Education.

Arts education has always been central to Trinity Rep's mission. Our K-12 education programs serve more than 10,000 students from schools in RI, MA and CT each year. But, we believe that the next generation of theater audiences will be built in families as well. In the coming years, there will be more productions that will give families with older children (ages 12-18) the opportunity to share in the theater experience.

We are also expanding our out-of-school programming. The Young Actors Studio, which has served students in grades 4-12 with after-school theater programs since its inception seven years ago, is expanding to include children in kindergarten through grade 3. The Young Actors Summer Institute, our intensive month-long summer program is also growing to offer an additional week of training for students.

We will continue to look for ways to better serve our region's young people. For example, in spring 2010, Trinity Rep created a drama program designed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We are currently in the pilot stages, working in classrooms at Pathways Strategic Teaching Center for Autistic Children, a subsidiary group of the J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center, and at the theater with students with ASD referred to us by Bradley Hospital.

The marriage of drama and autism therapy is a natural one. Theater classes employ the body, voice, and mind—all of which are obstacles in an autistic child's development. For non-verbal students, body language work or sound effects could greatly improve communication skills. For higher-functioning children, acting and improvisation provides a safe environment for initiating conversations. For all ASD kids, theater is a way to role-play, be creative, and have fun.

Autism affects one in every 110 children and one in every 70 boys. Theater therapy may be the future in special education and this program is the first of its kind in our state. If the collaboration is successful, Trinity hopes to expand its programming to other centers and welcome more ASD students as audience members and young actors. Theater classes will give children with autism the tools they need to learn, communicate, and build self esteem. We hope to raise awareness and advocacy for children with ASD, and perhaps discover new methods for treatment.