Programs
American Theater Group offers a strong line-up of programming for adults as well as educational opportunities to New Jersey students. These opportunities include the New Works/New Voices mentorship program in partnership with Writers Theater of New Jersey, our annual statewide Dramafest, special student matinee performances of main stage productions followed by panel discussions with the cast, and student and recent graduate involvement in our main stage productions.
Broadway Actress Nancy Ringham working with a DramaFest student
Jim Vagias leading a session on magic techniques.
ATG DramaFest
ATG’s annual statewide DramaFest invites high school students to present a scene from an original play or musical in front of local theater professionals, friends, and family. The performance excerpts are given in-depth critique by working industry members. Students also attend workshops led by industry leaders on topics ranging from stage combat to improvisational techniques.
Acclaimed mime and storyteller Bill Bowers working with students on physical theater skills.
Participants from the 2022 New Works/New Voices program
New Works / New Voices
New Works/New Voices is ATG’s playwright mentorship program. Students work under the supervision of a professional playwright, writing short plays that professional actors then perform. On average, 8-15 student playwrights participate each year. The program was expanded in 2023 to include two high schools, with two dozen participants.
This year’s culminating events were held Friday, April 21st at West Orange High School and on Monday, May 15th at Columbia High School in Maplewood and were part of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance’s Stages Festival. This is the state’s largest annual theater festival, which provides free and discounted theater events for all ages from March through May. Students from both schools had their original works performed, followed by a Q&A session. The events were free and open to the public.
The 2020-2021 PlayLab playwrights
ATG PlayLab
The ATG BIPOC PlayLab, which launched in September 2020, is a professional space for straight and queer BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) playwrights to develop their plays for the stage. Led by Pandora Scooter and comprised of 12 playwrights from across the nation, the goals of the PlayLab are to provide a rigorous, attentive and supportive environment in which these playwrights will develop their writing and their craft, as well as gain requisite skills related to various aspects of the theatre industry.
Playwrights are invited to join PlayLab after a comprehensive application and interview process. Applications are accepted around May/June of each year. Interested BIPOC playwrights can find links to the application on this website as well as on Play Submission Helper and other play submission websites. Questions can be directed to Pandora Scooter at pandora@pandorascooter.com.
Meet our artists…
ATG Reading of Harry Townsend's Last Stand, left to right: ATG Producing Artistic Director Jim Vagias, Broadway legend Len Cariou, Warren Bub, and Dennis Grimaldi
Reading Series
ATG's Reading Series brings theater-lovers together with playwrights and actors, offering audience members the exciting opportunity to help shape new works before they move on to the next level. Following the read through, guests are invited to participate in a panel discussion with the playwright, director and cast. The Reading Series has helped launch productions onto great successes - the most recent example is Harry Townsend’s Last Stand, starring Broadway legend Len Cariou (pictured second from left) who also participated in ATG’s reading, which opened Off Broadway in Fall 2019.
Montclair State University
Student Outreach
Keeping with our goal of nurturing tomorrow’s theater today, ATG looks for opportunities to employ theater and design students and recent graduates. We’ve had the pleasure to have design students and recent graduates from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Montclair University and Wagner College to join us in past productions in various design positions, including set, lights, costumes, and sound. We are pleased to have featured Montclair University students as cast members in a number of our musical productions.
“I was treated with respect and compassion while working with the company of Parade and learned so much about the career I intend to pursue. I cannot thank you enough for this incredible opportunity.” S. Soybel (click for full letter)
Audience members from the 2020 Student Matinee of Till posing with Rev. Wheeler Parker, Jr.
High School Matinees
ATG strives to bring theater to the audiences of tomorrow, hosting dedicated student matinees of mainstage productions and inviting area high schools to attend. Student matinees incorporate educational teacher’s guides and post-show “talk-back” sessions with the cast, playwrights and creative team. Attendees at the 2020 Student Matinee of ATG’s production of Till were treated to a post-performance discussion with Reverend Wheeler Parker, who was Emmett Till’s cousin and was with him at the time of his abduction in 1955. The conversation with Rev. Parker, who was a character portrayed in Till, was especially moving and tied-in to the participating schools’ Black History Month curriculum.