“Growing in stride with the community.”
NSTEP, or Norristown Supplemental Theatre Education Partnerships, is a core part of Theatre Horizon’s commitment to the Norristown community. NSTEP offers ongoing free and subsidized theatre arts education programs in collaboration with our renowned community partners, including schools with the Norristown Area School District, ACLAMO Family Centers, GirlsFirst, the WOW Program, and The Willow School. Through NSTEP, Theatre Horizon works to enrich the cultural life of our Norristown community by producing quality theatrical experiences and programs accessible to students in Norristown of all ages. NSTEP—the next step on our horizon.
Our Participants:
- Norristown Residents: Pre-School through Grade 12
Outcomes for Participants:
- Participants will learn theatre basics as transferable life skills
- Participants will have fun shared arts experiences together and with members of the community
- Participants will be better able to express their own opinions and ideas
- Participants will be better able to play and work cooperatively
- Participants will have increased positive self-image
We will accomplish these outcomes by:
TEACHING theatre basics as holistic, applicable, and valuable life skills
CONNECTING theater arts and community
ENCOURAGING confidence and creativity
NURTURING acceptance and teamwork
CULTIVATING positive self-identity
Meeting a Need in Norristown / Filling a Learning Gap for Kids
Numerous studies have demonstrated a correlation between drama involvement and overall academic achievement. There is increasing evidence that arts educational experiences can produce significant positive impacts on academic and social development. Of the findings, studies have shown that drama activities improve reading comprehension, both verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and improvisational drama contributes to improved reached achievement and attitude in underserved students. Even with this knowledge, theater programs in schools are on the decline across the nation, high-poverty areas like Norristown are among the most heavily affected. A study done by the National Center for Education Statistics revealed a disparity between affluent and low-income school districts, where students of the latter are almost 30% less likely to have access to theatre instruction. NSTEP seeks to supplement these missed opportunities, leading to more well-rounded, higher accomplishing, students across the Norristown district.
Current Partners
Girls First, The Willow School, ACLAMO Family Centers, Norristown Area Schools
For more information contact Mydera Taliah Robinson, Director of Community Investment at Mydera@TheatreHorizon.org or 610-283-2230 x710.