While our 25-26 season comes to a close, our arts education programs are ramping up. It’s one of our favorite times of year because the building is thrumming with youthful energy! You may be familiar with our education programs, but we want to highlight three upcoming programs and how YOU can participate!  

 

Young Playwrights Festival 

The Young Playwrights Festival is a showcase of six original works, written by high school students, produced by MSU Department of Theatre students and performed at the Pasant Theatre in Wharton Center. This year, we are celebrating 30 years of this incredible event!  

Michigan high school students are invited to submit a one-act play to a juried competition. Twelve semifinalists are chosen, and from those 12, the jury selects the six finalists whose plays will be produced. The six finalists are assigned a professional theatre mentor to help the playwright revise their play. Each finalist receives a $200 cash award and a staged production of their play performed at the Pasant Theatre. The other six semifinalists receive a $100 cash award.   

This year's Young Playwrights Festival Finalists are: 

• Memento Morie - Travis Effinger, Cranbrook Kingswood High School 

• Overheard - Violet Baker, Interlochen Arts Academy 

• Rocking a New Style - Taliya DeLaRosa, Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy 

• To Hell or Not to Hell - Michaela (Mac) Witgen, Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy 

• What Happened That Day - Stella Perrine, Chesaning Union High School 

• With Love, Mary Jean Kelly - Isabella Monville, Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy 

You can experience these amazing performances for FREE on Saturday, May 9 at Wharton Center.  

 

10 Years of Impact: Disney Musicals in Schools  

Disney Musicals in School is designed to build sustainable theatre programs in under-resourced schools. Schools receive free performance rights, scripts, and music for a 30-minute version of a Disney musical, written for grade school performers.  

For the past 10 years, Wharton Center has been the ONLY Disney Musicals in Schools partner in Michigan, and the impact of this program has been magical.  

• Partnered with over 29 schools throughout the state 

• Over 1000 students have participated in their first school musical  

Students and their teachers work in teams to develop a production throughout a 17-week residency, with Wharton Center’s trained teaching artists at the helm. Musical theatre combines several art forms and provides an engaging opportunity for young people to work onstage or behind the scenes. Beyond the joys of storytelling onstage, musical theatre fosters creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, self-confidence, and discipline in these students. 

Each year, the program culminates with a showcase featuring each school performing one number from its production on the Wharton Center Cobb Great Hall stage. Family and friends are invited to watch their new stars step into the spotlight. 

If you would like to learn more about the program or advocate for your school to get involved, you can connect with our Education team!  

 

Sutton Foster Awards 

The Sutton Foster Awards are a celebration of high school musical theatre across the State of Michigan. The Sutton Foster Awards are open to all high schools in the state, regardless of location, budget, or school size.  

Wharton Center sends a team of adjudicators to attend a performance of a high school musical. Adjudicators nominate two or more students for “Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role” from each qualifying production, who are then invited to participate in one of two Sutton Foster Awards workshops and Audition weekends as well as the Sutton Foster Awards Showcase. Additionally, adjudicator reviews and tabulations determine honors in technical and creative achievement. 

Each schoolreceives a professional assessment of their show, meant to support the teacher, school, and students in growing their production values and recognizing excellence.  

Six Sutton Foster Awards finalists will earn a $1,000 cash prize and two finalists will be selected to represent Michigan at the 2026 Jimmy Awards. 

The impact of this event is amazing and showcases the power performing arts programming has on young people.  

This year's Sutton Foster Awards Showcase performance  will take place on May 31, 2026. Tickets are available for purchase now!  

 

Wharton Center is proud to offer unique and valuable experiences fat which the community can engage with performing arts. Through these programs, we fulfill our vision of a stronger community through the arts and human connection. 

We hope  to see you at one of these amazing events!