TPAC education programs bring exciting arts opportunities and learning to a diverse audience, from pre-school to adult.
TPAC is a nonprofit organization. Our mission is to lead with excellence in the performing arts and arts education, creating meaningful and relevant experiences to enrich lives, strengthen communities, and support economic vitality.
TPAC’s Season for Young People presents an annual season of outstanding professional performances of theater, dance and music to school groups to complement curriculum objectives with a rich variety of artistic and cultural expression. Teachers receive guidebooks with lesson plans and other resources for use in the classroom. Post-show discussions with artists, teacher workshops, and in-school visits also are available. Ticket discounts and travel grants make the program accessible to all students and school systems.
Disney Musicals in Schools is an extracurricular program that develops sustainable theater programs and enhances classroom learning in Metro Nashville elementary and middle schools. At no cost to them, participating schools receive a performance license for the Disney KIDS or Disney JR. musical of their choice, along with resources and support from TPAC staff and professional teaching artists. Program goals include developing appreciation for musical theatre as a collaborative art, connecting to curriculum standards, and increasing school pride among students, families, faculty, staff, and community partners. After a successful pilot in Nashville, 2011-12, Disney Theatrical Group expanded the program to school systems nationwide.
InsideOut is for adults who want to grow in their knowledge and enjoyment of the performing arts. InsideOut events come in many shapes and sizes and in many different places both inside and out of TPAC’s downtown theaters. The TPAC Education program offers a series of lunch seminars, performance excerpts, discussions, workshops, and sneak previews behind the scenes.
Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts is a nationally affiliated program that utilizes the disciplines of music, dance, theatre, and puppetry as powerful tools for educating pre-school children. Professional performing artists partner with early childhood educators and create activities that target curriculum and developmental goals for 3- to 5-year-olds, including emerging literacy skills, social interaction and self-expression. Wolf Trap residencies and workshops provide training for teachers in arts-based instruction techniques they can employ in their classrooms.
The Spotlight Awards are dedicated to supporting the talents, educational endeavors, and friendships of high school theatre students in Tennessee to build a strong and inclusive theatre community.
Every year Tennessee high school theatre programs can apply to participate in the three-part program comprised of achievement recognition, exclusive learning opportunities, and community building. Events and opportunities offered throughout the year are designed to help students and directors hone their skills and advance their understanding of the craft. Schools can participate in the Adjudication Level to have a panel of arts professionals attend each school’s musical and provide feedback on the performance. Schools receive awards that honor achievements in performance, technical and creative categories, at a professionally produced Awards Ceremony held in TPAC’s Jackson Hall.
TPAC’s membership in The Broadway League, allows the two Spotlight Award Outstanding Lead Performer winners to attend The Jimmy Awards®, a national celebration of outstanding student achievement, recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance, and acting performance and elevating the importance of theatre arts education in schools.
