Once again, Atlanta Street Theatre offers our popular Summer Youth Program. With an unusually low participant-director ratio of no more than ten to one, youth aged 13 to 18 receive theatre training from professionals.

Our directors not only have acting and directing credits with Actors' Express, Alliance Theatre, Theatre in the Square, Jomandi, 7 Stages, Big Top Theatre, Academy Theatre, and all of Atlanta's other major theatres, but also have long histories in teaching and directing youth. Among Atlanta Street Theatre's alumni are Kenny Leon, Bill Nunn, Carol Mitchell Leon, Brenda Porter, Dee Wagner, Monty Ross and Nita Hardy.

The Summer Youth groups meet for five weeks, Mondays - Fridays, 9:00 - 1:00. Over the course of the five weeks, the professional directors teach movement, voice and improvisational theatre skills, and scene development. Each group applies these skills to create an original play based on participants' own thoughts, ideas and feelings. Directors work with youth to structure their ideas into theatrically viable shows, which are then performed. Groups I and II present their plays to parents and friends in closing day performances. Group II also tours its play to other metro Atlanta youth.

Because of AST's improvisational theatre approach to play creation, participants learn not only acting skills, but also life skills. They learn the importance of working with others in a positive way, and the necessity of give and take in life. They learn the benefits of self discipline and hard work, all while having fun.

Thanks to the generosity of our funding agencies who have supported us financially for over twenty years, gifts from individual donors and the donation of space and services, Atlanta Street Theatre is able to offer the Summer Youth Program for a modest fee that covers only one third of the actual program cost. Additionally, program costs are held down because the commitment of the theatre artists to the goals of the program, inspires them to work for less than they could earn elsewhere.