Education

Education is essential to our mission and the success of our theatre.

We feel called to share the gifts of theatre with our community and love seeing the confidence and joy it brings to children and adults alike. As a community organization, we depend on constant learning to enable our company of volunteers to rise to the high standards of entertainment to which we aspire. Many of our participants began involvement at JRT with little to no theatre experience, and some of our brightest emerging actors have come up through our youth theatre classes.

WE ARE PLEASED TO OFFER THE “DON SQUIBB PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIP'‘ TO OUTSTANDING STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AT THE JRT AND PLAN TO PURSUE A THEATRE ARTS DEGREE. TO LEARN MORE,

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO THE APPLICATION. (Deadline is June 15, 2025.)

Summer 2026 Education Classes

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Register through the mail. Click on the registration form below.
Registration Form

MT1-A - Tuesdays 4:00-5:00pm (Limited availability)

MT1-B - Tuesdays 5:15-6:15pm

LOCATION:  JRT
Instructors: Jennifer Ross-Bernhardt, Lucas Schmidt, Jessica Cooper

Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York's Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends — Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo — have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape — with the help of some prodigious penguins — to explore the world. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar KIDS will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!” (From Music Theatre International)

Registration Form

Thursdays 4:00-5:00pm

Starting Week of August 10

LOCATION:  JRT
Instructors: Jennifer Ross-Bernhardt, Lucas Schmidt, Jessica Cooper

9 to 5 JR., with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is a 60-minute adaptation of the Broadway musical based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and empowerment in the Rolodex era has a message for today. Although coworkers Violet, Judy and Doralee are as different as could be, they have one thing in common: their bully of a boss, Mr. Hart, makes their lives miserable. Together, they concoct a plan to liberate their office from his reign. In a hilarious turn of events, the trio gives their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down. 9 to 5 JR. is about teamwork and finding the courage to stand up for what’s right. Through Dolly Parton’s catchy score and a story filled with humor, young performers explore collaboration as a way to create change. This musical is a joyful reminder that you can take care of business with the support of those around you. (From Music Theatre International)

Registration Form

Thursdays 5:15-6:15pm

Starting Week of August 10

LOCATION:  JRT
Instructors: Jennifer Ross-Bernhardt, Lucas Schmidt, Jessica Cooper

9 to 5 JR., with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is a 60-minute adaptation of the Broadway musical based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and empowerment in the Rolodex era has a message for today. Although coworkers Violet, Judy and Doralee are as different as could be, they have one thing in common: their bully of a boss, Mr. Hart, makes their lives miserable. Together, they concoct a plan to liberate their office from his reign. In a hilarious turn of events, the trio gives their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down. 9 to 5 JR. is about teamwork and finding the courage to stand up for what’s right. Through Dolly Parton’s catchy score and a story filled with humor, young performers explore collaboration as a way to create change. This musical is a joyful reminder that you can take care of business with the support of those around you. (From Music Theatre International)

Registration Form

Ages 8-14 Mondays 4:15-5:00pm

Ages 15+ Fridays 5:30-6:15pm

Starting Week of September 21

LOCATION:  JRT
Instructors: Jonna Pickard and Liz Dollar

For scholarship information, please email JRTartisticdirector@gmail.com

Registration Form

About Emma Tate:

Emma Tate has worked extensively on the London stage and more recently in the US and has featured on BBC TV and radio drama. She has recorded for the UK, North America, Europe and Australia, voicing commercials, award winning video games, animated series, feature films and live action movies as well as narrating audio books and documentaries.

She has worked as a private voice coach and as an accent coach for JRT and Milligan University.

Recent credits include, the BAFTA winning, BBC series, Numberblocks, World of Warcraft video game, the voice of the Ministry Witch in Universal’s Harry Potter’s World of Wizarding and the horror film, Pinnochio Unstrung.

Emma continues to record from her home studio in Jonesborough and in person when in London.

Registration Form

Tap Classes

Adult Intermediate Tap
16+
Mondays 5:30-6:30 from September 14th- October 19th
$115
This course is designed for students who have already taken Beginner Tap or have previous experience with basic tap dance. Students will continue building on their tap vocabulary as well as learn short tap combos. Please email jrteducation@gmail.com if you have questions regarding your ability and this course. 


Adult Beginner Musical Theatre Dance
16+
Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 from September 16th- October 21st
$115
This course is for students who want to gain confidence with their basic dance skills. Throughout the course, we'll cover foundations of musical theatre dance, jazz, ballroom, and possibly some softshoe. We will also learn short dance combos. Students do not need to be a performer to register for this class.

REGISTRATION FORM

JRT Teachers

The JRT Players
presents

TBD

This engaging group of actors prepares one-act touring shows designed to delight children (and adults) of all ages. 

For more information, or to book the Players :

Email :
jrteducation@gmail.com