Boston Children's Theatre Offers Theater Workshop to Military Families

Boston Children's Theatre has partnered with Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theater, and Blue Star Families, a non-profit organization offering theater programs to military personnel and their families across the United States.

On Saturday, October 24, the theater hosted a free interactive one-day workshop for families from Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts. Over a dozen children and their parents joined BCT staff for an afternoon of Halloween theater games, a reading of Mark Kimball Moulton's Twisted Sistahs, crafts, and snacks. The initiative of Blue Star Families is to recognize the profound contributions of service families and seeks to build stronger connections between theaters, military families, and their communities through unique programming, special discounts, and more.

"There are many ways in which our Blue Star Theaters give back to military families, but perhaps none more moving than programs geared toward their children," said TCG executive director Teresa Eyring. "When we witness the power of theater through their eyes, we’re reminded what our military personnel are fighting for, and why it’s so important to honor their service."

"We are so proud to be part of this tremendous program," added BCT executive director Toby Schine. "As a children’s theater we are dedicated to providing children and their families access to theater and the arts, and telling stories that are often a reflection of our community. We are looking forward to inviting more military personnel and their families into our BCT family and to sharing our stories and experiences together."

There are currently over 150 nationwide Blue Star Theaters participating in the program. Participating theaters offer talk-backs, outreach programs, sponsored tickets, performances, playwriting workshops, readings, workshops that focus on military themes and service, and more.