We have childcare and drama programs for children 0-11!
shared arts experiences
At Seed, we know that the arts bring people together and can create an environment for beautiful community and connection between participants on both sides of the curtain. But sometimes making or even seeing productions can be really difficult (and expensive) when you have loved ones you must leave while you are the theatre. And often times, even if the overall theme of the show is relevant , the content may not be suitable for all of your family members. This tension can leave some patrons - and many exceptional artists - unable to attend or participate in productions.
Since 2010, Seed has made it our mission to support parents and families attending and working in our local theatre community. We try to find as many creative ways to do this as possible. Whether it is feeding your family during long production days, providing show-themed drama programs for kids whose parents are performing or attending local plays, or finding cast and crew roles for even the littlest family members, we are intentional about creating ways for your whole tribe to share theatre experiences together.
Parent Artist Programs
Seed Art Share has always sought ways to support the artists who make theatre in our local community. Some of them are parents. Participating in theatre can be challenging when trying to maintain traditional meal and bedtime schedules. We encourage parents to share their love of theatre with their children—however they experience it. Sitters can be unpredictable or too expensive for many patrons. When children leave our programs, having explored themes from a play their parents just watched, rehearsed, or designed, they can discuss their “shared art experience” together. With this as our mission, we have reinvented how we make theatre. We rehearse based on availability and piece together shorter plays to limit production calls. We often role-share and allow supervision for kids in rehearsals. As theatre connects people, we believe we can enable parent artists to work by intentionally “sharing the show” with the people they call family.
In January, of 2022, we hosted a Virtual Unified Audition Slam that brought in over 100 submissions. We marketed the offering, culled resumes and self-tapes, and sent links to 13 sister companies that expressed an interest in the list. This also allowed us to reserve space for the artists to communicate on their form if child care, breastfeeding/pumping accommodations, or other parent support was something the hiring company should consider. Some auditionees noted it was the first time they had ever been asked. And while these were not accommodations every actor needed or company could promise, they brought attention to the potential need for parent artist support.
We've continued to explore how to support parents who make theatre. Our previous programs had primarily been designed for preschool and elementary-aged children. However, we realize many who need us most have toddlers and babies. To that end, this summer we are, together with the support of the Parent Artists Advocacy League, we launched our Seedlings nursery care program on the campus of NC State University during the 7th Annual National Women’s Theatre Festival. We hope that Seedlings will eventually become a go-to resource for our local arts families and theatre companies.
Share the Show Programs (curriculum based, ages 4-11)
Matinee Programs
Family Participation Programs
Family Participation Programs
Since 2010, Seed Art Share has produced on-site, show-themed, “Share the Show” drama workshops for elementary-aged students at Triangle theatres such as The Justice Theatre Project, Bare Theatre, Playmakers Repertory Theatre Company, Burning Coal Theatre, and The National Women’s Theatre Festival. Programs may be customized for 2-3 hour matinees or as “camps” to coincide with adult theatre conferences. They may be funded by patrons as a youth “ticket” or offered as a free program with adult admission at the discretion of the host company. Children may participate in drama activities that reinforce the themes, styles, music, characters, (fictional or historical), and setting of the show. When parents check their children out of the program, they receive information explaining what their children have learned so they are able to discuss their shared art experiences on the ride home.
Family Participation Programs
Family Participation Programs
Family Participation Programs
We are also passionate about intentionally integrating the families of Seed company members into our own productions based on their interests and age-appropriateness. There is a Share the Show “role” built into our standard production team for someone to engage with our company kids. They may lead warmups for young performers, help preschoolers decorate props, or color pictures about the play’s setting. They may train older kids to work on crews or teach them how to sell concessions or tickets. This allows productions to also become part of our families’ stories.
Production Care
Family Participation Programs
Production Care
As playmakers ourselves, we know that typical production schedules can be prohibitive for parents with young children. Providing onsite care for our families during rehearsal and shows has allowed some of our most exceptionally talented caregivers—specifically women—to participate in theatre projects. Many of our most successful productions, such as The Miracle Worker were directed or had casts led by mother-artists. Our production care program made that possible. Our goal is to make this service so much of a common practice for local theatres that when the children who are currently participating in the programs are adult theatre-makers themselves, “sharing the show” will simply be an expected part of production culture.
Seedlings Nursery Care Programs (secure childcare, ages 0-3)
Seedlings
Seedlings Caregivers will provide safe, onsite childcare during rehearsals, adult arts conferences, and productions for children ages 0-3.