Join some of your favorite Ensemble members in these playreadings for adults only.

You'll enjoy an evening at the theatre with fellow theatre enthusiasts and professionals. Light snacks will be provided (no alcohol). Masks are required and we will social distance. Each of these fun evenings is just $15!

Closeup on the text from a play.

PLAY READING SERIES #1

'Exit Strategy' by Ike Holter

Tuesday, July 19th, 6-9pm; Led by Daniel Roth

Daniel Roth headshot

"The teachers of Tumbldn High School don't live in an inspirational teacher movie. They bring mousetraps from home, they make the toilet paper last, and they show up for the kids nobody else shows up for. So when the school is slated for closure at the end of the year, and the weight of the inevitable bears down on the community, students and teachers alike discover their breaking points. Ricky, the vice principal, has stayed firmly on the sidelines for all of the teachers' previous battles, but now in the eleventh hour, he's compelled to step up with a plan to save the school. Some risk their futures to follow his lead-- But does he actually have any idea what he's doing? Spiked with humor and brimming with fury, Exit Strategy is an exhilarating call to arms about what we owe each other." – playscripts.com

PLAY READING SERIES #2

'JQA' by Aaron Posner

Tuesday, July 26th, 6-9pm; Led by Elizabeth Dowd

Elizabeth Dowd headshot

"JQA uses the life and times of our sixth President, John Quincy Adams, to explore current issues about Government, Leadership, and the nature of the American Democracy and American Identity. Organized as a series of dialogues between John Quincy Adams and other dignitaries and family members over the course of his long and extraordinary life, it is as much an inquiry as it is a play. It's premier at Arena Stage in 2019 was applauded by audiences and critics, and was a sold-out success." – New Play Exchange

PLAY READING SERIES #3

'The Hatmaker's Wife' by Lauren Yee

Tuesday, August 2nd, 6-9pm; Led by Andrew Hubatsek

Andrew Hubatsek headshot

"When a young woman moves in with her boyfriend expecting domestic bliss, their new house reveals the magical tale of its previous inhabitants: an old hat-maker and his long-suffering wife, who runs away with his favorite hat. This sweet and surreal story bends time and space to redefine the idea of family, home, and true love itself." – Concord Theatricals

Why BTE's Theatre School?

Kids who learn theatre skills learn communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and confidence. They learn to use their imaginations to solve problems and make things happen. These are skills and abilities that are vital to success in school and the adult world and to a healthy, balanced life.

BTE Theatre School offers a range of classes, workshops, and camps designed to teach the fundamentals of the theater arts on an age-appropriate basis: critical reading, aesthetic analysis, creative thinking and problem solving, collaboration, theatre technology, oral interpretation, movement, and more.

Courses are led by BTE Theatre School staff and members of the Ensemble.

BTE Theatre School Staff

Abigail Leffler, Education Director

Abigail Leffler

Abigail Leffler is a Bloomsburg native. She earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts with a Performance Emphasis from Bloomsburg University. She has been no stranger to BTE. After college, she did an extensive acting internship with us. She has written and performed in many of our Theatre in the Classroom shows. For the past 8 years she has served as a Drama Instructor at the Center of Performing Arts, a Director for New Bern Civic Theatre, and as an actor and director for multiple theatre companies in North Carolina. She is so happy to be back at BTE teaching students of all ages.

More Theatre Education

Theatre In the Classroom (TIC)

The BTE Theatre in the Classroom (TIC) program presents original plays developed to meet educational goals of elementary educators.

To learn more, visit the TIC page.

Project Discovery

BTE's Project Discovery allows area students to see plays free of charge as part of their high school education.

To learn more, visit the Project Discovery page.

Virtual Theatre School

Free videos for your kids to enjoy at home, anytime.