested in developing their portfolio for the high school application process. Learn more ... PROGRAMS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN ages 8 – 11 THE STARLINGS - Under the direction of Maggie Weber, The Starlings is a gentle introduction to the world of classic theatre. Students will play theatre games and rehearse scenes from Moliere and Shakespeare in the mornings in preparation for a staged performance and in the afternoons create the costumes and the world of the play in the Great Room of the Old Stone House. This education program is, by far, Piper’s most popular. Hurry, it fills up fast! Learn more ... GARDEN EXPLORERS - Discover the world of plants, gardening and food at the Old Stone House with OSH environmental educator Bruni Torras. Explore edible and non-edible plants; gather and plant seeds; explore soil, worms and insects; work in the OSH gardens; visit other community gardens; shop at the Farmer’s Market and prepare seasonal vegetarian foods. Children will have plenty of time to play, make art projects and write about their experiences! Families will share in a garden event on the last Friday of each two week session. Learn more ... PIPER DANCE in collaboration with Together in Dance! One of Brooklyn’s most respected dance education programs, Together in Dance offers Bodies in Motion, a two week dance program focusing on the creative process through movement. Students will work individually and in groups to create their own dances. Mornings include a warm-up, movement exploration through various dance styles, viewing and analyzing “master” dances and learning dance elements and vocabulary. Afternoons will focus on developing, refining and rehearsing original choreography, which kids will share with family members on the last day of the session with a celebratory family dance workshop. Learn more ... See All Education Programs, Schedules, and Fees >