RISE! After-School Theatre Program

Registration for the 26-27 program is live! Complete the form at the bottom of this page.

Connect. Engage. Inspire. RISE!

RISE! is an after-school program for student-artists who want to strengthen their theatrical skills, discover hidden talents, and build lasting friendships through a transformational arts experience.

Students will experience the traditional production process from start to finish—including auditions, rehearsals, and performances of Disney’s The Lion King, Jr. Along the way, supplemental programming will include theatre games and terminology, team-building exercises, and an introductory exploration of technical theatre.

RISE! is right for students who:

• Want to try something new
• Want to grow through a more robust theatre experience
• Want to be part of a supportive, long-term creative community

No prior theatre experience is necessary!

2026-27 Program Details

November 9, 2026 - March 10, 2027 (15 weeks)
Monday through Thursday
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Ages 7 - 12

COST: $375

*Limited scholarships available, see FAQs below

No programming: November 23 - 26, December 21 - December 31, MLK Day (Jan. 18), & President's Day (Feb. 15).

Disney's The Lion King, Jr. Show Dates:

Thursday, March 11 at 7:00 PM
Friday, March 12 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 13 at 2:00 PM
Sunday, March 14 at 2:00 PM

FAQs

How many students can be in the program? We have space for up to 40 students in the RISE program.

How are students selected for the program? To ensure that all students have equal opportunities, registration (and scholarship consideration) will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Once registered, we will reach out to confirm your registration. After we reach capacity, there will be a waitlist for students that will close after the first two weeks of programming. 

Does my child have to attend every rehearsal? What if we have other scheduled activities or trips? Students in RISE! will learn something new at every rehearsal. If your child is absent, it affects the whole group if we have to re-teach blocking, music, and choreography. We can usually work around individual conflicts, or short trips with advance notice. If consistent issues with attendance arise, your child may be re-cast, or asked to leave the program. Please be transparent about your child's schedule and we will do our very best to make sure they can participate in the program. We completely understand this is a long time commitment, and RISE! may not be suited to every family's availability. 

What is the payment deadline? Payment is due by October 16. If payment is not submitted (or families have not reached out to set up a payment plan) by October 16, registrations will be canceled. We are committed to working with families to ensure that your children can attend RISE!

Is there a refund policy if my child is unable to attend? If your child is no longer able to attend RISE!, you are entitled to a full refund if you notify us before the first day of programming (November 9, 2026). If you cancel registration during the first week, you will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be processed after the first week of programming.

If my child participated in 2025-26 RISE, are they automatically guaranteed a spot for 2026-27? No, participating in last year’s programming does not guarantee a spot for 2026-2027 programming.

Are there scholarships? What is the process for scholarship consideration? In order to uphold our values of accessibility, we will provide up to 10 full scholarships to families. Families with a household income eligible for reduced-price and/or free lunch will qualify for the full scholarship. Families will need to provide documentation of total household income (located on the registration form). We will not be able to consider or secure a scholarship for your child until we receive your registration AND proof of income.

Are payment plans available? Please reach out to dschmaltz@nearwesttheatre.org to discuss a potential payment plan.

How to register:

1. Fill out the registration form at the bottom of this page.

2. After clicking submit, the page will refresh. Scroll back down -- you should see a "Submission Successful" message, followed by a link. Click on the link to complete payment.

3. Allow 2 business days for Dani Schmaltz, Program Manager, to confirm your registration materials and payment were received.

Need additional registration support? Click here for our step-by-step guide.