Educational Resources Section
Interested in Youth Theater Starting a Program?
Sections on this page contain links to several areas of interest for Youth Theater Programs. The information offered identifies specific educational offerings and needs for funding to keep youth theater programs viable and sustainable. In other words, to continue and encourage future growth and development:
- ‘Growth for the young participants.’
- ‘Funding needs for the program as a whole,’
- ‘Additional contact information websites for grant seekers.’
- 'Supply suggestions and websites for products needed to complete a professional looking stage performance'
- Fundraising Techniques
- Costume Ideas
- Dramatic or Musical Scripts
Educational Materials for the Youth
Materials for the Youth reviews information for personal development and growth in performance.
Click on the file name and find out what information New Artists Productions has to offer:
![](https://newartistsproductions.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Learning-Theater-Skills-Workshop-e1709828177444-295x300.jpg)
Learning Theater Skills
Grant Funding Materials Section for Informative Documents
Funding materials defining grants for theater programs in general and specifically for youth programs are available below to familiarize writers, committees, boards, etc. with requirements and how to prepare a document for review by granting foundations.
There are many requirements, so many are common between foundations, some are unique to the foundations as their interests vary.
It is hoped that these documents will help categorize the requirements into meaningful information for grant application prep. Check out what information New Artists Productions has to offer:
![](https://newartistsproductions.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Grant-Proposal-Image-300x300.png)
Let's Get Going on that Documentation
Fundraising/Getting-the-Word-Out Techniques
For Subscribers of the Organization![](https://newartistsproductions.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Advertising-Bullhorn-288x300.png)
- Letters to annual subscribers
- Letters of explanation
- Ad layout sheet for Playbill Ads
- Community Businesses:
- Personal contact – with description of ad opportunities left with businesses
- Talk with parents of cast members – if they have businesses or work (boss might advertise)
- Sponsors – use pre-designed ad or logo in playbill and/or lobby poster of sponsors
There are a whole host of ways to raise money without 'begging' or 'soliciting' local businesses.
How Can Organization Participants Help?
- Cast members also have great ideas to raise awareness as well as funding:
- Community discount card sales, car washes, candy bar sales, cookie dough pre-sales, bottle drives, bake sales
- Krispy Kreme Donut pre-sales (www.krispykreme.com/fundraising),
- Costco muffin/local bakery muffin sales at school for the students to participate
- Participation in local parades and events, special performances for the public.
- Selling memorabilia from your program – t-shirts, CDs, DVDs, posters, bumper stickers, hats, calendars, or photographs to family is a great source.
How Can Outside Organizations Help?
- For programs which are year-round or operate by special project, Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com) offers opportunities to raise funds.
- GiveSendGo.com and GoFundMe.com are additional resources for a special/community-based project for the organization.
- If your group has a website, using PayPal (www.paypal.com) to accept donations is a slick way too.
Costuming – Below are some helpful hints and resources for the costumer in the production: for fabrics, notions, and crafting materials. Additional links which are invaluable in researching period costumes, costume design, and how the ‘wheel had already been invented.’
![](https://newartistsproductions.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Children-in-Costumes.jpg)
Samples of Costuming for Youth Productions
- Simplicity Patterns – (simplicity.com)
- McCall Patterns – (mccall.com) (also the link to Butterick and Vogue Patterns)
- Amazon – (amazon.com)
- Folkwear Patterns – (folkwear.com)
- Grandma’s Attic – (grandmasatticquilting.com)
- JoAnn’s Fabrics – (joann.com)
- Walmart – (walmart.com)
- Etsy – (etsy.com)
- Sewing Parts Online – (sewingpartsonline.com)
- McCall & Butterick Patterns – (simplesewpatterns.com)
- Thrift Stores; specialty shops
- Closets at home or at Grandma’s house. You’d be surprised what you find.
- Costume loft at the venue or from other theatrical groups in the area
- Some shows require that you rent costumes from a professional business – many can be found on the Internet or at recommendations from the publisher.
Scripts – Identified in the following list of publishing and distribution houses is information that will benefit anyone who is trying to find that next play or musical to produce; a perusal copy of a play, or information about the just what plays and musicals are available for production.
- MTI Shows – https://www.mtishows.com
- Disney Junior Collection – some shows require live orchestration for the performance.
- Broadway Junior Collection – These play packages provide a wonderful kit – director’s guide, scripts, educational materials CDs for rehearsal and performance music, choreography DVD (if applicable).
- Or, a parent or community member might have an idea for a script. New Artists Productions has one parent who wrote 2 scripts for our productions; Dan wrote 10. *In addition to encouraging other opportunities, these scripts help reduce or eliminate royalty expenses too.*
Features of a Play Script
- Samuel French – https://www.concordtheatricals.com
- Rodgers & Hammerstein – https://www.rnh.com
- Dramatic Publishing – https://www.dramaticpublishing.com
- Eldridge Publishing –https://www.histage.com – plays and musicals
- Heuer Publishing – https://www.hitplays.com
- Public Domain –https://www.childrenstheaterplays.com
- Public Domain – https://www.angelfire.com/scifi/theaterscripts/links.html
- National Endowment of the Arts – https://www.arts.gov
- Pioneer Drama – https://www.pioneerdrama.com
- Center Stage Press – https://www.cstage.com
- Dover Publications – https://store.doverpublications.com – click on the link for Thrift Editions, then Plays, for public domain royalty free plays, plus less expensive scripts
Reference/Resources Used for this Content
- Cascadia Consulting Partnership - https://www.cascadiapartnership.com
- (A Cultural Coalition tied to the your State Cultural Trust):
- In my area:
- Coos County Cultural Coalition 2024 Grant Application and Guidelines https://www.ccculturalcoalition.org
- Project Timeline Sample - https://www.Vertex42.com
- The Foundation Center - https://go.wisc.edu/grants – Wisdom Exchange Project Outline
- The Writing Center – https://www.writing.wisc.edu/
- The 5 Basic Steps of the grant writing process – Professional Grant Writer https://www.professionalgrantwriter.org/basic-steps-grant-writing-process
- Introduction to Proposal Writing – https://go.wisc.edu/grants
- Planning and Writing a Grant Proposal: The Basics – https://www.writing.wisc.edu
- GetFullyFunded Letter of Inquiry Template – https://www.GetFullyFunded.com
- Grant Writing Basics Grant Writing 101: Start with the Basics (May19, 2021 Anne Grantwatch – https://GrantWriterTeam.com/blog/grant-writing-basics
- How to Write a Killer Letter of Inquiry (LOI) to get a Grant – https://www.GetFullyFunded.com
- How to Write an LOI = Letter of Interest or Intent for Grants – https://www.grantwatch.com/grantnews/how-to-write-a-loiletter-or-intent-letter-of-interest-grants-2022
- Letter of Inquiry: Foundation Relations – Northwestern University – https://www.northwestern.edu/foundationrelations/grant-writing-guide/proposal-resources/letter-of-inquiry/
- How to Write an Inquiry Letter: 20 Free Templates – Writolay – https://writolay.com/how-to-write-an-inquiry-letter/
- Sample Letter of Inquiry for Grant Funding Download Printable PDF|Templateroller – https://www.templateroller.com/template/2129575/sample-letter-of-inquiry-for-grant-funding.html
- In my area: